"How long has it been?",she asked
Umm, wanting to bite his thumb nail..
Don't bite your nails please, stop the bad habit, I'm in the middle of something here, she scolded him feeling irritated.
Stopping his bad habit, he gave an awkward smile, Lilo wanted to laugh but now is not the time, she thought to herself.
"It has been eight years since, he replied
"Eight years?" th-that's strange, are you sure about this? she asked
Not so sure Ms.. he responded
You're not sure? Then why are you telling me?
Because you asked and you are scared i might be a kidnaper.
Oh come on, i was just confused.
I met the man and i know it's been eight years since. I remember because my wife died that same year.
"Oh no she muttered, this is bad news, it's been past twelve years since her father died and this man met him eight years ago? His death was a memory she would never forget not in a hurry..she shook her head. There's a different story now or maybe this man met her father's ghost", she thought.
Why? is there a problem?
No no i um.. nothing, she exhaled. I was wondering how long has it been since you last had a good pay, she said sarcastically
Ahh very funny uh?
Hmm, sorry for you loss, she said
You're just like my daughter, he said with a small smile.
Really?
Yeah, she's of your age, and she talks too much, he said
Haha, she laughed, Mr Derek you mean
to say that "women are noisy" right?
Exactly, it's rather obvious that women are noisy, isn't it? he asked
No, it is rather natural i would say... in other words we're just expressing ourselves that's all, she said.
But you've been nagging ever since..he said raising his brow.
No, i was just expressing myself, like i said, she narrowed her eyes at him.
Fine! he said
Yeah whatever..
She wants to be a photographer, just like you, he said after a fleeting seconds.
What's her name? Lilo asked
Judy, she's twenty-three
That's a beautiful name, but I'm older, Lilo said
Yes indeed, i named her after her mother.
Interesting! she said with a small smile.Tell me sir, that man you were talking about
What about him? he asked
Do you by chance know why and what he came here for?
I don't know, i can't remember. I am not sure but the first time he came here, he mentioned about meeting an old friend, that's all i know. He had asked me to stop at this same spot, he didn't say why but then i waited for him but he didn't return, so i left, he said reminiscing.
What you left? why did you leave? she asked
"I just said i waited but he didn't return.."
Well you should have followed him..and helped instead of sitting there being a coward, she said with disappointing look.
I know i was a coward but i did what i could, he said.
Y- you could have done something, but no! you drove him to his death.
No, I didn't let anyone die, and besides we're not sure if he's dead. I told you it was a long time ago, I'm probably mixing things up.
Obviously, the man died, she said without realizing her eyes had teared up..
How would you know he died? and why are you so emotional over a stranger?
Lilo was letting her emotions to take over her without realising she was overreacting.
"Well, it seems that every explorer you drive here never returned only that i am a photographer", wiping her tears and i am stuck here with you, i don't even know if i will end up like the others and then you go on telling the same story to another person, she said.
You speak as though I've brought a lit if explorers here. I don't even know this man and Ms. if anything ever happens i will try my best to help, but you have to promise you won't get lost.
What makes you think you won't leave me just the way you left the that man, she asked?
You have my word Ms. and as long as you're here and not in the forest you shouldn't be worried about you getting lost, we would leave as soon as i fix the bus, he said, looking at her expressionless face.. i know that i have been selfish and also a coward, but it was for a good course, he said.
Then what stopped you? she asked looking at him.
I was scared and i didn't want to die, i had a little girl and my wife had passed away and i was just the only one she had left, i won't let her suffer, i wanted to give her a comfortable life and make sure that she had the love of a father because that's the best gift one can ever give a child, he said.
A tear drilled down Lilo's face as she looked at him.. a drop following another and she cried not because of story but because the gift of having the love of a father was taken away.
What Derek didn't know was that the traveller he was talking about all this while was no other than Lilo's father. Wiping her tears, she sniffed and nodded. Lilo missed her father so much, she had planned to go to Devalon with him, to see the beautiful sunset, and see the sun rise together.. but who knew he was going to die. Wicked world, she muttered.
Are you okay? the driver asked.
Yeah, am fine I- uh- I just love your story, she smiled, and i am really sorry about your wife, she said.
No, no you don't have to, it's not your fault, in fact i should be the one to apologize for keeping you stranded in the middle of the road an-
Okay!! the drama is over.. Derek! Now just focus on fixing the bus, don't slack..go on she said clapping her hands.
You know you baffle me.. sometimes you're emotional and sometimes you're a psycho, he said.
Hmm! th-that's harsh.. but we're both crazy people don't you think?..she said raising her brow.
Yeah we sure are.. he responded.
Mr Derek.. Lilo called.
Yeah!
Can I ask you one more question?
Yeah sure
Do ghost exit? she asked.
He looked at her for a fleeting seconds and then said, Yes, yes ghost exits and why do you ask?
I thought ghost were fragments of our imaginations? she asked
That's what they make you believe.. making you feel it's you're imagination but in reality it's the opposite. Everyone has their own interpretations and opinions.
So you're saying ghost are real..? she asked
Exactly
Hmm
Have you met one? she asked
You mean We? cause we meet different people everyday so you never know who is a ghost.
Of course and i suppose none of them have decided to pay you a surprise visit? she said sarcastically
Very funny uh!
I know it's crazy, she said.
Lilo was not satisfied with the answer and she wanted more clarity, she wanted to know if truly her father's ghost was wandering around or if her father was truly alive, she was confused but somewhere deep down she wished he was alive.