Chapter 103 - Weird Awkwardness
As Amukelo sprinted, he repeated everything Bral and Idin had told him in his head. Stand tall, move with confidence. Get her a gift, something thoughtful but not too extravagant. Make sure it's something she'll actually like, not just something expensive. Most importantly—don't be late.
That last thought made his stomach tighten as he dodged past a pair of merchants unloading crates. He had already wasted so much time, and the last thing he wanted was to make Pao wait any longer. But as he ran, his eyes caught sight of a small wooden stall tucked between two larger shops. And he skidded to a stop.
An elderly woman behind the stall lifted her gaze from her work, her wrinkled face lighting up with a warm smile. "Ohh... what a handsome and elegant young man," she said in a teasing tone, her eyes twinkling. "You must be here to buy something special."
Amukelo rubbed the back of his head, feeling a little out of place. "Uh, yeah. I need a present."
The old woman leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand. "A present, hmm? And who might this lucky person be?" she asked, her voice playful.
"For my friend," Amukelo answered, scanning the jewelry but quickly realizing he had no idea what he was even looking for. "She's a mage, but I don't really know what kind of gift would suit her."
The old woman's smile widened knowingly. "A friend, you say?" she mused, tapping her fingers on the wooden counter. She gestured toward a row of delicate necklaces, each adorned with heart-shaped pendants. "Perhaps something romantic, then?"
Amukelo's expression immediately flattened. "Not that kind of friend," he muttered.
The woman chuckled, clearly enjoying herself. "Ah, well, in that case, something elegant, something with meaning." She swept her hand toward another section of the display, this one filled with floral designs. "Girls love flowers, dear. A bracelet, perhaps? Simple, charming, and something she can wear every day."
Amukelo's eyes scanned the pieces, glinting silver and gold, but then something caught his attention. A silver bracelet, thin but sturdy, adorned with delicate blue flowers etched into the metal. His fingers traced the design as he murmured, "A bracelet..."
The old woman's smile grew. "A fine choice," she said approvingly. "These flowers are called Forget-Me-Nots."
Amukelo gave her a confused glance. "Uh... okay," he said, not entirely sure why she was telling him that. Does that mean something?
Still, he wasn't about to stand there overthinking it. "I'll take it," he said firmly.
The old woman wrapped the bracelet in a soft cloth and placed it inside a small decorative box, securing it with a thin ribbon. "A thoughtful gift, young man," she said as she handed it to him. "She'll love it, I'm sure."
"I hope so," Amukelo muttered, dropping the coins onto the counter before gripping the package and taking off again.
By the time he reached the magic shop, he forced himself to slow down. He steadied his breathing and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He couldn't show up looking like a mess after everything Bral and Idin had put him through.
He looked around, scanning the area. Pao wasn't in front of the shop.
His stomach dropped. Am I too late? he thought, frowning as he stepped further onto the street. Did she decide to leave because I took too long?
But then, movement caught his eye. Pao sat opposite the shop, under the shade of a tall tree, a lone bench sat beneath the fading sunlight. And on that bench, he saw her.
She was sitting with her hands folded in her lap, her leg nervously bouncing up and down as she stared at the ground. Every few moments, she would reach up, fidgeting with her hair, smoothing it down before tucking a loose strand behind her ear, only to undo it seconds later.
She wasn't wearing her usual adventuring attire, the practical robes or tunics she always had on during quests. Instead, she wore a light pink summer dress, something soft and flowing that caught the slight breeze. The color contrasted beautifully with her dark hair, and the soft fabric draped naturally over her slender frame.
Amukelo took a steadying breath before finally approaching Pao. Even after everything he had been through, walking up to Pao in this moment felt more nerve-wracking than all of that.
"Uh... hey, Pao," he said, his voice just a little more hesitant than he intended. "Sorry for being late. I had some... issues."
Pao, who had been lost in thought, immediately snapped her head up. "Oh, it's you, Amukelo," she said quickly, blinking as if she had been startled out of something. "No problem, I just..." She trailed off as her gaze fully took him in, and she seemed to freeze.
Amukelo shifted uncomfortably under her stare. "Uh... what?"
Pao's eyes flickered over his appearance—the tailored deep blue jacket, the well-fitted black shirt and pants, the subtle golden embroidery that caught the light just enough to give an elegant contrast. Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something, but instead, she blurted out, "Uhh... why are you dressed like this?"
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Amukelo scratched the back of his head, feeling awkward all over again. "It was Bral and Idin's idea," he admitted, his voice almost apologetic. "I know it looks weird."
Pao shook her head rapidly, her hands instinctively gripping the fabric of her dress. "No, no, no," she said quickly. "It looks... good."
She blushed slightly. "I just... didn't expect it."
Amukelo let out a small chuckle, relieved that at least she didn't think he looked ridiculous. "Ahh, right," he said, suddenly remembering the small box he had been carrying this whole time. "I almost forgot—I got you something."
Pao blinked, confused. "A gift?"
Amukelo nodded and pulled the small, neatly wrapped box from his pocket. He hesitated for just a second before holding it out to her. "I didn't really know what to buy, so I just went with what the lady at the stall told me. I hope you like it."
Pao stared at the box in his hands, surprised. She took it carefully, her fingers brushing against his as she lifted it from his palm. She hesitated for a moment before slowly untying the ribbon and opening the lid.
As soon as she saw what was inside, her breath hitched slightly.
"These flowers..." Her fingers traced over the silver bracelet, her gaze locked onto the small, delicately crafted blue flowers embedded in the metal. "Did you... choose these yourself?" she asked, her voice softer now.
Amukelo nodded. "The lady suggested a bracelet, and I just thought this one looked nice, so I picked it."
For a moment, Pao just stared at it, as if trying to process something. Then, she smiled—a soft, genuine smile, one that carried a kind of warmth Amukelo wasn't sure he had ever seen from her before.
She hugged the box lightly against her chest. "Thank you..." she murmured. "It's... I really like it."
Amukelo let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "I'm glad," he said honestly. "I was worried I'd pick something wrong."
For a few seconds, neither of them said anything. The weight of silence settled between them, and suddenly, Amukelo felt more awkward than ever. He rubbed the back of his neck, shifting on his feet. Pao, on the other hand, looked down, fiddling with the bracelet as she held it in her lap.
Why is this so weird? Amukelo thought. Why do I feel like this? It's just Pao... right?
And yet, something about seeing her like this, in this dress, with her usual sharpness softened into something almost... shy, made his thoughts all over the place. It was unfamiliar, yet not entirely unpleasant.
Pao was the one who finally broke the silence. She cleared her throat, still not quite looking at him. "M-Maybe we should go into the magic shop," she said quickly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Since we got some money from the last quest, I wanted to buy a new grimoire."
Amukelo, who was relieved to have something to do rather than stand there drowning in awkwardness, immediately nodded. "Right—yeah, let's do that," he said, his voice just a little too eager. "No reason to just... stand here like this."
Pao glanced at him and let out a small laugh—barely more than a soft breath, but it was there. "Right."
With that, they turned toward the shop, walking side by side. But as they stepped forward, Amukelo couldn't help but steal a glance at her out of the corner of his eye. And for the first time, he found himself wondering if maybe—just maybe—Bral and Idin hadn't been entirely wrong.