放學後,心緒不寧的光仔與祈祈拖手逛街。陽光熾熱,路人熙攘,車水馬龍。如此喧鬧的環境,無礙光仔沉浸煩惱當中。他有如一個扯線木偶,無意識地隨著祈祈的拖曳往左往右走,絲毫感受不了愛情的愉悅。572Please respect copyright.PENANAlJfJXY1t74
572Please respect copyright.PENANA2zC7xFWrl1
「一起吃雪糕!」饞嘴的祈祈拉著光仔的衣袖,指向便利店。572Please respect copyright.PENANAuvvCZyyypH
572Please respect copyright.PENANAHyYl3ssdRU
「不如去XX雪糕店買吧!」光仔稍稍回神,察覺異樣。祈祈不是只愛某牌子的貴價雪糕嗎?何時開始對便利店的廉價雪糕杯有興趣?572Please respect copyright.PENANAymjwP0mVXD
572Please respect copyright.PENANA4DI86re929
「買這些不也一樣嗎?」祈祈一臉興奮地掃視價錢牌,發現某牌子正在做優惠。她兩眼放光,興高采烈地要光仔一起挑選:「買一送一呢!我要芋頭味,你呢?」572Please respect copyright.PENANABtzNYAufVP
572Please respect copyright.PENANADcOfp5oCEz
「朱古力……」光仔未能整理好思緒,神色茫然。572Please respect copyright.PENANAxeooPCiXNT
572Please respect copyright.PENANAVPB0a7weoZ
「身體不適嗎?」祈祈連忙放下手裡的芋頭雪糕杯,摸摸光仔的額頭探溫。「不要吃雪糕了。去那邊找找有沒有常溫清水。」572Please respect copyright.PENANArggUKUqNQC
572Please respect copyright.PENANAiPYsn5fBgN
二人拿著一樽淡而無味的礦泉水步出便利店。祈祈施盡九牛二虎之力扭開樽蓋,使勁得手指頭發白。樽蓋打開以後,手指上的紅印仍未消散。她關切地遞上水樽予光仔,希望他喝水後會感到舒服一點。她環視四周,發現不遠處有連鎖快餐店。「不如到那邊稍息一會吧!」572Please respect copyright.PENANAxMaDOZ13FO
572Please respect copyright.PENANAD7IRq0sBl6
「不用了。」光仔拉住正要開步前行的祈祈,一手施力,將她擁入懷中,享受了半刻溫存。「回家吧。我送你。」572Please respect copyright.PENANAeqTSlYqgKL
572Please respect copyright.PENANAXUmu8zP8wC
祈祈仔細打量光仔,見他面青唇白,才不捨地點頭答應:「日後再約。你今天要好好休息!」不知何解,狂烈的不安湧上心頭。向來含蓄的她竟忍不住吻上去,懶理路人的側目。她揮揮手,卻沒有說再見。「我知道車站位置,自己走過去就可以了。」572Please respect copyright.PENANAi9I4vwx4sp
572Please respect copyright.PENANAexPJJplYQE
光仔亦沒有向她道別,呆若木雞,愣在原地,目送她的背影消失。572Please respect copyright.PENANA7P4nWhSITq
572Please respect copyright.PENANANUhALl3fW9
多想無益,今夜就會有個定案。他這樣安慰自己。572Please respect copyright.PENANA3mGgpBc6Ve
572Please respect copyright.PENANACYMn95c58y
回家,洗澡,換上乾淨醒目的衣服,再次出門,去到祈祈父親指定的餐廳。很有氣派的一所意大利餐廳,食物價錢不菲,看得光仔冷汗直冒:不是說便飯一頓嗎?他不是沒有帶備足夠金錢,只怕這種價錢的便飯難以消受。572Please respect copyright.PENANACLQPDf8p7O
572Please respect copyright.PENANAj5E0omxEA3
「光仔!」祈祈父親甫進入餐廳就看見坐在一隅的光仔,向他親切地打招呼:「等了很久嗎?」572Please respect copyright.PENANAYC1gSIywSc
572Please respect copyright.PENANArdXXo5WFXZ
「沒,我也是剛剛到來而已。」光仔緊張兮兮地從餐椅上霍地站起,細心地為祈祈父親拉開餐椅,並將他手上濕淋淋的雨傘勾在餐桌邊。572Please respect copyright.PENANAR948VmFb2g
572Please respect copyright.PENANAn0IQRUOLxo
「謝謝。」祈祈父親盡量釋出善意,緩和氣紛。「先點菜吧!我們可以邊吃邊聊天。」572Please respect copyright.PENANAtYtXeVFnkh
572Please respect copyright.PENANAJBpXV2tNoz
二人主要談論祈祈在家在校的情緒和行為,看看有沒有大問題,偶爾提及光仔的家庭背景和對未來的願景。相處下來,縱使在心底裡仍不贊成光仔跟祈祈走在一起,但祈祈父親認為光仔並非如他和妻子所想的壞:光仔只是一個對前途感到迷惘的少年而已。572Please respect copyright.PENANAg9oEZz7lH1
572Please respect copyright.PENANAU0T00Cb12o
「我希望祈祈到外地留學。」祈祈父親突然切入正題,試探光仔的反應。572Please respect copyright.PENANA2ICKlZPKbn
572Please respect copyright.PENANAbU2u07fe82
「祈祈對身邊人甚為倚賴,未必願意離開。」光仔一矢中的,直達問題核心。572Please respect copyright.PENANAJtk3kKIpRT
572Please respect copyright.PENANAVbf5op2Zz1
「你會幫忙說服她,是嗎?」祈祈父親沒有給光仔回應的機會,逕自說下去:「任誰都知道這是對祈祈前途最好的決定。」572Please respect copyright.PENANAy6kFfBOd0k
572Please respect copyright.PENANAT1kFplhSAC
這一句話不就意味著任何反對提議的人都是不為祈祈設想嗎?572Please respect copyright.PENANAByuE5xnBmn
572Please respect copyright.PENANAykoJHrFrY5
光仔感受到話語間隱藏的脅迫,霎時間反應不來,手裡的刀叉也就在半空中凝住,忘記盤中肉扒的溫度正在消散。572Please respect copyright.PENANA1X9rloCpjj
572Please respect copyright.PENANA17hPWcfn5j
為何會如此驚恐?因為祈祈父親的笑裡藏刀?不!是因為自己沒資格代祈祈提出反對:若然選擇錯誤,他賠償不了一個美好將來予她。事實上,遑論對祈祈負責任,他連自己和家人亦未必照顧得來……572Please respect copyright.PENANAlNwgZn3atB
572Please respect copyright.PENANA3Pj0e4JEdn
「你明白就好了。」見光仔默不作聲,祈祈父親一邊暗自高興,一邊感到抱歉。572Please respect copyright.PENANAW5w0QZrLKt
572Please respect copyright.PENANAQVJF0jFZzg
一個纖纖身影在二人不為意時急步趨近,迅速拿起餐枱上的水杯,毫不猶豫地將光仔潑得渾身濕透。「你不是真的認同吧?」