Gab…Gab. Ida gently tapped Gabriel’s arm. They were lying on the beach and the sun is already up.
We missed the sunrise! Ida said sitting up.
Gabriel yawned and stretched his arms. That was a great nap!
Shhh… Someone else is here. Ida said pointing to an elderly man on the beach. He was in the process of removing his underpants, the last of his clothing.
Holaaa! He said waving his underpants.
Holaaa! Gabriel shouted back and waved to him. Ida was covering her eyes and giggling.
What? Oh this? He said pointing down. You think I’m an exhibitionist? I’m not the one who had sex on the beach! The old man shouted in Spanish.
No, we did not. Ida shouted back in Spanish.
Yeah? You can’t fool me. You know that’s illegal, right?!
And so what?! Gabriel shouted back in French, clearly joining in the banter.
Ah French, they should be real good, even on a bed of rocks! He then finished laying out his clothes on the rocks. So if you say you haven’t fucked yet, you should! Life is short! Adios! He said as he went in the water and dove away.
Gabriel and Ida looked at each other smiling.
Crazy old man…Ida said shaking her head.
He’s such a character! Are you OK? Gabriel asked.
Yes, I’m fine. Not used to seeing that everyday. She answered. But he seems vaguely familiar… like I’ve already met someone like him. She contemplated more and continued. That guy, you know the old man who was looking for the fireball the last time? He’s definitely not the same person but there’s something about them. I just can’t pinpoint what it is.
Yeah. Gabriel said pensively. Their humor. That’s it. They remind me of my dad actually. Dad is a very funny person but it’s the type of humor where you need to interact with him personally to appreciate it.
Really? I didn’t get to know Ollie that way. I think you got some of that. Ida said, teasing.
Thanks, I guess. He smiled. Were you able to sleep?
Yeah, surprisingly well. But we missed the comet. Ida said looking disappointed.
Yeah but you can still try to see it tonight…depending where you’ll be. he said. Are you going back to Barcelona?
I’m leaving this afternoon but not to Barcelona. I’m going to Arles. We have a friend there and she invited me to stay for a week…so my ex and I could have some time off.
I see, I can drive you to the station. When’s your train leaving?
Around 4pm, I’ll check the exact time later. It’s leaving from Figueres but it stops at Perpignan so I can just catch it from there.
Perfect, I’ll book a train that leaves around that time. He said getting his phone from his back. Let me do that quickly right now.
Ida looked at the moon that’s still vaguely showing, low in the horizon.
Done. I’m relieve to find a seat, normally should be fully booked right now. Gabriel said.
I find it funny that we humans have so many logistic things we have to do in this modern world. And everything is almost virtual. Imagine before, when life was so simple. You look at the stars, you follow the seasons, you make children, and…
You die early. Gabriel said.
You’re always so morbid. She said playfully slapping him shoulders.
What? I’m just telling you how it is. Modern life comes with a cost but it also comes with better access to food and longer lives. Granted, there’s still a lot of people suffering but that’s much less than before with modern medicine and agriculture.
I’m not sure if it’s worth it though. I say that but I know it’d be hard to survive without many of things I’ve been used to. She said. I just feel so strange sometimes, how we’re so involved in all these little mundane things but when we zoom out, we’re on a planet circling around the sun inside a solar system, that’s just one of the billions in the milky way galaxy…
I think you’re separating the universe and the world. There’s order and chaos, here and out there. Out there, it’s stars exploding, black holes that can swallow you. Anyway, remember, the world is in the universe. The universe is not a different place Ida.
I know, I’m escaping again. I just feel we live in the world that doesn’t really respect the natural rhythm of things. Sometimes I wish that humanity will go back to stone age where we live more closer to nature and actually respect it. That we stop producing unnecessary things to make us happy.
I get you but I realized lately, chaos is inevitable. Maybe that’s what needed for us to reach order, some kind of peace. So maybe we need to go past the limits of technical advancement first, before we realize what’s really important in the end. Something like that.
Do we really? That’s why I really want one universal truth that everyone could believe in, an indisputable truth that could switch everyone’s mind.
You mean like a religion , we already have that.
I was thinking more of supreme being who opens the skies for all the see and say: Coucou, I made you and explained everything. Who can dispute that, right?
Gabriel laughed. I actually like your crazy solution. He kissed her on the cheek. Maybe it’s not yet the time for us humans to have all the answers. It could be that we’re still at the stage of evolution or awareness that’s still infantile. We’re still acting out on our egoic and instinctual needs…like toddlers and their endless questions and tantrums. As adults, we know much more than they know but they couldn’t yet understand it until they’re actually able to – you know with the physiology of their brains. That’s my theory.
That’s a bit comforting actually. But when do we actually get to know the answers? I do want answers to satisfy my own curiosity but also I just want a solution for all the world’s problems. I’m looking for a shocking revelation from the sky that would shake us.
Gabriel nodded. Maybe it’s still yet to come or it won’t and we have to figure it all ourselves.
But why are we left alone to figure it out? And what if it won’t come? Ida said with an exasperated tone.
Gabriel laughed. I’m happy to know you’re still like that. That didn’t change at all. Except now, every question is a philosophical question. He teased.
Sorry, I can get carried away with this topic. She said. Actually I have found some answers, my own interims answers. So I think that one disputable truth is… She suddenly got shy and paused.
What, tell me?
It’s love. She said. Not romantic love. Just love. It seems cliche and I would think the same 10 years ago. But it’s the only thing that makes sense in this world. We were born out of love, we are nurtured by nature’s love, and the world’s problems are because of the lack of love. All we need to do is to experience that love and share that love.
I forgot how ideal you are. But I like your answer. He said. You have the same answer as The Beatles.
She laughed. But I guess love is not an easy thing to do. Even if it’s the most obvious thing.
Yeah. Gabriel said. You know, in the last 10 years, I think of you often especially when I look at the night sky. Your passion, I mean obsession, for it.
Me too. You just don’t know how much things I wanted to share with you the last years.
I’m sorry I wasn’t there. He looked at her and reached out for her hand and squeezed it.
Where are you going after Costa Rica? Gabriel asked.
Back here I guess, I’m really not sure. Costa Rica could be a great base for the project in case I’ll be involved with the expansion. I already plan to visit some NGOs there who could be partners. So I could stay there for a year or so.
Oh, you don’t want to be close to your dad?
That’s one of my big considerations. And I still want to explore being an artist and for that maybe it’s better to be here in Europe. I could also go back to the Philippines, I still have the small house that my mom left me. But maybe I could sell that to buy a small place near my dad. Argghh. She placed her hands on her face.
Sounds like you’re still drifting. He said.
Yeah, or I just meet you when I’m at the point in my life where everything’s open. She teased. If I had the money, I’ll even consider buying the Night Sky right now. Remember you offered me that manager position…
Oh yeah, you’d still be perfect for that…He said trailing his voice, entertaining a thought that just entered his mind.
Do you know where you’ll be after Ukraine? Will you take on another mission? Ida asked.
Yeah probably, I can’t imagine doing anything else. Especially now, without the Night Sky unless…His eyes then lit up. I have this crazy idea…
Oh excuse me. Ida looked at her phone. Someone’s calling her. She dropped the call. She was clearly upset but said: Sorry, what was that again?
Was that your ex?
Yeah, probably just asking where I am. I haven’t told him I’m going to Arles yet, maybe he found out from our friend. I’ll deal with it later. Ida said, waving her hand. But the phone rang again. This time she turned her phone off. Sorry, what were you saying?
It can wait later, don’t worry. Gabriel said.
Did you want to head back? Ed should already be back. Ida said, standing up.
Sure. Gabriel stood up and started to pack away the sleeping bag.
I might not be able to join you for breakfast, I’ll have to call him back. Ida said, pointing at her phone. Then I need to take down my exhibit. But you can take a shower and have a nap in my room.
Thanks, I’ll just take a quick shower. After that, don’t worry about me. I’ll just wander around. He said, putting his backpack on. Ida just finished returning back the stones they displaced the night before.
Or you could go to Dali house, they have some originals there right now. It’s the small town just beside Cadaques, it’s called Port Ligat. Just 30 minutes walk from the gallery.
Yeah the old man from the station told me. Maybe I’ll do that. He replied. If you want, I can bring you some takeaway after.
That would be nice, thank you. They started to make their way down to the path they took last night.
How beautiful is this view, Ida said pointing to Cadaques, bathed in sunrise. Her own face was lit up by the sun. She closed her eyes. I wish I can stay here forever…
Yeah, me too…Gabriel said looking at her. Me too.