Chapter 12: Chapter 12
I can't say exactly how long I've been walking, but what I do know is that if I turn around, I won't be able to see the road. I would no longer call the movement of my legs "moving forward", in the last minutes it is nothing more than a drag.
Samuel walks a few steps back, following me with my backpack slung over his right shoulder and the jacket of his jacket on his left. He has the first four buttons of his light blue shirt unbuttoned and the sleeves rolled up excessively to his elbows. His dark blue tie is not tied, but falls over his neck, like a fall scarf. All this, added to the rebellious hairstyle that was formed due to his constant gesture of touching his hair, tousling it, give him a more informal appearance, different from how he is usually seen every day.
May: What time is it?
I ask raising my voice, so that he can hear me. After a few seconds, he hits me on the shoulder and hands me his cell phone. I look at the screen and snort.
May (I turn around and he stops walking): How come we've been walking for like two hours and we haven't got anywhere?
Without saying anything else, he raises his index finger and seems to point to something behind me.
May: What?
Samuel: Turn around.
I turn around, oblivious, and frown when I see nothing.
Samuel: Higher (he says behind my back, as if whispering in my ear).
I look up and soon find a huge arch above my head. It appears to be made of iron and at some point it had letters painted on top of it, since, although it is worn and dirty, you can clearly see the stains and a last "O" that is still intact, as if it were not part of it.
May: What is this? (I ask without looking down).
Samuel: An entrance.
May: Yes, but to what?
Samuel: I don't know, a cemetery could be.
May (I look at him wryly): Very funny (I smirk). Don't joke about those things.
I say to get ahead of myself, passing under that black semicircle.
Samuel: But I'm not ...
May (I interrupt): Obviously I'm scared.
I comment while looking forward to my feet, trying to avoid stepping on something nasty or just falling and breaking my arm.
Samuel: And ... the truth is that I don't know anything about you.
May: Bingo! Now you know something.
Samuel (laughs): Hey, but ... it is seriously that we are in a ...
May (I interrupt him again): Shh. Do you hear that?
I ask, looking around me, where you can see absolutely nothing.
Samuel: What? There is nothing.
May: Exactly. I hate silence.
Laugh I look back at the screen of his cell phone, which is still in my hands.
May: And we still have no signal. Cool.
Samuel: Can you stop complaining about everything?
May: Make me.
I answer defiantly and sit on a rock that reaches up to my waist.
May: Pass me the backpack.
He approaches, disengaged, and takes out that medium metal box that I always use.
Samuel: What are you doing?
May: What? You do not see? (I take the blush and start to use it).
Samuel: Makeup? Here? Now? It's a fuck right?
May (look at him): What's your problem? I do not understand.
Samuel (sighs): I'm starting to regret taking this job.
May (looking away): Pff ... go if you want.
Samuel: Do you want me to go?
May: You are the one who wants to go.
Samuel: Look, I'm serious, huh. My work schedule ended at nine.
May: Do whatever you want (I answer, ignoring him).
He chooses his shoulders and without saying anything else, he turns around, starting to walk.
May: Samuel.
He does not listen.
May: Samuel!
Nothing.
May: SAMUEL!
I scream, causing the stone I'm sitting on to move, staggering on top of it. Samuel comes back and stands in front of me.
May: Why is this thing moving?
Samuel (laughs): It must be several years ago (he approaches and narrows his eyes). 1987 actually.
May: Huh? What are you saying?
I ask confused, looking under my feet, where I only see grass and mud.
Samuel: The date of death (he says calmly).
May: Don't start over with that nonsense.
Samuel (laughs): But I'm serious.
May: Oh yeah? Let's see ... whose death?
Samuel: I don't know. You are covering the name with your legs.
May: But what ... Wait wait. What exactly am I sitting on?
Samuel: A grave.
May: WHAT?
I exclaim to stand up and leap away. He just laughs, as if that was the most normal thing in the world. He approaches the stone again.
Samuel: There you see. Alejo ... Sánchez.
May: Let's get out of here now (I mean, putting the box in my bag).
Samuel: Why? Didn't you like the name?
I look at him ironic.
Samuel: Well, there he has… (bends down) no, he doesn't have a middle name. It is what it is.
I sigh and turn around, starting to walk away from him.
Samuel: POOR ALEJO! ARE YOU GOING TO LEAVE IT ALONE?
May (turn to look at him): COME HERE!
He laughs and starts to get closer.
Samuel: Don't be so bitter (he says, giving me a little shove on the shoulder).
May: My mom invents a surprise trip, I'm in the middle of nowhere, no car, no signal and ... am I supposed to be in a good mood?
Samuel: Don't make your life so complicated.
He responds, putting his shoulder around me, a gesture that awakens my nerves.
May: I didn't have you such a clown.
Samuel (smiles): Let's say that since I don't work in a circus, I have no choice but to hide my "secret identity" (he says, gesturing with his fingers).
I laugh, raising her hand to my shoulder where his is and lacing my fingers through his.