FIND THE EL DORADO

CHAPTER 3

Charlie’s Point of View

I swam subterrene. I know how to swim because I studied scuba diving too. While I’m getting near underground, I noticed a piece of paper that made me inquisitive so I get it and proceeded upwards.

I looked at it thoroughly and it makes my eyes widened.

“M-map of Gold? El Dorado?” I asked. When the gold word sinks into my mind, I shouted instantly.

“Guys, I found something!” they went to my direction rapidly and looked at what I am holding.

“Jun, do you know this?” I handed him the map and his eyes widened too. 

“This is El Dorado, the City of Gold”

“El Dorado? What place is that?” Simon questioned.

“This is a fictional place and I don’t know if this exists” Jun acknowledged. I looked at him seriously.

“Why is there a map here?” Minmin babbled.

“If it’s not existing, why there is a thing like that here?” Kyle agreed to Minmin.

“Oh guys, I am not an expert so stop making me fool” Jun responded. Everyone frowned and became confused.

“It seems like I heard that place also when I was in High School. Our teacher tells a story about it to us and everyone in our class became interested.” Britney interfered. 

“So, what is it?” Kaye asked seriously.

“My teacher said that yes, it was a mythical place that doesn’t exist. It was found by Spaniards a long time ago...”

“So where is it located?” Joy asked.

“In South America” Britney responded.

Laine scowled and he looks annoyed. “Girl, South America is quite big and far. Give us the exact spot”

“Do you think we can travel there? We are wanted now. We couldn’t take an airfare because of what Jun did” Kaye added.

“Me again? Oh shit. The blame is always on me” Jun commented.

“Stop the arguments you childish!” I exclaimed.

“What if we should take analysis first? If it’s existing, let’s give it a try. If not, what a pity” Minmin suggested.

“Are you willing to waste our efforts and amounts of money? Oh, come on. What a desirous” Kyle interposed.

“We are all desperate here. Minmin is right, we can do our research first before proceeding to the next plan” I elucidated.

“I’ll do the research. You can have fun now while I’m looking for information” Jun reassured.

“I’ll join you” Simon suggested.

“Let’s go to the van” Jun responded and the two went back to the van to research El Dorado. Everyone continued bathing in the lake while I’m still confused.

What if El Dorado is a true place? What if this is the stepping stone for us to be wealthy and rich?

Simon’s Point of View

We came back to the van to research this place. I can’t still believe that this is possible? What if destiny did this for us? After all those misfortunes that happened in our past?

We have a laptop we steal here and gladly; Jun knows how to bypass laptops so we can still use it well as new.

Jun opened his laptop and I opened mine and we started doing research. I typed El Dorado in the search bar and tons of information shown.

“El Dorado means The Golden City” I read the article. I continued touring my eyes to the monitor.

“El Dorado was the term used by the Spanish Empire to describe a mythical tribal chief of the Muisca people, an indigenous people of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense of Colombia, who, as an initiation rite, covered himself with gold dust and submerged in Lake Guatavita. The legends surrounding El Dorado changed over time, as it went from being a man to a city, to a kingdom, and then finally to an empire.” 

I got excited about what I read and I immediately tell it to Jun “Dude, I found the location! It was in Altiplano Cundiboyacense of Colombia and it was covered with gold dust and submerged in Lake Guatavita!” he looked at me confused that makes my excitement fades.

“Really? As I read in this article, El Dorado was inferred from rumors, which inspired several unsuccessful expeditions in the late 1500s in search of a city called Manõa on the shores of Lake Parime” He replied.

“H-ha?”

“Oh no. There are two locations” He responded.

“What shall we follow?”

“I don’t know?” he returned his gaze to the monitor and continued digging.

“19th Century came, most people dismissed the existence of the city as a myth” I read the article and Jun looked at me again.

“What?” 

“What century are we now? 20th?” I asked.

“Fool! It’s 21st!” He responded.

“It became a myth now?” He asked.

“That’s what I read here” I returned my sight to the monitor again to look for other articles.

I found a cartoon movie entitled A Road to El Dorado. Without any hesitation, I clicked it and started to watch.

“Did you come here just to waste our load and watch a movie?” Jun scolded.

“I’m watching a movie about the El Dorado so calm down,” I responded. I continued watching. This movie was released in the year 2000 and it’s been a long time. I am still hoping that this place is still existing because of this our only chance to survive in this cruel world.

~*~

It’s night time and we’re having dinner together. We’re still in the lake. We can’t leave this place because we might get caught. We decided to stay here just only for one night.

“So, how’s the research about El Dorado?” Joy asked. She looked at us and I looked to Jun.

“During the 19th Century, the El Dorado’s existence was dismissed by the people as myth” he replied.

“So, there is no El Dorado now?” Kyle asked curiously.

“But Simon watched a movie and several videos. As of now, some people still looking for it. The word ‘give up’ isn’t in their vocabulary” Jun answered smilingly that made everyone happy.

“What are the next plans?” Charlie asked.

“I talked to my seaman friend and we will start looking for it tomorrow. We will go with their ship” 

“W-what? Immediately tomorrow?” Laine exclaimed.

“Yes.”

“Is that proven and legit? You know guys, I don’t like wasting our efforts and money” Kaye reassured seriously.

“I can’t say it so far whether it’s true or not but we wouldn’t know if we won’t try. Right?” Jun assured.

“The searches for the said treasure wasted countless lives as I read to an article” Minmin exclaimed.

“That’s because of desperation. We’re desperate but still, we need to live and we’re not ending our lives. Okay?” I interfered and everyone agreed. 

“Bring your things okay? Don’t forget your money because this is a long trip since we couldn’t take an airfare because of what I did” Jun reminded and he looked at Kaye’s direction. He was too shady. 

“I hope this adventure would be successful in the days to come,” Laine said.

“No pain, no gain!” Charlie screamed.

“We are one under the same sky!!!” Britney shouted.

After eating, we assembled a big tent. Fortunately, we didn’t forget to bring it here. We put a cloth to the grass and placed our pillows and comforter. It is nice because the weather isn’t too cold and hot.

Everyone is now sleeping while I’m laying to the ground deafeningly. I’m staring at the stars.

Stars made me comfortable. I am an astrophile person. I believed if you wish in the stars, they will grant your wish.

I stood up slowly and left my position. I walk near the lake and I take a seat.

“I hope in this journey we’re going to make will be fruitful at the end. I’m tired of this living and I want to make a new chapter of my life. I want to finish my studies and to be rich someday.” I wished.

“We can do it, don’t worry” I was shocked when someone suddenly spoke.

“Why are you still awake?” I asked Charlie who’s currently standing behind me.

“Why are you here?” He asked smilingly.

“I love watching the stars. How about you?” I answered.

“I saw you walking and I can’t sleep” He sat down beside of me and look at the stars too.

“I am nervous about our plans” He started the conversation. I looked at him and he looked worried.

“Why?”

Charlie smiled at me and started pulling the grass. “We might get trapped in the place we’re going to sail and I am afraid we can’t come back here” 

I smiled and started pulling the grass too. “You know what, I am not scared if we can’t go back here since all of us are wanted. I think we will make a good decision to leave our country for our own sake. Plus, I don’t want to spend the rest of my life inside of the jail” and we both laughed.

~*~

Britney’s Point of View

Everyone was ready to start our adventure. We are now in the Real Quezon again and waiting for the ship to come.

Most of us are scared because we’re in the place where we did various crimes. I hope everything will go smoothly according to our plans.

A while later and the ship came. Everyone smiled.

“We’re coming, El Dorado!!!” Laine shouted with excitement in her voice...