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.”

Christina’s kind gesture,

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

a walk,” said Christina after dinner.

Christina’s leg out of

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 the two needed to spend some time alone. “Take Christina out for a walk, Vito.

his mother prompting him, too, Vito could only accompany Christina on

only proceed slowly with the help of a cane. Meanwhile, Vito stayed by

nothing to each other and

could admire the vast sea and sky full of stars from there.

large boulder and sat on it. Then, seeing Vito remain standing, she invited him over. “Don’t just stand

unease written in his eyes, Vito pursed his

a girl alone. He simply didn’t know what

so pretty out here. I’ve never seen a night sky as

a few exchanges, the atmosphere between them eased slowly, and Vito was no longer as tense as

lowered her gaze. “I miss home. I don’t even

upset too. “Give me a few

Miriam and Vito weren’t

didn’t want to wait

we can

knew from the start that there weren’t many motorboats on the island; most

was no way she could get home using the

behind by his father, and the young man was usually in charge

had malfunctioned, and that was why Christina remained

eyes, Vito didn’t know what to say. He bit his lower lip and