Encounter

Several days later,

Hugo was outside the house wandering in the streets. But he was not dressed up as a celebrity. He had worn glasses along with a hat, with a shirt and a jacket with white jeans.

His disguise kept him hidden from the eyes of others.

It was a fine day, not too hot or cold.

He walked around here and there, with an irritated expression on his face.

'' It's none other than the fault of Rock(His manager) that I have to be out for a walk. He didn't have to drive me out into the streets on my own. Party Pooper.''

He looked around, crowds of people passing by him. Everyone was busy on their own, without giving him their attention.

Hugo sighs in relief. He stretched out his arms, yawning a little.

'' So where shall we go today? Let's get some sightseeing then.''

First, he went to check out the shops nearby. He watched everything that was around him, starting from the barbers shop on the left and the pastry shop on the right.

He watched with sparkling eyes as he was never allowed to walk around like this.

'' I'd better tell her what I saw today.''

He had found a water fountain in the middle of the road. There stood a beautiful mermaid.

The sudden urge to click pictures helped him to move forward and take a picture. When he was doing that others kept glancing at him.

His cheeks flushed red out of embarrassment. He hides his face behind the hat he wore.

'' Why are they staring at me like that? Is this so odd to take pictures in front of the fountain? What's wrong with people these days?''.

He left the place right away. He walked into a pizza shop. He booked a single table and seat.

The excitement of eating pizza out all by himself was filling him up. He took the menu and thought a lot about what he should order.

'' But thank god, that the woman didn't notice me. Or else I wouldn't be able to sit and eat happily like this.''

'' I'd better order.''

'' Hey, waiter,'' he called.

'' Yes, coming,'' a young and beautiful waiter arrived by his side.

'' Bring me this one with more sauce and cheese with some juice thank you.''

She was in a trance state, watching him with dreamy eyes.

Hugo noticed she didn't note down the order nor did she give any response.

'' Excuse me?'' he called.

''Ah, sorry, is that all that you need?''.

'' Yes.''

'' Customer, may I know. Do you live here?'' she asked in a low voice.

'' Excuse me?''.

'' I mean, I hadn't seen you ever since I joined that's why. Are you new here? Moved in or something?''.

Hugo became speechless hearing that.

'' Ah, Well,'' he looked sideways.

'' What should I tell her?''.

'' Please bring my order, I am in a hurry,'' he added looking down.

'' Sure, right away.''

He ate the pizza in a hurry and went out, looking for a place to rest.

'' I am not used to walking so much. Let's see what the other shops have to offer.''

He dragged his feet, and without thinking discovered upon a bread shop. Hugo was able to smell the fresh bread passing through his nostrils.

Without realizing it he stopped in front of the shop. It was a freshly new shop with the signboard written with the name 'Almond bread'.

'' Quite a peculiar name isn't it?''.

All of a sudden he was able to hear a song ringing in his ears.

''This is familiar. What is this song?''.

He stepped closer to spot a figure in front of the shop crouching down with his back facing against the street.

It was a young man with straight hair from behind.

The song made him walk closer to the boy.

When he was once an inch closer he was able to listen to the song closely now.

'' Baby let me love you, till the edge of the world,

Our wish and desire, they become one,

Where shall I, hold you in my arms,

Come a little closer and let me kiss you,''

'' Do you like the song little kitty?'' asked the boy in a curious tone.

Hugo peeked downwards to see a kitten with white fur on the ground.

The boy had been feeding that little kitten pieces of bread while singing.

Hugo wasn't able to stop himself from asking,'' How can you sing so well to a kitty?''.

He was feeling touched from inside out. Even he felt like that what he has been doing all these years in the name of singing is wrong.

Hearing the question the boy glanced behind him recognizing the voice. Only to meet Hugo's eyes which was too shocking for him at the moment.

Dante stands up right away to see him, with astonishing eyes.

Hugo's eyes widened to find the same guy that ran away from the middle of his performance.

'' You?'' he couldn't believe what he was seeing back then.

Dante himself was speechless as his lips went dry seeing the man with glasses. But his expression changed and he frowned at the person.

'' Who might you be? A customer?''.

Hugo wasn't able to understand what he was trying to say thereby calling him a customer.

'' I am not your customer. How can you sing so well?'' he yelled raising his voice.

'' If you aren't a customer then go away. I have no business with a stranger. Nor do I want to tell you anything about my singing. Go away,'' replied Dante turning away.

The kitty was snuggling herself into the leg of Dante.

But Hugo didn't like the treatment that he got from him.

'' Come here kitty, we will go somewhere else,'' he called.

Before the cat could climb up, Hugo placed his hand on Dante's shoulder, making him face him.

He held onto both of Dante's shoulders so that he won't be able to escape.

His eyes were flashing red with anger. He couldn't believe the way Dante treated him just now.

'' You have to answer me. You can't leave from here right away like this. Answer me, how can you sing so well?'' he shouted.

Dante was starting to recognize the voice very much well now.

'' Do I know you?'' Dante asked, with a puzzled face.

''Huh? You know me better than anyone. Even if you don't I know you better than anyone. You are such a person who would run out of someone's performance without watching till the end. All you can do is insult the artist and nothing else.''

Dante was getting even more puzzled.

'' Which performance might you be talking about?''.

'' Which performance? My performance in the Whitehall some days ago became a tearjerker for the audience. And it was all because of you. Why did you leave the place without watching the whole performance?'' he yelled so loud that everyone who was passing by the road could hear.

Dante realized right away.

'' Are you? Hugo Lawrence?'' he stuttered.

'' Oh yeah,'' he took off his glasses to show his face.

Seeing that, Dante looked around him, then, crouched down to pick up the kitty.

'' Come with me,'' he grabbed onto the hand of Hugo tightly and dragged him into the shop in the blink of an eye.

''Wha-''.

The door to the shop was tightly shut.

Dante was panting and breathing heavily as he held the kitty to his chest with one hand and Hugo on the other hand.

Hugo had a hard time processing all the things that happened right before his eyes.

The owner who was inside, hearing the loud noise on the door came to the door.

It was a young woman in her middle thirties. She had worn a blue apron along with a pink dress.

'' What happened cutie? What's the noise about?'' she asked in a small tone.

She was surprised to see Hugo and Dante along with the kitty together.

'' Dan, what's wrong?'' she asked in a frantic tone.

'' Don't ask Owner, I am in a big problem. Do you think that you can help me to hide him? Or else people will start to gather in front of the store.''

'' What? Why?''.

''Just give us a room. There's your room inside right? Give us the room for ten minutes will you?''Dante pleaded, still holding onto Hugo.

She stood still then glanced over Hugo. '' Fine only for a while, here are the keys,'' she threw it to him.

''Thanks, come with me,'' he dragged Hugo with him.

'' Hey, where are you taking me? Hey.''

They disappeared from there in the blink of an eye.

The owner sighs in relief seeing that.

'' What was that about?'' when she was about to go back she saw that a small crowd had gathered in front of the shop from the glass on the door.

'' Is this what the cutie was talking about? Seems hard to tackle.''

Dante closed the door behind him.

'' Ouch,'' Hugo grunted.

'' What now?'' Dante asked.

'' You are grabbing my hand too tightly. It hurts.''

Dante glanced over his hand, then let go of Hugo's hand right away. A red bruise was left by him.

Hugo glared at Dante.

'' Now answer me, why did you leave my performance like that? Why didn't you listen to my song till the end? And why did you bring me into this shop? What are you trying to achieve by this?''.

Dante left the kitten on the bed in the room. Then took a seat beside the kitten with a sigh, staring into the blank ceiling.

'' You want to know why I left the performance like that back then?'' he asked Hugo.

'' Yes, tell me, why are you keeping quiet anyway? I don't understand.''

'' I had been asking for all this while. But you are not saying anything.''

'' You.... want to know why I left the hall halfway during your performance?''.

'' Are you deaf? Can't you hear what I am trying to ask you about? Tell me why you left without hearing my complete performance,'' he added fisting hands in the air.

Silence followed between them.