Chapter 10: Tonight, we are young. (Part 1)
In a pub near Avan's place, Pop and many guests of his wedding have already been in the real party. It started with Avan, Lonberk and Nova, then joinned by Leona, Larhalt, Crocodie and all, including Matoriv & Chu who was taken there by him.
Marm and Hyunkel are the last to come. Marm knew her sensei's group must be having a big party somewhere. Leona even texted her and Menruru to join. Being the person who can stay awake the best when all other friends are drunk, Marm is so well-prepared to make sure everybody be on time for the rehearsal dinner. Marm feels so funny because this is not the first time she takes this responsibility. Leona loves having fun, especially drinking, same does Pop, Avan sensei, Larhalt, even Fufu and Hyunkel. Today, it would be much more "fun" with participation of other fun-loving friends like Crocodie, Hym, Chu, Matoriv and all.
Obviously Carly has joined the party, too. The young princess of Carl looks very excited seeing Marm when she arrives.
"Marm, since you are late, you have to wear this." Carly is holding a bunny-ear-like thing.
"What is this?" Marm looks at it curiously.
"Put it on your head... that's the punishment for late comer." Carly does it for Marm.
"Are you sure there is such rule or are you guys just bullying me?" Marm looks at her with doubts.
"It's the rule, Marm, which we have just set just. Hehehe." Leona giggles with Carly.
Oh my god. Marm thinks, and walks to Leona "Are you drunk? Leona? Fufu would kill you."
"No, I'm not." The queen laughs. "It's just so funny here! Why are you so late? You are with Hyunkel, aren't you? I know." Leona hugs Marm and smiles.
Marm must acknowledge Leona's amazing level of observation.
"Yes, I'm with him." Marm leans forward to Leona and whispers, "We have kissed."
"You did?" Leona's eyes are sparkling. "You two did? It's so sweet."
Marm's cheeks are slightly blushed. She would never forget that the world has paused for quite long when they first kissed.
"Leona, you have always been supportive. Sometimes I forget that you are the younger one. Last night, when I thought about the courage of you and Menruru, I believed even if Hyunkel rejected me, I'd still have you all who wants me to be happy."
"Are you sure? We can't kiss you like he does, we don't embrace you the way he does and definitely don't have that body of him." Leona teases her friend. "And, it's so painful to get hurts in love. You'd better treasure everything you have, my unni. Sometimes you are so unaware of men."
"Yes... you can only give right statement." Marm smiles while doesn't really understand what Leona says. "I wish Menruru is here. Why does she have to stay home?"
"It's the tradition. She and Pop should not meet a lot on the day before wedding."
"I see. So tonight, Leona, are we really gonna dance?"
"Yes! It's what Menru likes, You can't withdraw. I'm not gonna do it without you."
"No. I'm not withdrawing. I'm just not getting any better with it, but, whatever."
"What are you talking about? Let's drink!" Carly comes to them with two shots of tequila.
"This is too strong for me." The queen says.
"I'd take it for Leona." Marm finishes the shot with Carly.
Next to them, Hyunkel has to drink as the punishment of being late. He happily accepts it.
Avan is not really enjoying. He is bothered by what Matoriv has just told him. "My wife calls. We have to go back now, everybody." Avan says.
"Ok, then we would continue at the dinner." Pop makes a wrap.
Surprised by Marm, everyone turns out be very controlling. Marm doesn't have to do anything. Nobody is getting drunk here.
"Where is something you wore on your hair?" Hyunkel is walking to her. They were occupied by different groups of friends until now. But still, it's not easy to not keep an eye on her even they have spent a lot of time together from the morning.
"You look so cute on that." He says and doesn't realize this is the first time he has ever commented on her appearance.
However, Marm definitely acknowledges it. Being a fighter among a group of guys for a long time, Marm has never wondered if she is beautiful in eyes of anybody. There have been many perverts take their chances on her but Hyunkel... No. He has never made any comments or paid any attention on her appearance. So far he is only concerned about her safety. Is this because they are together now? But CUTE is not beautiful. It's ok. Since he likes this. "I wear it again for you." She happily puts it on to show him and makes a bunny face.
He looks at her for a while and in stead of making any more positive comments as she wishes, he just embraces her passionately and finding her lips.
To Marm, the world is not pausing any seconds now. They are not only in the pub, they are in front of everybody. And if Marm opens her eyes, she would know that they are not only in front of everybody, they are in front of questioning eyes of everybody.
When leaving her lips, to response to friends who are stunned, he simply says "Yes."
She is shy and just staying in his arms while the group of friends are expecting more elaborations.
"I love Marm and I think she loves me, too." He looks at her fondly. "and I got permissions from Avan sensei and Poppu, so if anybody has any questions, ask sensei." As usual, he doesn't talk much.
Friends outside Papunika take the news very eagerly. "No question, no question. You two look great." Hym says.
"When is your turn to get married?" Crocodie laughs. "I can't wait."
They are very simple individuals and have very limited sensitivity to love triangle. So no one has ever questioned the status of both Hyunkel's ex and Marm's ex.
"Take it easy Pop." Leona tells Pop. She is not sure if her friend is really fine accepting the relationship of Hyunkel and Marm at this stage.
"It's ok Leona. I had a talk with him some days ago."
"What?"
"No worry, we are good now. In some way, I don't love Marm the way Hyunkel loves her. No matter how many women fall for him, his love is only for Marm. I have been selfish for a long time to only consider my love for Marm. I have never realized Hyunkel has been loving her the same way."
"How come nobody loves me?" The queen is abit tipsy now.
"Eh..." Pop looks at Leona. There is no way she is not attractive. It must be herself who locks the way back into love. Probably she is still thinking about the past.
Pop places his hand on Leona's shoulder."I want to let you know, it's not easy to get over Marm. But I want to let it go. There are great memories with Marm and they will be there, and that would be all. Marm's images have stopped growing inside me. Leona, we have to move forward if something can't work the way it did in the past."
"Pop, you have grown up, talking like a man now." She says. " I know what you mean. I do know."
He smiles. "And also, you know what, I think Hyunkel is drunk." Pop tells Leona. "Chu and me mixed different kinds of wines to punish him just now." He grins.
"Oh I see. I was surprised that he acted that way in front of everybody."
Avan is glad with the news. He is sure both of his precious students would take a good care of each other. Thiking about what Matoriv said, for the first time Avan wishes something never happened. "Let's cheer for my two kids, everybody." Avan initiates.
"More drink?" Hyunkel asks his sensei, he doesn't remember how much he had to drink as requested. He is so handsome when he looks uncertain. Marm eyes on him.
"Are you drunk, mister?" She asks him softly.
He shakes his head. "I'm just sleepy. Stay with me, Marm."
And Marm understands that her Hyunkel is not very awake now.
"No more drink, sensei. Fufu needs us to go back now. We would continue drinking tonight." She tells Avan and everybody.
"Opps, ok then.. Let's go." Avan keeps the wine bottle at the pub.
As Crocodie is too big, Larhalt brings him to Leona's cottage by teleportation. Leona uses Larhalt's car to drive Carly and Gramp Brass. Avan takes Lonberk and Nova, Pop takes Matoriv ,Hym and his father. Marm drives for Hyunkel and Chu wants to join her.
"Unni Marm, whenever Hyunkel is near by, you doesn't look innocent as you do." Chu tells Marm his discovery.
"Chu, don't talk like that." Marm is embarrassed.
"Hey, will you marry my unni? You'd better treat her very very well. Else I will..." Chu climbs onto Hyunkel.
"Your unni... is someone I can never love enough. You rest assure, Chu."
"Good. Then you promise me?" Chu gives a sign for Hyunkel to cross the finger with it to make the promise.
He smiles and follows Chu.
Marm doesn't notice what were Hyunkel and Chu doing as she was concentrating on driving. Placing her hand on Huynkel's, she asks, "Are you ok? How come you seem drunk?"
"Maybe I drink too much without noticing. Just let me sleep for a while and I will be fine." He tells her and falls asleep at one.
"Chu, what did you guys make him drink just now?"
"Eh...I mixed some wine the pub has. I thought it'd be fun." Chu grins.
"No wonder... Chu, people don't drink like this, it's harmful for the body. Don't try it yourself and don't do it on anybody again. Ok?"
"Yes unni." Chu climbs onto Marm. "You looks very happy. Is it because of him?"
"It's difficult to make you understand, Chu. I'm also happy because seeing you and Crocodie and my mom and everybody today. Mr Crocodie has a girflfriend now, is it what you told me in the morning?"
Chu laughs, "Yes. He dates Ms Crocodie secretly, but I know, hehe."
"I hope he would bring her here."
"No, they are fighting now."
"Oh? It's so romantic." Marm smiles.
And with Chu's lovely conversations, the way back to Leona's cottage seems very short for Marm.
...
"Get up, Hyunkel, we have arrived."
He opens his eyes slowly. With features on his face, from his eyebrows to his straight nose and his lips, even Chu finds the man who has just confessed with its unni so good looking compared to others.
"Are we back to Leona's place?"
"Yes." She smiles. "Do you feel better?"
"A lot better."
"Do you remember what you said in the pub?" She asks.
"How can I forget?" He caresses her cheek.
"Hey, how about what you promised me? Do you remember?" Chu asks him.
"Yes, I do." He shows the finger sign to Chu.
-End Chapter 10 (Part 1)