[ Soulmates. ]

Chapter 9.

Espresso woke up, sitting up and checking his watch. It was 7:48 PM. They still had time to get dressed for the festival. Espresso looked over at Madeleine, who was sickly pale and skinnier than before.

Espresso looked down, sighing as he shook Madeleine awake. "Hey, wake up. We have to go to the festival..we slept for a while.." Espresso got out of bed, yawning and stretching. Madeleine mumbled, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. "I feel like an old man..my whole body hurts.." Madeleine huffed, sitting on the edge of the bed. "You'll be fine.." Espresso grabbed a pair of spare clothes from the chair, walking over to Madeleine.

"Espresso..today's the day." Madeleine cupped Espresso's cheek, looking into the man's eyes. "..Don't remind me, please." Espresso avoided direct eye-contact, sliding the hospital gown off of Madeleine and putting the clean clothes on the male instead.
"Right.." Madeleine stood up after he was dressed, cracking his back. "Mmn..that's better.." Madeleine mumbled, satisfied.

"Let's hurry before the fireworks start." Espresso grabbed Madeleine's hand, dragging the man out of the room. "I can walk fast- no need to drag me." Madeleine frowned, keeping up with Espresso easily.

"Oh..alright." Espresso let go of Madeleine's hand, walking down the hallway and turning the corner, making his way over to the exit. "Espresso, aren't you excited for the festival?" Madeleine looked at Espresso. "Well..of course I am, but I'm not looking forward to..you know.." Espresso looked down, exiting the building.
"Hey, it'll be alright. We already discussed this.." Madeleine grabbed Espresso's hand, intertwining their fingers. "..Yeah. I'm not ready to be alone though, that's the issue.." Espresso walked down the sidewalk. The loud chattering was already audible from where they were.

"Who said you were going to be alone?" Madeleine lifted Espresso's chin up. "..I'm not going to have anyone else. You're the only person who cares about me." Espresso mumbled, looking back down. "What about Latte? She cares about you!" Madeleine smiled.

"..I meant care in a romantic and passionate way. She's just like a sister to me.." Espresso forced himself not to cry. "But, she'll still look after you for me, no?" Madeleine pulled Espresso closer. "..." Espresso went silent.
"Enough of this depressed talk! Let's go watch the fireworks." Madeleine dragged Espresso over to a building, walking up the steps to the roof.

"Latte loves you, Espresso. More than you think." Madeleine rested against the parapet roof's walls, looking up at the sky. "I don't want her. I want you, and only you." Espresso stood next to Madeleine, letting out a sad sigh. "You'll never move on with that mindset..look at the bright side of life! Life is beautiful, you know." Madeleine smiled at Espresso. "..Why is life taking away my only happiness..?" Espresso looked at Madeleine, the blonde going quiet for a moment as he looked back up at the sky.

"My parents told me that life was a gift, and that you had a purpose in life that you had to serve." Madeleine watched the fireworks going off. "My purpose in life was making you happy, Espresso." Madeleine closed his eyes, smiling.

"Well I'm not happy when you're gone! Do you think this is a moment to smile in!? It's not something happy!" Espresso yelled. "You can't leave me, I don't know what I'll do without you, idiot!" Espresso started crying, turning his back to the man. Madeleine wrapped his arms around Espresso from behind. "I'm not gonna be gone, though. I'll be right here by your side. I've always been by your side, since the first day we met. You don't need to worry about what will happen when I die, but..I'll be waiting for you in our next life, dork.." Madeleine mumbled before falling to the ground, letting go of Espresso.

Espresso closed his eyes, wiping his tears. "..I love you, Madeleine.." He'd turn around, kneeling down and hugging onto Madeleine. "I love you too.." Madeleine's breath hitched, weakly hugging Espresso back.

Espresso felt the same pain in his heart as he did before, his eyes filling with tears and blurring his vision, feeling his lover going limp. Espresso cried out of anger and distress, tightly gripping Madeleine's shirt.

"See you in the next life, dork."

That thought kept replaying in Espresso's head over and over again like a broken record, making Espresso cry even harder. "I hate you.." Espresso mumbled.

"I hate you for making me love you.." Espresso sat up, pulling Madeleine's limp, cold body onto his lap, continuing to hug the man. Even though the blonde was gone, Espresso could feel a warm presence near him. He hated it, but loved it at the same time. He knew exactly who it was.
Espresso kissed Madeleine's forehead, his tears dripping down his cheeks at a fast pace.

"I love you so much..I love you, Madeleine.." Espresso wiping his tears, but more just kept coming out. Espresso eventually stood up, picking up Madeleine's body, struggling to walk down the stairs without falling. Espresso didn't care at this point, he didn't care who he bumped into, or who he tripped.

Espresso only cared about the man in his arms, sobbing as he made his way to the hospital. "Espresso-!" Latte ran up to Espresso, her smile fading as she saw what was going on. "..Oh no..I'm so sorry, Espresso..-" Latte's eyes teared up, helping Espresso to the hospital. "I love him..I love him, Latte.." Espresso kept mumbling.

"I know you love him, Espresso..I'm sorry.." Latte helped Espresso place Madeleine down on the bed, hugging Espresso. "6 years.." Espresso sobbed. "I loved him for 6 years.." The brown haired man hugged Latte back, crying into the females' shoulder. "It'll be alright.." Latte rubbed Espresso's back soothingly.
"I miss him so much already.." Espresso shut his eyes tightly, his mind instantly thought of Madeleine.

"I'm always here for you, Espresso. No matter what..okay?" Latte kissed Espresso's cheek. "I'll be an amazing friend.." Latte assured Espresso, walking the man out of the room. "Come on, let's go." Latte wiped the tears dripping down her cheeks. Espresso followed behind, closing the door behind himself.

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