Chapter 11 (1/2)
”Gibran!” Fara's voice tried exceeding the whoos.h.i.+ng of winds and other vehicles.
”What?!”
”I… want… can… any…”
”Huh? What?!”
”I want to pee! Can we stop at any R&R after this?!”
”Owh! Roger that!”
You didn't want to stop earlier, and only at night did you get a call from nature, Gibbs grumbled. Gibbs saw a signboard stating Next R&R - 25km. That's quite far. As long as you don't leak on my bike, then that's fine.
Just 5km before reaching the R&R, Gibbs saw another signboard… Sorry - the R&R is being upgraded. Any difficulties in your part would receive our utmost regret. The next R&R - 33km.
”Fara! Can you still hold on?”
”Hah?!”
Gibbs parked his bike to the side. Vehicles drove to and fro. There were only gra.s.ses on the roadside and if you go deeper, trees.
”Why did you stop?” asked Fara, a little panic in her voice.
”I asked earlier but you didn't hear it. Ext R&R is in another 33km. Can you hold it?”
”33km?!”
Guess not.
”You could…” Gibbs started suggesting.
”I could what?”
Just do it here.”
”Hah?! You insane?! There's no way I'd do that!”
”It's night anyway, people won't see. Just go deeper into the bushes over there. Here, I have a mineral water in my bag if you want. So?”
Fara's face showed her hesitation. But looking at how she was 'dancing', it really looked like she wouldn't last longer.
She took the bottle from Gibbs' hand. ”Don't you dare peek!”
”No worries. I'll just sit here. If anything happens, scream hard, okay?” Gibbs advised.
Fara nodded. Just as she was going, Gibbs sounded again, ”Eh, wait a bit!”
”What is it?”
”Err… don't forget to say this - Greetings, ancestors. This young one would like to pee,” Gibss advised again.
Fara's steps stopped. ”Are you serious?”
”Do you want something else following us?”
Fara looked like she was about to argue with Gibbs again, but because she can't hold it in anymore, she just shook her head and went off.
Not long after that, (it's actually quite long, to the point Gibbs though whether the la.s.s was taking a pee or bathing.) Fara returned.
”Did you say what I told you to?” Gibbs asked in all seriousness.
Fara looked at him with an annoyed look. They continued their journey.
Before turning the corner towards Fara's aunt's place, Gibbs pleaded to her to stop at a food stall. There's no way she'd reject right… as even when she wanted to p.i.s.s in a bush, Gibbs just followed along.
”You seriously believe in all that?” Fara asked while Gibbs was gorging himself.
”All what?”
”The ancestor greetings and all that.”
Gibbs smile. ”I grew up in a village. It's become normal. When you do those long enough, it becomes common sense,” he explained.
”You? Growing up in a village?”
This time, in his heart, Gibbs laughed a rambunctious laugh. This was the tactic he always used, wanting to give out the aura of mysteriousness from himself. It's true he grew up in a village - 6 months. That's long enough, right? Long enough to be used to flirt.
”Why? You don't believe it?” Gibbs asked back.
”You don't look the part at all,” Fara commented.
Gibbs just smiled. ”Sometimes, we're just too quick in judging people,” Gibbs mocked. Not wanting the atmosphere to become any more awkward, he continued chatting, ”You? You don't believe them?”
”I do. But my belief isn't the same as yours. No ancestor this ancestor that.”
”What's your belief then?”
”I believe in what I can see.”
”Yeah, but we can't see these things. So you don't really believe them then?”
”The problem is, I can see them.”
Gibbs observed Fara in curiosity. ”You're telling me you see dead people?”
Fara looked straight into Gibbs’ eyes. He felt something inside him tremble, and it definitely wasn't because of his handphone.
”Yeah, I do.”
Gibbs chuckled. ”Nice try.”
Fara smiled. ”Sometimes, we're just too quick in judging people.”
”Okay, let's say I believe you,” Gibbs played along. ”Right now… is there any? Among us?
Fara looked around. Her eyes then focused on the man that sends water in the stall. She looked at him long. For some reason, Gibbs got the chills all over him.
”Behind that man… there's a little kid. A girl. Around 4. Maybe his late daughter,” said Fara.
Gibbs looked. It was clear that there was nothing behind that man.
”So… what's the story?” Gibbs continued playing along, pretending he wasn't scared.
Fara was silent, not answering. Then, she smiled… smiled towards the man's back. She nodded a bit as if beckoning to the one who saw her smile. Then, she bent down a bit, as if hearing something being whispered to her. Her smile then turned into one of sympathy.
”She drowned in a river. Her dad was engrossed in grilling fishes. He thought that her brother was looking after her, but the guy was playing with his friends,” Fara narrated.
What convincing act. Maybe she's like me with a talent in acting but never auditioned for Ray's shows, Gibbs thought.