We almost acquired a tour guide.

Almost.

The man who offered to give a tour looks suspicious, in my opinion. The way he stared at us from across the street was downright creepy. The fact that I noticed him first right after we got off the bus was already a sure sign that the man is bad news. And don't get me started on the way he looked Carter up and down, undressing her with those sinful eyes, before he turned his attention to me as if sizing me up.

Luckily, Carter's with me when I adamantly refused his offer, telling the guy that she's got enough knowledge about the area (I doubt that one, but didn't dare voice my thoughts), and a tour is not necessary. When the guy still insisted, I was about to tell him to go fuck himself, because I'm getting pissed, when Carter raised her hand, stared directly at the man's eyes, and told him to stop, that his services will not be needed as we would like to enjoy the experience to ourselves. When he opened his mouth to say something more, Carter pointedly glared at him, immediately shutting him up before scurrying off from us.

I was speechless. I just witnessed Carter, the princess of Switzerland, told a man off like the princess she is.

When the man was out of our sight, she raised her chin in defiant at the direction the man went off to before turning around to walk up to our destination.

Jogging up to catch up and walk beside her, I realized she must have been scared at the whole encounter because the moment I touched her elbow, she jumped and let out a squeal. I raised my hands up in surrender before bursting in laughter. I know the distraught and almost terrified look on her face was nothing to be laughed about but considering what she said and did earlier, I just can't help it.

When she grasped the fact that I was laughing at her, her distraught face melted into irritation while I doubled over in laughter.

"You think this is funny?" she sneered.

"I'm sorry," I started, wiping my tears of laughter, and not being sorry at all. "It was just..." I tried saying again but failed to contain my mirth so I just let it all out for a few more minutes before finally straightening myself. When I look at her, she now held a murderous face, and she seemed ready to kill at the moment. I cleared my throat and offered a smile.

"To tell you honestly, I can't believe you were scared the whole time," I finally confessed.

"Who wouldn't be scared at that ordeal?"

"You mean you're really scared the whole time you were telling that guy off? That you were scared despite the authority in your demeanor?"

She glared before saying, "of course I was! I just forced myself not to show any signs of fear. A guy like that feeds on fear. He knows full well that we are mere travelers in a foreign land who knows little if not nothing about the country. If you show him that you're scared or show any hint of fear or just entirely clueless, he would be even more confident to carry out a crime."

"How would you even know that?"

"Some of the staff at the hotel warned me about the dangers in the city, especially to foreigners because most are easy targets and are very gullible."

"Oh..."

"Anyway, enough about that. I don't want this day to be ruined just because of that."

She took a deep breath before giving me a smile. Smiling in return at the most incredible woman before me, I held out my hand. She giggled and laced her fingers with mine. And together, we finally entered the National Museum.

*****

Looking outside, one can say that the whole building is too simple to be a museum. But the inside is a different story altogether. Because the interior is anything but simple.

As the saying goes, do not judge the book by its cover. But in my case, do not judge a museum by its exterior structure. The outside was too simple, but the inside is really admirable.

The marble floors, or was it wooden floors? Are polished clean, reflecting the lights from the chandelier as it also lights up the hallway. The walls are littered with paintings that are carefully hanged and aligned. The whole inside has a castle-like feel to it. Although not as elaborate as the castles I have visited, but still very beautiful. I can't say more as I am not really good at describing a place, an inanimate object or anything in between because once I see its beauty, no words are needed.

"This is amazing." I heard Carter say. When I looked at her, I can't help but stare. Her eyes are bright, sparkling like the stars in the night sky. And right then and there, I knew what my response to her statement.

"Nothing compared to you," I whispered as she moved to inspect one of the paintings.

I may lack the vocabulary to describe this place, but I know I have the linguistic ability to describe the beautiful creature that was beside me a moment ago despite the lack of perfect words to describe her.

"According to..." and here we go. The moment she said those words, I know I'm in for an earful. "There are different kinds of collection this museum holds. Right now, we are currently at the Fine Arts."

"So these are the collections of the paintings made by famous Filipinos?"

I heard her snort at that. "The paintings found in here are not just made by Filipinos. These paintings are made by artists. Someone who have learned throughout their lives. They have a vast knowledge on different subjects either they learned it from someone, heard of it or they have experienced it themselves."

She was about to say more, when one painting captured her attention and went off. While she was examining one of the paintings, my phone started ringing. Looking at the called ID, I let it ring for a while before finally putting my phone on silent.

That exact moment, she turned to me curiously. "Who was it?"

"Huh?" I sweat dropped. "Oh, nothing important."

She looked at me more, trying to figure something out before shrugging off.

"I'm glad."

What?

"I'm glad and utterly flattered that you are dedicating this day to me."

I laughed at this. If only you knew the real reason behind this fast-paced adventure.

"I am also glad that we almost had this museum to ourselves."

"Almost," I repeated.

She shivered after I said that. "Don't remind me." After hearing that, I immediately figured out what she thought must have been the meaning of repeating that one word.

"I'm going to tell you right now, I am not referring to that creepy man who approached us earlier."

She glared at me. "Do you know the meaning of irony? I just told you not to remind me and then you go on telling me. By the way, I know what you really mean. It just came to my thoughts that's all."

"So it's not really my fault."

"Fine."

"Anyway, I am also glad that we are the only people here in the museum right now."

She laughed at this. "Honestly, I am not too surprised that only few people visit museums. It is a working day today. And I have long ago accepted that not everyone is a fan of art. Not everyone appreciates art. And some even find going to museums like this, boring. I just hope that you are not one of those who find this activity boring."

"I don't find it boring. In fact, I find it interesting."

"Good."

We walked a bit more around until she stopped. Literally stopped in the middle of the hallway we were passing through.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

I was starting to be concerned when she suddenly grinned.

"I just remembered something," she said. "The painting I wish to see is here at this very building we're in."

"Aren't you being a little dramatic?"

She threw her head back and laughed. Instead of walking around, view other paintings and let our feet find the place of the painting, she tugged me to one of the personnel. When the personnel told us the exact location of the painting, Carter was practically bouncing on her feet as she continued to drag me all over the place, and I just let her.

"I thought you liked that painting?"

"I do."

"Then why aren't you as excited as me to see it."

Because you are more interesting to me that any other painting in the world

"Because you're took all of my excitement," I simply said.

When we reached the room, she immediately let go of my hand.

There it is. "La Spoliarium"

The 13 x 25 feet painting stood in all of its glory and magnificence in front of us, but all I could do is stare at the beauty that is completely stunned looking at the oil canvas.

Yep. She's definitely more interesting to me than any other paintings in the world.