Chapter Seven: Philippines:

We didn’t go to North Korea. An decided that it would be too dangerous. We got on a boat and sail for a few days to the Philippines. By then, I still didn’t know what to do with my life. I stared out at the sea, lost in my thoughts. An stared out at the sea as well.

“Hey, An,” I said. She didn’t respond or make eye contact. I pressed my lips together.

“What happens if I don’t want to become a priestess?” I asked.

“Up to you,” she said.

“Huh?”

“You are old enough to decide what you want for yourself.”

I stared back at the water. Okay then… Of course that didn’t help me. I dropped my shoulders and sighed.

The Philippines were cold that year. I wished that I had a thicker coat on the first day we arrived. I looked to An for her to make the arrangements like she always had. This time, we were greeted by a fellow monk.

“An!” he shouted in a booming voice in the crowd. I looked and saw a big, bald guy running towards us. He looked so big that I was worried that he would trip and crush a little child walking by. His belly flopped as he got closer. That guy in orange towered over me as he looked at An.

“How have you been, old friend?” he asked.

“Fine,” An said in a low voice. I looked between the two adults.

“Who is this?” I asked. The big guy looked down at me, grinning.

“So is this the disciple you’ve been travelling with?” he asked.

“Yes,” An said. I looked at the big guy with wide eyes.

“Hi…?” I asked. I must have sounded so uncertain to that man. He turned to An.

“She looks so young,” he whispered.

“She’s sixteen,” An said.

“Ah.”

Looking at that big man took away any words that I could say to him. I didn’t know whether to trust him or be afraid of him. That grin of his looked so creepy. Still, I had to put my trust in An. He looked rather close to her, after all. This should be fine, right?

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We stayed in the Philippines for six months. The only thing that changes on this trip is the scenery. Maybe the people as well. This big guy with us was no different. I don’t remember his name to this day. However, I couldn’t forget anything else about him. That guy sure loved to eat. In fact, he ate more than An did.

“Food sure be appreciated,” he said. That big guy ran a shelter for homeless youth. They all worked and ate as much as he did. If someone spilled or threw away food, he would snap.

“Food is sacred to the body,” he always said. “Wasting it would be a dishonor to Buddha!” I would just sit there and eat my soup quietly. I asked An why he was like this.

“He grew up poor,” she said. “His family barely had any food to eat.” That made sense, I supposed. I stared down at my bowl of rice. Still, it didn’t help me understand what I was supposed to do with my life. Another thought that crossed my mind was that the big guy seemed so lonely. Sure, he had his boys here, but he never had anyone his age around. He seemed so happy to see An again. I almost didn’t want to leave that guy.

Almost.

The longer we stayed, the more An seemed annoyed with that guy. Towards the end of our stay, she tried to avoid him when he would try to talk to her in the hall of the temple. I only pressed my lips together and shook my head.

He just misses you, I thought. I could understand both of them. Would I have a connection with a friend like An and that guy? I couldn’t really say.

It felt sad to leave him and his boys in May. His eyes were filled with tears as he waved us off, sniffling.

“Come back as see me sometime!” he said. An rolled her eyes as got on the boat. I just quietly waved at that big guy before the boat sailed away. Where would we go next, I had no idea.