Page 49 of Between Then and Now
Ryan reaches out and gently holds my hand. His touch sends a comforting jolt through my stomach, a mix of warmth and reassurance. “We can talk about all of it after they leave,” he says softly, his eyes meeting mine with a promise of understanding.
I don’t know what that means. I don’t know what there is to talk about. It’s clear that he’s doing all this caring for me because he somehow assumed responsibility for my well-being. But I know where his heart lies. And while I’ve always had no problems with saying how I feel, I also always have been a good friend. And good friends don’t tell their friends that they have inexplicable feelings for them. But I suppose we can talk about it once and for all. To clear all the tension and reconvene on where we stand.
Just then, my mom opens the door and catches sight of me and Ryan holding hands. Her eyes widen slightly, and before I can think, I pull my hand away, my cheeks flushing. “It’s not what it looks like,” I blurt out.
My mom raises an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on her lips. “Oh, really? Because it looks like you two are holding hands.”
“Okay, it is what it looks like, but it’s not what you think,” I say quickly, trying to salvage the situation.
My mom’s teasing smile doesn’t falter. “Alright, Bonita, if you say so.” She glances at Ryan, who is doing his best to look unbothered by the whole situation. Give it up for the master of the stoic expression, ladies and gentlemen.
Ryan clears his throat, trying to steer the conversation back to safer territory. “We were just finalizing the plans for today. I was thinking we could start with a tour of the local market and then maybe visit some of the scenic spots.” Suddenly, the tables have turned. Ryan is the one savingmefrom an awkward conversation. I don’t know if it’s because I taught him well or that he has rubbed off on me. Either way, this is not good for me.
My mom’s eyes light up at the mention of the market. “That sounds perfect! I’d love to see what local goods they have here.”
“Great,” I say, trying to match Ryan’s unexpected easy confidence–confidence that he stole from me because I am a giant mess over here. Did my social skills drown in the ocean? “The market is really vibrant and has a lot of unique items. I think you’ll both enjoy it.”
My dad suddenly pops his head out of the door and all four of us are cramped in the hallway. “Let’s go, then,” he says.
We step out into the bright morning sun, my parents chatting animatedly about their expectations for the day. Ryan walks beside me, and for a moment, I catch a glimpse of a little normalcy between us. It’s almost nostalgic.
“Ready?” Ryan asks, his voice soft but reassuring.
“Nope,” I sigh as I put on a bucket hat, trying to shield myself from both the sun and the overwhelming emotions swirling inside me.
“Atta girl,” he says with a chuckle, giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Ryan
Idon’t know when conversation has ever been easy for me, but I’m on a roll today. I accompany Bon and her parents to the market in town, bringing them in the “Edward Cullen Volvo,” as Bon calls it.
I’ve never seen her look so distressed before, though. It’s like she’s unleashing a new side of her that only shows when her parents are involved. She’s usually the life of every conversation but she somehow dials down in their presence. Well, I assume it’s because of her parents. But there’s also a chance it’s because of me. And there’s also a chance she’s still not fully recovered from the drowning accident. While I made sure that her vitals were stable and her body was fine, I don’t know how it affected her mentally.
I want so badly to reach out to her and hug all the anxiety out. I sigh, feeling a wave of helplessness. It’s frustrating to see her like this and not know how to make it better.
When we arrive at the market,TitaEvie—her mom—Immediately goes to the fruit stand. “Look at these,” she says, her curiosity piqued as she examines the odd-looking berries. “They’re so unique.” She holds one up in front of her and we can see that the berry is blue, but there’s also a green seed (I think) attached to it. “What is it?”TitaEvie asks the vendor, a small native woman clad in layers and a giant hat to protect herself from the scorching heat.
The vendor steps forward and says, “Those are Arius berries, quite special.”
“What makes them so special?” I ask, leaning in for a closer look.
The vendor nods enthusiastically. “Arius berries are native to this region and are known for their rich flavor and rare nutritional benefits. They have a sweet and tangy taste, and they’re packed with antioxidants. But the real magic is in their history.” She pauses for effect.
And it’s effective because Bon’s dad raises an eyebrow. “History? Do tell.”
The vendor clears her throat and begins. “Legend has it that the Arius berries were discovered centuries ago by a local healer. The berries were said to have extraordinary healing properties and were used to treat various ailments. Over time, they became a symbol of good health and prosperity for our people.”
We all nod incredulously. It’s always fun to learn about the culture of a new place. “Would you like to try some? I have a sample tray right here,” the vendor continues, handing us the tray.
We all agree and pop one in our mouths. She was right. It’s sweet, tangy, and refreshing in a unique way.
“Oh my gosh, this is so good,” Bon says, making a little noise as she bites into it. I don’t know if she noticed it, but I did. And the noise she made was both cute and undeniably alluring. I watch as she gets another berry and eats it, her strawberry-pink lips parting slightly and moving gracefully as she chews.
I have to force myself to look away, knowing that if I spend another second lost in her expression, I might do something impulsive—like kiss her. Or brush my fingers on her lips. And none of those options seem plausible, so I instead turn to the vendor and order a lot of these Arius berries which Bon apparently now labels as “the Superman of berries”. It’s nice to see her slowly returning to her usual, animated self.
We walk along the market, Bon still munching on the fruit. We pass by a stall full of colorful scarves and everyone stops in front of it.TitaEvie loops her arm around Bon and pulls her to the display while Bon’s dad walks to another store to buy some water.
