The sky was dark when Jasmine and the strange gray man took their feet out of the Al-Muzzinih Medical Hospital, Diagnostics, and LabCorp. They left the institution. Again, Jasmine felt a sense of unworthiness as she would be going with another stranger again. She was left clueless, which was sometimes left with the idea of why fear when danger felt a footstep ahead. In her stay, she learned to trust people she considerably didn't trust in real life. If you don't trust them, you'll be at a dead end. In a world full of strangers, the key to security was to befriend them.
The man paid for her hospital bills before he took her out. On the verge of her thoughts, she could picture the previous scenery— the mutterings and murmurings abandoned as a question mark in her head. She could still hear the gossips behind their backs as they were negotiating with the receptionist, as he paid for her hospital ordinances.
Jasmine looked at him from the rearview mirror of the BMW and breathed in and out when the people's gossip sprinted back in her head. She would choose not to believe in everything they said; folktales are myths. However, sometimes rumors could be factual.
Before the door swallowed them out, people gathered to reason with their silent gossiping. Jasmine veered at him again in the rearview mirror. It reflected the gray clouds manicured on the atmosphere; the sky was pessimistic, it displayed a sad picture that desired to let go of the burden the heaviness it carried. The hue of the clouds and skies was identical with the gray button suit he'd worn.
Jasmine caught him looking at me in the mirror.
"Hi--hi."
Jasmine cleared her throat.
He averted his eyes immediately, like a thief caught almost in an act, but was unable and pretended to be innocent.
"Can I have some fresh air?"
Jasmine drew a slight innocent smile. She leaned on the headrest of the passenger seat. Her windpipe felt like drowning with the air conditioner. The stranger signaled a comical nod in response.
The glass window deliberately slid down, letting in a bunch of cold breezes from the outside. Jasmine's chest stiffened to its unauthorized entrance into her lungs.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
The stretching tires answered her.
They traveled five miles from the hospital, Jasmine guessed. The road started from blank to occupied, then empty again. She let some fresh cold oxygen explored her respiratory system.
"Aren't you scared of me?" said the man in nasally voice.
He slowed down the drive and put his full attention on me. His voice was a combination of nasal and husk; it triggered something rolling in her belly unexplainable. There were only both of them in the middle of nowhere riding in a black BMW. Jasmine hooked her saliva when he neared his face on me. Her eyes could spot the lines sculpted in his face, as well as the loss of muscle. His jaw dropped and he stared on the green grass.
"Do I have something to be feared of?"
Jasmine organized her seat.
"Aren't you afraid of kidnappers, bloodthirsty criminals, scams, etcetera?"
He gritted his teeth when he said the last word; his eyes remained focused on the road.
"I'm no longer a kid," Jasmine answered him.
"Note the sarcasm. It'll grave you kid."
"I'm already a teenager."
"The myth about you is indeed true— naive but wise."
He left a sound of chuckling before the engine speed increased.
"You don't look like a bad person," she intervened in the centrifuge of the smooth flow of the car engine.
"How can you be so sure?"
"I've been through with different types of people. Their hearts, I failed to recognize. Their faces, I couldn't register. Yet, I couldn't just judge their soul by their deeds and appearances."
"Interesting."
He smirked.
"I know you'll not harm me. I know you won't hurt me."
She looked at him.
"How could you trust easily? Do you know me? Do you know where I'll be taking you?"
"I know nothing. But, illiteracy is not a free passport to prejudice."
"And if your words lied to you?"
"They won't."
"You're certain that much?"
"It's faith. Mama once told me when I was a kid that the only way to fidelity is belief. There is no betrayal in faith. Just be firm, and be true to yourself. Faith is stronger than a rock that weathered when time passed, but faith cultivated within the heart and nurtured in the soul every day couldn't be crushed."
"The words of a wise person are just like a fool."
"Either fool or wise, neither of them could be considered any if they remained seated. We get going and see for ourselves if we'd walked life the wise or fool did. We don't choose our classification, our actions and desires do."
"You silence your mouth. You don't know the person you talk to."
The engine crunched for a stop. Inertia followed. Now, Jasmine got his full attention.
He darted her a hard stare.
"One more word, I'll leave you on the road."
He got back the car moving. Jasmine unleashed a heavy thick sigh and rested her head. She looked at him sideways. He seemed so serious.
"Ahh…"
"Remember what I said?"
"Ba…"
"One more word."
He pointed her a finger.
"Why don't you just let me talk?" she protested immediately.
His head wrinkled in the next scene.
"Such a stubborn lady," he whispered.
"If you're just gonna introduce yourself, then we're over conflicting here."
"Stay quiet, kid. You're making my head sick."
"You're likewise on me."
"Don't you know how to respect older people?"
"Of course I know, but you agitate me."
"You organize yourself, young lady. We're almost there."
"To where? Are you crazy?"
"Crazy is an overstatement."
"So, where are we going old man?"
"Old man?"
He throttled back. Stopped. And, stared at her.
Jasmine choked her saliva to their closure. An unfamiliar organism swirled in her stomach. She gasped into the air inside her windpipe. She couldn't breathe when he narrowed his eyes on her.
"S--so, wha---at shall I call you?"
Jasmine looked outside the window. She heard him whisper a curse.
"I'm sorry."
She got back to reality, but he didn't seem to hear.
"Fix yourself," he demanded.
"Okay."
The road was hindered with fogs; the air went colder than usual; its temperature lowered down.
"So, where should we go?"
"Somewhere."
After a couple of hours, Jasmine's tongue got tired from tantrums and complaining as well as making an argument with him. She always lose. She would better silence her self. Yes, he's right. Her nuisance backed out.
Jasmine examined him—looking like a senior, she could guess he's in his mid-40's. And yeah, too early to be called grand. He's wrinkled.
The car elevated higher. Not a second Jasmine realized that they were heading towards the mountains. She could feel the cold breeze desiring to embrace her. She eyed the vast mountain ranges. It seemed to guard them. They were like prisoners— no escape. In this second of her life, she forgot him. Her worries and fears were deprived away.
The flora and fauna dominating in the unknown paradise glistened along with the hurling of cold breeze. Jasmine hugged herself, breathed deeply, and smiled widely inside. Her soul jumped as the bright scenery welcomed her. For once in her life, she no longer felt alone. The car continued accelerating uphill. She didn't mind him and merely enjoyed the moment. It felt like she was a victor along with life's shadows of pain. She coated herself with her arms again. The mountains were capped with mists. A shadow of a bungalow could be seen a little bit. She guessed they were heading there. The scenery was more than ecstasy or hallucinogens. She would love to stay in the place where greens and freeze could only be the companion. There, she could problem none. The sun hid along with the mists.