Hapuch's Diary

With the Edmundos

The next morning, I opened my eyes faintly, to see a white ceiling above, and blue checked pattern duvet on me. I rolled my scanning eyes, to make sure it was real. well-arranged

It was a well-arranged small sized bedroom. Its white walls were boldly disturbed by a variety of crayon drawings and pictures of comic characters. 

On one side of the squared room was a shelf which had toys ranging from sports cars to superheroes. 

I sat up while yawning and stretching my arms, I caught sight of a frame of Mark and his parents. With that, it was clear whose room I was in.

Events of the previous night reassembled in my mind. Apparently, it was to blame for my head and body ache. I tried getting up but my legs were too weak.

To worsen matters, my stomach rumbled. I rolled out of bed, walked unsteadily on the vinyl floor towards the bathroom. 

On my right side were lacy drapes which hung over a window. I cast my eyes on the well-arranged closet. 

Impressive! I thought the kid's room was ten times more appealing and modern than mine.

Unlike my bathroom, it's walls were made of white oak wood tiles. A brilliant white sink sparkled beside acrylic bathtub; which seemed too large for a kid. I wholeheartedly sat on the toilet opposite the bathtub, without touching the mirror and cabinet.

I had bathed in this bathroom the previous night, however, I was too stressed to notice or admire it.

Truly, the Edmundo's lavish lifestyle was mainly seen in their son. “One would probably think Mark is the mysterious son of Don Gonçalo,” I muttered.

It was an open secret that Don Gonçalo's son appeared from nowhere; that's what I call mysterious. I never met him though, but I was sure, being the son of the great landlord of all South Douro valley, he would have a lavish lifestyle a lot more than Edmundo who was only one among the four farm managers.

"Ker-en-ha-puk!" A sweet soft voice from the room broke my name into four wrong syllables to call me.

"Mark! Is that you?" I asked nicely, half smiling at the thought of him.

"Yes, it's I... Mom is about serving breakfast.''

"Thanks, dear, I'll be done in a minute." 

"okay. I've got something for you." 

"That's amazing. What is it?" I asked.

"I can't tell you."

I faked a pitiful sound, "Friends don't keep secrets, remember?"

"It’s a surprise." He giggled. I wondered what he was doing in there.

Mark was used to telling me that, but he never remembered giving me what he had promised. He was a sweet little boy, so much like his parents; from his welcoming attitude to his kind disposition. 

When my parents were around, he would spend time in my home and our favourite sport was racing. He loved racing just like me, therefore, racing became our special game. 

More than this I desperately wished he could go downstairs, so that, he won't notice the smell which might anxiously escape the toilet.

"I love surprises."

"Yea!" He cheered.

''Sweetie, don't you think mom needs your help downstairs?'' I said cunningly.

"Really? But she didn't say so.'' He sounded confused.

"That's because she wanted me to tell you," I remarked convincingly.

"She must be waiting for me!" 

"Exactly." I chuckled slightly.

"Okay. I have to go." He said before making his way out of the room.

"Mmm!" I sighed in relief. The sound of rushing water followed my departure from the toilet.

I wondered what caused such cleansing of my digestive organs. 'Oh I remember, it must be the green tea from last night. ' I freshened up in a few minutes and came downstairs. 

The sitting room was a squared normal-sized traditional kind. I had always loved the view each time I visited, especially the soft couch and armchairs made of brown leather material. Lots of artworks, as well as pictures of Mark, beautified the white painted walls. Clearly, the Edmundos were great lovers of art.

The navy blue drapes that were carefully opened, exposed the view of a long line of well-manicured lawns. It was nice staring at it for a moment.

I walked passed a wooden coffee table close to the dining, with searching eyes for Mrs Eunice and Mark but they were no sight of them. Where could there be?

I walked steadily towards the main door calling out,

"Mark! Ma'am Eunice!"

''Over here Honey!" She called from outside.

As I took that step forward, slightly out of myself as well as the house. Before my eyes, were the Edmundos and a strange man, standing in the porch.  

He was the cutest living being the earth ever produced. That's totally a metaphor, but how would I explain the fact that what I saw in his grey eyes were more enchanting than the spell of Merlin.