After about an hour's drive, the car carrying Kirana and Stephan pulled up to the Manalo home. Kirana got out and rang the doorbell. Her mother opened the door, her expression one of pleasant surprise. "Oh, you two are back together!" she exclaimed, delighted to see them arrive at the same time. 😯
Kirana and Stephan went inside and settled into the living room. Mr. Manalo was there, sitting in an armchair with a newspaper. He looked up and spoke first.
"Ah, you're back! Kirana, I thought you'd be late today. I read in the paper there's a bus service reduction. I was going to call you in a bit if you were later," he said, a note of paternal concern in his voice. 😐
"Oh, I didn't know about that," Kirana replied.
"So you came with Stephan, then?" her father inquired. 😑
"Yes, Uncle," Stephan chimed in before Kirana could answer. "She came with me. I was coming back from the mall with some shopping when I saw her waiting by the road. Since we were both heading here, I insisted she join me."
"Oh, that's good then, dear," Mr. Manalo said, turning to Kirana. "Otherwise, you might have been stuck waiting until dark for a bus. Thank you, son, for bringing her home." 🗣
"It was nothing, Uncle," Stephan said with a casual wave of his hand.
Just then, Mrs. Manalo brought them some refreshments, a welcome respite for the two after their journey. Shortly after, Mr. Manalo excused himself, following his wife into the kitchen to help with dinner preparations, leaving Kirana and Stephan alone in the living room for a moment. 🍸
Once her father was gone, Stephan turned to Kirana with a playful, triumphant look. "See? If I hadn't come along, you'd still be at that bus stop," he said, his tone teasing.
"Hmm," Kirana murmured, glancing at him from the corner of her eye and giving a slight, acknowledging nod. A small, involuntary smile touched her lips before she looked away, the simple act breaking the last of the formal stiffness between guest and host. 🙄