31. Agua
Thirty-six hours later, the two descended the mountain and, without stopping, boarded a minibus bound for the Atitlán lake district.
The last bus of the day departs in the afternoon and will arrive in the lake district before dusk. Leaving the bumpy cobblestone streets of Antigua, it glides into the still verdant hills and fields, even during the dry season.
It had only been three days since I first arrived here, but the time system in the mountains seemed completely different from the outside world, as if we had spent a long time together.
So long that Fang Kaixuan felt he had been reborn and become a new being.
The minibus driver, probably used to reckless driving, sped through the valley. Before sunset, they arrived at the lakeside town of Panajachel, which locals call Pana. Many small boats were moored on the lake, and the boatmen shouted the names of different villages they would pass by, soliciting passengers to board their boats.
In the lake district, these boats are called lanchas, and like buses, they shuttle between villages daily.
They had booked a lakeside guesthouse in a particularly remote village. After a half-hour boat ride, they had to call the owner to arrange for a tuk-tuk to pick them up and drive through village lanes where large dogs roamed freely before finally arriving.
The boss was already waiting at the door.
He was an Italian man, accompanied by two enormous German Shepherds. Fang Kaixuan made a whining sound to call them, but the two dogs didn't move until the boss gave a signal, presumably indicating permission. Only then did they run over and greet them enthusiastically.
Fang Kaixuan was initially hesitant to touch them, but the two dogs were so enthusiastic that they pressed their two fluffy heads against her hand, vying for her attention.
Even the most hard-hearted person can't help but like them. Even someone who's afraid of dogs will be melted by their warmth.
Sure enough, in the following days, the two dogs would appear from some unknown corner at the slightest whistle. Their names were also quite impressive: one was called "King" and the other "General," the owner proudly explained, showing how much he truly loved them.
It's described as "half" because the room has only two walls, clinging to the cliff, while the other two are empty, like two huge floor-to-ceiling windows without glass, facing the volcano and lake in an unobstructed panoramic view.
The bathroom and toilet are the same, with only a low wall. When you sit on the toilet, there are rocks behind you and scenery in front of you. When you shower, you are completely naked and facing the volcano.
"Is there a curtain that we can pull up?" Fang Kaixuan asked tentatively.
The waitress, a Mayan girl, replied with a smile, "Yes, you can, but I suggest you don't. No one here can see you. And believe me, when you open your eyes tomorrow morning, you'll be amazed by what you see."
Looking around, the waiter was right; the view was indeed worth sacrificing privacy for.
Moreover, the hotel's design is ingenious. There are only four rooms in total, spaced far apart, built side by side on a hillside, with no other buildings in front. Lush tropical plants nearby shield the hotel from any prying eyes.
Looking around, the world was silent, with only the lake and volcano gazing at them quietly.
Perhaps some small insects, and two dogs wandering around the hotel.
But what's the big deal? They won't reveal that the two people are kissing passionately.
After settling in, they walked along a rugged path to a restaurant for dinner.
The restaurant serves as both a front desk and a bar, with the bar facing the kitchen where the owner cooks himself. Another row of seats faces away from this side, overlooking the lake and volcano.
Waiting with the two of them for the owner to cook was a couple from Belgium. Before the meal was even served, the man was already slightly tipsy. The four of them chatted as they waited, the owner showing no sign of impatience. When they finally started eating, everything tasted delicious.
Not only does the pace of life slow down, but even thoughts become slower, like ice cubes floating in a glass of wine—cool, transparent, bobbing up and down, making you feel slightly tipsy even without drinking. Add a little alcohol to enhance the experience, and it'll be even better.
Everything in the outside world continues to happen, and there's still the internet to watch live news, but time seems to stand still. Or perhaps time isn't really important? The world's largest iceberg melting, or a cryptocurrency crash causing countless people to lose their investments, all become insignificant matters.
Life in the Lake District was blissful, like being in paradise. In just two days, Fang Kaixuan fell in love with the place, even having the urge to abandon everything and stay for a while. Everything here was completely different from what she had imagined—so beautiful, so incredibly relaxing. There were many stunning houses along the volcanic lake, rented out by Mayan families, where one could also learn Spanish. All three meals and accommodation included, it cost only two hundred US dollars a week.
When you wake up, you'll be greeted by an unbeatable view of a volcano. If you get tired, you can walk to the lake and go swimming. If you're hungry, Sister Maya will make you cornbread.
Corn, such an ordinary food, can taste so delicious.
It truly is a paradise on earth.
With nothing to do during the day, they drifted between villages on the ferry. They truly had nothing to do, yet Fang Kaixuan still found himself constantly checking his emails on his phone. It was pure muscle memory, like a gorilla scrolling through its phone in a short video.
Being constantly vigilant and online became a fixed routine. Only after realizing this did she let go with a self-deprecating laugh. Actually, there weren't many things she needed to worry about anymore.
Meanwhile, other tourists were sunbathing, swimming, doing yoga, meditating, and drinking coffee. Time seemed to stand still, as if it could go on forever.
The sunlight was intense, and through her sunglasses, Fang Kaixuan couldn't see Gu Qiye's eyes clearly, but she felt that he was staring intently at her and saying, "Enjoying nature is such a luxury. If the environment continues to deteriorate like this, I guess in fifty years, humans will probably no longer have the freedom to be directly exposed to the sun."
Fang Kaixuan chimed in, "Unfortunately, we're just that stupid; we won't turn back until we hit a brick wall."
Perhaps it won't even take fifty years. Modern people's schedules, working from dawn till dusk, mean they rarely see sunlight. When the sunlight is strong, many people are covered from head to toe, their faces meticulously concealed by masks, afraid that even a ray of sunlight might intrude.
"Right now, it's for the sake of beauty. But what if one day the outdoor sunlight is no longer safe? Will you miss the days when you could walk freely?"
Fang Kaixuan casually said, "Don't worry. I won't live that long."
He suddenly pulled her tightly to his chest: "Don't say things like that."
She was puzzled: "You're a researcher, how could you be superstitious? I've never been bothered by these things."
He simply pulled her closer to himself.
He rarely took the initiative like this, and she reached out to wrap her arms around his waist. To outsiders, they were just a couple deeply in love, being all lovey-dovey; little did they know they were discussing matters of life and death.
“When I was a child, I was most afraid of death. The thought that everyone would one day know nothing and no one could escape it terrified me. But when I talked to others about life and death, it felt strange and unlucky, so I never talked about it in depth.” Fang Kaixuan said in one breath, “Until… there was a moment when I suddenly wasn’t afraid anymore.”
She didn't finish speaking because she felt it was too heavy a burden.
In fact, there are moments when you are with someone you love deeply, and you feel, very briefly, that you are not afraid of death.
Just like in Paradise Lost.
In the small lakeside village, there's not much entertainment at night. Aside from stargazing and moon-gazing, discussing poetry, songs, and philosophy, there's nothing to do. A person who loves excitement probably couldn't stay there all day, but fortunately, the two of them preferred nature to other people, and thus were so happy they didn't want to leave.
Fang Kaixuan had drunk a little wine, not enough to make him half-drunk, but he felt light and limp, which made the somewhat lonely moonlit night a little more relaxing.
Back in the room, bathed in moonlight on two sides, with nothing to do, and despite the internet, scrolling through her phone here felt like a waste of the beautiful scenery. She opened a random playlist, and John Mellencamp's "The End of the World" came on. She gently took his hand, wrapped it around her waist, and put her arms around his neck, resting her head lightly against his chest.
The two of them seemed to be dancing an old-fashioned dance in an old-fashioned dance hall.
Unfortunately, this wasn't a tender love song; instead, it was a powerful and angry outburst. Luckily, the rooms weren't far apart, so the song wouldn't disturb the neighbors.
Fang Kaixuan listened and then laughed.
Why is it funny?
"The title of this song is terrifying, 'The End of the World,' but it's actually just a grown man whining and whining: Why is the sun still shining? Why is the sea still rushing to the shore? Don't they know that this is the end of the world because you no longer love me... Women whining like this is nauseating."
He smiled quietly.
They listened quietly.
Regardless of tone or rhythm, they danced like an old-fashioned couple.
In the song sung by that angry, heartbroken man.
I woke up in the morning and I wondered...
Why is everything still the same as it was?
I can't understand, oh I can't understand.
...
Fang Kaixuan felt a pang of bitterness mixed with amusement. When she lost her lover, hadn't she been just as foolish, questioning him every single day?
Why, why?
Only time can wash away shallow and foolish love.
She put the song on repeat, and the two of them remained in that quiet place for an unknown amount of time. Then, turning their heads, they saw a huge moon rising from the lake. The moon, so full of celestial beauty, so candid; under such moonlight, no one could lie.
Fang Kaixuan had a question that had been lingering in his mind for a long time.
///
The little hook at the end
What needs fixing?
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