The Conspiration of the Universe

Chapter 9

9

(page 1 of 126)

Eureka insisted on walking around the University. She said that she might change her mind about going to college if I would give her a perfect tour. That would be the same thing the real Eureka would tell, I think. Lucky to her, I don’t have any things to do. I already finished my paper about the creativity of kids in this new generation. Also, I have read the 10 page hand-outs Mrs. Briones gave. She said that we’ll have a long quiz about it during the next meeting.

I have always thought about what I would do if someone asked me to tour them around the campus so Eureka’s demand is pretty much done. Just like how I’ve played it on my mind, I’ve brought her to the gate first. She was just quiet throughout but her eyes seem to sparkle as I gave the place’s story. She just speaks up if she has a question in her mind.

“This tower,” I said with a phony announcer voice. She instantly flashed a smile. “is called by the students here as Kwek-kwek Tower.”

“Why is that, Mr. Tour guide?” she made a face that look so concerned while raising the lens of Iris at an angle so it can view to the top of the tower. The tower is somewhere from 15-20 ft tall, I guess. But I am never good at estimation. They’re just like bets.

“Well, they say, the flame at the top of the tower looks like a kwek-kwek.”

“Kwek-kwek, what is that?”

“You don’t know what a kwek-kwek is?

She shook her head.

“Well, it is a, um, quail eggs marinated with orange flour. It is a street food. You know, it is hard to explain a food.”

“I would like to eat one of those.”

“Maybe next time. Too bad this tower is already vandalized”

“No, it is just freed.”

“Huh?”

“The tower, it come to show the freedom of the teenagers who dwell here. It is marked of their freedom, of not to abide by the rules. Because that’s just how we teenagers are, we break out of our limits.”

“If you put it that way, then these marks are just fine then. Shall we continue the tour?”

She just nodded. The campus is quiet and calm. A lot of students here go home every weekend. And the ones who stay here remain to get fuzzy at their respective places. If I have no companion around, the place would appear to me as a ghost town. I think this University is sad without its students.

While we were walking to our next destination I can’t shake off what she had just said. It is a quote from ‘A Starless Night’. “That’s just how we teenagers are; we break out of our limits.” It once struck me back then so I remember it well. The words, it just fits to what Eureka said.

Before we reached the freedom park, I decided to rest and stop the tour for a while. The blazing heat drains my energy faster. Plus we were near the place Sid, that vicious woman, dumped me.

“We should take a break. Besides we’ve been to the landmarks of the campus, I think that would be enough.” I pushed back my hair. I couldn’t take the heat.

“Yeah, I guess so. It is really hot in here.”

“I know! We should head to the campus library. It is air-conditioned.”

“That would be delightful.” she exclaimed.

***

The trip to the library was brief yet hellish since there was no shade of tree that could protect us from the ravaging light. Eureka’s face was already sweaty but it doesn’t look gross and icky like mine. It just sparkles like glitter.

The air that comes out of the air-conditioner was chilly and soothes the skin. It was a quick relief. Eureka looked astounded by the high ceiling of the building.

“Where are the books?” Eureka said bobbing her head from place to place.

“Um, it is on that room but it is restricted to students only.” I pointed at an entrance guarded by someone. She appears to be very bored.

“What? That’s unfair!”

“Well, not really. It is just to protect the assets of this library. We could still hang out here in the lobby, though. ”

The lobby was full of wooden cabinets for the card catalogues. There is one huge table at the centre of it but no one seems to bother use it. Well not today.

“Hey, Mr. College boy” Eureka called. She already found a place to seat.

“Could you call me with my true name? I just noticed you called me Mr. Interviewer, Mr. Boss and Mr. Tour Guide but not my real name.”

“I’m sorry but I’m not good in names. Luke, is it? Could you tell me about yourself?” I was surprised by her demand. Why would she want to know me? If anything else, I should be the one inquiring that. She is the one here who suddenly appeared out of thin air.

“I could ask you of the same thing.”

“Well then. You tell me about yourself and then I’ll tell you about mine.” She prepared Iris and shoots it towards me.

“Should Iris record this?”

“Yup, Iris has the right to witness your story.”

My cheeks tensed and my lips involuntarily curled. Somehow this idea of hers makes me feel something- something quirky.

“I’m Luke Monasterio, 17. I was born in Makati but was raised in Pasay.”

“Nooo that would not work, it’s simple and boring.” she shrilled.

My eyes squinted at her. What would I tell her? How would I describe myself?

“Tell me a story when you’re in high school.”

“Oh, high school was the worst.”

“Why? Tell me.” She asked me like she was a therapist. Though I haven’t been in therapy before.

“Oh, high school is always the worst to nerds.” I pushed my chin with my thumb.

“No it’s not. You just have to be the hot nerd and it would be alright.”

“A hot nerd? Is that not irony?”

“No, it’s not. It’s a paradox.” she corrected me. I looked at her impressed. “But you don’t look like a nerd to me.”

I was surprised at her statement. People always say that I look like a nerd so I just accepted it. “So anyway, when I was in high school I was just bullied. One time, on our school field trip, the guys that were bullying me went overboard by spilling juice on my pants and they shouted that I peed on my pants making the bus stop. I really felt pissed about it and I never enjoyed that trip.”

“Gosh, what’s up with your classmates? Are they 10 year old kids?”

“Yeah they have 15 year old bodies but a mind of a 10.”

“It’s my turn then.” She pressed a button on Iris and the red light beside its lens fade. She then cleared her throat.

“Wait a minute,” I interjected “why did you turn Iris off?”

“Remember the rule? The one who yields the camera is forbidden...”

“To be seen by it, not hear it.”

“Well, hearing my story is like seeing through me. Like an x-ray.”

My heart started to beat faster. Though the lobby remained to be cool and comfy, I feel all hot inside. Not like a pervy manner but something else. What is this? Suspense? Wonder? She again portrayed one of Eureka’s characteristic. Now I’m going to hear the truth.

“Okay, my story, I am Eureka Cortez, 17. I was born and raised at Bacoor, Cavite...” I squinted at her for trying to make a point but she just laughed- a contagious laugh.

“Sorry. You told me a story of you past maybe I’ll tell about my future.”

“Really?” I felt my left eyebrow curled to the thought.

“No not really. But I’ll tell you the future I want to have. You see Iris here. She is not just a camcorder for me. She is a witness.” I swallowed hard. Maybe I know where this is going. “A witness to the moments, stories that I have encountered. And these moments, stories I refer to is held dear by those people I capture in it. That’s one of the things that I want to do. To preserve what is close to the heart of the people I know.” She paused for a moment and looked at me.

“Okay, go on say it...”

“What?”

“That my future is so corny and lame.” Half of her face was again covered by her shiny hair and I could see her half smile.

“No it is not lame. It is just so insightful so...different”

“Hey, you didn’t say that it wasn’t corny. So it was corny!” I kept my lips tight to keep me from smiling but I think she could already feel it, when I smile.

“You should continue now.”

“Well that’s pretty much it. I want to be a videographer. I want to show the world how I wanted them to see the life of people. People that they might have ignored or have taken for granted. I want them to see how I perceive of the events and stories I have captured. That is simply it. And I would be happy but...”

There is always a ‘but’ isn’t it, and I know where it is coming from.

“But your parents didn’t want you to.” I continued. She was startled. Her grin suddenly faded away and she looked at me seriously.

“Your parents wanted you to be a doctor instead. And that is why you ran away; to have your adventure yourself, to create a story by personally listening to other people’s story.”

“How...how do you know that? I never told you about my parents.” her voice was already trembling. The pink colour of her face was instantly drained. I, myself, am shocked by her reaction. I guess... I guess she really is Eureka Cortez and apparently she doesn’t know that she was a character from a book. A human made out of ink and paper. Maybe that’s why my book was completely wiped blank when she touched it.

“How do you know that?” she asked again, now a little louder.

“I’ve known you when I was fourteen, Eureka.”

“No. How come I have no memory of you? You must be bluffing!”

Because you didn’t exist until last night. “I know that when you get anxious or nervous, you fiddle with your lower lip unwarily.

“You can’t say that. You don’t know me.”

Yes I do, I have read you. “Apparently I do.”

“Have me met before?

“Eureka, you are a book character. You were written by Andrew Bautista. The book I gave you earlier, that’s you. I mean, I have read you there.”