Dream Slaughters 12 A Date With Apprentice

May kinuhang patpat si Apprentice. Iniwagayway niya ito sa hangin sa hanggang maliliit na mga bituin ang nagpakita. k.u.malat ang makikinang na mga bituin sa kanyang katawan, pinapalitan ang suot suot niyang damit. Ang dating maitim na damit ay napalitan ng isang magarang vest. Nagmukha siyang isang 'young master' sa suot niyang damit. Sunod naman niyang ginawa ay ang itutok sa akin ang patpat. Napalitan ang simple kong damit. Ang dati na simpleng pambahay ay naging isang mabulaklak na saya. Mayroon rin akong laso sa aking buhok at bagong mga sapatos. Ngumiti lang siya sa ginawa niya.

Sumunod naman sa amin si Aries. Pumalakpak ng dalaw.a.n.g beses si Apprentice. Biglang nag-poof si Aries na naging isang Siberian husky. Nagulat ako sa ginawa niya na halos tinalunan ko si Aries para yakapin. Tumahol ito na tulad ng aso. Tumawa lang si Apprentice na tinawag kami.

Ito ang unang pagkakataon na nakapasok ako sa isang bayan. Unang tapak ko pa lang maririnig na ang magandang tugtugin ng mga bandang nagliliwaliw. Maliwanag rin ang mga ilaw na nagkalat sa bawat tahanan. May mga halakhakan at kantahan, isama mo pa ang masasayang mga salita na ibinabati ng bawat tao sa isa't isa. Hindi ko maiwasang matunganga sa nakikita.

"So... My princess, may I escort you?" Tanong ni Apprentice na lumuhod pa. Natawa ako sa ginawa niya.

"What, are we dancing?" I snorted.

"Just get in the mood. I'm doing this service free," biro niya.

"Okay, please mister gentleman," tinanggap ko ang kamay na inalok niya.

Akala ko talaga at magsasayaw kami pero ang ginawa niya ay ang tumakbo at hilahin ako papasok. Nagulat ako sa ginawa niya na nakitakbo na rin papasok. Sumunod si Aries sa likod na masayang tumatahol. May mga batang nakita si Aries kaya hinabol siya ng mga nito. Tumawa kami ni Apprentice sa nakita.

"You want to eat something? My treat," alok niya.

"Sure, let's eat!"

May nakita kaming mga footstands sa daan. Sa rami ng footstands napuno ang hangin ng mga mababangong amoy galing sa mga niluluto nila. Una kong nakita ay isang bagay na bilog na tinutuhog sa isang maliit na stick. Hinila ko si Apprentice na natawa dahil nakita akong naglalaway. Binilhan niya ako ng kahit anong itinuro ko. Naubos ko na yatang bilhan ang mga tindahan kaya pumunta kami sa kalapit na bench para doon inalagay ang mga pagkain. At nagsimula na nga akong k.u.main.

"What is this? This tastes good!" I said while munching the food.

"Hey, don't talk when your mouth is fool," he chuckled.

"It's my first time eating foods like this," I said.

"Okay, okay," tinignan niya ang mga pagkain. "You want some drinks? I'll buy you a juice."

"Imma drink later, okay? At tsaka hindi ako madali mabilaukan. Ikaw? Why won't you eat? Huwag mong sabihin na ako ang uubos ng lahat ng nito? Ikaw pa naman ang b.u.mili lahat," I said.

"Ha ha, ngayon ka pa nahiya?" He sarcastically called out. "Just eat it. I like seeing people eat."

"Eew, that's gross," I stuck my tongue out. He did the same to tease me. I ignored him and continued eating.

It's all okay. Pero totoo kanina lang ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko. Para na nga itong sasabog dahil sa lakas. Lalong lalo na ngayon na tinit.i.tigan niya ako. He's smiling at me while I eat. I wonder what's on his mind. I hope he won't see the blush on my face.

"Aurora," he called.

"Yeah-" Nagulat ako ng bigla niyang itinaas ang kamay niya. Pinahid ng kanyang daliri ang gilid ng aking labi. That move caught me off guard.

"Seriously, for a princess, you eat like a pig," he teased licking his finger.

I choked. Agad siyang napatayo para maghanap ng tubig. I covered my face trying to ea.r.s.e the blush. After some seconds he returned with a bottle of water.

"Hey, I told you to eat slowly," he said reaching the water bottle.

"It's your very d.a.m.n fault," I whispered.

"What? Did you say anything?" He went close to my face to see me. We nearly kissed-

"Water!" Agad kong hinablot ang tubig sa kamay niya at ininom ito ng mabilis. Pinagmasdan niya lang ako sa hanggang matapos akong uminom. "That's good!"

"Uh... You okay? You're face is red," he said while pointing at me.

"Of course, nabulunan ako!" I lied. Mabilis akong tumalikod. Nakita ko si Aries na sinisimhot ang mga nahulog kong pagkain. "Let's play around!"

Tumakbo ako sa kalapit na fountain na kung saan naglalaro ang mga bata. Sumunod lang rin naman si Aries at si Apprentice na taw.a.n.g tawa sa ekspresyon ko. Napayuko ako sabay ngiti ng palihim. d.a.m.n, this guy has done something to me. My heart's throbbing its very painful I could die. Happiness can be so painful sometimes.

After eating a lot and playing a lot we decided to settle down at the fountain. The kids played with Aries. That dragon is surely a beast but is very close to kids. I can't help but to smile as I stare them. Those kids are happy playing leaving all their worries away.

"It's been a long time I see you smile," Apprentice said.

"Eh? But I also smiled before," I somehow responded.

"But your smile now is more real than before."

I looked beside and saw him looking at me. Mukhang kanina lang niya ako pinagmamasdan. I can't help but to blush. Now, I look like a tomato.

"Quit staring at me," I told him as I look to the other way.

"Eh? Why should I do that?" He asked.

I didn't answer. Well, he just brushed off my words and quit staring at me. He instead watched the kids. The silence between us was coverd by the noise of the town. At least, it's not deafining.

The day's about to end. The sun is now colored aith darkish orange as the black feathery clouds started to tint the sky. Though, the lights from the town made it brighter. Tumingala ako sa langit at hinanap ang pinakaunang bituin. Isang k.u.mikinang na bagay ang k.u.mislap mula sa malayo. How could that bright little object smile at the day's end?

"Did you have fun?" Tanong ni Apprentice. Tinignan ko siya.

"Hindi ba halata?" I teased.

"Ha ha, just to make sure that it will be memorable," sabi niya.

"Of course it will," I said.

He chuckled. Another music started to play. This time, all the people gathered around the town plaza in which only meters away from the fountain. I leaned back to see what's happening.

"Mukhang may nangyayaring palabas doon," I said.

"Ahem," I heard him clear his throat. I looked back and saw Apprentice kneeling. He's slightly bowing his head hiding his expression. But I can clearly see his ears red. Ooh, this guy is just too adorable to resist.

"Um... hey... I know I already did this earlier but... can I be your escort?" He asked shyly. He showed his face abvious with his blush. Ano pa nga ba ang isasagot ko? Hindi ko kayang ayawan ang taong namumula na sa kaba para lang maisayaw ako.

"Sure," I said, accepting his hand.

He smiled. Tumayo siya at dinala ako sa plaza. Lumakas ang magandang tugtugin habang nagsasayawan ang mga tao. Hinila niya ako papunta sa gitna at nagsimulang sumayaw. It's not waltz like what I expected it to be. He showed his arms and put mine to his and locked it. We then turned around skipping our feet. It's like what kids usually do while singing Jack and Jill.

I also danced with other people. The partners will change in every beat until such time we return to our original partners. With a bow, we both ended our dance.

"What kind of dance is that?" I asked.

"I dunno. But they enjoy doing that!" He said laughing.

Pumalakpak ang mga tao sa paligid. Pagkatapos biglang nagbago ang musika. Sa pagkakataong ito, mas naging malumanay na ang indayog. Inabot ni Apprentice ang kamay ko at inilagay ito sa balikat niya. Pagkatapos, inilagay niya ang kamay niya sa beyw.a.n.g ko. Sumayaw kami kasama ang mga magkasintahan.

"We look like a couple," I nervously said.

"Yeah," he laughed a bit.

"It's fun though," and I looked down. This is really awkward.

"Hey, I'm so happy today. Thanks," He said. I looked up. I saw him smile.

"Ako dapat magpasalamat. Ikaw nagdala sa akin dito," I said shyly.

"Though, it's your dream."

He suddenly kissed my forehead. Without warning I bowed down to cover this beet red face. He just chuckled. d.a.m.n. This guy knows why my heart is beating so fast right now.