Chapter 6 - Date (3)

Dosa family mansion. A pleasant air lingered in the dining hall, giving warmth to the people inside. Azula stared at the meal prepared by Cheon herself. Her mother had never cooked once for them, nor had she felt a warm comfortable feeling from her mother. She couldn't help but compare Cheon to her mother, overwhelmed by the affection Cheon had shown her right after she and Haji came back. "Is it to your liking, Azula?" Cheon asked, calling the princess right by her name was requested by Azula herself, it delighted Cheon knowing that Azula seemed to like her.

Azula smiled. "Yes, very much." She continued to munch on her food and commented. "Yours is much more delicious than the ones served in the palace."

Her compliment made Cheon giggle, she looked smugly at her son and said. "Do you hear that? Even Azula appreciates the food I make." Somehow, she got annoyed at the nonchalant attitude of her son. She might have berated him if it weren't for the guest, though the boy would just ignore her even if she does so.

An intense stare pierced him, but Haji was too thick-skinned to care, he continued to bite the roasted komodo chicken in his hand. Yada-Yada... His mother truly inherited that nagging attitude from his grandfather. "Don't just ignore your mother, Haji, show some respects." Azula admonished him, sternly looking at him.

Even Azula is starting to take after his mother, Haji sighed helplessly. "I'm sorry mother. I didn't mean to ignore you, rather, my mouth was just full." He followed it up with a compliment, showing a delighted expression with closed eyes. "Mh-hmm, delicious!"

He thought it was the end of it, but an awkward situation welcomed him when he opened his eyes. The two looked at him as if he had gone crazy, Azula was restraining herself from bursting into laughter. While his mother had a look that showed her disbelief, thinking. Did she really give birth to this boy?

Haji blushed. He ignored them and continued to eat, trying his best to hide his embarrassed face. They understood that he was caught off guard, and so Azula and Cheon fend ignorance after letting out soft giggles. He sighed in relief when they stopped, slowly calming himself down. A good thing that it was only Azula and his mother who saw his comical face, he'd probably lock himself in his room if it wasn't so.

Finished with their food, the two went to the courtyard. They sat inside a gazebo, surrounded by a bunch of flowers that are Cheon's most beloved, she takes care of them personally, spending much of her free time gardening. Haji held his flute, about to blow onto it, and Azula looked at him with anticipation. He thought of what he should play, and when he looked at her, a song came into mind. "I'll be playing something short but I hope you'd like it, my princess." He said, and then began to play the flute.

A sad tune whispered in Azula's ears, she looked at him with confused eyes, it was far different compared to the traditional songs played. The song seemed to tell his story of broken-heartedness, an endless cycle of love and pain. She could barely decipher the tune into words, she mumbled. "Cause I've been fooled in the past?" She was puzzled. What past could there be, as far as she knows, Haji had no sweethearts prior to her. But the feeling he exudes while playing said otherwise.

Like the way he said earlier, Haji finished playing in less than a minute, he asked her. "Did you like it?" Far from his expectations, it brought a different outcome.

Rather than being amazed at how excellent and unique the tune Haji played, she was instead overwhelmed by a jealous urge. Her face twisted in anger for a few seconds before it reverted back to normal. Her cold eyes staring straight at him and she said in a sarcastic manner. "I like it! In fact, I loved it greatly. You sounded so well versed in the matters of love, it made me wonder how many girls you had been with."

Haji was busy toying with his flute, he wasn't able to see the expression of Azula but her sarcastic tone was caught by his ears. Puzzled, Haji pondered over his mistakes, speechless for a few seconds. He looked at Azula and saw her ice-cold calmness, a spine-chilling moment knowing that she's about to lash out in anger. Strangely, she just stared at him, seemingly waiting to hear a reason from him. Just a reason to dispel her doubts. The eleven-year-old her would believe him, she'll even trust him... An unfamiliar word, something rarely needed in the royal court. Everything could be finished if she'd just used force, and interrogate his close friends about the truth. The thought entered her mind, quick and innate, but she felt that there would be something to be lost if she did.

It was currently mid-autumn, the afternoon was cooler than usual, and the soft breeze caused her beautiful black hair to sway abruptly. Haji choked when he was about to lie, stunned by her allure. Her young sweet lips seemed to invite him, and the words he was about to speak were replaced by resolve. He gently extended his hand, caressing her soft, white cheek, and he leaned forward, catching her by surprise, his lips pressed against hers. Their bodies pressed together, her soft lips had a cherry-like taste from the fruits earlier. They could feel each other's breathe when they parted, it was an addictive feeling for Haji, sharing a kiss with a princess was far different from the ones he had with noble daughters.

Azula flushed. A weird feeling when they kissed, warmth blossomed in her chest when she gazed at that lips that touched hers for the first time. She smiled sweetly at him and took the initiative this time, their lips brushing together once again. Her lips parted slightly, allowing his tongue to slip right in. When the sweet moment ended, Haji's eyes rested on her intoxicated look, his hand stroked her hair, placing it behind her ears. He nudged his nose against hers and pressed his warm lips on her delicate forehead. "You're the only one." He whispered, and somehow, his tone seemed to contain no lies.

Her anger had already dissipated at their first kiss, she didn't know how to respond to him, nonetheless, she felt very warm from his words, comforting her previous doubt. "I know…" Somehow managing to put her feelings into words, she rested her head on his chest. Today was the first time she felt very vulnerable, becoming so weak when held in his arms. She did not expect this to happen during her first date, much less realize how potent feelings can be, a part of her was uncomfortable with it.

While cuddled together, an Imperial firebender walked in front of them, his strong loud voice interrupted them. "It's time to return, princess."

She looked very reluctant to part with him, she said. "Give me a few minutes. I have to say goodbye to Lady Cheon." The guard nodded at her and walked away. He stood upright beside the gate, giving off an unfeeling air.

"My home feels so cold after experiencing the warmth here." Azula smiled sadly, she held Haji's hand, interlocking her fingers with his. "Hey, let's meet again next time, okay?" She nudged, a little bit downcasted by her thoughts. "Father would most likely not allow me to go on a date with you for the time being. He'd hate you if he thought of you as an obstruction to my studies."

It would bring more harm for the two to meet frequently, attracting the fire lord's ire would thoroughly destroy their relationship. He said. "I'll try to see you every half a month, I swear."

"I'll be waiting." Azula kissed him on his lips, ignoring the guard who was staring at them. She bade her goodbye to Cheon, his mother looked very sad when Azula departed. The two waited until the palanquin, and the wide array of guards that followed left their sights.

The next day. Haji woke up and felt restless, a thought came to him that something's going wrong today. He checked if there was anything missing in his items, seeing that everything was perfectly fine, he proceeded to prepare for school. The feeling kept bugging him until he reached the dining hall, to which on the seat of honor sat an old man. "Grandfather." He greeted, performing the formal greeting of the fire nation. His right hand, enclosed into a fist, placed directly under his left hand.

Bujing gestured for Haji to sit, to which the boy sat on his grandfather's left side, his mother sat across him, calmly looking at the both of them. Bujing stared seriously at him and declared. "You will be breaking up with your little lovers and devote your all to the princess from now on. Remember, our whole clan will suffer if you were to hurt her."

"Understood grandfather, I will do it today." Said Haji. He felt no reluctance to break off relations with the girls, there was no point to keep it anyway, now that he has struck the jackpot, becoming princess Azula's beloved. Feeling success, he smiled secretly.

However, his grandfather's next words destroyed his smooth and easy dream. "I was given permission by Lord Ozai to enlist you in the army at the start of winter." Bujing looked very proud, he had an expectant gaze at the young grandson of his.

It felt like ice-cold water was dumped right into his head, he despaired. "Aren't I a tad too young to be enlisted?"

"The younger you join, the better your future will be in the army," Bujing answered, he stroked his Fu Manchu-styled mustache. "You can gain mastery over your skills in the military faster, and I have great trust that you'll excel there as well."

Haji nodded at him, he immersed himself in his food, not bothered to think about it anymore since everything has already been set in stone. He could feel his mother's worried gaze, but he knew that she wouldn't do anything, after all, everything his grandfather had done was for his own good.