Chapter XI: Three Facts

What is the probability of meeting someone who knows a part of you which you have never shared to anyone?

How come a stranger knows so much about you and you feel like there is something with him that you cannot explain. 

A strange feeling of familiarity.

It lingers in my mind and shocks my system. I am not used to someone knowing me like this, and this way. 

I know, these things inside my head are like a puzzle I must solve, an itch I must scratch, and much worse than a broken recorder that I must fix. But I sucks at puzzles, the itch is at my back, and I am not fond of fixing things. 

After what happened in the resto, Chris and I went into different shops and bought everything we needed. Food supplies that would last for I think — a month. Pillows, pillowcases, bedsheets, and toiletries. Chris just let me decide on everything. He’s paying for everything as well. And he is the one who is bringing all the things we’ve bought. 

Okay, technically, he bought it. 

I kept on asking how the hell he knew my comfort food and my name but he consistently ignores me. He doesn't wanna tell me how and why. It kills me to know but he's great at keeping his mouth shut. 

If only I can choke him right now. I would really do it. But that would be a crime, baka sa inis ko ay imbis na ako ang mamatay ay siya. I can't do that. I know I must not. It's unjust no matter how annoying he is. 

“I think we’re done.” I said, informing him. We have everything that I think we needed. Supplies that would last for a month. I think, I can bear that thirty days with him and accomplish the bucket list within that time period. Tapos pwede na akong mamatay, wala na akong utang na loob kay Chris, at matatahimik na ang buhay ko. Literal na tahimik. 

“Nope.”

I creased my forehead. “Hey, we already have toiletries, beddings, and food supplies. Ano pa ang kulang? I'm tired, hindi ba pwede na sa madadaanan na lang ulit natin na market tayo bumili?” We have everything of stuff I can think of that we need. Inabot na nga kami ng gabi dito, may kulang pa din? 

“Let’s go.” He held my arms. I cannot deny the fact that he is amusing. Imagine he is holding around ten shopping bags while pushing a cart with boxes of stuff that we’ve bought and he’s pulling me like I weigh zero kilograms. 

Hindi ko agad naintindihan kung ano pa ang bibilhin namin pero nang makita ko ang sandamakmak na mga pintura ay nagkaroon ako ng ideya.

“Vandal.” He said with a grin. 

Chris talked with the seller while I busied myself looking at different colors, “pick all the colors you want.” He said. I went to the spray paint section and took the red, blue, and yellow colors. Chris paid for it, he also bought some latex paints, I asked what they are for but he just grinned at me. 

Always feeling mysterious.

“I think we’re all good.” He said with a smile on his face. I insisted on bringing the shopping bags that contain the pillows which are easy to carry but he ignored me, again. A man in the paint shop helped him, probably the one he was talking with earlier. 

I rolled my eyes.

We continued walking back to the camper van. Chris and the man that I don’t know are behind me, talking about stuff which I cannot understand. And I chose not to understand.

“Thank you!” Chris gave the man a tip. As they chatted for a little bit longer, I went inside the camper van and arranged the things we'd bought to their designated places. 

Natapos na ako at lahat pero hindi pa din sila tapos mag-usap. So I decided to enjoy the soft mattress with it’s new coverings and soft pillows. 

You cannot really tell how life will bring you to places you did not imagine you will be at. It’s like, seconds ago I was at Ariel. Living my life, studying, partying with Pat. A few seconds had passed and I was alone, running away, living to die. And now, here I am, with Chris the stranger in this shitty camper van and will fulfill the bucket list. 

I did not think that my world would turn around like this. It's not even what I imagined it would become. But this is my reality now, this is what is happening. Whether I like it or not, I am already here. It's not just about this journey that is about to start with Chris, it was more than my life as a whole. 

A sudden break pulled me out from dreamland. “What the hell?” 

So, I really fell asleep and now Chris is driving. 

To where?

I don't know.

“Sorry, sorry. May bigla kasing tumawid na aso.” Chris apologized as he looked at my irritated face. I stood up and made my way straight to the kitchen to boil a cup of water. “It’s fine. Where are we?” It’s night time, I think and we are on a deserted-like road. I can’t help but to think we are in a horror movie and any second now, a woman covered in blood would come and ride with us. Just like in horror films. Or maybe we would lose our way and this time would go longer than usual. As if the day is stretched and prolonged due to our fears. 

Chris answered, “secret,” I mentally rolled my eyes. I crossed my arms and yawned for the nth time while waiting for the water to boil. 

Gosh, I am hungry!

“Can I have a cup of noodles as well?” He said as he took a glance from what I am doing right now. “Secret,” I mocked.

I successfully made two cups of beef flavored instant noodles. “Hey, pull over so we can eat.” I said, but he did not follow me. “We’re going to be late if I stop driving. Dito ka na sa passenger seat, subuan mo ‘ko.” What he said surprised me, “what the hell? Why would I do that?” We’ll look like a stupid, cheesy couple who are very much in love with each other. I sat on a chair in the kitchen. ”Sige na, please. I am hungry but if I’ll pull over, hindi natin maabutan ‘yung sunrise.”  

Okay…? So I guess he has some gimmick again, making me love this world, gonna try to meddle with my life decisions.

 “What time is it?”

“Three a.m” I looked at him with a wide eye, I thought it’s just around midnight. 

So I really did fall asleep, eh? A long one which I haven’t had so far. A long one I did not think I would finally have. It's been so long since I slept soundly even just for a short time. Dreams haunt me everytime, and make me have a hard time falling asleep. It's not a matter of choice not to think about my situation so no matter how hard I try, most of the time I am defeated by the fear that my slumber would make me see things I don't want to see even in reality.

“Can’t you stop for a minute and eat?” It’s easy to pull over and stop for a while but he is being a hard headed, completely annoying person.

“No, hindi tayo aabot.”

“Aren’t you tired? We can chase another sunrise tomorrow.”

“No, because I actually overslept and no, because we are going to chase every sunrise from now on.” 

Okay, Chris is really annoying. But the idea of chasing every sunrise excites me. To think that one day, I won’t be able to witness one, to chase every sunrise as if it’s my last is thrilling. Or maybe we can also chase sunsets as well. It would be something I would look forward to everyday. 

“Okay, okay. Fine!” I gave up and went to the passenger seat. I put our instant noodles in the cup holder. 

I slowly spooned the noodles and its soup at him.

Hindi nakatakas sa akin ‘yung ngiti niya matapos ko siyang subuan. We ate in a calm silence. He is driving while I am alternately spoon feeding me and him. There are times that the noodles would fall off his mouth, so he has to sip it through his mouth, and when he can't, I am just using the spoon to help him. I must admit that it entertains me to watch him struggle as he eats the long noodles. 

When we’re done, I immediately cleaned up our mess and handed him a glass of water. He mouthed, “thanks,” and gestured to me to still sit in the passenger seat.

It’s already quarter to four a.m, “malayo pa ba tayo?” Umiling siya, “we’re almost there.” Gladly, because I am a little bit bored already. 

Another minute of dead silence hovered around us.  I was just looking outside while the window was open, making my hair dance along the air. Mixtures of golden horizon and darkness are hugging each other. It's a beautiful scenery. It makes you feel like the world is pulling you from all your thoughts and wants you to just stop and stare in awe. 

“Chris, tell me three facts about you.” I figured, he knows things about me. Pero ako, walang alam na kahit ano tungkol sa kanya. It feels so unfair.

“Interested ka na sa akin ngayon?” I almost choked with my own saliva because of his joke. Can’t it be just a simple thing of getting to know him for the sake of this trip. “Of course I am not. You know a thing or two about me but I do not even know your full name.” 

“Are you sure, you only want three facts?” He said with a smirk. I did not answer him, if he does not want to do it then don’t. I don't like chasing people and pleading with them to do things for me.

I closed my eyes. Sleeping is much better than dealing with this guy. There are times that he's okay to talk with like when we went to Chip. But right now, I can't help but to feel annoyed at him. 

After a few seconds, "You don't know me but I know you. That's one fact," he said. 

Pero hindi ko siya pinansin at nanatili akong nakapikit. 

"Two, I love seafood." I remained in my position. Eww, seafood. My most hated food, I'll die even from one small piece of shrimp. I would puke, get rashes, and my whole body would be swollen like a whole charcoal-roasted pig.

In short, I am allergic to seafood. 

"Lastly." I cut him off, "where are you from?" Hindi na ako nakatiis at tinanong ko na siya. 

"I came from the future," he said in a serious tone. I almost believed him.

Ha!

As if!

"Yeah. Funny." Does he think that I believe sci-fi stuff? Those who came from the future, meddling with the past. Those are just crazy ideas from people's creative minds.

He felt the need to answer the question honestly because of my intense stare "kidding. I'm from Ariel City." 

So that explains how he knew me. Now I feel less bothered yet I am uncomfortable. Just a bit because I finally knew where he came from. 

“How come you encouraged me to go on this trip because you told me that it is a win-win situation? You threw the rope the first time we met and now here we are, doing the bucket list before killing myself.” 

It’s suspicious, isn’t it?

“Huh? I encourage you to go on this trip so that you’ll see the beauty of this world. I even told you that this might change your mind from taking your own life.” 

My forehead creased. 

“Huh? Didn’t you -”

Chris cut me off, “we’re here.” He stopped the camper van and walked out first. I immediately followed him.

As I stepped my foot outside, fresh air welcomed me. The first thing that I noticed are the tall buildings full of graffiti.

I can’t help but to grin in excitement.