Someone I'm Not

25|Hoping for clues

They've already spent two days without getting any further. Even adding new pairs of hands to help them, Philip and Vianne were still as dumbfounded as the rest as to where these clues might have gone. And with the remaining days that Eduardus's client had, they all agreed for her not to attend classes for the week, giving the teacher a believable excuse just so their teachers wouldn't get suspicious.

"So, what's the next step?" Philip asked after they stopped right in front of a thrift shop. With big cursive letters RUMMAGE, which the owner decided to name the store, Soroya entered the shop, thinking that she might be able to get a clue, even though it was impossible.

"Hey, can't we stop walking for a second to catch our breath? Or at least treat me with the dirty ice cream in a cone on the other side of the road? You know, I would like to have a pink one. Was that strawberry? Or did they already have a new flavor for"

"Zip your hunger up, ranger. You're only making things difficult for me, and you're only wasting your energy by talking." Soroya stops in her tracks and turns to face Philip, raising her pointer finger just at the level of his chest. "I saw that ice cream truck from the other side, and I am also craving ice cream with, well, a different flavor. So, how about we get this sh*t done quickly before going to buy and enjoy the ice cream after?"

[five minutes later]

"Mmm, that is so good!" Soroya moans with pleasure after tossing the last bits of her triple chocolate ice cream into her mouth. Behind her, Philip savored every last morsel of his ice cream cone like a kid on the verge of his first indulgence in ice cream.

A lack of acquaintances and friends around Philip indicates that their absence from the scene would spare him from those who would make fun of him for his interests. Even though he's only just met Soroya, a lady he's only known for a few weeks, he still feels safe in her company.

"I thought we were in a hurry." Philip teased Soroya after he looked in her direction.

"Yep, well, I just can't seem to let this ice cream truck go because, technically, the vendor might have chosen the wrong location to sell," Soroya explains as she looks over the back of the truck of ice cream disappearing. She heaves a sigh and looks over at Philip, who now had his eyes on Sororya. The woman smiled at him before she grabbed Philip's hand, holding the ice cream cone, and pushed it to Philip's attention, now that it was melting faster. "And because maybe, we won't have the chance to see it again here." She paused again when she realized what she had just said. Her words were now about her regrets. That is why she looked away and cleared her throat. "Because, as I've said earlier, I noticed how few people here crave ice cream.

Philip noticed how Soroya's expression and voice changed. He decided to speak, hoping to dodge whatever Soroya had on her mind. "Too bad they missed out on the fun of tasting sweets, right?" he smiled, enough to make her smile.

"Y-yeah." she shortly replied.

"I know, right? I mean, ice cream was the beginning of childhood. . . Maybe for some, but this should be the best food for any age! Even my grandmother likes it."

"Why?"

"hmm?"

Compared to Nico and Bret, you were the least I was close to when I was still alive. But now that I am possessing someone else's body-

"Philip?"

Both Soroya and Philip turned in the same direction at the same time when someone called for Philip's attention. Their eyes are now wide open when they see who it is.

"Babe?"

•••

[Same day]

[Vianne and Eduardus]

"And how many minutes do we have to waste just by standing here?" Vianne crosses her hands over her chest while she irritatingly looks around, unsure what they were waiting for in the first place. Eduardus, who already had his attention on Vianne's question, made him turn to his shoulder to defend his reasons.

"Hey! First of all, we are NOT wasting any time," he explains before looking back ahead to focus on the people around them. "And second, we're not just standing here, you know. We're playing a vital role here—"

"Oh, you mean, 'to stand under the sun for freaking one hour and probably—' what the f**k is this important role you're talking about!?"

"I was trying to help my client and your sister without complaining!"

"Then why can't we go to the shade and sit on those freaking benches!?"

"Bench!? We are obviously standing here because they were all occupied—"

"Then look again!" Eduardus quickly turned around to look at what Vianne was talking about.

"See!? There's no empty—" he tried to defend what he was talking about. But when the moment came for Eduardus's eyes to land on one of the empty benches, he stopped with his sentence. Vianne was right. "W-why didn't you tell me this earlier? You could have saved both of us from misery, you know? Standing under the sun!?" he asked, but all Vianne did was laugh at him with sarcasm.

"I was telling you that a couple of minutes ago. And clearly, you're too focused on THIS SIDE that you even failed to notice me walking on the benches and sitting there for at least thirty minutes. . . You're lucky you snapped up right now because, if not, you probably would have been standing here until all the people are all out and home."

"You—"

"Don't blame me for your incompetence in looking for your advantage. I'm not the one who neglected my responsibility of giving you a heads up. You just didn't listen." Vianne explains before she walks back to the empty bench. Eduardus follows her closely, now noticing the backpack she's been carrying since they got out of the house they were temporarily living in is already in there. "You seriously didn't try hard to get my attention, didn't you? You just wanted to make me look a fool of myself there, no?"

"Psh! And how was that even my fault? Besides, if I wanted you to look like a fool, I probably left you here thirty minutes before you snapped at it." Vianne sits on the bench, pulling her backpack close. Eduardus points at her with a fake laugh.

"Oh, don't worry. I won't even dare steal anything from you if that's what you're worried about." He scoffs, but he clearly doesn't have the attention to fight. It was as if he enjoyed their little argument, and he wanted it to stay that way. Eduardus takes a seat on the other edge of the bench, creating a space between him and Vianne. Though it's not that wide of an area, it was enough for them to feel each other's presence. Vianne then decided to open her bag and took out a triangular-shaped one.

"Here." Vianne hands Eduardus an item wrapped in a white napkin. Eduardus, for a second, had processed what was happening and what was in front of him. "Oh, please. If you, the mysterious Eduardus, are doubting me now, why did you agree to partner with me on this mission in the first place?"

"Hmm. Well, maybe because I just want to spend time with you—" Eduardus stopped himself from talking, but it was already too late. He turned to face Vianne, who had a curious look, and he had to clear his throat and wear an embarrassed smile. "I said that out loud, didn't I?"

Vianne's cheeks turned red instantly, making Eduardus feel much worse. There were butterflies in his stomach, and that only diverted his attention. He quickly grabbed the food Vianne was handing out. "Thanks for that, by the way!"

"It's Uhm, well, no problem! I figured we would need snacks because this mission might take us longer than anticipated." Vianne replied while looking away, not sure when she would be able to look at him without feeling something familiar. "So, Uhm, go on. Have a bite and tell me what you think because, well, I'm not sure if you'll like the combination."

Eduardus delicately lifts the napkin until he realizes it is a peanut butter sandwich with something he couldn't figure out. Vianne took out her sandwich and slowly looked over at Eduardus, who had already had his first bite.

"So?"

But no words came out of his mouth. But, as Vianne watches Eduardus's expression, she knows she hit him something. What part? She's not sure. But for some reason, she was expecting, hoping, for his heart.

•••

[An hour earlier]

[Houdini and Phoenix]

"I see you already know what's going on with you and your friend."

Houdini decided to speak up because of the awkwardness he was feeling. Thinking of how he hated Phoenix (from the present), he wasn't sure if teaming up with Phoenix (from the past) was the best idea they had. Was it for him to befriend the guy until the mission was over? Or was it just to irritate him?

"N-not, really. All I've heard was about my friend's dream— well, more like a nightmare for an obvious reason." Phoenix replies as he places down his tray of food. His first two classes have ended, and now, it's time for their recess. "But, Houdini—"

"Sir." Houdini quickly corrected, not wanting the guy in front of him to call him simply by his name.

"O-okay. Well, Sir Houdini—"

"J-just sir, okay? No need to mention my name," he corrected once again, sending a much awkward atmosphere for them. And for the first time, Houdini felt something different.

"Okay, sir, it is. . . But, all I wanted to say was that, of all the things that are happening now that I can't clearly go back, I only have one question."

"Sure, what is it?" 'Make sure it's worth my time, boy.' he thought to himself. And while Phoenix was placing down his food one by one and pushing some in Houdini's direction, he went on to his question.

"Why do I feel like it's more serious than just a dream? I mean, it is not that I'm starting to doubt my friend, but. . . I don't think this dream, or nightmare, is as simple as sleeping and waking up the next morning."

"And what do you have in mind?"

"Because, if it was just a dream and she wanted to dodge it, why involve you guys? I don't even clearly know you, but maybe my friend met you when I was away. . . Ahem. Well, my point is, how can a dream be this serious, right? It even gave me the chills from last night until now, just by thinking about it."

'It's because it is not as simple as that, boy.' This was the statement Houdini had in mind as a response. But, judging how confused the guy in front of him was, he needed to stretch out his patience so he wouldn't get overwhelmed. "But, you trust Eduardus's— I mean, Soroya, right?"

"I do... I really do." Eduardus nods as he sets the tray aside.

"Why?"

Houdini throws the question almost too quickly while he feels fluttered with the food in front of him. Suddenly, he sees small glitches, enough for them to cause a minor headache.

"Simple. Because I do." Houdini's headache suddenly disappeared as if it was a joke. He lifts his gaze to look at Phoenix's face, only to see him wear a small yet genuine smile. "Let's eat?"

"Sure—"

"Hey! You're going to eat without even inviting us to your table!?" Both men flinch when Nico and Bret come and join them for a break.

"You sneaky little b***h, Phoenix— and oh! Sorry for the language, bro." Nico turned his attention back to Phoenix. "So, who is this new friend you got here? Mind to introduce us to him?"

"Well guys, this is. . ." Phoenix trails off with his words, not sure if it is appropriate to call him sir or just by his name. His gaze then locks with Houdini, a sign that he needs help. And clearly, Houdini seemed to get what his stare meant. That's why he grinned.

'Time to play a bit, Phoenix.'