Halo Halo - Chapter 5 The Fight I Never Expect To Be Fun

“Argghh”

I woke up catching my breathe.

In my dream, there’s some monster chasing me near the beach. I was running in the sand as fast as my legs can carry me. But running in the sand is hard and very tiring. When I felt its breathe at the back of my head.

I heard Ganda said, “wake up, John.”

I looked around, I saw two pairs of eyes looking at me.

One is Ganda, I just noticed that she has cool blue eyes. It goes well with her white hair and perfect smile, the only thing that’s off to her is her ears. Her ears are flat on top, as if it was cut.

The other one is a little girl, probably 10 years old. She has a petite body and red wavy hair that ends below her shoulder.

They both looked concern about me.

“Are you ok John?” Ganda asked.

“I’m ok. Just got a bad dream.” I answered. I told her about me running on the beach while being chase by a beast and some big waves of water.

“That really is a bad dream.” Ganda said. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.” I said. Then I remember, I got stabbed by some big ass monster. I checked my shoulder for some wounds. But there is none. No scars either. Is that a bad dream too?

“How long was I asleep?” I asked.

“A few days.” Ganda said. The red headed girl is just silent on Ganda’s right side.

“A few days!?” I am quite surprised. Because it never happens to me, sleeping for a few days. I mean, I get up to eat and drink. I’m not someone who hibernates.

“Yeah, I’ve been checking you everyday. I don’t want to wake you up because this is the first time you rested well since you saved me.” She told me.

“Sorry to keep you guys waiting.” I said. They are probably waiting for me to wake up everyday. Then, I notice that the red headed girl is silent the whole time. Then I look at her and said, “Hi there.”

She just smile shyly and wave a bit to me. She didn’t say a thing.

“What is your name?” I asked.

“Her name is Pula. She is born mute but she can hear us alright.” Ganda said.

“Hi Pula.” I told her with a smile. “You’re very cute.”

Her face turned as red as her hair. Then she held my hand, as if saying thank you.

“By the way, why is Chief Astig like that? What’s his deal?” I asked. I get up to my wooden bed. I guess this is where I’m gonna be sleeping from now on.

“Oh, you mean, why he is testing you?” Ganda asked.

“Yeah, that part, and it seems like he don’t like me.” I answered. I should know him, because knowledge is power.

“Don’t worry, he is a good guy. He just don’t want anyone to die. He fought the demon king’s army before. Unfortunately, we lost.” She said.

“He lost someone, right?” I asked.

“We lose most of our family and friends.” She said. Pula hugged Ganda and she did the same. Then Ganda kissed Pula’s forehead. Both of them are crying now.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean too hurt you.” I said sincerely. I asked something about chief Astig so I will know how to attack him, I didn’t expect that I will feel sorry. I guess he have a tragic backstory. I think everyone in this town too.

I comfort them by hugging them both.

“Sorry, I know the feeling of losing someone.” I said.

They still have teary eyes when they looked at me. I’m not really good with emotion and feelings. How can I cheer them up? I don’t know how.

“I think, we should tell the chief that you are awake.” Ganda suggested. “Stay with him Pula.”

Ganda went out to get the chief. “I’ll be back immediately.” She said before she left.

“So, how are you Pula?” I asked. But then I remember, she can’t talk. And I remember, I can heal people. “Come here.”

I sit beside her and motioned that I want to touch her neck. She move her head up and down signaling ‘yes’. I touch her neck with my left hand. Warmth immediately pass through me and my hand turns gold. She didn’t move. “How does it feel?” I asked her.

I don’t know how my power works. Should I touch the inside of her throat to heal the muscle of the voice? But I know I can heal her.

“Can you talk?” I asked. My power is on full blast now.

“I don’t know.” Pula said. That’s her first word. It took her a few moments to realize that she just talked.

“I can talk? I can talk?!” she shouts.

“Yeah, you can now.” I said. She is very happy. She hugged me and kissed me in the cheeks.

“Thank you Sire, I am forever be indebted to you.” She said.

“What can I say except, you’re welcome.” I said with Dwayne’s voice.

“Let’s go outside, I will show you to my favorite place here.” Pula said.

Then she held my hand and dragged me. For a 10 year old, she is very strong. When we arrived outside, I smell the most tasty aroma since I came in this world. I felt hungry now.

“Wait. Do I smell food?” I asked. “Where does it come from? Can we eat first?”

“Yeah, I’m sorry. You’re probably very hungry. You didn’t eat for a few days.” She said. “Lets go!”

She became very cheerful now. 10 minutes ago, she was very shy. Now, she is dragging me to where the foods are.

We went to a big wooden house. It has 2 big doors. And on its side is two big open window. It has a flap so it can be close. Its roof is made of dried leaves woven together. Then, they pile it on top of each other and arrange it alternately like bricks.

We went inside. And I saw a very fascinating lunch table. I mean, its not the long table that is fascinating. It is what on the table. There are lots of food from grilled meat, grilled fish, vegetables I don’t know and some I know. Like the carrots, it looks like a carrot but it is green. It is not even cooked. There are also fruits I recognize, like the oranges and apples.

All of that is on the table without plates. Instead, they are lined up in a big leaves. It looks like there is a feast or something.

“Is there a feast?” I asked Pula.

“No, there is no celebration today.” She answered. “Everyone is gonna eat together. All the people who didn’t have a work duty right now.”

“Ok. You mean, like the whole village?” I asked. Because there are like five tables so long. Probably 15 people on each side of the table can eat together. The only off thing I notice is that they don’t have any chair.

“Yeah, everyone.” She said. She then shouts while walking towards one of the table. “Is Asul and Berde there?” she looked at the door at the end of the hall.

In an instant. Three heads emerge out the door. One has bluish haired girl. She’s as small as Pula but her hair is quite longer. Her hair is so long that it reaches her butt. And she has one dimple on her right cheeks. She wears a long simple yellowish dress with short sleeves.

The second one is green haired teenager. I’m not really sure if she is a boy or a girl though. I mean, her face is so serene and calm, she looks like a girl. Specially with her or his hair on shoulder. The thing that makes me confuse is that, his or her body is so buff. Like the one you see in fitness gym models. Those men who have shiny bodies and posing like they are strangling someone beside there thick muscles? He or she is quite tall too. This one wears a toga without sleeves so all his/her arm muscle is showing.

The third one is probably an elf. His long white hair is behind his long ears. His hair reaches his elbow. He wears a white armor that seen better days. It has some stains and dents it every direction. Its as if the tried to fix it but gets tired and gave up trying.

“Pula?” The green haired person said.

“Are you the one who said that?” said by the blue haired girl. “or is it you?” she points to her first then to me.

“It’s me.” Pula said. Grinning so wide she probably shows all her teeth. “Thanks to John here, he use his magic to me.”

“Hey.” I said to them. “I’m John.”

“John? The one Chief Astig is telling us about?” the elf said.

“What did he tell you?” I asked. I looked him in the eye.

“Nothing.” Said the elf. “I’m Tapang.”

I think I heard his name before. Not sure where.

“I’m Asul.” Said by the blue haired girl.

“I’m Berde.” said by the Green haired girl. I’m pretty sure she is a girl, her voice gave it away. “I’m really happy that you can talk now.” She said to Pula.

I tried to shake their hands, but they left my hand hanging. I guess they have different customs here.

“Why are you here?” Pula asked Tapang.

“I’m looking for Ganda.” Tapang answered. “Did you see her?”

“She went to call Chief Astig.” Pula said. “You should go to her.”

“Sure. I will go.” Tapang said. “by the way, your voice is not cute.” Then he run off laughing.

“I thought he will stop teasing me when I got my voice.” Pula said.

“That guy is teasing everyone, except Ganda. He treat her like a princess.” Berde said.

“I’m so glad you have your voice Pula.” Said Asul. “We will go to call everyone.”

Then they went out through the big door.

“Should we eat now?” I asked Pula. It is so tempting. But then, How can we eat with no plates and utensils? Maybe they have wooden utensils?

A few moments later and a lot of self control not to eat everything on the table. One by one, people arrived. From old people, to the younglings. The mothers and fathers with their babies. The teenagers and small children.

They stand next to their tables. Waiting the others to stand next to them. Or to find a spot to the other tables. I tried to stand next to the biggest table with lots of food but Pula said that, that’s the spot of the Chief and the guards. She said because they protect the town, they should eat a lot. I stand next to Pula at the table on the back. Near the back door.

People at their own tables talked together. They converse and smile to each other. Then Ganda arrived with the chief. The chief went to his table and Ganda go to ours.

“Is it true?” Ganda asked Pula. ” You can talk now?”

“Yes, I can talk now.” Pula answered.

“You healed her?” Ganda asked me. “right?”

“Yeah, I did.” I answered, “when you left.”

“that’s awesome! Now we can talk everyday!” Ganda exclaimed. She surely is very happy. Then I notice, no one is talking now, they are listening to our tables.

Then Ganda kissed me on the cheeks and hugged me tightly. Her boobs presses on my chest. It is not so big and not so small either. Just right size. I hugged her back too. This feels good. I close my eyes and feel her warm body.

When I open my eyes, I saw everyone looking at us.

“Hey, stop.” Pula said. “that’s enough.”

Is that jealousy in her voice?

We break our hug and the chief announced loudly.

“Everyone, I see that Pula now can talk. It is said she was healed by our new villager, John.” Chief Astig said. “Congratulations Pula. And thank you John. I got news for everyone, that our crops are getting bigger and better right now. And the hunting team will be back soon. So lets eat a lot today because they will surely bring fresh new meat and fish.”

“Let’s eat.” Everyone said in unison.

They started eating. And me? I look at them in amazement. They don’t use utensils, they use their hands. They push the food together down using the fingers, then once it is compressed, they push it to their mouth with their thumb.

“Do you want me to help you?” Ganda asked. She eat besides me.

“No, I wanna try doing this.” I answered. “This is amazing, this is new to me. This culture of eating.”

“Yeah, that’s great. Because this is called boodle fight.” Ganda said.

“Why boodle fight?” I asked.

“Because if you don’t eat fast, the one beside you will eat it. Like this.” She get the chicken drumstick I’m saving and she ate it.

“Hey, that’s.” I didn’t continue, haha because it is fun. I found out that, you have to eat what you can and can’t save it because someone might like it and get it.

We ate and didn’t talk after that. As if we are angry with everyone. Haha I guess, that is why it is called boodle fight.

This is the fight I never expect to be fun.

“Let’s eat!”