Love is only a feeling
Chapter 4 – Reunion
Come whatever, we will still be friends forever
"A love potion? You can't be serious!" Xianghua and Kilik stopped short in their tracks, while Maxi continued to hum a tune, totally oblivious to their shock. The trio were on their way to the Seung residence when Maxi revealed that he had a 'secret weapon' to make their job easier.
"What? Haven't I showed you guys before?" Maxi chuckled, mildly surprised. "Oh well, it's no big deal. I've used this so many times before, and I can assure you, it always works." He dug around his numerous pockets in his vest and then the pockets in his pants, finally fishing out a tiny glass bottle about a third filled with a pinkish liquid.
"Not much left, but definitely enough to make many fall madly in love!" he declared triumphantly.
"And how can you be sure it 'always' works?" Kilik glared suspiciously at his companion, his arms folded, grim expression showing no sign of weakness.
"Kilik, my mate! Why are you looking at me like that?" Maxi asked, a look of mock horror on his face. However, even as he said that, a thin layer of sweat was fast forming on his forehead.
Kilik did not utter a word, but continued to stare in half amusement at Maxi's flustering. Xianghua merely listened intently, obviously not clued in on what Kilik had in mind.
"Okay," Maxi began slowly. "I admit I did use it on… the two of you… once or twice, just to try it out…"
"Maxi!" Xianghua gasped.
"Hear me out!" Maxi pleaded, as Kilik's eyes narrowed dangerously. "It was ages ago! I've never used it on the two of you since! Just twice, at most, I swear! And… and the potion merely speeds up the process of falling in love; it doesn't simply make people fall in love…"
"When was the first time you used that… that thing on us?" Kilik demanded, pointing at the bottle which Maxi had been clinging on to like treasure. The menace in his eyes had vanished by now. Maxi sighed in relief – honesty almost always worked on Kilik, and he always had a way to make people tell the truth.
"Two summers ago," Maxi gulped, an embarrassed flush appearing on his face. To his surprise, Kilik's cheeks too, turned a shade of pink similar to the love potion.
"Isn't that the time when we first…" Xianghua began innocently.
"Let's go, Xiang," Kilik took her hand hurriedly and marched off, leaving a bewildered Maxi in their wake. "I'll deal with you later, Maxi!" he huffed over his shoulder.
"Hey, wait up guys!"
Mina woke up especially happy that day. She could not help but to hum a cheery tune as she got dressed to go for breakfast at the dining room. With a light spring in her steps, she was even unfazed when she saw Hwang already present with her father.
"Good morning everybody!" she skipped into the room and helped herself to the selection of buns on the table. Judging by the placid expression on her father's face, she'd reckoned Hwang hadn't told him about the slight outburst she had yesterday. She smirked at Hwang, who rightly chose to ignore her. No matter, she thought. I haven't showed him my real prowess yet. She was going to succeed, and by then Hwang would be begging to run off to join the Force for good.
In fact, she was so sure that this day would turn out good that she wasn't at all surprised when the servant informed her that she had guests. What she had missed though, was the knowing nod that was exchanged between the teacher and student.
"They're here!" Han Myung bellowed suddenly, rising from the dining table to welcome his guests.
"Xianghua! I didn't expect it would be you!" Mina squealed in excitement as she drew the petite girl into a tight embrace. "Kilik, Maxi! What brings you here?"
"Erm," Kilik looked at Maxi exasperatedly for help, but Mina did not press them for an answer.
"So how long will you all be staying? Two months at least?" she asked expectantly.
"We only have the luxury of two weeks to carry out the plan, girl," Maxi muttered under his breath.
"Did you say two weeks, Maxi?" she frowned.
"Of course we'd be staying for more than two weeks," Kilik said smoothly, at the same time jabbing Maxi in the back, causing him to howl silently. "Maxi was just wondering if your father would be displeased that we are imposing on him in this manner."
"Oh, that," she mused. "Good point."
Just then, Xianghua nudged the other two men. "Good Morning, Mina's Father," the trio chorused. Mina would have laughed out loud, if not for the fact that her father was standing directly behind her.
"I believe this is the first time you are meeting my father," Mina introduced. She hoped her father would not reprimand them for barging into the house in the middle of breakfast, or even for something minor like the fact that they were with her when she ran away from home a few years back.
"Mina's friends, yes?" he chortled kindly. "Please, stay for as long as you feel comfortable. I hope this place is not too shoddy for your liking."
"Are you kidding? This place is huge!" Maxi exclaimed.
"We're sorry to impose on you, Mina's Father," Xianghua added shyly.
"Make yourselves at home," Han Myung winked at them before exiting the hall.
AN: Sorry for the delay. Please do give comments on how I can take this to a higher level? I feel like I'm going around in circles. (of course, I wouldn't feel too bad either if you say it's good!)