Naked Minds: Reading your mind like an open book

8

>> GUN >>

"I don't think so. Alcohol is a depressant. It doesn't make sense for depressed people to take depressants." P'Off pointed out much to my surprise.

I sat in the car staring at P'Off. He did not just replied to my thoughts, right? I looked at him in bewilderment and uncertainty. We sat there looking back at each other.

"What's wrong?" He finally spoke.

"Why are you talking about alcohol being a depressant?" I asked.

"Didn't you say that you're probably happy because you're drunk?" He asked. "Or did I hear it wrong?"

"Could you read my mind?" I thought as I gave him a confused look. "So its not just me then."

He seemed like he was weighing what he would say next as he turned his head to look away from me.

"I'm now getting paranoid! Will he just say it out?" I thought.

"Stop being paranoid. I'm also not sure what is going on." He explained without looking back at me. "I know you can't hear my thoughts. For what it's worth, it's really something that's on and off for me. I'm not sure what triggers it so I don't know how long I have it. It started when we met. I'm assuming its something to do with you. Since when have you had this gift? How far does a person have to be for you to hear their thoughts? How do you manage all the noise?"

"I've had it eversince I was young. I'm not sure how I got it. It's not really about the distance. If I want, I can fine tune the noise to hear someone even if they are miles away. It's really noisy if i would listen to everything. I learned how to tune out the other noise and focus on those that matter. For some weird reason, it's just your mind that I can't hear." I said.

"I want to try something if you're alright with it."

"What is it?"

"Could you try not to filter other's thoughts? Or would that have an effect on you if you do that?"

"I-I uh It I" I stammered. "I tried that once and well... let's try it once we're at home."

"If it would have any effect on you, you don't have to do it." He said. "Could you try to listen to what P'Kwang is thinking?"

I focused on P'Kwang's thoughts. Her mind was pacing, "I hope those two could go home safely." After a pause, she continued, "What the fuck are they still doing down there?"

I stopped listening to P'Kwang then turned to P'Off.

"It means that it's time for us to go." P'Off drove off. He added while driving, "From what I've observed so far, it seems that I could only hear what you're hearing. I can hear your thoughts but you can't hear mine. My ability seems to be dependent on you  but its not as reliable. There seems to be a time limit."

"One more thing." I pointed out.

"What might that be?" He asked while trying to keep his eyes on the road.

"You can't detect if it's spoken or thought." I thought.

"Yeah. I guess so." He said.

"I know so. You ought to learn how to manage that otherwise there would be problem." I said in my mind.

"By the way, if there's anything on your mind that you don't want me to hear, just tell me so I'll try to filter it out." He said.

"Then you better have a headset handy. If you can't hear my voice, you won't also hear my mind." I suggested.

"I'll take your owrd for it." He said as we reached a stoplight. He frowned as he looked at me. "You ok? You look pale."

"I must've drank too much." My brows furrowed as I frowned. "It too much alcohol messes with my focus."