Drowning Ocean

Chapter 2

The man walked towards me. I slid the journal back inside my bag, in fear that he might see a part of it. When he was just a few walks away,

"Hey, why were you looking at me earlier?" he continued walking towards me.

I tried not to hear him and looked at my song instead. I hum the song I was making earlier.

"Hey," The man called again.

I faced him as if it is the first time he spoke to me.

Wrong move... I can't get my eyes off him! As he came closer to me, it was like I was watching a slow-mo person. I can definitely see every feature of his walk. I traced his jawline with my eyes. They seem so flawless.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine... Up until how many seconds do I still need to stare at him?!

He cleared his throat, bringing me back to reality.

I arranged my position to look formal in front of him.

"So, uhh, why, were you looking at me, earlier?" he pointed to himself questioning me and I feel that he got insecure from what I did earlier.

"Uhm," I am trying to create an alibi.

"I, I was, I wasn't looking at you. I am looking on uhm, the coasts." I sighed for relief. Thanks to my sharp eyes, I found a nice alibi.

"L-look at those rocks over there," I pointed to where he was earlier.

"It shaped like uhh, oh! it shaped like an elephant." The man looked to where I was pointing. Thank God he responded to my lie.

Poor man. I'm just sorry he did look at it.

"Yeah, I can see its trunks." He replied to my surprise.

His reply to me made me look carefully at the rock formation. The rock didn't resemble anything. It is just a huge rock on a cliff. I began to imagine where he saw the trunks. I just can't see it.

I suddenly chuckled.

"So, uhm," I interrupted him from staring at the rock. He looked at me.

"Could you now please, leave me here?"

It has been a while since I had a normal conversation with strangers. Except for the cashiers, or any person to contact in case.

Since my agreement with the Conductrice, she told me to lessen my conversations with the normal people. She warned me that these people may stray me from my path to the midnight train. And the worse, these people might be the reason that I will never hop on it.

Of course, I will not let it. It will be my only hope of escape. I will not let it pass.

"Why?" he asked, interrupting my thoughts.

My eyes widened when I saw him sitting beside me. Then he looked at me.

dug dug dug

My mind is clouded of insecurities and nervousness. Oh God, what is he doing here beside me? A flash of red displayed again on my cheeks. Though I try to hide it, this kind of blush is irresistible.

His gaze turned away from me and got lower. Lower and lower to my... guitar.

"So, you are playing the guitar huh?"

"You don't even care,"

"Why?"

Why is this man full of questions? I looked towards the ocean to ease my anger building up inside. I guess, he sensed it.

"Whoah, just chill. Okay? I'm just, I'm just curious about you. I actually heard someone singing over here. I've come to hear the voice. But when I came here, I just saw you. I actually thanked that voice. It's been a while since I last cherished the peace the ocean brings. Are you the one singing earlier?" The man looked at me again.

A sudden hop inside of me happened the moment he looked at me.

Did he just say he like the song I'm singing earlier??

"Uhmm, it, it wasn't me," I lied.

"Oh, do you see him or her here anyway?"

"Why do you even care?"

"It is the reason why I came here." He said so serene.

I was soothed by what he said. It is the first time a person complimented me, of course, dad was my number one supporter before. But after he died, mom didn't even bother to share over her friends that her daughter likes to play instrument, or that her daughter is good at writing. She would just enroll me to school and report to her my grades. When she is satisfied, she deposits money into my bank and I am free to go to waste it. At first, I felt lonely about it. I felt ignored, unimportant, rejected also unloved. But as the years hardened my heart, it become a normal routine for me. It became unimportant for me neither.

"You seem so sad today huh?" He noticed my deep thinking.

"You don't care-" he suddenly cut me off.

"By the way, I'm Cliff." I faced him with the look as if I cared if he mentioned his name. Instead of an irritating face, I see a genuine smile of warmth, and peace. As if he is a personifide ocean. I am hesitant to say my name but my mouth appears to disobey my heart.

"I'm Zale..."

"Hey, I think you are just new hear in Etretat. You know what," He stands up, packing my guitar, and, "If you like, I could tour you over," He winked.

"I'm fine here," I replied.

"C'mon! It'll be fun! If you know, I'm actually an expert for touring people. Although I'm not a tour guide, but I know a lot of places you will probably enjoy." He gestured his hand to help me stand up.

Should I follow? Should I grab his hand?

I am about to say no when he pulled me up from my seat.

"Hey!" I glared at him.

"C'mon, it'll be fun."

'I hate fun!' was the answer I had in mind.

"Fine, even though I don't-" he cut me off.

"Just trust me," His look became serious. I held my breath.

"Trust me. You'll be happy in this tour."

He held my hand after he helped me fix my things, and excitedly run off the cliff.

"So, where are we going first?" He asked, looking at me, curiously. I looked to a barren road, and saw an approaching cab.

"Hmm, why don't you lead me to a restaurant?"

"Well, I'll lead you to the 'One of the Best' seafood restaurants here in Etretat." He smiled. I nod in response. We signaled the cab and it stopped right in front of us.

"ou allons-nous monsieur? (where are we going sir)"

"au Plateau La Fransiska s'il vous plait. (to La Fransiska platter please)" Cliff replied.

"That platter is really one of the best! Actually they are on the top 10 list of the best platters here in Etretat." He explained.

"How come you know English when you know how to speak in French?" I asked for curiosity's sake.

"Oh, we are from Virginia actually. My family migrated here 5 years ago to live with my grandma who is here in Etretat." He shared his brief background.

"Oh,"

"How about you? You are so good at speaking English."

A little blush started to spread off. Did he really say I'm good at English?

"Uhmm, we, we were from Chicago. Then we moved to Paris. I'm just on a simple vacation from Switzerland then I went here." I replied.

Those past months seem to be a trip around the world tour. After Conductrice Keres talked to me and agreed to her contract and regulations, I just decided to tour the world before I go. I first went back to Chicago and lived a month there. Then, I met a good friend who's from the Philippines. She said the underground caves of Palawan is really a must-see. So I headed next to the Philippines. It is indeed a nice place. All those beaches and flavory food, I also experienced many things that only the Philippines could offer. The next stop was in Korea. And then Japan. I also went to Hawaii, where I learned how to surf. I met a man there who taught me how to do the "Hawaiian Dance". Then the Conductrice appeared again, warning me.

"nous voici monsieur, (here we are sir)" the cab driver stopped, in front of a big resto.

"merci monsieur. (thank you sir)" Cliff replied.

We got out off the cab, then I see Cliff taking out money from his pocket. I sheepishly smiled. If you only knew who you were with...

"voici le paiement monsieur. Gardez la monnaie. (here is the payment sir. keep the change)" I handed my money to the cab driver. Good thing I'm faster than Cliff.

"Wait.." He looked at me as the driver received his pay.

"What?" I shrugged.

"I was the one supposed to pay him, Zale." He complained. I gave him a smirk.

"Why is that so?"

"Coz I am the one who dragged you to come with me." I turned around and made my way to the entrance of the Platter.

Truth is, he dragged me, yeah. Literally dragged me. But this time, I just want to do it. with him...