I approached a big bush, and there they were: “Good Lord, a woman can’t go the loo in peace?” I snapped. The two men looked at each other, blushing. Ah, they were so rudimental. It practically took me nothing to get rid of them.

I got down, waiting for them to walk away and I ran away as fast as I could. I turned back to see if they noticed I was gone, but nothing, I was free to go.

I still remembered the way that took to the temple; I wanted to find out more about that place. And I have to admit, I was wishing to see her again.  A wish that I feared was coming to a hand when I faced a giant black panther. I stopped in my track. I couldn’t move neither I could scream. I felt paralyzed by fear. I knew that if I moved that thing would have eaten me with just one bite. I was finished.

But some lucky star was there for me, I felt again pushed aside, with that now familiar hand on my mouth. She slowly moved it away and brought her finger to her mouth and nose, suggesting to stay quiet. She took a branch that was on the ground to her left, throwing it on the opposite direction from where we were; the animal, hearing the landing sound, moved away, leaving the field free. I wanted to thank her, instead I kept silent. She motioned to follow her, and I didn’t know why but I trusted her, so I followed. She took me to the temple. It was like she was waiting to see me again, as well. None of us said a word, even because we really didn’t know how to communicate for we spoke two completely different languages. We stood there, in front of each other.

I had to thank her somehow “Thank you” I uttered those words with both hands on my chest.

She only tilted her head, just like dogs do when they don’t understand something.

“Thank you” I repeated this time smiling. She frowned, but a little smile appeared on her face, too. Maybe she understood. We continued to study each other and I decided to do something that took her by surprise, “Santiphap” I told her while showing the stone.

She took her by surprise, indeed. She wanted to say something, but she knew that I wouldn’t have understood anything. Instead, she moved away and sat on a rock close by. Following her with my eyes, I decided to mimic her gestures, sitting beside her.

“What’s your name?” I tried to speak to her. I wanted to know her.

But no response came, she only gave me a quizzical look. “Your name” I kept saying.

“Ok, let’s try this” I slid my backpack from my shoulders. I scared her at first, because she went all defensive, wondering what that could be. I stopped and looked at her with a relaxed expression, just to let her know I wasn’t going to hurt her in any way. I took the dictionary and looked for the word “name”.

There I found it, “Chhmoh? What’s your name?”

She blinked quickly, surprised by the fact that I was so willing to know more about her.

“Chhmoh” she repeated in a little voice. “Neang e Li Sa” she finally said, pointing at herself.

I smiled a big smile! And then she asked me, “Chhmoh?” and then added, “Name?”

“Christina” I replied.

“Crrr… Tina” she tried to repeat my name.

“Ch-ri-st-ina” I said slower.

“Tina” she only said the last part of my name.

I liked it. And I chuckled, “Tina is fine”

“Fine” she repeated.

“Li Sa?” I said part of her name, it sounded familiar.

“Neang e Li Sa”

“Neang” I said. “e Li Sa” and I had an epiphany. “Oh, Eliza!”

“E-Li-Sa” was she mocking me?

I couldn’t help but laugh again. “Eliza” I tried to explain, “Like Elizabeth”

“Eli…” she started to say. “Bette” and said the last part of her name, just like she did with mine. And it looked like she was remembering something, something that she had pushed away for a long time. But I didn’t give it so much credit. Instead I kept going with our “conversation”.

“Tina” I pointed at myself, “And Bette” doing the same to her. Sensing that maybe those diminutives could be easier to pronounce.

“Tina and Bette!” she said in an enthusiastic manner.