Chapter 102: Mission 001 Social Service

"Shiffuuuuuuuuuuu," Aqua screamed once again. She then looked Huo who kept the fire woods down. 

"Am losing it too," he said looking at her.

"You shut up," she said and walked away. 

"I.." He started. But ignored his speech and left his side. He caught up with her and offered to peel and chop all the vegetables and meat necessary for the dishes. They decided on making rice, dried Pullock soup, fried beef, fried okra, steamed buns and spicy rice cakes. And she had no know about making any of these. Meal for 20 people had to prepared in two hours. 

"Remember this is ti test our patience and our speed, how productive we can be on producing things in the two hours even if it is thing we have no clue about. We just have to complete the task," she told him.

"Got it, I will prepare four hearth, one for rice, one for soup one to make side dishes. Rice can be cooked by the time we finish making the side dishes then do the soup in the end," he explained about his plan,"

"You know how to cook?" She asked him astounded. 

"I lived with shifu all my life, I know how to prepare everything, " he said and winked at her. "Be good or am not doing anything," he utilised the chance to blackmail her. 

"Wah jinja," she said and tied up her hair, revealing her neck line. Huo for a second lost his control almost over him, staring at her. "What are you day dreaming, get to work, you goat," she scolded him.

"Hey, am not a goat, an a dragon," 

"My foot," she said and suppressed her laugh. "You dare to make fun of goats now,"  she said.

"Hey am not a...," he understood her trick and shut his mouth. He cut all the onions, and cleaned the spices and washed the rice. He lighted the four hearths and put the rice in the bunked water and added salt whole she fried beef as he instructed and okra in another. After that he made the steam buns. And prepared ingredients for spicy rice cakes. Aqua heart was in her stomach, worried that her dishes might turn bad since it's her first time. The rice was cooked and Huo prepared the dried pullock soup quickly. Fifteen minutes later, everything was ready and fire went out automatically. Aqua checked the souo to see if it was ready since she couldn't light the fire again. Shifu appeared in front of them. 

"Pack them," he said. Aqua looked Huo having no clue to how to pack these items. He nodded his head and walked into the woods to get some leaves. He managed to search and find teak tree leaves and some banana leaves from the side of the river. He hurried back and showed Aqua how to do it. Then quickly packed the food for 20 but they couldn't find anything to pour the soup. 

"Get ready and go down the hill to serve them," Shifu said and left. 

Aqua and Huo stood there still, swallowing their saliva hard thinking of the journey. Aqua left and changed quickly. She put on  white and pink dress and walked out dressing in a feminine way this time. Huo got swayed again and again, as he looked at her. He wished to go back to the times the spent together at school, the time of both their coronation, tines they spent at the tree hut, he was carried away by their memories together. He recalled the first time he confessed, the look in her eyes, everything came back like it happened the previous day. 

"It wasn't like anything what you saw Aqua," he tried to explain.

"Yeah since this wasn't the only time," she rolled her eyes.

"What do you mean by not the only time? When have I ever gotteb close with any female disciples in school or outside?" He took a step forward towards her.

"You just speak well with everybody else than ditch me whenever am around you, why?"

"Because they come and converse with me, it's not like I was desperate. I was with you many times, but you have always turned away whenever you saw me too, why?"

"I didnt know," she said to his face. "How could I know about your intention, you should let me know, besides am scared that I would embarrass both of us and my best friend is crazy about you,"

"But are you not when I want you to be?" he asked her looking into her eyes. he cornered her against the against walls once again, his hand on the either side, blocking her way. She felt her heart exploding inside.

"I," she hesitated. "Are you?"

"I so am," he said just like that. "Isn't this the beauty between us?, Even if we don't speak to each other, yet we have yearning,"

"But how can you know when you don't say it?" she blurted out.

"Do you want to know?" he asked her.

"Yes," he moved his face closer closer to her as she whispered gazing into her deep black eyes that melted him instantly. He couldn't help it. He lost his own battle.

"You what are dreaming about again?" Aqua woke him up.

"Nothing," he said and stood up. He smiled as she turned away.

"Come, let's go or we won't reach there in time," she said walking fast. Shifu had taken his leave already. They literally ran down once again to reach on time since they know the way already, it was easy to travel. Working since dawn, but this time they did not feel tired, seeing the happiness of the people served. At sharp 1, Aqua and Huo reached the foothills. They ran towards the village and saw Shifu spending time with the elderly. 

"How does he know all of them?" Huo asked Aqua. 

"How would I know? He is you foster father, ask him yourself," she said. 

"When did you start talking back rudely?" He asked his serious doubt to her.

"When I set my eyes on you once again," she replied coldly and walked towards the people. They were sitting under a large banyan tree in the middle of the town. Aqua and Huo served food happily and helped people fill their stomach and heart at the same time. Seeing all the grand fathers and grand mothers and even few kids, it warmed their hearts to see the smile that curved on their lips. 

Aqua wa happy, and it surprised Shifu and Hui equally. Little things made her happy. 

"Somebody was angry that I assigned work now look who is happy to have done it," Shifu mocked her before he took off. "Come back before morning tomorrow, " he said giving them some time off and left," Aqua sat down next to a little girl who kept walking behind her. 

"What is it honey?" She asked the baby girl. 

"Nothing," the girl replied. Aqua smiled and planted a kiss on her forehead. 

"Do you have gold pieces?" She asked Huo. 

"How much?"

"A few," 

Huo handed her 5 6 pieces of gold. And Aqua got them from him and handed the little girl. "Use this to biu good clothes and remember to feed yourself. Okay? She said to the girl. The little girl nodded her head and smiled. "Thank that uncle," Aqua said. And the girl obeyed and thanked Huo who tussles her hair. Aqua then took out her favourite postal green brooch, embellished with rubies and tiny pearls. She took one look good and gave them away to the little girl. "Don't sell it, this brooch brings luck, be good and live well, okay?" She lied to the child to boost the confidence. The little girl nodded and left her side running away to show it off to her grand father who was looking after her. 

"These are people from the village in Tai's grounds. Their lands were taken away by him from them. They found refuge under your father's power and is living here now in hiding. 

"Why don't we turn that brothel into actual inn for them to stay and run a business?" Aqua asked out of the blue when she heard about their condition. 

"That would be great to do," he said and nodded. He looked at Aqua who was watching the people who were busy talking and resting under the tree. "Wasn't that your favourite brooch? One you just gave away?" He asked her noticing how she always carried it with her.

Aqua smiled. "Am sure that Aiden will forgive me," she said. "It was my 100th birthday present from him," 

"Mwooo???" Huo asked in disbelief. "He gave you that?" He got up. 

"Yes, what?" She asked.

"Nothing," he said and took a seat next to her. "But how could you teasure that alot when you were with m..." he paused his words. He looked at her who looked  ready to hit him with whatever she had in her hands. His jealousy was evident she enjoyed it. "Don't you know that he likes you?" 

"Yes, so what?" She asked back.

"So what? Really? That's like killing him," Huo said. "Acting like you don't know the truth when you know," 

"He is family, what should I do then? Ignore ? He is our Grand Prince and we will always work together, it is not joke," she explained to him..

"But still," he started but was stopped soon.

"So should I keep distance with y...." but she stopped before she said it out loud. 

"What?" He asked her to complete the Sentence. 

"Nothing," Aqua tried to drop the conversation. 

"Keep distance with such people," he said. 

"Shiro, I won't, " 

"You should, I don't want to see you together," 

"Since when did you become such a pettu narrow minded person, then explain about you and Volca, you always have a soft spot for her,"  Aqua slipped her tongue. The atmosphere turned serious and Huo'er's expression changed. 

"Did you have to stab be with your words like that? Turning every conversation to blaming me in the end," he looked hurt. He stood up and walked away. Aqua regretted and got up taking few steps to forward him. But she stopped herself from doing it. 

"No I was not wrong," she thought.  She watched him walk away. "I.."