Chapter 5: Café At The Small Town Market
The BMW car was moving with the speed of wind, penetrating the darkness of the night along the empty highway.
"Sio you monster, is this what you meant by being considerate? You totally want to murder me.Don't you?"
Anastasio was focusing on the road, his usual cold face had a teasy smirk, "Eddie, weren't you complaining that you would have to travel for hours on your birthday, that I'm an inconsiderate CEO. So, I wanted to show you how kind and solicitous person I am, moreover how could I make my best friend work on his birthday?"
"And so, after an entire day's tedious work, with all those hectic back to back meetings with the clients at the business trip, followed by a boring dinner with a bunch of old men you decide to drive all night back to Fenik." Edmon snapped, "It's a fucking nine hours drive."
Anastasio was enjoying it thoroughly; he loved to watch his happy go lucky friend get worked up at times like these, he was aware that Edmon dreaded long drives.
Edmon desperately searched through the internet for a motel or inn, to crash for the night, but, there wasn't enough network coverage.
"Hey Sio" Edmon stated reluctantly, "Doesn't this road goes via Mignos? You still have your family mansion there..."
"Don't even think about it." Anastasio snapped cutting him off mid sentence, "How could you of all people even suggest such a thing?"
Edmon realised he had just said something off Sio's limit, he gets extra repulsive even with the name of the place. Mentioning the estate would mean brushing him the wrong way.
"I am sorry Sio, but I can't continue like this. At this rate I will throw up in the car itself."
"You have a death wish don't you Eddie?" His cars were his weakness, Edmon knew it well, so threatening him a damage to the interior of his car was the easiest way to make his madness stop.
"Then do something because now I don't even care if you murder me now, I will do anything to stop moving this fucking car of yours."
"Stop cussing, will you?"
The market of Mignos was at the end of the town. It was already way past the regular market hours, however it was the time of harvest, and the town was preparing for the firework festival. Because of lack of publicity, not many knew about it in the past, however, thanks to social media, and the vlogs of hobos these days, this small town is attracting more and more tourists, particularly at this time of the year. Hence, some parts of the market, especially the eateries remain open till late hours, just before the festival. The workers at the firework factory work over time and then go out for late night meals and drinks. Some tourists come a few days prior to the festival as this town has only three inns and they get completely booked just before the festival. Home stays are coming up as well but they aren't very much popular as yet.
Anastasio remembered how he and his father sneak out at night during the festival and have fun at the festival, as a kid Sio watch the fireworks mesmerised by their grandeur.Those were the happiest times of his life, the only happy memories from this place were during the festival outside the suffocating air of the Magnolia estate. Even in his early teens...
"Ugh...My gut is churning." Edmon's yapping brought him back from memory lane.
"Alright, since you are being such a delicate darling. Let's get down at the market for some time. It's almost midnight, I don't want to watch you grow a year older littering my car."
"Wow, the town market. Do you think there will be beautiful girls around this time? I heard the girls of Mignos are a class apart when it comes to beauty.
"I warn you don't play dirty here, such a promiscuous brat." Anastasio pulled his black hooded jacket which covered more than half his face, earlier he had changed into his casual grey denims and black turtle neck.
"Here goes the serial killer" Edmon rolled his eyes, "You don't have to cover your face, nobody knows you here."
"Don't underestimate the paparazzi Eddie" Anastasio continued strolling towards what seemed like the end part of market.
This part of the market had scattered shops which had the essence of bygone days, most of the shops were closed now, because they weren't eateries.
"I need a lemonade or a mint drink" Edmon said holding his stomach, the crisp night air had helped him feel at ease, even though his stomach was still retching, he has already puked thrice no sooner than he stepped out of the car, behind a bush at the opening where the market ends. It was locally called the fireworks ground, on the day of the festival the entire town gathers here to watch the fireworks.
Anastasio was walking by himself, without uttering a word.
"You better have some conscience you jerk." Anastasio heard his friend cursing from behind.
He inhaled the cold night air, which was fresh and soothing. There are such places in this world which seem to be familiar even if one visited them after decades, Mignos was that place for Sio.
A faint light fell on the street from the old arched window, outside which a freshly painted board with every shade of pink, cute motifs of cupcakes topped with whipped cream, a miniature strawberry shake, a cookie below which the name of the shop was written in large red letters, the handwriting was neat even though it was amateurish, it read, "Betrice"
The tempting aroma of fresh baking whipped him, but more than anything else it was the name which caught his fancy. Betrice, he must have heard that name somewhere, but he clearly couldn’t recall at the moment; it must have been a very long time, because Anastasio never forgets anything easily.
A sweet, gentle voice was humming along with the tune that was being played in the radio; the midnight programs usually played old melodies. No doubt this place lives in another century, Anastasio wondered if something like a radio still existed in the world where he lived. He wasn’t someone to hop into a café forva midnight snack, however, he found himself stepping into this forlorn bakery on one part of a market in the almost forgotten ancient small town.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone