CHAPTER 8: VISITING MIRANDA MORTON

The day was July 12. Hazel had put together all that was needed for her mother's death anniversary; she dashed into her room to change into the black dress she had chosen for the day at the speed of light, so as not to further dwadle her friends when they eventually turn up.

She was looking forward to Alfric and Madison coming over so they could both accompany her to the gravesite to bestow her due regards on her late mother.

Soon enough, Madison rolled in and immediately nuzzled Hazel in her arms, as it had been a while since the duo had seen each other.

"Hi darling, It's been a while; I've so much missed your face." Madison whined cheerily as she cupped Hazel's face in her hands.

"Really? Well, I've missed you too; thanks so much for coming over." Hazel responded, feeling affective.

"It's nothing, dear; it's my duty as a friend to accompany you on a day like this. Moreso, enough of the tears you shed every year. You need to put it behind you totally and face the bigger picture, alright?" Madison consoled her, being apprised of Hazel's vivid revulsion towards the loss of her mother in the years they've both been friends.

Hazel gave an assuring nod in regards to what Madison had just said and proceeded with further arrangement.

A knock was heard thereafter, and while Hazel was busy reeling up the flower she was going to present at the gravesite, Madison opted to get the door open.

But in the next minute, her face turned instantly sour. The person she had met at the door was Alfric, whom she wasn't cordial with due to their distinctive delusions.

Madison bowled her eyes at him, then spun around to go join Hazel in a tick.

Alfric sighed tacitly at the action of Madison; it wasn't new to him; he was just too tired to react to it as he was very much used to Madison not taking fancy to him, nor did he.

Alfric strode in and beamed heartily at Hazel, who also returned a smile at him in the same manner.

She was apprehensive of what had transpired between Alfric and Madison some seconds ago, but she wasn't in an optimistic state to raise such a matter. She was at least contented they were with her.

****

Alfric stationed his car in the right position at the gravesite parking lot forty minutes later, as they'd just approached the place.

They all alighted and walked over to where Hazel's mother was concealed.

On the gravestone, an engraved feminine name that belonged to Hazel's mother could be seen in bold letters which the trio were very familiar with, as that wasn't the first time they would be there.

They held back for Hazel to proffer her courtesy and present her flowers. And when she was done, they did the same.

Hazel had espied Alfric goggling severely at the late Miranda Morton's framed photo, which stirred up a queerness in her.

"What are you looking at, huh?" Hazel probed jokingly, grinning at Alfric's action.

"Probably he finds her attractive." Madison butted in abruptly, which sparked a fury in Alfric.

"Can you kindly keep your mouth at rest till we are out of each other's reach?" Alfric sounded pissed; he was tired of condoning Madison's rude remarks about himself.

"Whatever." Madison hurled back, while she coiled her eyes at him in despite.

"Hazel, can I see you privately, please?" Alfric said this as he twirled to peer at Hazel.

"Sure." Hazel replied and set out to string along with him, while Madison only scoffed in a scornful manner as she stood by for the duo to return.

"Uhm... Did you have any issues at work recently?" Alfric interrogated her, sounding heavily toned.

"Issues? Why did you ask?" Hazel tossed back questions at him, trying to catch the drift of the point behind his question.

"Hazel, be honest with me. Did you have any issues with Ethan?" Alfric sounded more resolute this time.

"Oh, no, not really. We... Well, it's like this: I made a mistake at work that made me not up to standard, so I was relieved of my job as an upshot to that. Actually, it's nothing serious, and now I work somewhere else. So relax; I didn't have any scruple with President Ethan." Hazel made sure to fabricate her words adeptly in order for Alfric not to get clued in to what had ensued between her and Ethan.

"Hazel, are you telling the truth? You sure know I can ask Ethan to confirm, right?" Alfric stated.

"You don't believe me now? It's best for you not to ask President Ethan, because it'd only appear like I spoke ill of him to you, whereas I'm the one who isn't qualified as a RD staff member; think about it." Hazel tried her best to dispel Alfric's doubt, giving him basis not to go meet Ethan.

"Still, you should have told me about it when you were sacked. My dad had spotted you at RD, and he felt there was probably something going on between you and Ethan. I just assured him that I would talk to you." Alfric unravelled.

"Oh, that's right, I did see him that very day, but I wasn't sure if that was actually your dad. But how come he'd grasped a knowledge of me?" Hazel felt inquisitive as she posed a question to Alfric.

"Well, he had once accidentally seen your photo in my phone gallery when I wasn't there. He thought you were my girlfriend; he said you were beautiful." Alfric spilled, stylishly revealing his innermost wish to Hazel.

"Girlfriend, haaa, haaaa, haaaa! That's weird." Hazel commented while she creased up in high volume.

Alfric faintedly smiled at her response, as his thoughts remained unknown to Hazel.

"So, why were you staring at my mom's picture so badly?" Hazel queried him playfully.

"Oh... I feel our eyes seem alike; I mean, the four pairs looked so very identical." Alfric revealed what he had noticed in the photo.

"Identical? Well, it could be that way; the creator has a way of designing us all." Hazel commented, according to her conception.

Alfric gave a concurring nod, not thinking much of his discovery later on as they strode back to meet Madison, who was already fuming out of anger as she was kept hanging fire.

The trio left the gravesite later on, while Hazel tried her best in fusing Alfric and Madison in conversations, but it was all futile as the duo were more bull-headed than she'd banked on.

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