The Conspiration of the Universe

Chapter 12

12

(page 2 of 126)

“So how long have you been roommates?” Eureka asked while tinkering with my phone. Apparently, she has no idea with smartphones as well. I figured she only knew feature cell phone models because she has one. She found about it and borrowed mine when I texted my mom: Good afternoon ma, I’m fine. Don’t call.

“Well, we have been roommates since when we were freshmen so it is about two years now.” I answered.

“Yeah, but we knew each other since high school.” Matt added.

“Oh that’s adorable.” Eureka commended.

“No it’s not.” I objected.

“Yes it is adorable. Even though you are nerd, Luke it is adorable.” Matt opposed. That guy is a complete jerk but he is my friend. My best friend I guess. Maybe everyone is ought to have at least one jerky friend in their lives. Or maybe not. Maybe they are some kind of rare people like a legendary Pokémon or something. If so, then I’m lucky.

Out of nowhere, I’ve heard Eureka smile then started chuckling at my phone.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

“It is just you have a lot of pictures of yourself here. With fifteen different poses! What is this random narcissistic behaviour of yours?”

Crap. I forgot to delete my selfies I took. Eureka opted to show it to Matt and he started to sneer at them as well.

“It is called a selfie. Don’t you know that? I do that as well, sometimes.” Matt explained it to her.

“Selfie, huh? That is a cool way to name a self-portrait.”

Matt looked at me looking kind of shock and confused. I just shrugged at him.

“You know, your rule about cameras: the one who yields the camera is forbidden to be seen by it, well that rule is opposed by most teenagers.”

“It is indeed. Hey, why not break it for once. Come here.” She clicked the camera app and switched it to front cam. I was surprised that she already learned it after a few minutes.

She pulled me closer to her until our face is almost touching. She smiled goofily in front of the camera. While I was still looking at her she already snapped the camera.

“Hey I wasn’t ready!”

“Its fine, see we look funny here.” she showed me the picture and she’s right. It was then I realize that I looked at her like she was some kind of weirdo while she was smiling widely like she doesn’t care.

“Hey, if I may interrupt, may I ask you two a question?” Matt said. Two of his proposals are already done

1. He already interrupted

2. He already asked a question

“What is it?” I asked.

“Well, I understood that Eureka used my bed while I was gone but now that I’m here where would she sleep?”

“Hmm, Eureka, you said you have a lot of cash right?”

“Yeah, I do. Oh, you mean...”

“Yeah, shopping. We’re going to the market and go shop some mattress.” Matt’s eyes widen with anticipation.

“Well if we’re going to shop then we better do it now. And also we have to go to the grocery as well so we could stock up.” I suggested. The two of them just nodded.

“And we’ll throw a party for our new housemate!” Matt cheered.

***

“Twenty thousand pesos is a lot of money Eureka. And you “borrowed” it from your parents?” I asked feeling nauseated of the thought. It was never mentioned in the book that she had that plenty of money; for a teenager, that is.

“Yeah, that’s why I said I had a lot of cash.”

“Oh grow up Luke, its fine. She just borrowed it after all.” Matt smirked at me.

I pushed the empty cart as we moved to the next aisle. It squeaks irritatingly as I turn it.

“Here we go...the snacks!” Matt gleefully said.

“How come we had grocery first before buying Eureka’s mattress? I thought that was our priority.”

“It is our priority. But it would be easier for us to buy first our stuff than buy her probably hard to carry mattress.” Matt started to grab chips from the countertops and throw it on the cart leaving me and Eureka alone. He looks like a kid who’s very much excited to buy his favourite snacks.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Hey, Oreos! I love these...” Eureka grabbed one huge pack of Oreos.

“Oreos- you twist it, lick it and dunk it on milk and never actually eat it.” I said. Eureka just rolled her eyes to me and sneered.

“What? Their instructions are incomplete Why don’t they say ‘eat it’? One more thing, their instruction on how to eat an Oreo is tedious. You have to prepare milk first so you could maximize its taste. I mean, whoever does that?”

“I do. Everyone does that. Oreos are the best cookie sandwich ever, and it is nice to put some little effort to the best, isn’t it?

I grabbed the Oreo packet she was holding and threw it in the cart. “Okay, maybe you win this time.” I grinned at her.

“Aren’t you going to say something?”

I looked at her perplexed then I realized what she wanted me to do. “I’m sorry?”

“Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to Oreo.” she nodded towards Oreo.

“I’m sorry Oreo for questioning your instructions. Happy?”

“Happy.”

***

After we had finished everything on our checklist, we head out to the flea market hoping to find a suitable mattress for Eureka.

The market was full of people, as usual. Buzzing sounds from them are continually heard all around the place even though the light from the sun had started to fade. We continued walking for the past minutes until we came across a*****e that sells almost all fluffy stuff. Teddy bears, pillows, and mattress, yup they sell it.

“Eureka, why don’t you choose the bed that would suit you?” Matt breathlessly claimed. He must have been tired of walking plus carrying heavy paper bags full of our grocery items.

“Um, a bed that suits me? Luke’s bed seems to suit me. It’s warm and comfy.”

Matt looked at me again perplexed. His slanted eyes are just sharp and unforgiving, I thought.

“My bed, huh? Then, that would be the one.” I pointed at a gray foldable Uratex mattress.

“Yes sir? What do you need.” the salesman asked cheerfully.

“How much is for that?” Matt directed the man with his finger to the mattress I just pointed, fumbling with our grocery items.

“That would be 1,500 pesos.” the salesman answered. His face was really brimming with happiness.

“That’s too much. Couldn’t we have it for 1,000 pesos?” I begged.

“I’m sorry, sir but...”

“If it would be very comfortable, then I don’t see any reason to bargain for the price.” Eureka muttered. Her face was still slightly covered by her black hair.

“That’s right ma’am. But for you I would just give it to you for 1,300 pesos plus a free pillow.” What the? She just said she wouldn’t bargain for it yet he would give 13% discount (I used my calculator)?! Reverse psychology or charm?

“Then we’ll take it” Eureka said professionally.

And then, we brought home the surely hard-to-carry mattress of Eureka and her hard-to-ignore smile.

***

When we got home, we instantly tested the mattress that we have bought. Matt placed it on the floor beside our bunk bed while I lend and prepare my spare bed sheet. After we had finished, Eureka literally threw herself on the bed, face first. She didn’t move for a while so I thought the bed was being defective of being a bed and instantly killed her.

“Eureka?” I checked.

“Yeah?” Eureka responded with a muffled voice.

“So what do you think?”

“It’s fine. But it’s not like yours.”

“Really?” I sat down on her bed and pressed my hand against it. “Yeah, it is softer, comfier.”

“And not like yours.” She sounded a little disappointed.

“You sound like a kid. What do you want?”

“I would like to sleep in your bed.” Her pink lips curled.

“That’s ridiculous. Where would I sleep?”

“Sleep here. You said it was softer and comfier.”

“You know, it looks kinda weird if Eureka would sleep in the floor. Maybe you should sleep there instead.” Matt interjected.

“What? You’re on her side?”

“I mean, she’s new here and we ought to make her feel comfortable.”

“Yeah, Luke, listen to your hotter and cooler friend. For that you got an Oreo, buddy.” She winked at Matt and they both started giggling. Yeah, Matt was giggling.

And that’s my cue. I just sighed in defeat.

***

Later that night, after we all got tired in eating Oreos and chips, like some miserable teenagers, we went to bed. The soft light coming from the lamp post outside acted as our night light. I watched Eureka sleep like a lamb above me, still smiling. Before ever drifting to sleep, I wondered if Sydney was alright, if she was happy as well. And if she is, I hope she’s not.