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。531Please respect copyright.PENANALgQBYLqGcM
531Please respect copyright.PENANAvL1zsnsBDR
「一起吃雪糕!」饞嘴的祈祈拉著光仔的衣袖,指向便利店。531Please respect copyright.PENANAthNoyobvKs
531Please respect copyright.PENANAQM44PGKqrE
「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?531Please respect copyright.PENANAt3UCgsyyI5
531Please respect copyright.PENANAK3EcS2pM1X
「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?」531Please respect copyright.PENANAdhOFhx9Qym
531Please respect copyright.PENANAhSYE3n9wht
「朱古力……」光仔未能整理好思緒,神色茫然。531Please respect copyright.PENANAJqLJNsIaEm
531Please respect copyright.PENANANqzDztdlw7
「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。」531Please respect copyright.PENANApLSKER08sH
531Please respect copyright.PENANA04HKNFO3Vz
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!」531Please respect copyright.PENANA8HbMi9D4vb
531Please respect copyright.PENANA15dRM3rgkX
「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。」531Please respect copyright.PENANAqYFYKaOzgP
531Please respect copyright.PENANAODvnu7eSNm
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。」531Please respect copyright.PENANAyRfILJnrIG
531Please respect copyright.PENANA3eWD4K4apD
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。531Please respect copyright.PENANAtZNCB3Yaxz
531Please respect copyright.PENANAiktnCjHgoM
多想無益,今夜就會有個定案。他這樣安慰自己。531Please respect copyright.PENANAcxLw6nR7CD
531Please respect copyright.PENANAbL58GxGsnt
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。531Please respect copyright.PENANAXKWeVJVAzo
531Please respect copyright.PENANAhQfIG0b7hq
「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?」531Please respect copyright.PENANAY3vPcTbu6U
531Please respect copyright.PENANAXOnG2qrpEA
「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。531Please respect copyright.PENANANVZEuIiDQI
531Please respect copyright.PENANAYIM9mRRlRb
「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。」531Please respect copyright.PENANAXaKVVxuFNI
531Please respect copyright.PENANAIiIQc9OUVC
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。531Please respect copyright.PENANAXboH2yI3aI
531Please respect copyright.PENANAMUNO5JLkAy
「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。531Please respect copyright.PENANA7V1QcCNczV
531Please respect copyright.PENANADPagWEyx0b
「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。531Please respect copyright.PENANAbGsGTqZj3S
531Please respect copyright.PENANAjeguY3Jc6z
「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。」531Please respect copyright.PENANAonYfwjBt4Q
531Please respect copyright.PENANA5PJL0yj4mC
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?531Please respect copyright.PENANAA4iuhgJ222
531Please respect copyright.PENANAIPdEqSKbCu
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。531Please respect copyright.PENANAz5IDGkomW1
531Please respect copyright.PENANAQvGzd7VN4m
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……531Please respect copyright.PENANAJIpYNFzWCX
531Please respect copyright.PENANAfZnCxKWna6
「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。531Please respect copyright.PENANAflFEPUnN1I
531Please respect copyright.PENANAaKPyK4a3ov
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?」