3 Chapter 3

9:47 PM Cagan Park

The constellations started telling fables of wonder and adventure across the dark sheet of sky.

A romantic air blows Faura's slick pitch black hair with few strands of brunette linings.

As Angelo and Faura cross the dewy meadow of Cagan Park, their hands brush against each other, a painstaking torturous temptation for their sensations. Angelo slowly motioned his hand sideward until the milliseconds of sweeping skins turn into seconds… and then minutes.

He held her warm hand, slowly but constantly tightening the grip. Faura looked unfazed, but she didn't push him away… or his hand.

They decided to take a seat on the topmost step of a bleacher.

An excruciating pain suddenly crashed against Angelo's upper right abdomen. He tightly pushed the painful part, feeling a twisting corruption inside his organs.

"Angelo, are you alright?" Faura slightly tilted her head, seeing his creased forehead.

He inhaled deeply and slowly let go the pressure on his liver. "I'm alright." He whispered, creating the illusion for himself.

Angelo grabbed a lighter and a dirty white cigarette between his fingers.

His dry lips clamped the stick as he inhales the poison. A poison to his lungs, a medicine to his brain. His languid, damaged thoughts. A brain that's barely functioning, wounded by the sabers of anxiety.

"Why?" Faura asked. He spins his head facing her, a puzzled expression flashed throughout his saintly face.

"Be more specific," Angelo whispered his demand. "What 'why' are you talking about? What reason are you asking for?"

"I'm not gonna ask if you're smoking or not, 'coz you obviously are. So… why? Why are you doing that to yourself?"

"Doing what to myself?"

"You know damn well what I'm talkin' about."

Angelo chuckled. "I can't handle solitude for more than half the hours of a whole day. Depression, anxiety, inability to… socialize for a long time. Quite a hard thing for me, don't you think? I can't be alone for a long time, but I can't be with anyone for a long time too. Also, I have an insomnia. It wouldn't fucking allow me to forget anything or let me rest."

A puff of smoke filled the air with a sinful nicotine, the mood rode along the depth of the crawling dusk. Angelo's strong exhale bred ail.

Faura suddenly grabbed the cigarette stick and drew out the poison, tinging her lungs.

"Pretty complicated," Faura breathed out the smoke. "I love it, though. Let's talk about you and the universe for a while, shall we?"

11:22 PM Ly Café

"Any coffee will do," Faura said. "I'll pay for my share."

"Don't worry about it. I'll pay for you as a gentleman… and for accompanying me tonight."

Angelo went to the counter.

"Good evening, sir! Welcome to Ly Café," A fairly beautiful and tall woman greeted him. "May I take your order?"

"Uh, one cappuccino and one café latte," Angelo's eyes were fixated at the menu list overhead. "That will be all."

The silence was a little longer than he expected, so he looked down at the woman whose face flared a flabbergasted expression.

"Is there something wrong, miss?" Angelo was a little sincerely concerned as he asks her. "I already gave my order. Here's my payment."

Paper bills were laid neatly on the counter. "I… I'm sorry, sir," She muttered nervously. "I got it. Will you be staying here for a long time, sir?"

Angelo knitted his eyebrows. "Maybe. Why are you asking such a question?"

"I think I've seen you somewhere. You're very familiar, sir," She stated. "Have we ever met before?"

He shook his head out of disapproval. "I don't think so. Tell me your name, I might remember something."

"My name is Lyka."

"I'm not familiar of any Lyka. I'm sorry. But… I'll still be willing to talk about it after you've made yourself available, Miss Lyka."

12:00 MIDNIGHT Ly Café

"I'm terribly sorry, sir Ange--"

"Just… Angelo is fine with me."

"Angelo… I'm really sorry for interrupting your time here at Ly Café. I actually mistook you for someone else."

"Someone else?" Faura asked. "Who were you supposed to know?"

"Earlier," The girl, Lyka narrated. "I was chatting with someone I'm not familiar with, but because of my overtime work, I wasn't able to meet up with him even though he told me that he'd wait for me. I told him I wouldn't be able to come, though."

Angelo glanced at Faura once.

"Thanks for informing us, too. I guess we'll be leaving now."

Lyka nodded. "Of course. Again, I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused."

"No prob! Not a big deal. We're just idly hanging out, anyway." Faura cheerfully said.

When they went out of the café, they were walking along the narrow avenue.

"I have to go now," Faura informed. "But we must meet again. I want to talk about different things next time. It can be something deep or something completely useless. I love having conversations."

August 20, 2018 (Monday) 00:49 Cardeal Hotel, 40th floor

Angelo had returned at the hotel, smoking at the queue area.

"Good evening, Mr. Angelo," Mair, the female receptionist greeted politely. "Shall I direct you to the smoking area?"

Angelo didn't said a word. He just stood up and let Mair lead the way to the smoking area. She handed him a paper bag as he sits on the only vacant pecan chair.

He received it without knowing what it is. "What's this?"

"Mr. Paul Alejandro gave it to me, but my preferences doesn't exactly fit those kinds of food," She explained. "And I think you need it more than I do. I'm not too against of cigarettes, but an ice cream sundae and fries would be better. Possibly, a substitute."

Angelo scoffed as she walks out of the smoking area. He opened the packaged food and threw his cigarette stick.