Chasing the Sun

006

We got in just in time and seated on our respective seats. He sat on the same row as me, but our seats were on the different ends. The theatre, opposite from what I thought it would be, was surprisingly empty. We're not the only ones inside, but counting all of the people seated, there were only 12 of us watching in different areas.

When the film started, I made myself comfortable and turned my attention to the big screen. This is my first time watching a horror movie on the big screen, and I'm really excited about it. As a huge fan of horror movies, I have always wanted to watch them inside the cinema. However, just the thought of sharing a large space with a lot of people and dealing with their screams of terror would only hinder me from enjoying the movie, so I just chose to watch them on my laptop. I guess the heavens knew that I want to check one off of my bucketlist that's why the cinema was not crowded today.

Halfway through the film, I shot a glance at the guy seating at the other end of the row. He was watching, but it didn't seem like he was paying attention at all. It's like his mind is somewhere far, and his eyes were the only thing focused on the screen. When the movie ended, he was still looking at the now turned off screen. I gathered what was left of my courage and walked towards him, and leveled my eyesight to his.

"Did you enjoy the movie?" , I asked all smiles.

"Fairly good."

He stood up and walked out of the cinema, his silhouette slowly disappearing from my sight. I took one last sigh and opted to leave the premises as well, but my eyes caught a glimpse of something glowing under Tawan's seat. I knelt down and reached for the object and just as what I initially guessed, it was a handphone.

Very quickly I ran outside the movie house and scanned the swarm of moviegoers, hoping to find Tawan among the crowd. After a few minutes of running and searching, I was unable to find him. I held on to his phone in my hand and went home.

I placed the phone on my bedside table and took a quick shower. When I finished, I grabbed the phone and checked through the contacts to see if there's anyone I can call to have his phone returned to him. There weren't many contacts listed in his phone. In fact, only three names were recorded. It was his mom's number, and two other names which I guessed were his friends at school. I dialed his mom's number and after a few rings, a voice echoed from the other line.

"Good evening, am I speaking to Tawan's mother?"

"Yes, may I help you with anything? Why are you calling from my son's number?" , replied Tawan's mom. Her voice sounded so serene and calm when she talked to me, as if unbothered by a stranger calling from his son's handphone.

"Your son left his phone at the cinema awhile ago, and I happened to find it just as I was about to leave."

"Oh is that so? That boy really tends to forget his belongings wherever he goes. Can you wait here for a bit? I'll call him and have him talk to you."

"Sure."

I heard a faint voice calling for Tawan on the other line.

"What's your address? I'll pick up my phone tonight."

"Would it kill you to thank me first? You're lucky I'm the one who found your phone. If it were somebody else, you wouldn't have the chance to retrieve it."

I guess he knew he was talking to me, because he paused for a moment after hearing my voice.

"No, but I will kill you if you go through my phone."

"Why, does it contain your stash of porn and nudes?"

"No." , he replied coldly. I will never not be scared of how cold he talks.

"Alright, alright."

I gave him the details of my address and hung up right after. Some thirty minutes after, my doorbell rang. I stood up and opened the door, revealing Tawan holding two paperbags on both hands.

"I didn't make this for you. Mom did."