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, feeling more

the round table and ate

for a walk,” said Christina after dinner. “Could you come with me,

Christina’s leg out of concern.

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

only

and could only proceed slowly with the help of a cane. Meanwhile, Vito stayed by her side, ready to help

to each other and arrived at a slope

the vast sea and

seeing Vito remain standing, she invited him over. “Don’t just stand

Vito pursed

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

decided not to pressure him. “It’s so pretty out here. I’ve never seen a night sky as lovely as this,” she exclaimed, gazing

them eased slowly, and Vito was no longer as

lowered her gaze. “I miss home. I don’t even know how my family is doing now.”

made Vito feel upset too. “Give me a few days to fix the boat, and I’ll take you back.”

that, Christina concluded that Miriam and Vito

she didn’t want to wait any

can take?” Christina glanced up

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

she could get

fishing boat had been left behind by his father, and the young man was

Christina remained stuck on this island for

meeting the woman’s dazzling eyes, Vito didn’t know what to say. He bit his lower lip and kept mum as he remembered his mother’s instructions.