Chapter 8

"Iced venti caffe latte for Albert and venti mocha frappe for Marge. Light ice for the latte please," Albert ordered. 

There has been very minimal talking since they left Albert's workplace and it was understandable. Between Connie’s pep squad cheer during their departure; the radio aptly playing Jason Mraz’s Prettiest Friend which Albert definitely thought was about him being the prettiest; and the butterflies in the dash on pins and needles like having kittens on a hot brick; there was so much tension. They only stopped the shush upon deciding to casually talk it out at the presence of Joe, Mocha and Ariana.

Still, they've always liked the first of every month and hated it to be a day any less than 7/10. Albert used it as an opener while waiting for their orders.

"Nice day, huh?" he started.

Margaret nodded, "Considering what happened last night, it's a pretty nice day."

"Oh. Oh, I meant weather-wise."

"Oh…"

Without a second to lose, they were again back to that awkward air. Albert giveth, Albert taketh away. Weirdly though, he felt comfortable just looking at her eyes. Drowning. Visibly, she was as well because she looked back to join the swim. Even when their coffee arrived, they never broke their glances. They weren't smiling but you can almost feel how pleasant and safe they are feeling. They wanted to prolong the silence and preserve this moment, because they know that just one word and everything will change completely, permanently. 

Albert removed the noisy people around them, the hubbub of the traffic outside, and the entire scene until the picture decreased where it can only fit the two of them. Then just like that, he was entranced. He removed the doors, the windows, the floor, the light until all that’s left is…

A dark room with no vents. 

Chains hung from the ceiling and crimson blood were sprinkled everywhere my eyes can reach; the rough walls, the tiled floor worn by time. 

A quick gander around and horripilation sprang up as I saw the corpses hanging from meat hooks all over the place. Naked, faces disfigured, disemboweled and many are missing body parts. I gagged as I discover the black bags beside me. I almost smelt the rancid odor emitting from the bags full of freshly chopped body parts of the same people hanging around me. 

I tried to struggle away but I can't move. 

I tried screaming for help but no voice got out. 

I felt the dark corners of the room sweep. 

Visions got dingier as my heartbeat got faster. It got louder. It got more frightening. It got colder.

Suddenly, a light. Albert looked in front of him and Margaret was there. Same eyes of security that had kept him safe all these years. But now, these eyes started crying. 

"Margaret?" Albert calmly but concernedly asked as he got transported back to the coffee place. 

She just continued to shed tears inexplicably while still maintaining her composure. 

He looked at her half-drank frappe. "I'm starting to think there's more than just caffeine in this coffee," Albert attempted to lighten the mood.

It worked, for Margaret wiped her eyes with her hankie and started to talk. She started with the usual; she apologized for being too intoxicated last night as to not be in control of her actions. She also apologized for the countless times this happened during the past. 

"Hopefully this won't happen in the future so I'm apologizing for the last time," she declared. 

And to reciprocate, Albert did apologize as well for not knowing how to react. They both knew they were just buffering up with this conversation so the punch would be softer down the line. They both have things to confess so it makes sense to start light. They also branched to other subjects related to work and such.

They spent maybe a good half hour prolonging the inevitables until "Charles proposed to me." Abrupt was the word that appeared on her head when she said that. But she can’t back down now. She just waited for a response like a snail anticipating for the hydraulic press.

She needn’t wait for too long because Albert had rehearsed his response in his head maybe three dozen times now. “I know, he told me when we met.” He smiled his lips but the eyes did not join the faking. “Of course, it was not the best news for me at first, but I just want what’s best for you.”

Margaret was just contemplating everything he’s saying. She’s speechless at the moment so Albert just resumed. He talked about the ordeal with Charles when they met eyes outside the mansion and how weird it felt to have him be the one to give the affirmation. Margaret has no parents left and no close relatives so Albert’s been her only family since college.

“And now that you’re atypically non-articulatory; I think it’s the best time to also tell you something before something interrupts me again,” he resumed. And just like a conjurer—

Riiiiing!

“Oh for the love of cheesecakes!” Albert exclaimed. He looked at his phone and gestured to Marge if he can take it.

“Cheesecakes…? Take it, I can wait,” commented Margaret.

Albert took the phone outside and answered the caller who turned out to be the Baron. He just placed the phone beside his ear for three or four seconds then turned it off. After the call, his demeanor changed and turned to that of a dad who just found out his favorite football team had just lost.

“Come on Marge, I’ll drop you at your place. Pierre just called me for an emergency. Not health.”

She wanted to protest but she can’t. She knows the guy she’s working for. “It’s alright I’ll take a cab.”

Albert rushed outside with thoughts to resume his and Margaret’s talk sometime else. Maybe a place where they have unlimited wings. He stifled a smile as the thought of wings overcame him. 

He was just about to open the passenger seat door to his car when Margaret hugged him from behind. It felt familiar. He moved not one voluntary muscle in resistance as it felt like the last time they had a moment like this was before the rinderpest’s moon. The minute felt prolonged but still hastily finished. He turned around after she removed her arms.

He grabbed her hands and stared at it. She has that weird pastel color for her nails and a few scratches here from her childhood; but it’s a flawless hand. He stared at the blankness of her ring finger for the last time. “Congratulations,” Albert wiped her tear and got inside the car. And as he leaves Margaret in the sidewalk, he could’ve sworn Don’t Speak by No Doubt was playing as a background music during their moment. 

And it made sense so much for he felt that even when nothing really serious happened between them, he’s losing his best friend. He awed at his brilliance of coming up with the connection as he drove to the mansion to receive an additional truckload of emotions.