Let Me Stay The Night

Night had fallen by the time Vito returned from the village chief’s house.

Standing at the door, Miriam pulled him into the woods outside the courtyard.

“How did it go at the village chief’s house?” she asked after making sure Christina wouldn’t be able to hear them.

Vito recounted everything truthfully. The village chief’s roof was severely damaged, but with everyone’s help, all the broken pieces had been cleared out. What remained was for the village chief to patch his roof with some new tiles.

Yet, Miriam didn’t care about that. Thinking about how Christina had asked about the village chief’s phone today, she fell silent for a moment before asking. “What happened to his phone?”

“It’s broken,” Vito answered.

A smile formed on Miriam’s face. Everything was going exactly as she had planned. “Let’s go. It’s time for dinner.”

While seated, Christina noticed the two return together.

“Vito,” she called out to him softly.

Hearing the woman call his name, Vito scratched the back of his head awkwardly, not knowing where to look.

Having interacted with him for the past few days, Christina was no longer surprised by his demeanor. Miriam, on the other hand, gave him a light slap on the head in frustration.

Then, Vito swiftly began scooping out the food from the pot.

“You must be starving.” Miriam served Christina’s portion of food on a plate.

The latter smiled and shook her head. “Not at all. I haven’t done a lot today, so I didn’t use much en she replied while pushing the plate toward Vito instead.

“You must be hungry, Vito. You were busy helping out at the village chief’s place all day.”

note of Christina’s kind gesture, feeling more

that, the three of them sat at the round table and ate harmoniously while enjoying

for a walk,” said Christina after dinner.

didn’t say no, but he glanced at Christina’s leg out of

she had to discuss with him in private. “It’ll be fine. We won’t be so far out.” Miriam would grow suspicious if they were to wander off too much. Miriam just so happened to hear Christina’s response and agreed that

only accompany Christina on her walk outside the courtyard.

a cane. Meanwhile, Vito stayed

nothing to each other and arrived at a slope before realizing it.

and sky full of stars

a large boulder and sat on it. Then, seeing Vito remain standing,

unease written in his eyes, Vito pursed his

his first time talking to a girl alone. He simply didn’t know what to do.

here. I’ve never seen a night sky as lovely as this,” she

a few exchanges, the atmosphere between them eased slowly, and

miss home. I don’t even know how my family is

her pained expression made Vito feel upset too. “Give me a few days to fix the boat, and I’ll take

that, Christina concluded that Miriam and Vito weren’t lying about

didn’t want to

other boat we can take?” Christina glanced

there weren’t many motorboats on the island; most boats here could only be rowed with paddles.

was no way she could

fishing boat had been left behind by his father, and the young man was usually in charge of selling the

and that was why Christina remained stuck on this island

He bit his lower lip and kept mum