The Conspiration of the Universe

Chapter 11

11

(page 2 of 126)

It was Sunday. When I woke up, I instantly checked Eureka on Matt’s bed. I felt my eyes widen and my spines shudder. She was not there.

I began to panic. What if her existence is a one day only? That is so sad. I went to the living area to check if she’s there but it was empty and quiet and plainly white. Like it always do. Sigh.

I went to the bathroom to pee and wash up, when I heard the door creek open. I investigated it as soon as possible. It was Eureka, thank goodness! She was wearing the same hoodie she wore when she came/existed here.

“I just went out to get us some breakfast” she explained. “You look flustered, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m alright. I just thought you were gone.”

She brushed back her hair with her fingers and smiled at me. “I’m sorry I worried you.”

Yeah I was worried like hell, don’t you do that again!

“No, I, I’m not worried or something about you.” I stammered. She eyed me suspiciously.

“I’ve bought us some bacon and eggs.”

“Oh, Eureka, good morning, where did you get the money?”

“When, I ran away, I borrowed a lot of my money from my parents.” she smirked at me. I remembered in the book that she did borrow/stole money from her parents.

“Now, you have money, but eventually it would run out. What are you going to do about it?” I arched my eyebrow and slightly raising my chin as if I was challenging her.

“Relax, dad, I would eventually work.” She rolled her eyes to me. She’s playful, alright.

“Good, because I would definitely would be depleted of my allowance from your grandma.”I said in my best fatherly voice. Good thing I’m playful as well.

For the second time, we ate breakfast together.

***

Eureka and I watched YouTube videos all day at my laptop in the living area, specifically at our theoretical couch which is just practically cushions. It was (not exactly) surprising that Eureka had no exact idea what YouTube is. I can’t shake the idea that her knowledge of the world right now is limited because of the fault of Andrew Bautista. He didn’t write something about the internet so Eureka has no idea about it like she was some kind of dinosaur. But I guess that is just the limits of writing; one cannot write everything.

“So, when you typed here your question or anything at all...” I, explaining Google, “you would get the results you want.”

“I’ve own a computer, but I never knew of this!” I remembered the days of the computer without the internet. It was tragic, doing nothing but Paint, relying on diskettes. ‘Diskettes’ saying that word in my head feels wrong. Diskettes.

Her eyes sparkled as she had been gifted with something precious- knowledge. Then after some hours she was a real teenager for being able to grasp the power of the Internet. She started watching YouTube and after a while I joined her. Her never-fading smile to me was some kind of payment.

We watched tons of video, a few of Vsauce videos and a lot of CollegeHumor videos. One video question why people need to turn their digital gadgets off when riding an airplane. That was hilarious!

“That is so true.” She said, catching her breath for giggling so much. Her hair is covering half of her face.

“Yeah, they really showed them, huh?”

“Airplanes are magic! Okay?! No one knows how it works. Scientists want you think that it works because of lift or thrust but it is not That’s why you have to turn off your gadgets now!.” she said imitating the flight attendant in the video. I laughed even more. “This website address is awesome.”

“I know, but you should not call it a ‘website address’. It makes you sound so old. Just call it site. And it’s called YouTube”

She nodded. “Maybe someday I would put my videos in there as well. Might you help me?”

“Of course, I’ll help you. But first, you have to learn more okay?”She giggled some more like I said something ridiculous.

The door flew open. It opened like our house was being raided .It was Matt standing at the doorstep looking so surprised. “Hi!” he said. He looked at Eureka for a long time. Like it was the first time he saw a girl in our apartment. Oh, yeah it is the first time a girl was in our apartment. Sydney never bothered to go here.

His shoulders were lazily hanging and his curly hair was as dishevelled as always. I stood up from where I was seated and quickly walked toward him grabbing his shoulders to show him outside.

“Who’s that? Is that what you always do when I’m not here? You invite a hot girl and frolic?” he sounds rather upset than confused. I was surprised that he was more concerned of that. Well, not really, it was Matt after all.

“No. Matt. Let me explain.”

“No, Luke. This is extreme. I thought we should not have any secrets to each other when it comes to our house. But you have a dirty secret of yours right there” he pointed at Eureka.

“Hi!” Eureka interjected. She was still seated at her spot but looking at us.

“Okay, Matt, first of all she is not dirty. She is not a secret at all. I just met her yesterday.”

“Yesterday?! You dog! How did you manage to get that?” again pointing to Eureka now both of his hands.

“No, listen first...wait, what do you mean ‘how did I manage to get that’?”

“You said you met her yesterday, and now she’s in our house? How could have you done that, you flirtatious dog! I’m the one who is hotter and cooler between the two of us at the same time.”

“That is not true!”

“Which one: you being a flirtatious dog or me being hotter and cooler than you?”

Okay we are not getting anywhere.

“Listen, she is not what you think she is.”

“She’s not?”

I glanced back at Eureka and smiled at her. She just gave me a so-what’s-up look.

“You see, she came out of the book.” I widened my eyes to him to prove a point.

“Book? Dude, I know this. My friend this is quite weird to you but its normal. They’re real you know.”

“What are you talking about? And please don’t say dude, you know it’s very unfitting to you.” Seriously it doesn’t fit for him.

“Dude, I know you think they are not real even though you call them friends but they are real. People you see in f*******: are real. They don’t come out from there.” He smirked at me.

“No, she’s not from f*******:! Heck f*******: is not even a book! It’s a misnomer.”

“Oh, I’m Luke, my name orders you to luke at me and I use fancy words such as misnomer blah, blah, blah.” He perfected the voice of mockery. “Of course I know f*******: is not a book! I thought we are playing dumb here?”

“No, Matt! Ugh sometimes you could be a pain...”

“Oh don’t you dare say pain in the ass.”

“No! I’m gonna say pain in the A-delta fibres!”Nice one, I congratulated myself. I hope I used it correctly, though. I’m not good in Biology or whatever subject that it is related to. I just read it on a journal.

He slowly closed his eyes like he disapproves of the world. “Okay, you’re just hopeless.”

“Matt just listen, do you know A Starless Night?” I whispered.

“You mean the one you were obsessing about back then? And why are you whispering?”

“Yes that was it and she came out from that book!”

“What the eff are you talking about?” his slanted eyes squinted at me. I don’t know if he could still even see me.

“I know it is hard to believe at but like you said, we should not keep secrets from each other so I’m telling you that she came out of the book!” I slowly explained.

“Why don’t you just admit the truth, Luke?”

“I just did.”

“Just admit that you are a master hypnotist and hypnotized this absolutely gorgeous girl to make her your toy. That I’ll believe. Not your wilder explanation.”

I sighed in defeat. Matt wouldn’t believe me. No one would ever believe me.

“Hey,” Eureka joined us outside.

“Hey.” Matt acknowledged.

“I’m Eureka Cortez, Luke must have mentioned.”

“No he haven’t mentioned yet. I’m Matt Rivera. Luke’s roommate”

“Yes, I’ve heard. I think Luke here is struggling to explain our terms.”

“Yes he does. Why don’t you explain what is really happening here?”

“Well, Luke and I have met three years ago but I seem to have forgotten it. Just recently we came across each other again because I ran away from home and somewhat ended up here. Since I have no other place to go and no other person to seek help, I have asked Luke if I could stay at your house for the mean time. Don’t worry, I have saved a few bucks but I’m afraid it won’t last long.”

Matt was stunned for a second there. I looked at Eureka and nodded at her, a way of me saying good job. She couldn’t have explained it any better.

“Luke, you could have told me that. There is nothing to be ashamed of anyway.”

“You’re right.” I half-agreed

“Even though I’m supernova hot, I am still kind and humble. So, I would let this beautiful lady stay even though it would feel really weird.”

“Oh wow thank you!” Eureka widely grinned. She was almost bouncing with delight. “And you’re right; you are hotter and cooler than Luke.”

“Woah, Eureka watch out, Matt’s head might swell up and explode. It would create a supernova!”

“Ha ha! You’re just jealous!” Matt claimed. Eureka glanced at me with her crooked smile of hers. For some reason, I felt heat accumulating at my cheeks.

“No I am not jealous!” I rebutted fiddling with my glasses.

“Sure you are...why don’t we come inside now. The mosquitoes here are really bugging me.” He punned. They started to go inside the house but I managed to grab Matt on the shoulder to stop him.

“Matt, I want to tell you that I am very grateful for making her stay but what I have said, about her coming out of the book, was true. Look for a copy of A Starless Night and read it and all of this would be clear.”

“You’re not making any sense Luke.”

“Matt, please. I need you to trust me on this one.” He looked at me seriously and I returned it.

“Okay, I’ll find a copy and we’ll see.”

“Thank you. And one more thing, please don’t mention this to Eureka.”

“Why not?”

“Because she’s not ready yet, I think.” He just looked at me quizzically and sighed. “Hey, I’m the sigher one here. You’re stealing my line!” I claimed indignantly.