As they entered the bathhouse, the warm, steamy air enveloped them, a welcome relief from the outside. The bathhouse was spacious, with a large central bath surrounded by smaller water troughs heated by furnaces underneath. Empty buckets were arranged neatly beside each trough, ready to be filled and used for bathing. The place was surprisingly empty, giving them a sense of privacy and exclusivity.
Bral chuckled as he surveyed the empty bathhouse, "We got lucky. The entire place just for us." They weren't in any rush since the shopkeeper had advised them to return in two hours, so they took their time, enjoying the tranquil atmosphere.
Once they settled into the large central bath, soaking in the comfortably hot water, Bral noticed Amukelo seemed a bit preoccupied and nudged the conversation, "Are you stressed?"
After a moment's pause, Amukelo admitted, "I don't know what to expect from it. It's weird, we've talked so many times, but now I feel it will be different."
Idin and Bral exchanged knowing smiles. Idin teased, "Do you like her?"
Amukelo responded almost immediately, "Of course," which triggered laughter from both Bral and Idin, causing Amukelo's cheeks to flush with a slight red.
Bral added with a playful smirk, "Ahh, first love. You're so young."
Idin chimed in, still in a jesting tone, "So naive."
Amukelo submerged most of his head underwater, then resurfaced to ask attempting to divert the conversation yet also genuinely curious, "Do you already have your partners? They told me that if I get stronger, I won't have to learn in class but will have my partner."
Bral answered, "Unfortunately, we're not strong enough yet." Then Idin explained further, "But from what we've heard, your progress really accelerates once you reach that stage. Because you and your partner receive a hundred percent of the teacher's attention, you can learn much faster."
The conversation eased some of Amukelo's tension as he listened to their experiences and insights, gradually relaxing into the soothing warmth of the bath, surrounded by friends who were now more like brothers.
After their refreshing and enlightening time at the bathhouse, Bral and Idin decided to take the opportunity to guide Amukelo a bit more about the town, specifically scouting for a suitable venue for his impending date. They walked through the quaint streets, pointing out various spots while weighing their ambiance and suitability. They eventually settled on showing him a particular restaurant that struck the perfect balance between elegance and casual comfort, ideal for a first date without the intimidating opulence of the more extravagant places. Amukelo committed the name and location of the restaurant to memory, grateful for the guidance.
As the afternoon wore on, they realized it was time to head back to the tailor's shop to pick up Amukelo's outfit. Upon re-entering the shop, the chime of the door announced their arrival, and they found the shopkeeper, his brow furrowed in concentration and concern.
Bral stepped forward and inquired, "How's the progress going?" The tailor, looking rather flustered, responded with an apologetic tone, "Please accept my apologies. I'm not sure whether I will be able to make it on time. Due to the complex style, I'm having difficulty with the sleeves, trying to ensure I don't ruin this beautiful jacket. Unfortunately, I've already started adjusting it, so I can't just revert it to its original state."
Amukelo, trying to hide his disappointment, peered over the tailor's work and asked, "There's still about an hour until the time. Do you think you will be able to finish it by then?"
The tailor, wiping his brow, assured him, "I will try my best."
Seeing the dilemma, Amukelo responded with understanding, "In that case, I will wait here; there's nothing else I need to do." He turned to Bral and Idin, who had been standing by supportively, "You've already done more than enough for me today. You don't have to wait with me. Don't waste your time sitting here."
Bral chuckled softly, shaking his head, "What are you talking about? We will wait with you."
"Who knows, maybe we can help somehow," Idin added.
Amukelo expressed his gratitude warmly, "Guys... thank you." They responded with friendly back claps and encouraging smiles.
The trio settled into a corner of the shop, observing as the old tailor meticulously worked, occasionally muttering to himself as he tried different approaches to the sleeves. The tension of hoping the outfit would be ready on time mixed with the warm solidarity of friends sticking together through even the minor trials of preparing for a date.
As more time passed Idin, having gotten up from his seat, offered his assistance with a keen eye, much to the surprise of everyone in the shop. He suggested a few alterations to the tailor, who initially dismissed the ideas but was soon taken aback by a particular suggestion that Idin made. "It's a great idea," the shopkeeper exclaimed after a moment of consideration, "not exactly as you said, but it sparked a better approach in my mind." Carefully, he began to cut and adjust the fabric, ensuring each movement was precise, knowing well the cost of a mistake under time pressure.
As Idin returned to his seat, Amukelo couldn't help but express his surprise, "I didn't know you had such knowledge about tailoring." Bral chimed in, equally astonished, "Why have you never mentioned this before?" Idin simply smiled and shrugged, "I never thought it was relevant. I picked it up from my older sister; she loved sewing when I was younger."
Their conversation lightened the mood, and soon the tailor announced with a relieved smile, "It's done. You can try it on now, young man." Amukelo quickly changed into the newly tailored outfit and stepped out for his friends to see. Bral and Idin were immediately impressed, "You look even better than before," Bral exclaimed. Idin added, nodding appreciatively, "It really highlights your figure now. You look amazing."
"Thanks, guys," Amukelo responded, his voice carrying a mix of excitement and nervousness. He approached the counter to settle the payment, and upon hearing the cost, he couldn't hide his surprise, "Only this much for such work?" The tailor, handing over the clothes with a modest nod, explained, "Consider it also an apology for the earlier inconvenience."
Forgetting about the time, Amukelo started to remove his outfit, planning to change back into his usual clothes for a quick return to their room. However, Bral quickly intervened, "I don't think you have time for that. I'll take your clothes back; you should head straight to her. She might have been waiting for a while now, and knowing Pao, she was probably early."
Grateful for the push, Amukelo nodded, feeling a rush of adrenaline mixed with a tinge of anxiety. He gave his friends a quick thanks and hurried out of the shop, now fully dressed in his elegant new attire, ready for what the evening had in store. The laughter and supportive shouts of Bral and Idin echoed behind him as he stepped into the twilight of the approaching evening, his heart beating faster with each step toward his first date.