The Grand Mistress

It's not everyday that people in villages had visitors and so they had been very warm and welcoming with the Hawk and Cat's company. Old Sunny set up dinner for them and so they all sat down to eat together. The meal was just a simple one, composed of boiled potatoes, fishes, vegetables and some village delicacies. Old Sunny had been expecting the doctor's visit and the village was having a small celebration to mark the end up planting season in their village. That's why she had cooked some delicacies and prepared a good amount of food as aside from the doctors that came, she was also expecting Mario's visit.

"I heard some beautiful lively music outside, what's all that about?" Doctor Sora asked as they were about to finish the meal. They had talked about several things as they ate but only then did she raise her curiosity about the activities outside.

"Oh, it's a dance gathering," Old Sunny announced. "The village was celebrating the end of the planting season for our village and so we always have a dance gathering to celebrate it. Also a nice way of entertainment for our farmers,"

"I see. There are really so many interesting things I have seen here," Nurse Leah commented, dragging her eyes at Hawk, then later to Doctor Sora to express her great excitement. "Right Doc? I think this would not be the last we will come and visit,"

"Surely," Doctor Sora beamed at it. Out of all the interesting things she found in this little venture of her in these mountains, Hawk became her favorite. Nurse Leah knew this and so she was teasing her silently as she was pairing her up with Hawk. Although Hawk looked like one of the village men, he was particularly handsome even with such tanned skin. 

"Didn't Sisi also find her love here?" Nurse Leah turned to Simione this time. "I heard from the orphanage your husband proposed here,"

Simione only smiled to acknowledge it. 

"Sisi people from the orphanage said your husband had been sick. Was this true?" Nurse Leah couldn't withhold her curiosity. Although she and Doctor Sara dropped by the orphanage, it was actually their first time in these parts of the country and had only met Simione a day ago. 

"Miss, I don't think it's nice to ask questions like that," Hawk cut her off in a tone that was rather emphasizing that she was being overly nosy and insensitive.

"Oh, I'm sorry. My fault," She apologized. A little bit of shock from Hawk's intervention as she certainly did not expect that from him. Earlier, Hawk had never directly talked to her and he only talks when necessary so she thought he was naturally a quiet man. However because she thought Hawk was a native in Comis village, she thought it was only natural for him to speak for Simione as people in Comis village seemed to have their favors on with the copper haired girl.

"How about we go to the dance gathering?" Doctor Sora tried to cut off the awkwardness that went on Nurse Leah because of Hawk's chastisement. "I had never seen once before, I wonder what it looks like,"

"Good idea," Mario thought so and looked at old Sunny, beaming. 

"Let's all go together before we head home," Another of their companions agreed. Dance gatherings were one of the community entertainment in villages and so they all knew how happy such a gathering would be.

"If we stay for the dance, wouldn't it be too late for us to go home later?" Simione raised a question. They had never talked about staying for the night in Old Sunny's village and she had other things to do in the orphanage tomorrow so she thought it wouldn't be good if they stayed up late.

"We can stay until midnight then head back home together," One of Hawk's companions suggested. "There are many of us anyway, with all our oil lamps, it wouldn't be that dangerous in the woods,"

"Or you can stay for the night," Old Sunny suggested. "There's an empty hut nearby we built for guests. The men can stay there and the women can sleep with me here in my hut,"

"Well that would work," Mario liked the idea. Of course he didn't want to go home yet as he was hoping he and Old Sunny could have a private talk together. Such talk wouldn't come when many people are around them, perhaps later when everyone has settled they can have some.

"To the dance then," Doctor Sora announced, very well pleased with it. Simione however didn't want to stay as she was feeling a bit emotional and wanted to stay away from Hawk's sight until she could control herself. It was really hard to calm her insides especially when Hawk managed to awaken something deep inside her and with the fact that he was also sitting there on the same dinner table, just a few meters from her reach made her feelings unbearable. However, because she was tasked to accompany the doctor, she can really do nothing at this point.

Soon the group headed over to the community ground and saw the beautiful set up the villagers made for the dance gathering. They surrounded the ground with coconut leaves that had weaved in a beautiful pattern and they also adorned it with flowers. It was like a wedding reception, a simple one yet alluringly beautiful. Inside, the old folks were dancing in the center while the village musicians flock in one corner to play beautiful songs. The song that they were currently playing was sweet music so the dancers on the center dance in pairs and were clinging to each other intimately as they swayed to the melody.

"O wow, this was more than I expected," Doctor Sora was amazed with it, so was Nurse Leah. Hawk however had seen such a set-up before as he was well travelled and Sisi had been volunteering for a long time she was used to seeing such kinds of gatherings.

"It's very romantic," Nurse Leah giggled at it and blushed. Obviously the one dancing in the center were all couples and the sight to it looked thoroughly romantic. "Perhaps we should join the dance. Hawk would be kind to dance with Doctor Sora, she seemed really so into it,"

"Wooooooooh," Hawk's companion started teasing them. Doctor Sara made it very obvious in her gestures that she was interested with Hawk even at dinner time and so the teasing for the pair—Hawk and Doctor Sora started. Right then when the idea of them dancing was raised, Hawk's companion couldn't help but teased them further.

Hawk of course couldn't refuse such a plea specially that Doctor Sora seemed to have contributed greatly to the villages these days and had garnered some respect. In remote villages, doctors were always given importance so they were greatly celebrated and respected there.However what everyone doesn't know was that Hawk was a known woman evasive bachelor and so he handled the woman pretty well.

"I think all the ladies wanted to experience the dance, so I'll dance with each one of you just to be fair," Hawk replied with a dry smile. He was aware of the doctor's interest in him and so she took her offer in his favor. She did want to have an intimate dance with him while he wanted to dance with Simione but couldn't invite her since she was a married woman. If he would ask her for a dance, of course that would intrigue the rest of his companions and might start up some unnecessary misunderstandings and rumours.Such wouldn't be healthy so Simione's reputation then and so he made use of Doctor Sora's offer so he could dance with Simione without raising any intrigues.

"Wow, Hawk is really such a gentleman. He wouldn't let the other two ladies go home tonight without being able to dance," Mario was greatly impressed at Hawk's consideration without suspecting it had other intentions.

Doctor Sora certainly wasn't all happy with Hawk's fairness as she wanted him all for herself that night. However, she didn't want to look that desperate so she pretended to be glad with it.  "Well so….." 

"Come on. Your first, " Hawk told her and walked to the dance floor without waiting for the woman. His actions then raised a red flag at Doctor Sora, making her somewhat aware their feelings weren't mutual. However she lied to herself and said that Hawk was a village man who didn't know how to be a gentleman so she just smiled and followed him awkwardly. 

At the dance floor, Hawk held on to her waist and she of course responded by clinging to his neck to lessen their distance but as she pressed herself forward, Hawk bent his upper body away and raised a brow at her. "Not too close please. Your smell suffocates me."

Doctor Sara was so shocked at his words she ended up gaping open at him. Never in her life was she treated that way and only a simple village man was that brutal to throw her such insulting words.

"No offense meant. I don't like the smell of hospitals and you smell like one. I guess you can understand that. That's the main reason why I decided since I was young that I will never ever marry a doctor,"

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