Chapter Text
I stand in front of the waterfall and look longingly into the distance. I can hear Chris take pictures. Today is cloudy with a light drizzle, but the emerald waters are still clear. Because of the weather, there are not many tourists, so we can get some good pictures that make the park seem abandoned.
“Try crossing your arms and straightening your back,”
Chris commands and I do so.
I am currently embodying a character who is on a journey to find his home. He is traveling all over the place, seeing many beautiful things, but it never quite feels right.
“Nashi!”
Esma suddenly yells and I turn my head in her direction. She is standing together with two people.
We walk over to her. She has an excited look in her eyes. I feel an amused smile form on my lips.
“I see you’ve already found some new friends?”
I ask.
“They can be your friends too,”
She says.
“Anyway, Marko here is also an aspiring solo artist!”
I raise my eyebrows. Impressive that she found that out, considering she has known them for what? 10 minutes?
Chris chuckles.
“What a coincidence.”
“That’s what I said!”
Esma exclaims.
The two have not said anything yet, but have just looked awkwardly at each other. The guy, who I am guessing is Marko, glances briefly at me. He most definitely knows that I am the other one this is about.
I smile and extend my hand.
“Nice to meet you two. I’m Nashi.”
They both greet me and I learn the woman is named Elizabeta.
Marko asks something clearly directed at me, but we are standing near a waterfall and I think he is mumbling, so all I hear is the word “music”.
I get everyone’s attention and suggest we move away. Once we have walked a bit, I ask about what he was asking me.
“Oh, I just wanted to know about your music… you know since… ehm. Yeah.”
He looks away, instead staring into the green waters.
“Okay, so, how do I formulate this?”
I look back on Esma and Chris, for potential support, but they are talking energetically with Elizabeta. I wonder what they are talking about, but if I listen in on their conversation I will forget what I want to say. I look back at Marko.
“So, as you might've seen, my friend Chris was taking pictures of me.”
He nods.
“It’s for a project called ‘Uprooted’. I’m currently dressed as the character, who the project is based around. Anyway, for my next project about my other character, I want to make a song, because I think it fits her. She’s like, whimsical and cute but also unhinged.”
“That sounds really interesting. I’ve always wanted to make my own music, but I never knew how to really act upon it. I was part of a band for a few years, until Beta convinced me to go solo.”
He glances back at the woman, who notices and smiles. I wonder if they are a couple?
We come to the dock my friends and I were going to. We are still not done taking pictures, so we are going to a different place with a ferry. Marko and Elizabeth want to continue on the current path though.
I tune out of the conversation and stare at the water. It is so clear. Denmark could learn a thing or two. I watch a fish swim around until Chris pats me on the back.
“We’re eating dinner with them at 8,”
He informs me and I just nod. Master socialisers as always those two.
The ferry comes and we say goodbye to the two. They wait until we start departing, then wave after us. I wave back with my arms and flash a big smile.
“Guess what, Nashi!”
Chris says as I sit back down.
“What?”
“Elizabeta is a professional photographer!”
Wait, a photographer and a musician. Dang, what a combination.
“She also said she would be directing Marko’s music videos,”
Esma chimes in. I raise my eyebrows.
“You got all of that out of her???”
They both giggle.
“Are you surprised?”
Esma asks. I sigh, then shrug while shaking my head.
“I mean, I know I shouldn’t be, but dang you two are good. You could be information extractors at this point. Like spies.”
We laugh. I roll onto my stomach, so I can let my back cool off. I feel so gross and icky right now.
“Did you learn anything about Marko?”
“Hm? Oh, not much. He has stretched ears?”
Chris shakes his head with a smile.
“Of course you’d mention the body mod.”
“It was the first thing I saw. They’re cool, okay?”
I tell Chris what little Marko told me.
“Do you think they’re a couple?”
I ask.
“Esma asked, and Elizabeta said no.”
Of course they already know. Although, if they are not together now, I am sure they will be soon.
We take some more pictures and otherwise just take in the beautiful sights.
When we come back to our room, I quickly get out of my costume and throw myself onto my bed. It may be cloudy, but the weather is still hot as hell.
I know my friends are better at handling the heat, as in, they do not complain as much as me, but Esma immediately goes to the bathroom to wash off.
There is not much to do until we have to meet with the others, so we play some card games in between taking showers. We also look at the pictures we took today. I really like how they turned out, and with a little bit of editing we can create just the right atmosphere.
We meet them on the way to the restaurant. They are not staying at the same hotel as us, but at one nearby. I end up sitting innermost spot, with Marko next to me and Esma on the opposite. I do not say much in the beginning. Esma and Chris carry most of the conversation by talking about what we have seen while being here.
Esma mentions that we are leaving tomorrow, then starts talking about everywhere we have been before Plitvice.
“Where are you going afterwards?”
Markos asks me.
“We’re going to Rijeka where we’ll stay a few days. Then we’ll go to… N… Novi…”
The word escapes my mouth and I feel too embarrassed to keep trying.
“Novigrad?”
Marko suggests, seeming to light up a bit. I nod.
“Yes! How’d you know?”
Wait, maybe that was a stupid question. Actually, is it not more stupid to assume every citizen of a country knows every city?
“Me and Elizabeta are both from Istria and we live in Umag, which is a 20 minute drive away.”
Okay, wow, I did not expect that.
“That’s… What a coincidence?”
He nods. He briefly glances at Elizabeta, then seems avoidant of eye contact.
“If… if you three want to, we could meet up?”
Now it is my turn to be excited.
“Of course! I mean, we’re going to Novigrad just to chill anyway. We’re going to Slovenia afterwards. So… yeah… Let’s exchange numbers then!”
He nods and says the numbers, but I have him constantly repeat them, because my brain always has a problem with remembering things like this. It goes for spelling too. Like, I can remember a lot of things, but a string of numbers or letters that are being told to me in the present are not among them. It is actually a little embarrassing.
Eventually, I get it down.
xx xxx xxxx
11. July 2023 21:35
xx xx xx xx
Hello
If you are not Marko, I am sorry. He’s had a few beers
His phone lights up with notifications of my messages.
xx xx xx xx
I can see on his phone that this is the right number
xx xxx xxxx
😂
“Well, there’s that,”
I say.
We nod at each other, and it is very awkward. Then we get the other’s attention and explaining what we just agreed on. Esma and Chris are both very excited by the news, and Elizabeta does not seem to mind.
“Look at you, Pear Tree. You are capable of making friends,”
Esma says on our way back to our room. I sigh, feeling a mixture of joy and relief.
“I guess so. You guys didn’t know they were from Istria?”
They both shake their heads.
“Nah. We hadn’t made it there yet. Esma turned the conversation around a few times,”
Chris says. Esma elbows him, and they both act like they have been greatly hurt. I laugh and pat both of them on the back.
“Well, now we sure have something interesting to look forward to.”