Film of Love

The Way of Unfolding Secrets

An hour passed by inside the car. No one talked as we both agreed on one thing and another. We are now in Gare de Péage De Dozulé, and I am paying the fee for lesser traffic jams. Like who does like to be stuck in this enormous traffic jam. Instead of an hour of trips it became two or more hours.

Dem is sleeping like a log in the passenger seat. I let her because I am the one who keeps on insisting for her to come with me, however, she knows I hate going there. The place gives me a different vibe and feeling. Is there something special happening in there or it is either telling me something or it’s just my guts. People tell other people that their guts is one of their best personal assets while me on the other hand beg to differ.

The deciduous trees’ leaves are now showing colors of autumns.The autumn foliage of some trees show only yellow colors, some are brownish to orange or red. I originally like spring when the flowers of every color blooms like a wildfire, which makes me happy. Fall is quite the opposite, it is when crops and fruits are gathered and leaves fall or a period of maturity or incipient decline in the autumn of life.

We turned on the radio and put some country music in. I looked back at the extended cab just to check on the things there, if they have not stumbled, but it shouldn't be looking dramatic because the path is great anyways.

“Ey!” she shouted which made me startled but I regained composure immediately. She yawned and rubbed her eyes.

“Good morning!” I greeted her, she was in her own world — she didn’t even bother to look at me.

“Where are we?” she asked. I looked at the side of the road. I still can’t see a precise landmark to tell her where we are at the moment.

“Still on the road,” I just said. “We are still in A. De Normandie.” I heard a loud noise beside me and she just slumped body on the seat and looked so bored.

“What’s with the look?” I asked.

“I know you know what it is,” she responded. “Look like a bored person here.”

“Really? Want me to tell you something?”

“What is it?” she asked, hinting that she is interested in these things.

I smiled and tried to remember all the things that happened earlier. “Actually, you know me and you know I like taking a jog or a walk beside the old harbor.”

“Yes!~ What about it?”

“Well, this lady called me out of the blue when I was about to go home,” I started.

“Is that the lady who keeps the envelope?” She suddenly blurted out and I was shocked.

“How did you know?” I asked.

“You didn’t know her until now when everybody knows her and her tactics,” she replied. “Nonetheless, she is known as the town’s secret keeper,”

“Keeper of the letters?”

“Precisely!” She enthusiastically said, she moved her body and changed her seating position.

“She is popular and I don’t know why you didn’t know her,”

“Oh, my bad!~” I sarcastically apologize without making an apologetic face. Is there a need, a mandatory issue of need to recognize every person in the town? I want an answer because I feel it is up to that person if they want to know people they met or just random people in your commune.

“Let’s drop that. So what is it?” she said.

“She gave us the letters and I thought it is all for mom and surprisingly I have a letter too,”

“Did you open it?”

“Not yet,” I said. I will read it when we get back home. “When we go back.”

After that the silence took over the whole ride, but not for too long when Dem suggested we turn on some music that can make me stay awake the whole ride.

"Bienvenue à Caen!" I read in my mind the greetings in the arc, telling us that we are finally at their border.

I hate that line, the line that makes me feel different emotions. It is always like this and I don't have any idea why. If it's not for our business I surely would decline the job, but we need this urgently to be delivered so I have no choice to be the delivery service today. I'm still grateful— above all this uneasiness within me— I have someone with me, Dem is with me.

Turning left and right until we reach the destination. The streets are busy, which I am thankful for a bit because the streets have people doing their own things and just like in Honfleur they are also decorating late and some shops are ready for the fall.

I saw Uncle Zahn on my mother's side. He is the best and when it comes to baking and cooking he cooks good just like mom. I ask myself why didn't he ponder and choose to build his own cafe or much more a restaurant when he has the capabilities to build one.

"The town is not a ghost town anymore," Dem commented. I shook my head at what she just said. That's the way she described the town whenever we come here. It's quiet and not crowded and I believe that this is the only part where it is always like this, but not today they say.

"I'm glad." I pulled her towards Uncle whose back is facing us decorating the canopy.

"Ehem!" I faked coughing, hoping it would reach his ears.

"Sorry, we are not open yet!" he responded, not bothering to look at us.

"But we want to have breakfast," I said, insisting on going inside.

"Sorry, miss but—" he cut himself when he finally decided to turn around. "Aryn! Dem! Mes petits anges!" He hugged both of us like we didn't see each other last month.

"Uncle the pastries?" I asked.

He let go from the hug and now started looking where the hell is the pastry. "I really forgot about it."

"It's fine, uncle," I said with assurance. "The box is at the back, the extended cab."

Uncle Zahn went ahead of the car parked in front of the cafe.

We just parked here temporarily because the parking lot is a bit far and we have boxes to hold, it is not so convenient for us.

"Your mother didn't update me, however she did message me beforehand," he said. “Now! Let’s get some food and catch up a little bit before you two go home. Let's enjoy it while the sun is up and bright!”

Caen is a bit of a long way to the coast. They are not any other alike from Honfleur that there is really a water. They probably have but they are surrounded by mountains and forestry. I look around because the feeling of oddness is coming back, add the wind that passed by.

We went inside and saw Auntie Eve at the counter, stocking the newly delivered pastries with her daughter. They are closed and will be late in opening the store. The other pastries that were newly baked were displayed not long ago.

I saw Uncle Zahn went to the counter holding the recipes. "What is this again?"

"The recipes for the new beverage and some ice cream," I replied as we both sat near the counter.

"Bonjour, Tante Eve et Stella!" Dem and I greeted the lady and received a sweet smile from the ladies.

"What do you want?" she asked. I looked at the board menu and it is actually the same menu as the other store except for the one specialty drink and cake.

"I'll get the Moka chaud à la vanille and.." I looked at Dem for her order so I can tell her at the same time.

"Uhm...Glace Américaine for me,"

"Moka chaud à la vanille et glace américaine." Auntie Eve nodded her head while writing down our orders. Meanwhile, Uncle Zahn makes his way out the counter and gets a stool and sits beside me.

"So...how are you doing?" he asked.

"Why so formal, Uncle?" Dem asked, stopping herself from chuckling.

"Why not?” he replied, chuckling. His eyes and the way his wrinkles appear on his forehead is the same as my mother and he is 3 years older than my mother. “Let me change that. Did you guys find a company to apply to?”

About that I still didn’t receive anything but I wonder about Dem. I didn’t know she was looking at me until I looked at her.

“I still didn’t receive any emails, but I did apply to some companies,” I replied.

“How many companies did you apply to? How about you Dem?”

“I applied for…I think 5 companies?” I doubted as I forgot how many companies there were.

“I applied too with the same number of companies.” That clarifies my doubt as we both applied to but some of the companies in that number are different as we have different degrees.

Uncle nodded his head. “You guys apply for another set of 5 new companies.”

We both took note of that. I think it is a strategy for us to get either 1 out of 10 companies to hire us. His daughter went to us as she served us our orders.

“You guys must not be too complacent with the numbers of the company because to be honest, there are more students who are fresh graduates and some has more skills than you guys,”

We both nodded in understanding. This is now life, and reality. No need to be such a brat when it comes to applying. Oh my dream company! Will you be out of my hands again? I sighed sadly of the thought I just had.

‘Levitate Company’ is one of my favorite and top entertainment companies. They are not only producing great artists and products but also they also produce great film crews too. I do believe that they have their own film crew so they don’t hire from the others which is a great move.

I am actually in a dilemma if I’ll be choosing a position of a film intern or I’ll be directing to be a ‘screenwriter’. That is my specialty anyway, it is hard and exciting to try new things but then again, I remembered I am still starting and if I accept this and that job will I be able to do them? That's the question.

—

“Come back again here!” Auntie Eve said, while hugging us as a farewell. Not like others who seem to normalize other people giving something back to our home, it is not the case here. There is no such thing like that so then, we went out and got inside the car.

“Can we go have a mini tour here?” Dem suddenly asked.

“Why?” I asked back, ready to go as my seatbelt was already on me.

“I still don't want to go back,” she replied. “Besides, if I will be accepted in the company in Marseille then I won’t have the time to go back here.”

Even though there is this feeling of oddness in this part of the city or street, Caen is one of our favorite communes here in Normandy besides, of course, Honfleur. I looked at her and nodded. I removed my seatbelt and we both went outside.

“Let’s just take a stroll,” I said.

“Sure!” She smiled at me. “By the way, we can visit the shops here. It’s been a while since we saw the other shops as we both hurried to go home.”

Nervously looking at the town, I just nodded my head. I can’t always be like this. I can’t always be afraid of things , especially when I am old enough to face whatever it is.

I know that there is something wrong within me. Like, who the hell is normal sleeping and waking up with a forehead sweating and mind is shuffling with the reality and a dream, or moreover, a nightmare.

—

“Where am I?” I asked myself when I am surrounded with places I don’t know and people that I am not familiar with. “I am not sleep paralysis, right?” First thing to get into my mind because my insomnia and me,having disrupted sleeping patterns might trigger sleeping paralysis. I am not sure but I am sure that I am able to move because I am walking towards a hallway of painted white walls.

“Is this a hospital?” I looked around and my feet did its part and led me to a family sitting in the chairs across an emergency room. Policies are here too, maybe an accident happened.

“Take him, Général Edward” a man in his 40ties said to the Inspecteur Général present in this area.

“Monsieur! I didn’t do anything! I am not part of this!” the man pleaded the man.

I see other Police Nationale too talking to each other. I walk towards the man and the General Edward who is now talking.

“Haze, isn't that cruel?” an old man appeared at the back, basically a foot away from me, making me surprised.

“Dad? Are you serious?” he looked at the man frowning like he can’t believe what the man just said and it is his dad. “Your grandchild is in this mess and you will say that?”

The man just laughed at what his son just said.

“Are you on drugs?”

The man stopped laughing and immediately looked at him. Ooh!~ Scary!~

“Stop with that bullshit. I am not high.” After that he exited the scene. I walk towards the crying ladies…I mean the only crying lady is on the right and the other one seems to be looking alright.

“Diana, did you ask any updates about my daughter and your son?” The voice of the woman who just spoke was familiar…very familiar actually. She looked up coming from her head low and that’s when I figured out who and it was very close to me. It was mom and if mom was here then the daughter she was talking about must be me. But what happened? Who is the son? Why are we here? Why am I in the emergency room? Where is this place?

—

I was woken up and the question that I made out of curiosity is still there, stuck there waiting for someone to answer. I didn’t ask mom, I didn’t apprise anyone about this not even Dem, however I clued in Dem about the feeling I have in the street we are now taking a stroll.

Old paned windows with its unpainted canopy and worn out signage hang on the top before the wooden door. I looked at the top and saw the store’s name ‘Little Old and New Library, Since 1988’ I read in my head.

“Are we sure we're going to come in here?” I asked Dem, asking her for assurance whether we are going to this place where all sorts of feelings of uneasiness can be felt. I hate this feeling.

“Are you scared?” she asked me back. I looked at her and rolled my eyes. I am not scared, I am just feeling odd. “We can go to the next shop if you want but it's not so thrilling and fun.”

Here comes her thrill and fun in life. I wonder why she didn’t leave figure skating when we both know she would rather go for car racing, fencing, any kind of martial arts or anything that can give you a 50/50 rate in life.

No other bell sounds different but here the store’s bell sounds kinda off or it is just me? I looked at her and she looked absolutely fine while walking to the counter whereas no one is currently there.

“Is this like a honesty store?”

She looked at the counter and back to me. “Why? Is it because no one is on the counter?” I nodded my head. “Nothing said about this store being a honesty store version.”

“Alright!” I scanned the shelfs to see that most of the books are old, some older than me by a few decades, some by maybe centuries. I am fascinated by how they get these types of books that are aging hundreds of years preserved like a new book in the present times.

“If you were given a chance today, would you take the chance to borrow a book?” Dem opened up a topic in the midst of a long silence.

“Hmm..” I let out while thinking as well as scanning. “Maybe?”

“Really?” she eyed me with her twinkling eyes. ‘Oh!~ that’s not a good look’ I thought.

“Here is a book of spells and witchcraft,” she said while handing me a heavyass old book. I don't even know where she got it.

“What the hell, Dem!” I said glaring at the back of my friend. “What are we four? And Do you even believe in this crap!?”

I keep on talking and struggling and ranting about the book I have now. It is heavy like some rock was inside.

“Mind you, keep your voice down, ladies,” a voice of a man suddenly said at our backs. We both stop, I am gulping the last fluid I have because of the sudden goosebumps that spread on my body. You know that you are surprised but instead of screaming your lungs, you can’t or you can but someone is holding your body in control of not screaming.

I slowly look at the book and realize something or assume something that might answer what is happening right now.

“You can turn around,” he said again. “Nevermind, I’ll just go to the front desk.”

“What are you guys doing here?” he asked. We are now facing the guy, who is tall and a bit thin with his eye glass on and some mustache attached. His fashion looks old and vintage but his face doesn’t look old enough to suit his style. “I mean it's a library, you can either read, borrow or scan something and write your wishes in there.” He pointed at the little corner of where wishing thingy is located.

“I don’t have anything regarding a book but I am wondering why my feelings here, in this whole area feel odd?” I asked directly, on point. I saw him ‘hem’ as he put his hands under his chin like he was deeply thinking about my question.

After a few minutes he finally opened his mouth. “I know someone can tell you ‘why’ and you might also find something that you might want to know.”

“And who might it be?”

“You see that shoe shop?” he pointed out at the shop across the street.

I nodded. “Yes?”

“Go in there and asked for Mr. Achilles.”