Chapter 2: Who are You?

We're like on a 3v3 staring contest with these strangers we found at the end of the trail. Two guys, one looking like a korean idol with his features and fashion sense, the other with his jet black hair, and a girl in a black cap. Looking at their faces, they also seem confused just like the three of us, standing here in the opening.

I rolled my eyes and went inside, roaming my eyes around the place. It's just a small space, with thick vines lingering in the walls. Seriously? What is this? A low-budget fantasy themed activity?

"Chix," I heard the black-haired tall guy wearing a track jacket said.

I gave him a sideway glance and saw him staring at my sister.

Crossing my arms, I faced them and asked, "Are you guys the one who will accomodate us? What activity are we going to do here?"

The brown-haired guy with eyeglasses reacted quickly, giving me an unbelievable look like I said something wrong. "Jinjja? We?" Itinuro niya ang sarili niya. "Accomodate you?" Bahagya siyang natawa. "No, no!" he said, shaking his head and waving his hands as a sign of disapproval.

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. So this guy is really a Korean, huh? Luckily he understand and can speak in English.

Wait, so if they're not here to guide us for the activity I am expecting...

"Ay, hindi ata Pilipino. Ah, hehe, we were also stucked here. Right?" Black-haired dude butted in. He placed both of his arms around his colleague's shoulders who just nodded at him.

I stared at each of thwm and sighed. "Ela. I'm with Era," I introduced myself and pointed at Era.

She quickly formed a bright smile. "Sawasdee kha!"

I felt like this black haired dude's face brightened. I shook my head lighlty when he went near my sister.

"Ayo! Mijo is the name! Hindi gwapo, mijo lang!" He laughed at his own joke lile it's really funny even if it's not. He stopped when he thought no one understands him. Now that's funny! Era and I don't even look foreign! "I mean, I'm not handsome, just... slight. So you're a Thai, Era? You know what, I really love Thai features," he said acting cute which made me cringe, but my sisters seemed to be in a mood to go with the flow.

"Flirty creatures," I commented which they didn't give attention.

"Uh, Fluan Teodore. You can call me Flute or Fluan."

I rolled my eyes. Fluan Teodore. Nice name, though. "Sana all," I whispered to myself.

I sighed. "I think we should go now. Era, let's go. I need to ask Dad why he gave us a map with no worth," I said before grabbing her out of that place.

"Nakatanggap rin kayo ng map?"

I halted. Gosh? I am more than sure that it's that Korean dude asking if we also received a map. I am sure! But it could also be the girl, right?

Gosh! Who am I even fooling?

I shook my head and turned to him. I raised a brow. "You know how to speak Tagalog?"

He gave me a small smile. "Of course! I lived here in Philippines when I was in grade school, and came back last month for good," he explained.

"Wait! You guys are also Filipino? Or at least... half like Black?" Mijo asked, wide-eyed.

"Pure Filipino kami, guys. But I suggest you to talk to us in English. We understand, but we rarely speak it. We own a company. I mean, we were trained in a young age to be prepared in handling a company. You don't expect them to let us speak in Tagalog when talking to our foreign investors, right? Plus we study in an International School. Rich asses with their rich mouths," Era shared.

"Hey, let's not talk about that. So... you guys also received a map?"

I looked at Fluan who is now walking towards the wall which has... a door? I didn't notice it earlier because it's also covered with vines except that it has a keypad door lock.

"We tried opening that door, but we just really can't. None of us can," Mijo butted in and went beside Fluan.

"Halsu isseo!" Korean dude raised his right hand like a kid, reciting in class. "I have tool for that, but it's not with me today," he said and scratched the back of his head.

I went near the vine-covered door. My brows furrowed.

"I haven't seen any device like this before. Why is this keypad door lock only have 1 and 0?" I asked, but that was more like asking myself.

"Binary."

I was puzzled more. "Binary?" It sounds familiar.

"Number system. For computers like data storing and those tech stuffs."

I glanced at him, remembering how he spoke in Tagalog. For a Korean? He's really good! He's more fluent in Tagalog than me who spent all years of my life here.

Mijo punched the Korean guy lightly on his shoulder. "You really know a lot of things. Hope all smart!"

"Black? Your name's Black?" I asked.

He smiled at me revealing his dimple and making his small eyes smaller. "My name here is Black Lim, but in Korea, it's Lim Geom-Eun."

Oh. I nodded. 

"Oy, about that map Flute is talking about. Someone also gave you that?"

I flinched when the girl Mijo and Black is with spoke who currently stands behind me. I turned around, and gosh! She's so pretty! Thick lashes, dark brown eyes, small and... well it ain't too pointed but it ain't also round nose, thin slightly pinkish lips which I think is because of a tint. Her skin is something to envy! She's a morena but it is undeniably smooth! Although...

"You sound like a boy," I commented.

I raised my eyebrow at Fluan after hearing his chuckle and saw him staring at me, but quickly changed his gaze at whoever this girl is.

"No, I'm into outdoor activities. I saw a link about this place while searching. I clicked it and only a map was shown, so I immediately took a screenshot." He took his phone out of his pocket and showed us the photo he was referring to. "I got curious, that's why I'm here."

"Can you send me the link?" Black asked which made me think that he has a thing for technologies. He seems to be really interested with these kind of things.

I looked at every one of us here in this empty vine-covered place, well, except that there might be something behind that door, and noticed that we're already in circle, standing. I rolled my eyes and sat, not minding the dirt my pants will be getting. I stretched my legs and let it rest.

Gosh, I feel so exhausted just now.

The others must have felt tiredness, too that they started sitting, so I did an indian sit to give them space. I am in between Fluan and whoeve—

"Hey, your name?" I asked this black-capped girl with my left brow raised.

She didn't bother to look at me. Busy with her phone, she responded, "Yuri."

Gosh, even her name sounds like a boy for me.

Beside Fluan was Black. The opening which I just noticed that the vines came back on its duty to conceal this place and my sister is in front of me, flirting, uh, I mean sitting beside Mijo who sat beside Black. If I was a stranger passing by who happens to see this set up? I might think that this group is a kind of modernized cult performing an oration. Glad the vines were kind enough. I don't know how are we going to get out of here though.

"Hmm, kinda weird, but the link was broken. Anyway, how about you?" He looked at us one by one.

Just when I was about to speak up first, thinking that the others have no plan speaking, Mijo cleared his throat and let out a short laugh.

"I was bored. I wanted to have a trip somewhere, but just a city away from me, then my friend suggested this. Honestly, I know about the treasure hunting activity. I mean, I've been there before, but I was confused because the real event is held in the right trail. I was curious and I wanted to know what's wrong," he explained.

I eyed him boringly. "You're stupid. You shouldn't have went here."

He laughed his ass out, and faced my sister. "Your sister is a bit harsh," he almost whispered, but since the place is really quiet, I still heard it. My sister just laughed, and told him not to mind me.

"Jamkkanman! This is like in the novels!  We met for a reason, but... what is that reason?" he asked with his hand below his chin.

Mijo shook his head and laughed. "You read too much novels, 'tol."

I have to agree with this flirt this time. That's just... so cliché and cringey if ever!

"He has a point though. Man, this is so weird knowing that this place isn't really the location of the event we're supposed to be attending," Fluan sided to Black.

"Seriously, you guys are talking nonsense. This is just a coincidence. Not all of us received a map anyway," I blabbered. Gosh, I don't even know why I am still staying here.

"I did!/Meron."

I was about to stand up when Black and Yuri spoke at the same time. I sat back again. Oh... kay?

"Woah! Told you! This is like what happens in novels! I wonder what our story will turn out," Black exclaimed with those dreamy eyes.

I sighed and rolled my eyes for the ninth time. "Look, I still don't think this is something important plus we barely know each other, but—" my forehead creased when I saw a black smoke near the entrance appeared. It slowly formed into something until a man which I think is in his mid-thirties showed up.

I eyed him head to toe. He's wearing a grey beanie and— gosh what the hell? I face-palmed when I saw his white polo topped with a grey suit jacket tucked inside his khaki pants, and paired with white sneakers.

I made a disgusted face. "You have no fashion sense."

His dress up bothers me, so I chose to look at Fluan instead.

He looked so puzzled, having his eyebrows met. "Excuse me, who are you?" With his question, I turned my gaze at that man again.

This guy made my left brow raised when a side of his lips rose.

I blinked my eyes. It was just a second when he disappeared from our sight.

The six of us turned our heads in sync after hearing a snap behind us.

We found none but there's a small paper sticked on the door we just can't open. Fluan was about to stand up and get it when we heard his voice again. We still can't see him, but we clearly heard him.

His question made us even more confused.

"No, who are you?"

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