CHAPTER 01 - COURTING LAYLAC : SUNDAY

The Sunday was filled with the cool air right on the morning as the sun has not yet risen on northeast. Jur jammed on the classic song played on the radio as he drove the old truck on the bumpy path.

'...what a wonderful world....'

Jur sung the song which was a resident request on Sunday mornings to brighten up the start of the restful day.

But today was a duty day for Jur, he needed to deliver the sacks of corn to their owners before this day end.

He hummed in great delight as the sun rays passed by him, tomorrow is his first day in school as a first year Senior High School student! Yes, he's a Senior and he liked it.

He passed the last field of crops which was a border of the crop land and to the body of town. After a while, he finally reached the concrete path towards the market of the town. And lowered down the volume of the radio as he whistle his favorite humm in exchange.

He took a turn and smiled as he spotted a man in his age waiting at a sidewalk.

"Good Morning Haquilles the great!" he cheerfully greeted to his best friend.

"Going to the library this early again aren't we?" he asked as the man walked to enter the truck.

"It's not early, it's already 9am!" Hac in short of Haquilles exclaimed. He's been waiting since 7am.

"Come on weekend mornings are all early." He replied and started the engine again to travel the road.

They travel another kilometers before reaching the town market.

"Did you prepared your uniform for tomorrow?" Jur asked Hac

"Yes of course." he replied

"Your notebooks?"

"Absolutely."

"Well good for you." he uttered

Hac frowned at him "Don't tell me..."

Jur sighed, "I still need to wash it again when I got home, Father mistakenly saw it as rags and dressed the scare crow with my uniform!" Jur complain which made Hac burst into laughter.

"Isn't that right?" he laughed "...this happened when we're in elementary too. It's clearly visibly where your father favoritism lies." he laughed

Jur grinned at him, "Don't be too carefree my friend. Once your mother found out that I had no uniform to wear, you'll lend me your spare." his turn to laugh. Their families were so close since then that's why Hac's parents already treated Jur as their own. Giving his all basic needs if he lacks some.

Hac immediately realized it and took Jur'¢ collar lightly, "I'll help you wash your uniform if I must." he stated in a serious tone.

After a while, they reached the huge buzzling market at the heart of the town. All stalls and stores were open as the people crowds at each corner.

"We'll meet up here okay?" Hac instructed

"Yes, yes bookworm." Jur replied and took the sacks of corn on the troller he brought for easy distribution.

He grunted on the initial force as the sacks weighed to much for the push, he was after all, a small figure only.

He succeeded on the adjusting it and the troller started to roll on the market crowd.

"Good day Farmer Beethoven!" one old man whose selling rice cakes called out.

"And Good Sunday to you too Uncle Klop!" he greeted back.

Farmer Beethoven has been his nickname because he's surnamed Mithoven which actually rhymed but he's no musician.

He delivered the sacks of corn in accordance to the address listed.

"Good day Auntie Christine, a sack of corn for longer life." he stated as he carry it inside the old woman's stall.

"Good timing young man! Can you please spare a minute here? I really need to go to the comfort room." The old woman said and ran off without hearing Jur's reply.

And the boy had no choice but to accept the delay of time and kept watch on the stall for a minute. He saw the varied vegatables that the old woman was selling they are all in raw prices especially the squash, $25 for two pieces and the rest are with these prices.

"All of the squash are in demand. Where can we find some cheaper one?" he heard household wives talking not too far away from the stall.

"Should we try the east market?" One suggested

He grinned and took two pieces of squash towards them, "Hello there beautiful maidens!"

"Oh my!" the women got surprised by Jur's sudden appearance but he didn't took any time gap and directly marketed the squash.

"Due to the seasonal change, squash had the lowest quantity to produce and prizes streaks to peak but good news! You can take this squash by only $25!" he presented one squash.

The women looked at each other and said, "I think it's just all the same from the others."

Jur grinned, "Nope not all my dear ladies. You can actually take two squash in just $25! Budget friendly and efficient!" he promoted presenting the two squash in hand.

They all stared at each other.

"It's a limited promo." Jur added, teasing them and immediately, the women came rushing to buy some.

Actually, there was no price difference on other stalls, it's just they got swayed from the concept of buy one take one which Jur pushed to them.

The old woman came back having her squashed sell off in a blink of an eye.

"Here it is Auntie Chistine! No more no less." he gave the money

"Did you use your strategies again Young man?" the old woman smiled as she sees the instant money he sold off.

"No strategies Auntie, just pure charisma!" he called and pulled the troller to the next store.

Hours went by and the sacks were fully delivered to their rightful owners.

Jur pushed the empty troller as he walk back to their meeting place when suddenly, his pocket from behind got taken away.

"Hehe~ isn't this the Farmer?" Barry and his gang showed up again, the resident trouble maker in the area.

"Yes it is I, the Farmer, Barry." Jur replied casually

"So how much did you earn from tips today huh farmer." he asked as he and his gang checked up on the wallet

But they got surprised, "NONE?!"

Jur curved a smile, "Who said it's my wallet?"

They checked up on the picture pinned on the picture area of the wallet and saw a different man on it.

"Is that my wallet?" Hac appeared eyeing the wallet that the gang took from Jur.

They all screeched in shock and threw the wallet aiming to run as fast as they can.

Jur laughed from the sight, "Did you just see that?"

"Yes I have and I see that my wallet was actually snatched by someone close." he's eyeing Jur.

Everyone knew that Hac's father was the chief of police in the town.

Jur laughingly took the wallet from the ground and gave it to him, "You're not even keeping some money there." he said

"Let's go." Jur took the troller again and walked away without noticing Hac's worried face.

He silently checked the single picture he hid in the wallet and sighed in relief as he found it was still intact, it was the rarest picture that all he had with Jur.

"Hey wait!" he called to the other.

They reached the truck and after a while of preparation, they were ready to go back home.

"Are you all set?" Hac asked as he secure his seat belt.

"I think so, oh wait. I forgot." Jur remembered something and got off from the truck.

"I need to buy pain killer." Jur said as he landed on the ground and shut the truck door.

"To Uncle?" Hac asked.

"No for me----" but Jur stopped when he spotted someone he really wanted to see for tomorrow.

He immediately brushed his hair in frantic and called, "H-Hi Laylac!"

The girls meters away from him stared to him even Haquilles inside the truck turned to his direction.

"Hi!" Jur innocently waved to the beautiful ice queen. She was a classmate since middle school, Laylac Evergreen, the infamous transfer student rom the Capital. Her black hair shines amidst the dusty market and she was to fair that she can easily stand out among other girls.

Her cold stare makes Jur heart shiver in wholesome delight.

"Y-You're pretty today!" he called again but the lady ignored him and took a swift turn to join the crowd, her friends followed.

"See you tomorrow!" he called again, beaming in happiness, his heart fluttered just in the sight of Laylac.

"Hey did you see her----" Jur turned to go back on the truck to tell his friend but when he turned, his face hit the truck door flat as Hac tried to open it for him to go down.

"Sorry." Hac uttered without emotion.

"Should I accompany you to buy pain killer?" Hac asked.

Jur massaged his nose who mostly got the hit.

"Accompany your ass." Jur was angry, Hac totally ruined his mood which made the other laugh again in delight.

"Why? Wanna get lovey-dovey to Laylac?" he leaned his elbow to Jur but Jur took them off.

"What lobey-dobey?" he asked with his lack of clear pronunciation.

Jur head hung low, "She's just beautiful." he uttered.

"So? Seeing her made the pain in your body fade off?" Hac asked

Jur made a blushing face, "Kinda."

Hac kicked his knee.

"Aww..." he groaned in pain and curled up to massage his knee

"I know you're a taekwondo champion but man! I haven't worked out for years! My knee almost broke."

Hac rolled his eyes, "Should we buy or not?"

Jur stood as the pain went away, he was just overreacting, the kick was just plain like a bite of an ant.

"Okay okay we're going." Jur said as they enter the market once again.

The day almost finished when they reached Jur's house in the edge of the rice fields. It was old and in need of renovation but they still had no budget to do so all they could do was to keep grains and grow grains there.

"Father, your freelancer is here." Jur called out as he parked the car.

His father, Remy, smiled as he saw Hac.

"I'm here to give disturbance Uncle." Hac said

"Oh you're very welcome Haquilles my boy!" his father exclaimed

"I know you two are tired, you should drink some cold juice inside." Mr. Remy instructed

"You mean cold water Father?" Jur corrected, they never had juices, teas or offee to offer to begin with.

"It's the same." His father responded

"We'll be going inside Uncle!" Hac called out

They entered the gloomy house as usual, emphasizing the passive design where the air can freely enter through the big windows left and right.

My favorite place." Hac seated on the couch he most favored to sit with.

"Let me." Jur joined and the two bounced from the softness.

"This never gets old." Hac uttered

"By the way, I heard Chris wanted to transfer in the Capital?" Jur asked

Hac twitched, "Nah, Taz said that he was just being too creative on his future and was already enrolled."

Jur laughed.

Hac leaned on the couch together with him. Closing his eyes to relax.

"By the way, hope we're in the same class." Jur slapped his thighs which made Hac opened his eyes.

"Do you want some water? We only serve cold." Jur leaned forward but didn't took his hands on Hac's thighs, instead he rubbed it off because the man's pants was tingling his palm.

It was a habit he developed unknowingly for things that is tingling.

Hac twitched and stared at him.

"Why don't you just grab it in?" he said

Jur turned to him confuse but immediately realized his meaning. He grinned, quickly moved his fist and pressed 'it' hard.

Hac groaned in shock "You----"

But Jur immediately run off avoiding Hac's infamous taekwondo technique.

.....