The Periwinkle Affair

TPA 8: The Kiss

AFTER all the good cheers and tears, even from the guys, retired Fire Chief Marcus Marquez left the post with a heavy heart and a big smile. His wife came by to get him.

He had served the bureau with these men, including her in this firehouse, for the past eventful 20 years. He was happy but very sad at the same, he loves the boys like his own sons and the only female firefighter he ever had in his career.

"Chief, how are you related to Chief Marquez?" Maine asked. Big Mike smiled.

"What's with the chief? You can still call me Big Mike like you used to." He replied chuckling. She addressed him the way everyone does at the firehouse. It changes when he's at Luisa's house or her house.

"Come on. I'm asking you." Big Mike glanced at her with a playful smile. She never asked anybody about their lives outside the post. This is the first time she ever asked someone a personal question.

She wasn't surprised how her bestfriend fell in love with this man. His smiles are so warm, it melts any frozen heart.

"He's my dad." As simple as that. Maine turned to him and around them with eyes wide open.

"You're dad?" She hushedly repeated. He nodded and smiled again.

"Yes, you have the same last name but I didn't even see any clue that you guys are that closely related to each other, let alone father and son." She put her glass on her mouth and drank from it.

Big Mike is one of the most down to earth people she knew. He's not boastful or full of himself, he is very humble. Maybe that's the reason why she didn't get any other clue aside from the last name. Well, it's her mistake too, she didn't ask.

Wish to find someone like him... someday. She stopped drinking half way. Where did that thought come from? Beating herself up. She shook her head to get rid of the thoughts. She didn't like it.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Allan asked as he got closer to her. "Are you okay?" He added. She nodded.

"Yeah. I'm fine. What about you?" She finally got the chance to ask him.

"I'm okay, I guess." Maine tried to see the okay in him but unfortunately, she didn't see it.

"Are you sure? Because you are so far from being okay. You are not even fine, let alone be alright." She giggled, BigMike chuckled, Allan just nodded and gave them a weak smile. She's trying to make light of the situation, but Allan still feeling heavy-hearted.

"Okay. Something is definitely not right." She quietly blurted. Big Mike realized that maybe Allan didn't want to speak up while he was around, so he got up.

"I'll go and check the operator for a bit." Big Mike bid them. They both nodded and he was gone.

They were enveloped in silence for a moment, then she spoke up. She can't stand seeing her friend like this, sad. This is Allan for God's sakes. He is always happy and upbeat.

"Now, tell me." Maine turned a bit to face Allan. "Spill it." She added. But before Allan could reply, she felt a strange sensation that someone was staring at her.

She felt those weird goosebumps at the back of her neck. She slowly looked around. A pair of dark brown eyes are intently and angrily staring at her. She wasn't surprised to see Alden looking at her that way, he had been doing that since she got in. That made her wonder why. What did she do or say, that this may have heard, for him to be that angry. His stares make her feel that anytime now, he will pounce and devour her.

First, she doesn't know this man, but like her earlier thoughts, he seems to look too familiar. She may have seen him before, she's not sure. What makes her think of him more is the way he throws those dagger-like glares at her. What made him angry with her? What did she do to him? With all the unanswered questions, she rolled her eyes at him and faced Allan.