Unknown - 1° Chapter

Not in Spain anymore...

2016, time of technology and knowledge, time when human rights are more advertised than ever, when every subject is available in the net and when almost every experience is possible. Or so we thought. One thing most can't have access to. The experience of the true world. Yeah, I know it seems impossible to happen these days. In my opinion, not so much. We still believe the world is divided into two parts: good and bad. Why can't we believe in another world? Okay, okay, calm down... You're probably thinking I am a crazy person writing this for her therapy session but no. It really happened. To me. And I'll give the opportunity the know what happened.

Happened five years ago, I was a college student in Barcelona. Living my life the same way as everyone else. If you saw me walking down the street, you wouldn't notice me. I consider that one of my best qualities and it comes very handy when teachers are looking for someone to answer a question in class. But in my story, I wasn't discreet enough.

One day, I was walking out of one of my classes and I get a call from Portugal.

- Hi auntie!

- Hi Lia, how are you and how's Barcelona?

- Good,good...

- And how's school?

- College is great, thanks. Almost over but good.

- Great! So what are your plans for this summer?

- I have plans with my friends. We were thinking about going to the beach to spend 2 weeks there... but why? 

( Her question sounded weird and suspicious...)

- Well, your cousin Marta wants to go to Barcelona and visit the city. Could she stay with you? Would you mind? Just for a week...

- Humm... Okay, I don't see why not... 

( Well, actually, I did. You wanna know why? Because she's a pain in the ass! She's spoiled, rude and probably she won't visit half the city because all she wants to do is get drunk. Can't blame her, she's 18 but come on... I'm 23, a little old to babysit drunk people. But what can I do? She's family...)

- Okay, when will she be coming?

- Tomorrow... 

(Says her in a lower voice)

- Tomorrow?!

- Yeah, I know but you know how she is... She can be stubborn... 

(I would say manipulative and spoiled but okay...)

- Well, okay, I'll pick her up from the airport.

- Thank you, the flight comes from Porto and lands at 9.00h. You can meet her in Gate 2. 

- Okay, don't worry, she'll be fine with me...

The next day, I went to the airport. Thousands of people walking out and I was still capable to distinguish her from the rest of the crowd. Her long blonde hair and shinny red high-heels can be seen from miles away.

- Hiiiiiiiiii Lia!

- Hi Marta, how was the flight?

- Great but they didn't serve alcohol... It would have smoothen the trip A LOT but no worries raight?  

- Right... So, let's go home, you may want to rest a little...

- Rest?! I have the whole city to explore and you want to rest? Okay, granny... 

( Breath in, breath out... It's not working... Count to 10... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6... okay, better...)

- Okay, we'll drop your bags in my house and then we'll go sightseeing! 

( If that's what you want...)

- Better, let's go!

And we walked around the city all day. When I got home, I was desperate for a good night of sleep but no, of course I didn't have it. Marta wanted to go out and I knew that she couldn't go alone so I was dragged on going with her. She putted on a black tight dress with silver high heels and I, as usual, wore jeans, trainers and a shirt. ( We already know who pulled more guys that night...) It was 01:00h and she decided to go to a Irish Pub. We walked in and first thing she sees:  a group of young people laughing and drinking beer ( Of course that's the first thing she notices... Not surprisingly,  she wanted to join them, maybe because the number of cups per a person represented that she would feel confortable there... who knows?)

Even though they were drunk, I should say, they were very nice people until they were asked about their purpose on being in Barcelona, since the huge backpacks and the accent indicated they were foreign people. 

- We're having an Interrail through Europe and we plan on going to the seaside tomorrow. Do you guys wanna come?

Marta's face just lighted up. Unfortunately for her, I was there to rain on her parade.

- No, we have stuff to do here in Barcelona but thank you anyway...

- What?! No, no, don't listen to her. Excuse us... What are you doing? We have the opportunity to go to the beach with a group of cool people!

- No, we're not going! I promised your mother you'd not get in trouble and I don't think she would appreciate you going to the beach with a people you met 5 minutes ago.

- Oh really?! What if I call her? 

- You can't call her, it's 03:00h in Portugal!

- Watch me!

And she did. She called her mother who, for my surprise, said yes... as long as I go as well. Honestly, in that moment, I didn't know who I hated the most, Marta or her mother...

After agreeing and talking through some details (with some beer), we got home at 4:30h. Marta was exploding with entusiasm, while I was trying not to choke her with my bare hands. After 1 hour of sleep and 1 hour to pack up, we're ready to go. Got to the train station at 7.00h, while Marta's "friends" were already there waiting... and for my surprise, they had packed tents. Me and Marta did not have tents. 

- No worries Marta, you can sleep in my tent, if you want... - said Jack, of her newly friends.

- Thank you, you're amazing! 

- Lia, I have room in my tent. - said Joe. 

- Humm, okay, thanks. 

And we left. As the train started to move, I thought: I'm leaving Barcelona to go to the seaside with a bunch of strangers and my cousin, who I wish was a stranger. How can life become better?

After a 3-hour journey, we arrived. To nowhere. I had no idea where I was. Luckily, Matt and Lucy (the two love-birds) knew where we were. 

- So, where will we camp? - asked Joe.

- Near the beach, we know a place 5 minutes from here. It's special for us. It's where we spent our first anniversary... - said Matt. 

(Oh god, please hold my breakfast where it belongs!) 

- Shall we?

We walked, walked and finally got there safe, sound and tired. All of us tented up and went to sleep... 

(Who am I kidding?! Of course it didn't go that way. While Marta was sleeping with Prince Jack training to continue our family tree, I was trying to sleep in the same tent as Joe, who had the most horrible breath I ever felt in my life. It smelled worse than a trash can outside a restaurant on a friday night!) After the poison, sorry, breath finally knocked me out, I slept for 10 straight hours, just woken up by the amazing and beautiful smell of dirty socks. Yeah, it seems that Joe has a tendecy to move while he sleeps. After a shower, I was ready to take on any challenge!

- People, we have an idea. Why don't we rent a car and visit the nearbys? - suggested Jack and Marta.

The idea sounded, actually good and so we did. We packed our stuff and went to rent a car.