It was another sunny day in the Hidden Kingdom as Apetrully waits in front of Hope's tree house, hoping she's not busy today. With every chance he gets, he would try to hang out the pink and white monkey. Once Hope said that she might go to Japan someday, the commander try to spend any moment with her until that day comes.
Apetrully pays his attention to the front door, seeing Hope opening the door. The pink and white monkey smiled when she saw the commander, and said, "Hello, Apetrully. Another visit?"
The commander's face blush a little, and thought, I guess I have been visiting her more than usual. Well, that's because I don't know when she's going to leave the Hidden Kingdom!
"Come in. Come in. It's just great to have some company." Hope said.
As the two walk to the living room, trying not to be so quiet with her, Apetrully said, "Um... Anything new?"
"Well... I became Pinkie Pie's apprentice!" Hope said as the two sit on the living room's couch.
"I thought you wanted to become an author, not a baker nor a chef." Apetrully said.
"Baker? Oh, I mean, um... I think it's nice to have a second choice. Just in case the author thing doesn't work out for me."
Apetrully felt a little confuse. He couldn't think what else Pinkie could do besides parties and baking. Hope coughed a little, hoping to get his attention, and said, "Want to have some macarons?"
The commander nodded.
"Great!" Hope said, patting the pink box on her lap that seem to come out of nowhere.
Apetrully smiled behind his mask. He could remember that rainy day when he was eating macarons with Hope. At the same day, he realize his love for the pink and white monkey. It been a while since the two ate macarons together.
When Hope open the box, the commander suddenly found his heart pounding a bit, seeing the shape of these pink and red macarons.
"Don't you think they're cute?" Hope ask. "They're just strawberry, but they're in the shapes of hearts! You know I love hearts."
You know... It's hard to keep feelings from a friend. Especially one who seems to be a symbol of Valentine's Day. Apetrully thought, taking a macaron.
Taking a bite out of her treat, Hope said, "When do you think I should leave for Japan?"
NEVER! Please don't go! Apetrully wanted to say, but didn't. Even he doesn't know how he hides his feelings.
"I'm not sure." was the commander's answer to her, then he bit into the pink snack.
"Oh, I'm still trying to find out what day I should leave so I could give a proper goodbye to my friends." Hope said.
The commander's blush grow a bit stronger as Hope lay her head on his lap.
"I hope you don't mind." Hope said with a smile.
"Um... N-Not at all." Apetrully shuttered.
"Good."
The commander could see Hope staring at the ceiling, eating the heart-shaped macarons slowly. Apetrully place a hand on Hope's head to give a little pet and said, "Is something the matter?"
"It's just I'm not sure what I should do as a goodbye for my friends." Hope said.
"Hope, anyway you do for a goodbye, we will still miss you once you do." Apetrully said.
"I don't want you to miss me so much."
"Well, we can't help it, like how you can't help feel depress about you mother's death."
Apetrully froze and quickly added, "Please forget I said that."
"I guess you're right." Hope said.
The pink and white monkey sit up and went to the kitchen. Apetrully waited, eating the strawberry macarons as he wonder what's Hope's plan. His eyes landed on the kitchen's entrance when he notice Hope.
Hope wore a bright red hoodie like she was Little Red Riding Hood, and held a rather large picnic basket. As she walk towards the door to leave her tree house, Apetrully heard Hope said, "Apetrully, can you please take care of my tree house while I'm out?"
Apetrully nodded. Before Hope left, she said, "Goodbye, sweetheart."
Sweetheart!? Why did she say that?! Apetrully thought, as his blush turns red.
Then he was able to hear Hope's faint singing that almost made him feel like Hope knows something.
Hope: When we first met, I feel nostalgic
I might have known you from somewhere before...