Page 1: Visit

It was nearing summer.

Chuck is currently making his way to the National Library to do something
he never thought he will do again since his entry to college: to study. He
walks down the road from the corner of Taft Avenue and Kalaw Street, not
minding those who are riding in a jeep, thinking they smite at him because
he walks. He does not mind at all, he just listens to his iPod wracking a
riot in his head, playing Children of Bodom and Testament and the like. He
enjoys the scenery while taking a leisurely stroll. And, in the blink of an
eye, he's right at his destination.

The front pathway is almost blocked by dozens of men holding plastic or
brown envelopes. They were bulky and their haircuts were almost uniform.
Chuck saw a flyer lying on the ground. It was some kind of a notice for
Marine Engineers and Naval crew or something. After getting through the
mass of bulkiness, he made his way to the Library.

The facade had a nostalgic feel. Like you could just time travel to the
70's while strolling. As he approached the entry doors, he felt kinda
nervous. Retaining his composure, he walked up to the guard and asked a few
questions before entering.

"Umm, excuse me.." said Chuck in a quiet but polite manner.

"Yes?" answered the guard.

"Do I need some kind of identification to go in the library, like a card or
the sort?" Chuck was looking over inside the library, viewing a queue of
people from where he is standing.

The guard looked at Chuck, scanning him from head to foot. "Well," he
started with a slight inhale, "is it your first time here?"

Chuck paused for a bit. After a few seconds, he sighed and said, "It's been
a while, but I guess you could say yes."

"Do you have a 1x1 ID picture?" the guard continued.

"Ah!" Chuck tried searching a bit through his bag. After a few moments, he
looked at the guard, and smiled a bit.

"Well, I don't have one right now," mumbled Chuck.

"I'm sorry," replied the guard. "You'll need an ID picture if you want to
apply for a library card." He pointed inside the library, "You'll then need
to go in queue for the registration."

Chuck looked lost. "Ah, well I get it." He pulled out a small notebook and
pen, and started jotting down some notes. "1x1 ID picture. Yep!" Then he
turned to the guard, "what are the other things I'll need? It'll be a pain
if I go back and forth just to get requirements for a library card..."

The guard stopped for a bit, pulled out his record book and searched for
something. Then he pulled out a little piece of paper and read some parts
out. "You may need a valid ID, like a school ID or something." He then
looked at Chuck, "You are a student, right?"

"Yeah," nodded Chuck.

"You'll also need to bring money. Prepare at least Php 250.00. And don't
forget to bring a pen."

Chuck wrote down what the guard had said in his notes. "Money, huh?"

"Well, it's for maintenance, you see," sneered the guard.

"Oh, that's not a problem." Chuck stopped writing, then continued, "What
time is this open?"

"This is a government building, a branch of the government so to speak. So
it's pretty much weekdays, around 8:00AM. But you should come around
10:00AM. They would still be cleaning by 8:00AM. You know government
workers."

Chuck smiled a bit, "Yeah, I know, I know." He returned the notes inside
his bag, then he turned to the guard, "Thanks, man."

"You're welcome, sir!" smiled the guard.

Chuck turned towards the front gates. After walking a few paces, he gave
out a big sigh. "Aw, man... I have to come here again next time," he
thought. "Well, no use going around in circles. Just gotta do what y'gotta
do..." He sighed, looking up, then he traversed the road to the other side,
and rode a jeepney home.