Buffoons by the Door

25th of Tukruk

Like a thief on a night raid, a young lad emerged noiselessly out of the main door of the male disciples' dormitory. He looked towards the left, then towards the right. When he ascertained that there's not a soul around, he signalled for his companion to come out.

An anxious-looking girl emerged out of the doorway. She took her place beside the boy. The girl was exceptionally pretty. If she were to stand beside other beauties, her beauty would still manage to stand out.

"This is embarrassing," she blurted out. She looked around her surroundings as though being discovered meant the end of her. She covered the exposed side of her face with an open palm even as she buried her head behind the head of her escort.

The guy was good-looking as well. He was more pretty than handsome though. He was one of those young men who, with a little mascara and a dab of lipstick, could make the girls envious of his looks.

Perhaps the most appropriate word to describe his looks would be cute. With his smiling chinky eyes, high cheekbones and thin pinkish lips, this guy aroused in girls a protective instinct. He gave off an innocent vibe while his slightly pointed chin gave a hint of vulnerability. This cuteness went a whole new level when his eyes put on a lost and wandering expression.

That's right. This pretty boy is so cute and "helpless" the girls wanted to keep and protect him from the rest of the world.

The problem, however, is that the kind of girls he attracted were those domineering types possessed with a savior complex and fierce protective instinct. Like this pretty young lady behind him.

"Stay here," the pretty boy whispered to the pretty girl who subsequently covered her face with both palms.

Pretty Boy walked stealthily towards the corner. He was debating whether to pass through the training ground or behind the girls' dormitory. He was about to peek his head in when he heard footsteps closing in. He ran back quickly while signalling to the girl to go back inside the dorm.

Pretty Girl immediately walked backwards toward the doorway. She just barely got inside when her back bumped into a person. She almost screamed but froze on the spot instead.

"What the…" the other person was clearly startled, but restrained himself well enough. Somehow, he knew who the girl in front of him was.

Pretty Boy came in right behind her…well, in this case, in front of her. He nearly bumped into her, too. It amused him to see her current posture: hands raised as if in surrender, eyes wide in shock and mouth wide open as if about to scream.

Of course, he thought she's still the most gorgeous girl in the whole world.

"Blink?" the guy behind the pretty girl was once more surprised. "Why are you and …"

The pretty boy immediately covered the guy's mouth with his hand. Right then Blink bumped into the girl and had to wrap his other hand around the girl's waist to stabilize her.

"Quick, get behind the door," Blink told the girl softly.

He then told the other guy to keep quiet and allow him to handle the matter.

With head bowed in embarrassment, the girl went inside the little space covered by the open door. Blink then pushed the door until its edge touched the wall after which he stood in front of the door. The other guy took the cue and stood beside him. They stood at attention as if guarding the door.

The two guys had no idea how stupidly suspicious they looked right at that moment.

It was in such a state that the owner of the earlier footsteps found them. The person was none other than Master Tszarek. At the sight of the two idiots by the door, he could only shake his head at his disciples' incompetence.

"Move aside," he commanded them patiently.

Seeing that the two were reluctant to follow his command, Master Tszarek barked his command harsher this time: "Did you not hear me? Move aside!"

The two eyed each other nervously, but neither of them responded to Master Tszarek's order.

With growing impatience, Master Tszarek chewed out his disciples.

"Do you realize that you two look like a pair of buffoons right now? You are obviously hiding something behind the door. Berge, come out of there!"

The two guys eyed each other once more. They both wondered how their master knew that someone was hiding behind the door and even exactly guessed who it was.

"Fools!" Master Tszarek excoriated them anew. "Who would be hiding behind the door of the male students' dormitory if not a girl? And which girl would be out with this guy at this hour?"

Blink and the other guy immediately realized what simpletons they were. They reluctantly stepped aside to let the girl out.

Berge took her time to emerge from behind the door, her face clearly reddened from the embarrassment that was overwhelming her emotions. She wanted nothing less than to disappear from the master's view if that were possible.

However, Master Tszarek didn't seem to take any interest in her. He was regarding Blink all this while. He was nodding his head slightly with a meaningful glint in his eyes.

Blink gulped down a mouthful of saliva. He felt a weird vibe that he could not quite figure out. He wanted to tell Master Tszarek that nothing had happened between him and Berge.

The headmaster moved away from the door and stood to face the three of them. He gestured his hand toward the door to indicate for them that they may pass.

"Walk the other way and search for the secret passage behind my residence," he said. "It should take you behind the wall."

The three disciples were about to head out when Master Tszarek spoke once more.

"Kraszad," the headmaster gently stated Blink's real name. "Pass by my office on your way. There's a bundle on my desk for you. Take it with you. You'll need it on your mission."

Blink's eyes widened at the headmaster's mention of the word "mission." He wondered if Master Tszarek knew he would use it as his reason for leaving.

Master Tszarek met his gaze with a crooked, one-sided, all-knowing smile.

'But of course,' Blink decided in his mind. After all, it was Master Tszarek himself who gave him the excuse.

"We'll be off then," Blink said.

He stood at attention and executed a standard martial artist's salute – left hand wrapped around a close-fisted right hand and a slight bow.

"Master," he said before straightening his posture.

Flip followed Blink's lead but kept his bow about two seconds longer.

Berge just gave a salute and quickly turned away. She moved gingerly towards the door, face as red as a ripe tomato.

Master Tszarek returned the gesture to the two boys. He didn't take to heart Berge's breach of proper etiquette.

Before bumping into the three disciples, Master Tszarek was coming over to see Blink. He realized he needed to give him a few more items, which he just instructed Blink to pick up.

Sometime after the three had left, Master Tszarek took a deep breath and sighed. He shook his head, a disapproving look on his face.

He clasped his hands tightly before his face and looked up to the heaven in prayer.

"Gurna, bless that stupid boy and bring him home," he prayed in earnest.