Awkward

I can't remember how many times I sighed as I stood in the parking lot, before a hand tapped my shoulder, I looked back and behind me stood Albert Saldivar, he was smiling at me. I smiled back at him, feeling a bit awkward, because the last time I met him, I was a mess, and I was in a hospital bed. He was wearing a very casual outfit today, a pair of cargo shorts, sandals and a shirt, for a man in his mid thirties he looked like he was in his twenties, his hair was brushed up and a crossbody bag hung around his torso. "Hi", he said to me smiling, he was charming, many of my colleagues says so and I can't disagree, and women had been ogling at him for a long time now.

"Hi", I said back at him, "funny seeing you here Mr. Saldivar", I tried to smile at him despite being bothered.

"Yes, funny, but I actually saw you in the cafe half an hour ago, I would have said hi earlier but you were in such a serious conversation with your date that I held back", he said with his ears turning red looking like an embarrassed teenager when he said the word 'date'.

I laughed, "oh... that, that wasn't a date, it was the police officer in charge with my sister's case, I just had some questions, grief... you know", I said waving my hand to clear up any misunderstanding.

"It must have been an intense meeting then, you were sighing quite a lot even after he was gone", he continued, "not that I was watching", he added defensively.

I laughed at him, and smiled, "thank you for the concern sir, but everything is fine, I'm sorry if I worried you in any way. I have to go home now", I said to him and was about to walk to my car then Mr. Saldivar grabbed my wrist, "yes sir?" I was surprised and stared his red face and he looked awkward as he grabbed my wrist

"I don't have a car today, can I ride with you", he said, his face red.

"S-s-sure", I responded in shock to his sudden actions, I unlocked my car when I heard the beep, "you can go ride on the other side". When he has let go of my wrist and walked to the passenger side I let out a sigh of relief, what the hell is up with this day. Great, this is very lady-like, I thought, getting inside a car with a complete stranger, good job Beth, good job, I let out another deep sigh.

He sat comfortably inside my small grey sedan, I opened my own door took a deep breath of either frustration or stress, or maybe both, and went inside.

"Uhg... Mr. Saldivar -

"Albert, please call me Albert", he said to me cutting me off and smiling at me

"Okay, Albert, where do I drop you off?" I asked before starting the ignition

"Uhmmm... Sta. Christina Village", said Albert

"Very well", I started the car, keyed in the location on my GPS and began driving.

Albert Saldivar was silent when we started driving, his eyes were looking straight on the road, when his phone rang, he picked it up the call, "Hello", he said calmly

"Al!" the person on the other end blared, causing Mr. Saldivar to pull the phone off his ear

"What?" he responded glancing at me, I glanced and smiled at him then returned my sight on the road.

"Well was it her boyfriend?" I braked hard when I heard it, we would have flew out of the windshield if it weren't for the sit belts. Good thing we were on the red light, else I would have caused an accident.

"Red...", he said, panting, "shut up", and then click, he has ended the call. I was looking straight ahead but I can feel him staring at me, "I'm sorry, my friend, was just fooling around."

The light turned green, and I started to drive again, I didn't say anything, just drove, then he cut the silence again, "but since we are already on the topic, do you have a boyfriend?" He sounded sheepish, unsure and his voice quaked a little.

I began thinking, why does this person suddenly became interested in my personal life, I smiled at him trying to keep my calm, "It's a complicated kind of thing." Not that I have one, I'm just not interested in having one at the moment.

"Oh..." he said then looking towards the window, "if ever", he began, "if it's not that complicated anymore, maybe we can have coffee?"

"Yeah, sure...when things aren't complicated", I responded half-heartedly, just trying to get it over with.

"You know, why don't we just get dinner now", he said out of the blue, his face blushing red, his voice shaky as if he was mustering whatever courage he could.

I looked at him with an eyebrow raised, "excuse me?"

"Dinner, like right now... I mean we're both here and I'm kind of hungry", his voice timid, his eyes expectant.

"I can't say no, can I?" I resigned, I held back a sigh, I just seriously just want to go home, but this guy is a client you can't exactly turn him down.

"I don't think so." he responded triumphantly

He gave out a smile and I turned the corner upon his direction he was acting all excited like a small child, going to a small restaurant that he says he wanted to dine in. It took a good half an hour to get to with all the traffic and because I wasn't familiar with the area. We arrived in a rustic quaint garden restaurant, from the parking lot it was illuminated by faux lamps. The entrance to the restaurant was a small wooden gate, with a floral arch. Albert Saldivar got out of the car first and when I was on my own I couldn't help but breathe out a sigh of relief, but then again again I assessed myself in the rear-view mirror and my sigh of relief became a sigh of disappointment, I remembered how much of a mess I looked like.

TAP, TAP, TAP

My heart skipped when I heard the tap on my window, lets go, he mouthed, I nodded and got myself ready. I got out of the car, Mr. Saldivar offered his arm to me as if this was like a proper date. I kindly declined his offer and gestured that we should walk on and that he should lead since it was my first time in the place. He snickered and lead the way, I looked up on the sign, the small restaurant was called, "Comida Cielo", Food Heaven, I can't help but smile to myself, we went through the wooden doors and we were welcomed by a garden that is comparable to the Garden of Eden. I was at awe as I looked around the place, Mr. Saldivar seemed to be amused by my amazement in the place. He then ushered me to the table on the corner near a backdrop of flowers. He raised a hand to signal a waiter to get a menu, he must have caught a the attention of a waiter because he had subsequently lowered his hand.

"Do you like it here?" he asked me reassuringly

"It's very relaxing", I responded giving him a smile to show him that I appreciated his effort

"Good,you know also the food here is great too." Then as if on cue the waiter walked up to our table

"Sorry for the wait, we are a bit under-staffed", the voice that came made me look up and my eyes widened.

"Chasster?" I said in bewilderment, Ciel was looking at me equally surprised, I remembered that he has a different name when he is not his 'angelic' state, and thank goodness I got I right.

"Bethany?" his face then cracked into a smile, I stood up and gave him a buss on the cheek, not that I meant it, I was more comfortable with him than with Albert Saldivar.

"Chasster, what are you doing here?" I asked him

"We're under-staffed so I decided to help out." He looked at Mr. Saldivar,

"Chasster, this here is Mr. Albert Saldivar, he hired my company to design a building for his foundation." I turned to Mr. Saldivar and said, "Mr. Saldivar this here is Chasster, his a friend of mine". Albert smiled and shook his hand somehow the air felt a bit different. For a split second I thought saw how Ciel's eyes changed it's expressions like sharp daggers ready to bore into Albert Saldivar, but as he blinked and he smiled.

"Well, since your here what are you getting?" Ciel asked taking out his notepad.

"I want to get the Steak and frits, how about you Ms. Bethany?"

I looked over the menu, but before I could say anything Ciel said, "Salisbury Steak, mashed potatoes, and lots of gravy,right?" I smiled and nodded.

"For the drinks I think I'll have wine, and a shake for the lady since she will be driving." said Albert as he handed the menu back to Ciel. The way Mr. Saldivar spoke to Ciel was different than how he spoke to me. He was more confident and serious, Ciel merely smiled at him as he too our orders. I began to wonder how in the world Ciel was there, he was very comfortable.

"Sure no problem, the order usually takes ten to fifteen minutes, we appreciate your patience," said Ciel and walked away.

As soon as Ciel has left Mr. Saldivar reverted to his sheepish personality and began small talks, he discussed many things, I tried my best to be interested but it was just not. Until he mentioned about the project he hired me for, we talked about the design he wanted. It was the only time that I found myself really listening to what he was saying. During the discussion I found out that the structure that he wanted to make was a take on an old ancestral home that his family had. I looked at the pictures and there was an unnerving feeling as if I had been there before, somehow I began to feel uncomfortable, I had to excuse myself to get rid the feeling I pretended that I forgot my phone in the car and wanted to get a picture of the place.

I walked towards the exit on the way to my car, when I saw Ciel leaning on my car, standing there as if waiting for me, he was looking like his usual stylish self, the sight of him made me smile. He looked at me gave me a small smile.

"Hey", I said

"Hey" he replied, "be careful of him, that guy isn't normal" he said glaringly

"All men are not normal Ciel", I said dismissively as I opened my car and pretend to get whatever.

"Point" he responded in sarcasm

"What are you doing here anyway? I didn't know reapers have part-time jobs" I said as I rummaged through my stuff

"Ha-ha very funny", he said, "I usually don't get involved with it, but as I said, we're understaffed, I needed to help. I'm the owner after all."

I raised my eyebrow, what did he just say, "Owner?"

"Yeah", he said, "it's boring to be a reaper all the time you know, people crying, and those sad faces. People needs other things to do than just their jobs, it's gets tiring".

I looked up at Ciel and saw how mature he looked, and for a moment I admired the guy.

"You can stop pretending to look for your phone you know."

I sighed, and got out of the car, Ciel just leaned on my vehicle, quiet, it was surprising that he wasn't badgering me about his favor, but today he looked like a regular guy, a handsome regular guy with a good sense of humor and style. It made me wonder if a guy like him really exists in the world, but I began to snap back to my senses and remembered he is what you want to see, nothing about Ciel, is, was and will be real.

"You better go back to your date", he said

"Yeah... and this is not a date, it's just dinner" I locked up my car and walked back but before I did ciel called back

"Well whatever you call it Bethany, be careful of that guy. There's something about him that is dangerous" he said

"If that happens, I'll just call you then", I responded jokingly

"And I'll be there", he responded with a smile

I felt my face burn as he said those words, I quickened my pace going back to the table where Albert was waiting for me. He noticed the color in face and asked if anything was the matter, which i profusely denied, now was not the time to have my client ask me more questions about my personal life especially when I'd rather go home and take a rest. We picked up our conversation discussing the about the project. Albert was starting to be confident as we continued the conversation, he was not like the awkward person that I rode with on the way to the restaurant. But I was still not feeling comfortable around him, he has an air around him gave me an unsettling feeling, and a part of me wished that Ciel will appear to break the conversation and metaphorically save me. As if by magic he did arrive with our orders, Ciel was chatty as he served our meal, I noticed that Albert's expression has a tinge of disapproval and irritation by his presence. It was a surprise to see the infamous Albert Saldivar to show a hint of distaste towards other people, because he was known to have nothing but goodness in him, but tonight I'm having a front row seat on how different Albert Saldivar is on private settings.

"Chasster, how long have you been a server here", I heard Albert asked Ciel out of the blue, "I've eaten here a lot but this is the first time I saw you." I felt my stomach turn, what the hell is he asking? Ciel's expression was priceless, it was one of shock, I had to intervene.

"Mr. Saldivar-

"I've been working here for years, but you can't expect the owner to be doing the busing of tables now", Ciel cut me off with in a joking tone, he turned to me and served me some wine and winked. Then he looked back to Albert who has a perplexed expression, "you seem to be very interested with my status and relationship with Beth, can I assume that you are interested in her as well?"

Albert Saldivar's face turned red as Ciel spoke those words, his eyes went from him to myself so fast in embarrassment. I wanted to melt, this guy is my client and this crazy reaper is going to get me fired

"Chasster, stop joking around, this here is my client. This", I gestured to the dinner, "is just a meeting", I tried my best to sound casual and light to alleviate the tense atmosphere on the table, "right Mr. Saldivar", I turned to him hoping that he will second the motion and move on from the topic.

"What if I am?" he responded looking straight at me, I couldn't help raise an eyebrow

"Excuse me?" I said questioningly, almost offended

"What if I am interested", he repeated and then turned to Ciel as if he was challenging him.

Ciel grinned, he was like a mischievous child as he met Albert's stare, I wanted to melt, evaporate, sublimate or whatever I just wanted to not be there! It felt like there was a duel here, but when Ciel spoke i wanted the ground underneath my feet to swallow me up whole and crush me under all the pressure.

"May the best man win her".

That's it! I hate this! No! I can't stay here anymore. I stood up abruptly as the two of them were staring at each other, well it surprised them, I surprised myself as well. "Gentlemen, I have to go home now. It's been a long day of site visits and meetings I just want to go to bed and sleep". I walked out from the two of them, went directly to my car and drove home.