Candy finished her first exam. One down… five more to go! But that's for next week. Now, lunch with Albert! She high-fived with her friends and got ready to leave the classroom.

"Good luck!" Natalie whispered. She winked.

Candy blushed, remembering Natalie's suggestion to kiss Albert. Winking back to her, Candy ran to the side gate, her usual meeting place with Albert. Albert wasn't there yet. So Candy waited… Five… Ten… Fifteen minutes… Weird. Albert was never late before.

Candy started to look around and noticed a young man was arguing with a buggy driver nearby.

"… will pay at the hospital. Promise…," the young man begged in foreign accent.

"No money, no lift," the buggy's driver snorted.

"I only have this...," the foreigner waved desperately the money in his hand which looked foreign. The buggy's driver ignored him and started to move his horse cart.

Candy came forward.

"Where does he want to go?" Candy asked the driver.

"The university hospital," the foreigner replied. "I am new here. Ms., you know where it is?"

"This is the University. The University Hospital is five blocks down the road."

"Ah! I thought the University and the University Hospital are the same place!" The foreigner slapped his own forehead. "Well, let me walk then."

Candy looked doubtfully at the two big luggage the foreigner had. She dug through her pocket and pulled out some coins. "This should be enough." Candy gestured to the buggy's driver. The driver smiled satisfactorily and nodded.

"But how shall I return your money?" asked the foreigner.

"Don't worry about it," said Candy. She waved and walked away.

"Thank you!" The foreigner yelled to Candy.

"Welcome to Chicago!" Candy yelled back.

Candy went back to the side gate watching the foreigner rode away in the buggy. Albert came a few minutes later.

Candy beamed. Although they both stayed in Lakewood mansion, they didn't meet much. Albert was often on business trips. She's busy too in the hospital and taking classes. The mansion was also huge and they're on the opposite side of the wings. She missed that blonde hair and blue eyes so much.

"Albert!" Candy cried and ran to his arms.

Pouppe excitedly jumped to Candy's shoulder.

"Hi Candy." Albert kissed her cheek. "Sorry I'm late," said Albert without mentioning the conversation he had with aunt Elroy which made him late.

Candy looked up. Albert looked more dashing than ever. She thought about Natalie's suggestion to kiss him and felt herself blushing. She quickly buried her face behind Pouppe to hide it.

"You look great Pouppe!" said Candy.

"EEEEeeeeekkkkk!"

"So… did you bring your coat and scarf?" Albert asked with a twinkle in his beautiful blue eyes.

"I-I woke up late today. Sorry… I forgot." Candy glanced guiltily at Albert.

Albert laughed. "I knew it." He opened the car door and pulled Candy's orange coat and green silk scarf. "So… I prepared these. You should be careful of catching a cold! Exam week."

"Albert, we're not going to a north pole. And now is summer!" Candy protested.

"True and that means we'll be riding using open roof. It'll be windy!"

Albert tied the scarf on Candy's neck and helped her to put the coat on. Candy just laughed and obeyed.

"How's your test?" asked Albert, buttoning the last button of her coat.

"Should be okay."

Albert kissed her hair. "I knew it." Albert smiled, proudly. "Here I brought you some chocolate, I don't want you to starve. We won't arrive until two!"

Albert always cared so much about her. The thought that he would go for a year came back made her heart constrict painfully.

"At two? We're going to the tree house, right? We should be there around one!"

"Yes, but we will take the snail route." Albert winked mysteriously. He opened the door to let Candy enter.

"Oh?"

"Surprise!" Albert smiled handsomely and started to drive. "We will go there with horses and canoe! We haven't done so this year. And since I won't come back until next year I arrange it for you today.

Her heart felt a pang of sadness at his last sentence. A year without Albert… She had to turn away to wipe her wet eyes. She felt lucky that Albert was busy driving so he didn't see.

"Like it?" he asked gently.

"I-it's awesome!" Candy whispered, faking to be happy.

So they drove to the Andrews family ranch where they left the car and continued the journey with horses. Then, they finished the last leg with a canoe. Before long they arrived at Candy's favorite tree house. Inside, Candy found big boxes lay nicely on the table. Albert clearly had prepared everything carefully for this trip. For her… He's the nicest person on the planet.

"I hope I don't miss any of your order," said Albert as he unpacked things.

Everything was well prepared from the beef slices, salad, table cloth with the matching napkins, and more. All for her… It's so touching that it hurt. Albert was so kind. She pretended being busy opening the boxes to hide tears that almost trickled from her eyes.

Albert picked two slices of beef from one box and tossed them on the barbeque rack.

"Don't worry. We'll eat soon," teased Albert. "This is pre-treated filet mignon. It won't take longer than ten minutes to cook." He smiled expertly.

In fact, Candy felt too sad to be hungry. This nice man would go for a year! She arranged plates on the table so she didn't need to reply. Her voice would definitely quiver if she spoke.

"Oh no… don't do anything! Sit down, Candy. Try this." Albert picked up a cup and filled it with tea. "I asked the chef to put pear extract into it. Tell me how you like it."

Candy had a gulp. "Tasty!" she commented truthfully. Albert laughed contently. "But I should help something," she protested.

"Help me eat later," Albert smiled. "You want the sauce hot?" Albert expertly cut the tomatoes, minced the garlic and washed lots of herbs to prepare the barbeque sauce as Candy sat watching him, drinking the pear tea.

"Yes! The hotter the better!" said Candy, laughing.

"As you wish!" He winked.

In ten minutes sharp, Albert took the beef to their plates and put the sauce on the side.

"So tender…" Candy muttered, forking in her beef. "We don't even need a knife!"

Albert chuckled.

"You've improved Albert. This is really tasty!" said Candy, chewing.

"Things always taste better outdoor," Albert answered, ever humble.

Candy smiled at him.

"I will miss this kind of life in London," said Albert as he munched on his lettuce

Then don't go, Albert. That freezing feeling in her heart came back. She threw her face so he didn't see her eyes watered.

"Are you alright? You're so quiet," said Albert. She looked up and this time Albert was looking at her.

Candy quickly blinked her eyes several times to hide her tears. "T-the hot sauce… It's too hot," said Candy making up some excuses

"No way! We used to have it hotter!" said Albert, puzzled.

"I love it, though," Candy added hurriedly. "Perhaps… because of… er the pear tea is quite warm." Candy quickly wipe her eyes. "It's… summer!"

"Oops… don't move. Some sauce got onto your hair…" said Albert softly.

He pulled his handkerchief and moved forward. His face was so close to hers. If only she could pull him and kiss him until tomorrow so he missed the train. But she didn't dare…

Gallantly, Albert wiped her hair before he quickly pulled back. Awkward silence followed until Candy started to worry if Albert could read her mind.

"I will take care of Aunt Elroy while you're away," Candy filled in.

Albert gave unusually blank stare at her. "Thanks for saying that."

"It's nothing. She's not young anymore," replied Candy.

"True." Albert chewed his bread. He thought about what aunt Elroy said just now that he and Candy probably were cousins. "If she said anything you don't like to hear, just ignore her. Don't believe a word of it," he added quite bitterly.

Albert didn't usually talk that way. Candy looked up wondering what he meant, but Albert didn't elaborate. He got up and pulled a cake out from one bag. "Dessert! Tell me what you think. New recipe!"

It's a blackberry cake. Blackberry was her special indulgence. Albert remembered and made it especially for her.

"I-it's very good," said Candy. Her throat began to constrict again from tears, she almost choked.

"Yeah!"

"Uhm… what time will you leave tomorrow?"

"Eleven."

"For a year…?" Candy whispered.

"Yes… a bit longer…actually," Albert sighed. "You can join me after you finish your final."

"I'd love to but I have residency assignments…" Candy sighed too.

"Of course… It's medical school," Albert said. His blue eyes were dark with understanding and that cold sick feeling again formed inside her. "Tomorrow, I'll drop you in the hospital first then I go to the train station."

Albert was always so kind. He often took her to school, picked her up and always be supportive. On the contrary, she never once accompanied him to his business trip. She felt like the most selfish person in the world.

"I'm sorry, I'm not such a supportive… uhm friend. I should have accompanied you once in a while."

"Never say that, Candy. You make us proud, you know," said Albert kindly.

For the rest of the afternoon, they did what they always did when going picnic. Slowly Candy started to smile again especially when Albert competed with Pouppe to climb a tree. Albert always knew how to cheer her up.

Around six they went back home. The closer they were to home the more Candy was aware that the clock was ticking. Her heart got heavier... and heavier...

Albert took her to her room, as usual. "Good night, little girl." He kissed her forehead before he turned and left.

Once in a while Albert still called her "little girl". Usually she giggled but this time she felt hurt. I'm not a little girl anymore, Albert! Candy stared at Albert's back and trembled. It's now or never…

"Albert wait!" Candy screamed on top of her lung. She ran as fast as she could to his arms and broke down completely.

"Candy what-"

Before she could stop herself, Candy grabbed Albert's face in her hands and kissed him on the mouth. It wasn't long or deep since she was really nervous, but it was still a kiss. When she drew back, Albert looked dazed. Standing on Albert's shoulder, Pouppe's black eyes opened widely fixed at Candy.

"I - I want you to know that I really wish I could come with you," Candy sobbed.

"Don't worry, I know. I understand." Albert patted her back awkwardly.

"Good." Candy paused, didn't dare to look up. Her heart thumped madly with the one hope she wanted the most in her life. Kiss me, Albert... I love you. Say you love me. I will quit school and follow you anywhere!

"Well then…" Albert said after some pause. "I'll see you tomorrow." He took two steps backwards. "You should sleep early."

Candy felt so heartbroken at his reaction. Albert didn't do it. He didn't want to do it.

"Yes… you, too." She was so disappointed. "Sleep well. Bye Pouppe."

"Ek," Poupe replied meekly.

Looking at the floor, Candy entered into her room. She knew Albert was still standing there watching her, but without turning to look at him, she entered her room and shut the door behind her.

-To be continued-

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