VIEWPOINT

Chapter Three

      The thirty minutes has gone by and Ria went back to her university. As for me I remain in my seat in 7-Eleven. Why would she make a face like that, before she left, she gives me a pity look. She was so happy a while back. You can’t understand these people. I think I should be doing some research about my past. My past will be a critical factor in my situation right now. As for the people who might know me in my past, I shall try to extract information from them.

     I think I should leave here right now. The guard is really disturbed of my presence since I came here. It’s almost 11 o’clock, 4 hours since I went here. So I go out. The sun shines and it’s scorching hot. Afternoon in a country like this is very deadly.  A great amount of radiation can cause skin cancer to anyone who wishes to expose themselves for too long. I just remembered that the daughter will be spending launch in a nearby Mc Donald’s; I should take a look in the place as early as now. She will be arriving at exactly 12 o’clock.

     I entered the fast food chain and I found myself in the middle of many De La Salle students. This place is like a hive of bees. There are many students enjoying their meals, talking in chorus. They are full of emotions. Some shouts without any reason. Though there are many students, there are still plenty of vacant seats to occupy. I shall go into the place where a view from the outside can be seen. I know the daughter of the family. She loves landscapes and photography. She would even always carry her DSLR camera just to capture any desirable views. Now I shall order my meal, it is a long line to wait.

     I ordered a typical chicken meal and I know that 100 pesos is enough for a standard meal. I sit in the vacant table next to the one near the window. Now I will wait. I am certain that the daughter will go here, according to her.

     After a short wait, the daughter indeed comes. I never even doubted her. She is always true to her words. I see her with her friends. They are all girls, when I observe a little more carefully, I see Ria with them.

     We crossed paths again, of all the students to meet, why her, someone who recognizes me. She runs towards me and talks to me again, as expected.

     “You are still here? Why are you waiting?” Ria asks me.

     The daughter gives me a confused look. The other girls give Ria annoying faces I can’t understand.

     “Someone you know?” the daughter of the family asks Ria.

     “No Sena, I just meet him this morning.”

     Only pureblood family members are able to call their family in their first name. This is my first time hearing the daughter’s name casually. Sena, even I can’t speak the word. Not that we are forbidden, but as a sign of respect, we can’t call them like this casually.

     This girl really is a drag. Now that I learn that she is friends with the daughter, I must find a way to conceal my identity and look for an alias. I observe them, the other girls goes into the line to place their orders. Ria and the daughter are left alone. The daughter activated the voice recorder in her uniform and connects it with my communication device as she might want me to hear their conversation. I plug the earphone in my right ear and I listen to their conversation as I look away from them.

     “Actually, that guy right next to our table resembles someone I knew when I was in high school. His name was Ecclesiastes.”

     I can’t believe what she just blurted out. Now there is a big chance that she really knows me. No one uses this name in this part. It is so long and uncommon. She also called me Aste, just like the daughter does to me.