Confessions of a Cynic

N I N E T E E N

Craving for some seafood they decided to go outside the resort and found a seafood restaurant nearby. It almost look shabby to be called a high-class restaurant (according to Eros) but its white wash walls and blue window sills rather gave it a homey feeling of a nearby the sea house.

"Looks...neat." Eros commented which Psyche gave him a jab by the elbow. They all went together and was surprise to see the restaurant full.

"I heard it's one of the best here in this island." Wendy said, passing by the people who were enjoying their fishes and Greek seafood dishes.

"I know one restaurant which serves delicious delicacies." Psyche said, following Wendy behind. "We should really go there. I tried their Moussaka- way better than the restaurant in the resort."

"How would you know?" Eros asked her in a skeptic way.

"I got lost, remember? I reached that place and a man gave me a free dish."

"Maybe we should go there." Robert said, stretching his neck to look for some empty tables. When he finally found one by the corner which had a good view of the sea, they all had their seats and called for the waiter.

"What's your bestseller in here?" Eros asked while reading the menu.

"The Shrimp Saganaki..." the waiter began suggesting Eros. Psyche, who was beside him, was watching the view of the sea, leaning her head on the white-painted wooden railings.

"What about you? What do you like?" He asked her.

"I'll have anything." She replied, not moving an inch.

"We'll have the same." He told the waiter. "You okay?" He asked her,noticing she was acting a bit down.

"Yeah. I just feel...I don't know. I should go to the restroom for a while." She told him, standing up and left the table.

"What's wrong with Psyche?" Robert wondered.

A certain idea lit in Wendy's head that she slammed the table and pointed at Eros. "She's pregnant!"

"Congratulations!" Robert shake Eros' hand.

"No. Believe me, she's not." Eros gave out a nervous chuckle. "We-no. She's really not."

"Eros?" a man called out to him. Eros looked at him, puzzled but the man but when he remove his sunglasses, revealing his blue-grey eyes, he immediately recognized him.

"Rafael!" Eros greeted him, standing up with his arms wide open. The man gave Eros a bear hug.

"My, you've grown fine and well, boy." Rafael said, looking at Eros from head to toe and proudly. He was already in his late 40's with strands of silver hair in his head although he was still good-looking for his age. He was tall and built and his smile was friendly, showing some wrinkles around his eyes.

"You look well, too." Eros smiled. "These are Wendy Scott and Robert Ford. This is Rafael Beaumont." He pointed them out, as they shook hands with each other as they were being introduce. "Are you alone?" He asked.

"No. I'm with Patricia. We were just looking for some seats but seems like it's a full house." He told them.

"These seats are empty." Wendy offered which delighted Rafael. He immediately called the elegant blond woman by the far end of the room.

"So, are you taking a vacation, Eros? Finally getting off from work and lay back?" Rafael chuckled the moment they seated.

"Uh, yes." He replied and chuckled nervously. He looked at the direction to where the restroom was and looked again to Rafael, wearing a forced smile.