To a Digital Museum

"Should we go home?" Sai gasped.

We were both stunned, and we couldn't move our feet for a few moments.

"I don't even know." I said.

"It's her... it's definitely her." Sai whispered.

I grabbed her arm and walked across the road. People might see the two of us staring at nowhere... we need to move. They didn't care about what was shown on the big screen just like how we do.

"She needs your help..." Sai said. She was barely walking properly so I had to hold her arm.

"She always needed help, that's just... one of her ways to seek it. There's no time to panic about something that's been happening for a decade."

Honestly, I got used to it. It surprised me at first, but I learned how to handle it after facing so many hints about Iseul. Even in the form of digital art, she tried seeking help.

"Where are we going?" Sai said, her voice was almost cracking.

I stopped walking when I noticed she was still in shock. I held both of her arms and made her sit on a bench. I looked into her eyes. I got used to something like this, but it's Sai's first time seeing Iseul.

"Hennessy."

"Eh? What did you call me?" she frowned. I got her attention.

"You need to calm down. It's your first time seeing Iseul... and in an unexpected way. I... I'm sorry for dragging you into this." I smiled apologetically.

"No... I... I was starstruck!"

I frowned when her eyes sparkled.

"You what?"

"That's the first time that I met the one and only-" I covered her mouth, she was about to scream for Pete's sake!

"Shush!"

People started looking at us... and my hand which is currently holding Sai's mouth.

"Are they in a lover's quarrel?"

"Should we call the cops?" another stranger said.

I immediately removed my hand and gasped. I stood up and started walking away, leaving Sai on the bench. What should I even do?

"Yohan! Wait!"

I can already see the digital art museum from here.

"Benedict!"

I stopped walking and looked at Sai in disgust.

"Ha! I knew you hated your second name. How dare you call me Hennessey?! That's so... weird." She's now walking beside me, trying to copy my pace as she skips.

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes.

"You're concerned about me?" She gave me a teasing look and smiled. "My chingu is concerned about me!" she even held her chest as if she was touched.

"Duh, what do you want me to do? Leave you behind?" I walked faster.

"Fine! So grumpy."

"Shut up already." I scowled.

Whatever it is that Iseul was trying to tell me, I can just talk to her later. I booked a room for myself so I could summon her without a problem. I can ask her right away... although I told her I won't be calling her while I'm here.

However, I need to visit this digital art museum first. I've been wanting to go to this place too.

"Wow! This place is so bright!" How quick her mood changes. I really thought she was on the verge of crying a while ago. Turns out, she's just so happy to see Iseul.

Sai was already taking pictures of the place while I was busy paying for our tickets. The staff placed a bracelet on my wrist before allowing us to go inside.

This is one of the digital art museums in Techne . What's unique about this is that it houses digitalized cultural objects and arts of any form. It's highly interactive and efficient since arts from various places flashed here on every screen. You don't need to travel far to see those pieces since everything is seen here.

"Yohan! Where the fuck are you?"

I looked around and saw Sai trying to find me. I shook my head and approached her.

"I'm not going to babysit you, Sai." I said.

"Go there! I'll take a photo of you!"

"I thought it's better if people appreciate the art more than taking selfies with them?" I scoffed, remembering what she said last time.

"Hey! come on, these are just replicas of the original art. Plus! It's aesthetically pleasing to take pictures here, stop complaining!"

"Original or not, I'm still here to look at them..." I said.

"A picture won't hurt!"

I walked towards where Sai pointed at. The digitalized art is behind me, so she'll just be able to capture my silhouette.

"Happy now? Go take pictures on your own."

Sai looked like she was celebrating something but I ignored her. I roamed around. This museum has three floors. Everything that I see is literally digital, some artworks are even moving. I can really tell that this is a state-of-the-art museum.

The problem is that the place was too bright for me, it's hurting my eyes. I closed my eyes for a bit to rest. People here are busy roaming around, they wouldn't notice me.

"You look stupid here... take a look."

Sai showed me a picture of myself whose eyes are closed. I glared at her, she was holding her laugh.

"I took pictures of you! I looked like a spy," she pressed the button and showed me some stolen pictures. I was looking intently at the art even though it was digitalized.

"You should've taken pictures of the artworks, not me." I said.

"I did that too, you know?"

We started walking together. She's busy taking more pictures of the place.

"Delete my photos, I wouldn't even use them."

"You're really not that type who takes pictures and collects memories... don't you think it's a waste to not have at least pictures of yourself in here? You're a tourist too." Sai said, convincing me.

"I prefer living in the moment. I collect memories too... but it's just inside my head. I paint the ones that I remember vividly... because remembering things clearly means those memories are the precious ones," I explained.

She nodded her head as if she agreed to what I said. "You have a unique way of keeping memories... but would you let me keep this picture of you?"

"Do whatever you want, just stop being noisy."

She did what I told her just to keep my photo! Unbelievable.

We roamed around the museum for more than two hours before deciding to go back to the hotel. I enjoyed visiting the digital art museum, but I didn't find anything associated with Iseul.

"I'll order us some food! You paid for the hotel and museum ticket, let me pay for this." Sai said while scrolling on her phone. We're here at the elevator already.

"Alright."

"Do you want anything? Chicken? Pasta? Beef? Pork?"

"Pasta would be nice."

"What pasta? Fettucine alfredo? Lasagna? Spaghetti? Ravioli? Pesto? Carbonara? Macaroni cheese?" she's talking fast.

I sighed. "Pesto."

She tapped on her phone. "Okay so Pesto... I'll have lasagna. How bout your drinks? You want carbonated drinks? Tea? Beer? Wine? Coffee? Milk shake? Frappe? Milk? Juice? Water?"

"I'm fine with water."

"Alright... water. What type of water? Bottled? Distilled? Sparkling?"

"Anything," I started to get annoyed, she sounded like she was messing with me.

"Anything... alright seawater for Yohan."

"Stop messing around. Just order me a beer." I'm so glad we reached the 3rd floor already. I felt like I was saved from Sai.

"I'll text you if the food's here!" Sai said.

I went inside my room and I took a quick shower. I wore a plain shirt and a black jogger shorts. My phone rang and I saw Sai's name on it, the food has arrived. I got my dinner from Sai and went back to my room. I locked the door and placed the food on the table.

I opened my journal and got myself a pencil while eating. I started sketching Iseul's face since I needed to talk to her.

"Hey, are you here?" I said to nobody.

I looked around after finishing my sketch, she's not yet here. I grabbed my colored pencils and started doing another drawing of Iseul.

She's still not here.

I'm on my tenth drawing already, and it's almost ten o'clock in the evening. I'm done eating, and I've been sketching, coloring, and making portraits of Iseul for hours now.

Why aren't you showing up, Iseul?