Over the Mountain

CHAPTER 3: FRIENDS

CHAPTER 3: FRIENDS

I can’t help but get curious about why grandma is so close to him that she even invited him to breakfast. Grandpa also supports grandma in inviting him while my parents didn’t complain at all. They warmly welcomed him inside and now, he is helping them in grilling the fresh fish that dad and grandpa fished earlier. It seems like I am not existing because they are all busy doing their own stuff. Dad, grandpa, and that boy is grilling the fish while mom and grandma are cooking something. And here I am, just watching them.

Up until now, I still don’t what his name is. I forgot to ask him earlier and when grandma saw her, she instantly stole him. They are talking about random things that I can’t understand. I want to go near them but if I did that, I can’t stare at him freely.

I’ve seen a lot of boys at our school. Those who are my age, younger than me, and older than me. But this boy is way different. He is too manly that I can’t help but to think that maybe he is as old as a dad? No, that’s too much. Or maybe he is times two my age? Impossible also. I wince at my own thoughts. I hate that I keep on getting curious about him. I want to know his name and I will get in anyways than one.

I was about to take the step and went to them when our gate bell rings two times. Grandma who turns her head towards the front yard because we are in the back yard spots me. She tilted her head and pointed the gate with her lips. I frown at her and shake my head, but she raises the ladle that she is holding as she raises her left brow too. She will s***k me using the ladle if I won’t follow her. So, instead of arguing more with my witch grandma, I just stomp my feet as I walk towards the gate. My face was ready to hit on whoever is in behind the gate, but my mad face vanishes when a couple welcomes me.

The couple both smile at me and my eyeball almost pop out of its pocket when I recognize the resemblance between the man in front of me and the boy I am with earlier. I purse my lips and straighten my back. I smiled at them but immediately regretted it when they both chuckles. I am sure my face looks terribly ugly.

“Uh, may I know how I can help you?” I politely ask. Well, I still tried to be polite. “Are you beggars? I’m sorry but I don’t have money to give—”

“Brat,” a murmur lingers over my ear that cuts me. “They are my parents,” he said and opens the gate widely. “She’s still young and from the city, so,” he then shrugged.

“It’s alright. She’s lovely,” the woman said that made me blush. “Look, she’s blushing. How girly,”

The boy beside me chuckles. “Will you let them in or not?” he asks me.

“Do I have any other choice?” I retorted snobbishly that making his parents laugh.

I let them in and politely apologizes for what I have said to them being beggars. I didn’t mean to but it’s common in the city, so I just thought that they are also beggars. They accepted my apology and went inside, straight to back yard where my family is. I watch them walk into our yard before returning to close the gate my face bump into something hard. When I step back to see what it is, it was his back.

I scratch my nose and peek in front. He is already closing the gate, so I just turn my back and start walking, leaving him there. Instead of walking to the backyard, I went inside the house to change my clothes. Since I sweat earlier because I walk back in forth from our village to the mountain’s starting point, I decided to take a short shower. I pick the on-sleeve flower flowy dress below the knee and put some pink ribbon on my hair. When I opened my door to go down, I just realized what I did.

Why did I put on my pink ribbon? I was to go back to my room to put back the ribbon when mom saw me.

“Oh, pretty little girl!” she giggles. Her giggles have always been a source of my smile. “Come down darling, the food is ready.”

“Is my look appropriate here, Mom? I mean, this look is normal in the city, but we are not in the city anymore. Do I have to change my looks?”

“No, darling. Wear whatever you want. You know what, the neighbors here are very nice. I’ve been here a lot of times and we live here for a short period of time before you came. They are nice here. So just wear whatever because they won’t judge you here.”

“Hmm, okay. I’ll take note of that, Mom.”

Mom ask for my help, so I followed her to the kitchen. She prepared around ten plates and some bowls, spoons, and forks. She carries the plate and glass while I carry the bowls and the utensils. We walk side by side and when we reach the arc leading to the backyard, the wind suddenly blows. Blowing the hem of my dress and my long soft hair. Since my hair flew on my face, it blocks my eyesight. I almost stumble to my step but a gentle hand catches me on my elbow, helping me to stay input.

Using my free arm, I tried to wipe off the hair on my face, but I failed. Then someone did that for me. A fingertip touches my forehead skin and cheeks as that someone wipes off the strand of my hair. When my view is finally clear, I immediately look to someone who helps me. I was surprised when I saw him standing close to me. I have not yet recovered from the surprising shock when he moves to get the bowls and utensils from hand. He then starts to walk towards the stone table.

I cannot really understand the clingy feeling I am feeling whenever he's close to me. I get irritated because I don’t what it is. I want to ask mom or dad but the urge inside me not to ask is so strong. Am I bewitched when we arrive here?

“What else are you doing there, little mochi?” my grandma asks.

I pouted. “I’m not little, grandma monkey.”

Everyone laughs after I answered. “She’s like that. So, just understand her.”

“Mom, dad, grandpa? Won’t you defend me against grandma? She’s being mean to me again.”

“Aish. Stop it, drama queen just goes here so we can already start our breakfast,” grandpa said.

“The time for breakfast has already passed, grandpa,”

“They just come here so we can start our late breakfast, you little mochi,” he answered.

“Aish, I hate you all,” I retorted before walking towards them.

The foods on the table were not chocolate or marshmallow but I almost drool because it was all looks tasty. The fish was perfectly grilled, not burn and the other food smells perfectly also. Since it’s been a long time since I tastes grilled fish, I immediately pick a small fish skin with my bare fingers and eat it straightly.

The grilled fish’s juice tastes delectable that I repeated what I did. But before my fingers could even land on the fish, the ladle already hit me. Not too strong, but it still hurts. Just a little. The first longest pout I made here now is because of my beloved grandma. She hit me with the ladle. When I look at her side, she widens her eyes and signaled me to sit down first. So, I instantly followed her without looking where I am sitting. Well, I am just sitting beside the boy who’s until now been a stranger to me.

“The fish is already dirty,” grandma stated that earning laughter from everyone, except me.

“Your little girl is right. You are so mean to her,” the boy’s mother said. “I think she likes the fish that much. Let her eat it all,”

“All? As in all? Even the fish bones?” I innocently ask.

“Can you eat the fish bones?” the boy asks.

“No,”

“Then don’t eat it,” he casually said.

I rolled my eyes at him only to be caught by her mom. I purse my lips and apologetically look at her which made her chuckle. We finally start eating and mom immediately serves me food while grandma is talking to the visitors. She mentioned a name and said that she hopes next time, they will be able to join us. The eldest talks about things while I and the boy remains silent. I am focused on my food, especially on removing the fishbone. Because I am busy removing the fishbone, I hardly eat my other food. My shoulder fell and just push aside the grilled fish and starts eating the other food not until someone got my fish and replace it with a boneless fish.

I glance over the others, but they are all busy with each other. I innocently peek at the boy beside me, but he is already busy eating his food and removing the fish bones without any sweat. I want to thank him, but shyness takes over me. I just bowed my head and continue eating.

“Hey,” I call out to him as I sit on the other swing next to him. “Uhm, thank you for earlier,” I bravely said.

He glances over me and nods. “Pleasure,” he shortly answered, and we both fell in silence.

We remain silent and both appreciate the view of the mountain. I am full that I just want to sleep but I must digest it first. The sun is already in the center, fighting the cold breeze of the wind. The eldest remains on the table, talking about adult stuff. The silence between feels very comfortable that for the first time, I like the silence. Usually, I won’t let silence fall into me every time I’m with someone, but now, the silence we have is so comfortable. I like it. But when something hit me, I immediately open my mouth.

“I still don’t know your name,” I stated which made him look in my direction. “What’s your name?” I urge.

He returns his gaze on the mountain, so my shoulder fell, thinking that he won’t answer me. But I was surprised when he clears his throat to speak without looking at me.

“Call me Leo, Sierra,” he answers, mentioning my name which makes my eyes widen.

“You know my name…” I exclaimed and that’s the time he smiles genuinely.