Italy, Autumn in September [English]

Chapter 4

Eritha woke up to the sound of a soft knock on the door. She opened it to find Amic standing on the other side, a warm smile on his face. "Good morning, Eritha! How are you feeling today?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.

Eritha returned the smile, feeling comfortable in his presence. "I'm fine, Amic," she replied.

Amic noticed Eritha's slightly tired expression. "I hope you're not overexerting yourself," he said, his brow furrowed with worry.

Suddenly Eritha's stomach lurched, interrupting the moment. She felt a tinge of embarrassment creep across her cheeks.

Amic chuckled softly. "Sounds like someone's hungry. How about we have breakfast together? I know a nice little café nearby," he suggested.

As they stepped into Caffè Sant'Eustachio, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and pastries filled the air. The cosy café was bustling with locals and tourists alike, the chatter and clinking of cups creating a lively atmosphere.

Amic led Eritha to a small table by the window, where they could watch the world go by. They ordered drinks and a selection of Italian delicacies.

After they finished eating, Amic gently broached the subject of Eritha's friend Forest. Eritha was reluctant to contact him at first, her disappointment and anger still fresh in her mind. But Amic's kind words and understanding nature finally convinced her.

Borrowing Amic's phone, Eritha dialled Forest's number. "Hello? Forest? It's me, Eritha," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Amic watched intently as Eritha relayed their location. When the call ended, Eritha returned the phone to Amic, her mind racing with a swirl of emotions.

Moments later, Forest and her boyfriend, Kei, arrived. Forest immediately apologised for the incident that had caused Eritha to get lost in the foreign country.

Eritha, with a face that showed obvious frustration, remained silent, her body language conveying the depth of her lingering disappointment and resentment.

Without a word, the trio expressed their gratitude to Amic and said their goodbyes. Eritha, Forest, and Kei then headed to the hotel where Eritha was staying, picking up their suitcases before heading to the hotel where Forest was staying.

As they walked, the silence between them was deafening. Eritha's mind was filled with the events that had happened, the anger and disappointment she felt still simmering beneath the surface. She couldn't help reliving those moments, the frustration of being lost in a foreign country, the worry and fear that gripped her.

Upon arriving, Kei said that he needed to carry out his responsibilities at the restaurant, leaving Forest and Eritha to resolve the unresolved tension between them.

Once inside, the two of them stood in an uncomfortable silence, the air filled with unspoken emotions.

Time seemed to pass very slowly as they both busied themselves with their respective mobile phones, the only sound in the room being the tapping of fingers on the screen. The tension was palpable, and the atmosphere was heavy with unspoken emotions.

As the clock struck midday, the silence remained unbroken. Eritha and Forest sat in the hotel room, neither making a move to suggest they eat lunch. Forest, distraught, tried several times to strike up a conversation, but his efforts fell on deaf ears.

Kei's knock on the door broke their silence, summoning them to his family's restaurant for lunch. Sighing heavily, Forest rose from her seat and gestured for Eritha to follow her.

They stepped out onto the busy street, the contrast between the outside world and the stifling silence of the hotel room striking. Eritha remained silent, her gaze fixed straight ahead, while Forest found herself engaged in conversation with Kei.

The journey to the restaurant was a blur, the three of them walking down the busy pavement in tense silence.

As they entered the cosy space of Kei's family-owned business, the familiar sights and smells could not ease the tension. Eritha and Forest found themselves seated at a table, the silence between them deafening.

Waiters hurried around them, taking orders and delivering plates full of hot food, but the two barely paid attention to the activity, their focus centred inward, wrestling with the emotions that threatened to overwhelm them.

Forest, desperate to break the silence, tried once again to engage Eritha in conversation, but her efforts were only met with a cold and indifferent response.

After they finished their meal in silence, Eritha, feeling increasingly uncomfortable, went to the hotel room alone, leaving Forest and Kei with their own plans.

As the afternoon passed, Forest returned to the hotel, but only briefly. She soon left again, leaving Eritha alone to grapple with the gravity of the situation. As the sun set below the horizon, bathing the room in a warm golden glow, Forest finally reappeared, suggesting that Eritha go out for dinner.

Eritha, eyes downcast, silently followed Forest, her mind racing with a thousand unspoken thoughts. The journey to the restaurant was a blur, the world around them fading into the background as they walked through the dimly lit streets.

Throughout dinner, Eritha kept her distance, her eyes avoiding her gaze as she chewed her food.

After they finished eating, Eritha and Forest returned to the hotel room. The atmosphere became tense as they prepared for bed, the unspoken tension still heavy between them. As they lay down, silence filled the room, each lost in their own thoughts.

Finally, sleep enveloped them both, their dreams filled with uncertainty and unresolved emotions.

***

To be continued...
Thanks for reading!

Thanks to Firsty R Ningtyas, my special friend for always supporting me.

And thanks to late Sela Anjany, I'm missing you.