Chapter 150
Pushing open the door, Alex walked into the coffee shop and looked around, trying to find someone. His eyes had a yearning and expectance, while his face showed nervousness. Reading the text, he wasted no time and hurried to the location mentioned as fast as he could.
‘But where is she?’
As Alex looked around, trying to find the person he was here to meet, his phone buzzed again.
‘On your left, in the corner,’ The message read.
Reading the message, Alex turned to his left and there she was, waving at him with the sweetest smile he had ever seen.
Sitting in the corner was Margaret, the girl for whom he was willing to leave everything at this moment, but she had gone in the wind.
.....
Now, after so many days, she was finally in front of him, and Alex’s feet turned towards her on their own as he slowly took steps toward her. Seeing Alex walk up to her dazed, Margaret also stood up from her chair. Soon slow steps turned into rushed ones, and as soon as he reached her, Alex did not hold back.
Not caring about the inquisitive eyes in the coffee shop, Alex embraced Margaret in front of everyone and squeezed her tight in his arms. He was afraid that she might vanish again into thin air if he were to let her lose.
“Hey, everyone is looking at us,” Margaret said as she looked at those jealous faces in the coffee shop. The guys were jealous because Alex was getting to embrace such a beautiful girl. While the girls were jealous because of how Alex was expressing himself in front of everyone. Most girls like things to be grand, especially when it comes to expressing love.
“I don’t care,” Alex said as his hands caressed Margaret’s back and nuzzled his face in her nape.
Margaret also knew that she had been gone for just too long. So, without arguing any further, she also put her arms around him and reciprocated his feelings.
The two of them stood there in each other’s arms under the envious gaze of those in the coffee shop for a while before Margaret pulled herself away.
“Where have you been all this while?” Alex asked, “And what’s with your hands? Look at how thin you have gotten. Don’t tell me you were in some kind of concentration camp. Do you know the last time I saw you?” Alex freaked Margaret out with her questions.
“Come down my bullet train, take a breath,” Margaret put her hand over Alex’s and stopped him, “One thing at a time.”
“Where were you?” Alex asked.
“I went to see my father,” Margaret said.
“Your father?” Alex asked.
“I do have a father. I didn’t drop from some tree, you know.” Margaret looked at Alex half-jokingly.
“I didn’t mean it that way. I mean, you never said anything about your parents,” Alex said.
“We might have known each other for about a year or so, but how many hours do you think we have spent together?” Margaret asked, “Leave that aside. Even after we have sort of gotten together, how much time do you think we have spent together?”
“But it’s not my fault,” Alex murmured.
“When did I say it’s your fault?” Margaret said, “I know it’s all because I am just too busy, but that does not change the fact, does it?”
“So are you going to stay here, or are you going to go back? Alex asked.
“I am going back tonight,” Margaret said, “I came here to tell you that specifically.”
“But...”
“And I know you are also going to be very busy for the next few months with your work,” Margaret cut between Alex’s words, “After all, you are now working with Jessica.”
Alex was surprised when Margaret mentioned the joint venture. The news was not public, and except for those in the company and a few on Jessica’s side, no one knew about it.
“How do you know that?” Alex asked.
“I know a lot of things,” Margaret smirked, “Like how you are coming here straight from the police station. What was it? Murder?”
Now, this was a shock for him. Surprised, he abruptly stood up and looked at Margaret,” Haa... How? how do you know everything?” Alex stammered.
“Sit down,” Margaret pulled Alex by his arm and made him sit, “I am sure you know that whatever I do, it’s anything but simple. Do you think it is hard for me to keep track of the guy I like? And what is he up to?” Margaret did not try to make excuses. .
“... I know a lot of things about you, and I can dig out many more,” Margaret said, “And it’s not because I don’t trust you.” Margaret said when she saw Alex try and open his mouth, “But I just want to know what you are up to, while at the same time, I don’t want to sound like those controlling girlfriends, calling every half-an-hour, trying to find out what their boys are up to.” Margaret shrugged.
“But aren’t you acting like one?” Alex looked at her strangely.
“I have told you before. You are the first guy to have gotten this close to me. I don’t know why it is you, and I don’t have any explanation for it, and I don’t know how long it will last. But even I want to experience certain things while it lasts.” Margaret looked straight into Alex’s eyes and said, “And believe me, I want it to last long, very long.”
“... But you never know. Like how right now I have certain things to do that prioritize this relationship between us,” Margaret leaned back, “I might sound harsh, and insensitive, but it is the truth.”
“So what is that thing?” Alex asked.
“That is, I am afraid I can’t tell you,” Margaret shook her head.
“But I know nothing about you,” Alex asked. And he had two reasons behind his statement. First was simple, he liked her, and he needed to know about her. But the second was more complicated, and the main reason behind his motive to get close to Margaret, his past and that girl in his dreams. He could feel that either the girl in his dreams was Margaret, or she had something to do with Margaret. And to clarify that, he had to first know more about Margaret.
“I know, and I want to tell you a lot about me,” Margaret said as she softly caressed his face, “But I can’t, at least not right now.”
“So why are you here today?” Alex did not like being kept in the dark, but he chose not to be pushy.
“Simple, As I said before. I am here to meet you,” Margaret took a sip of her coffee and said, “I don’t know how long I will be away, and telling you that by a simple text just didn’t feel right. I may be occupied right now, but this relationship, us, it is very much important to me.” Margaret sincerely told Alex.
Alex did not respond. He continued to stare at Margaret, trying to find something, but all he could see was seriousness, despite the bluntness. Finally, he took a deep breath, “You should not have come,” Alex shook his head, “I had just started getting used to that empty lawn in the morning and the dark house when I returned home. You have done nothing but raised my hopes.”
“But you don’t seem to think about me that often,” Margaret commented. She did not sound angry. Instead, she had a playful smile on her face, “You have been very busy yourself. First, you resigned from Theation. Then there was this trip to Ullu, and now a collaboration with Theation. You seem to have a perfect balance of love and hate relationship with Jessica.”
“Cough! Cough!” Alex almost choked on the water he was drinking, “Cough! What... What do you mean?” Alex had tears in his eyes.
“Aren’t I right?” Squinting her eyes, Margaret looked at Alex, “You used to badmouth her all the time when we talked about her but now look at you, working together with her and rushing to her rescue at the police station. Let me warn you, don’t get too close to her.” Margaret said, pointing her finger straight at Alex.
‘She does not know,’ Alex felt relieved. At first, when Margaret brought about the topic of a love-hate relationship, he thought she knew about what happened between them in Ullu. But further listening to her, she was just jealous of them working closely.
“Whatever you say,” Alex agreed right away, “So, how long are you here?” Alex asked, cleverly shifting the topic.
“... We can go shopping,” Alex suggested.
Margaret looked at her watch, hearing his suggestion, “I am sorry, but my flight is in an hour. I need to get going now.” Margaret looked apologetically towards Alex, “Maybe next time.”
“Then let me drop you at the airport,” Alex offered, standing up, but Margaret pulled him back.
“No need... My car is already outside,” Margaret said, “I know this is all of a sudden and a bit selfish of me. But I hope you will understand my circumstances.” Margaret asked.
Alex smiled, “I know... It would be a lie to say that I am not disappointed, but the happiness far exceeds the disappointment.”
Margaret was also somewhat at ease hearing that. She leaned forward and gave a soft peck on his lips, “I hope this will help you get by,” Margaret said with a smile.
“... And you would avoid being in the same room as Jessica,” Margaret said as she picked her stuff, leaving Alex stunned.
And as she walked by the stunned Alex, Margaret whispered in his ears, “I hope what started in Ullu would end in Ullu.” And she walked away.
‘She knows,’
* * * * *