Chapter 8: Santino's Promise

"Really?" Santino could not help himself. His palm lingered on Aliana's rounded backside, giving it a slow squeeze. "I truly know I was wrong." Aliana stiffened a little, as if something had nudged her through their clothes.  "Huh… what's pressing against me?" Puzzled, she reached for Santino's crotch. Her delicate hand closed around the shape in his pants, and she squeezed, once, then twice. Santino's mind blanked. A rush of heat shot through him. He felt his lower part straining hard against the fabric, ready to burst the seams. The more Aliana felt, the more obvious it became what she was touching. She glanced up, took in Santino's expression, and her cheeks flushed a deep red. She understood perfectly well what this was. In a whisper, she said, "Santino, could you put me down?" Santino fought the urge to pin her down and rasped, "Aliana, could you let go of me first? With you squeezing like that, I can hardly breathe." "Ahh! I'm so sorry, Santino. I didn't mean to." Flustered and burning, she yanked her hand back from his lap. The sight of her bashful face undid him. Santino leaned in and kissed her. "Mmm… Santino… you…" Before long, Aliana melted into the kiss. A sound slipped from her mouth. "Santino, I like you so much. Take me." At those words, Santino's restraint snapped. His right hand slid beneath her blouse. Through her bra, he kneaded her breasts. For someone so young, Aliana was astonishingly well developed. She nearly rivaled Clarissa. Her soft breasts filled his palm, fueling his hunger. His touch was patient at first, then turned greedy, until Aliana's breath came in quick, ragged pulls. "Aliana, where are my shoes?" Just as Santino reached to unbutton her pants, Pablo's voice came from the inner room. The two of them jolted apart. Aliana scrambled off him, heart pounding. "Oh, wait a second, Grandpa. I'm coming," she called. She smoothed her blouse, which Santino had thoroughly rumpled, shot him a glare, and hurried into the inner room to fetch the shoes. A little later, after Santino finished his meal, he stepped into Pablo's room to remind him not to overwork himself for the next few days. Then he said his goodbyes. Aliana saw him off at the village entrance.  She held his hand, reluctant to let him go, and asked, "Santino, will you miss me?" He ruffled her hair and met her eyes. "Of course I will. Don't you go off to college and forget me." At the mention of college, her expression fell. "Santino, I don't want to go to college anymore." "Why?" His brows drew together. "You saw my situation at home. College costs money. I still have to take care of my grandpa. I want to go out and work." Her eyes welled up with tears as she spoke. Santino wiped away her tears with his thumb and softened his voice. "Silly girl, you've got me. I'll figure something out." "Where would you even get the money? Maybe I wasn't meant to go to college." Aliana suddenly clung to him and began to cry. "Santino, I want to go to college so badly, but I don't have the money." Her tears came like rain. It pained Santino to see her like that. He gently patted her back. "Aliana, don't forget I know medicine. I'll treat patients and earn enough to cover your tuition." He wiped the tears from her cheeks. "How much do you need?" "For one semester, tuition is about $500. With food and housing, it adds up to 1,000." Santino ruffled Aliana's hair and said with confidence, "How many days are left until you start school? I'll get you the money." Aliana took in his confidence and smiled. "I start in about a month." "Just wait. I'll collect the money." He hugged her tighter as she sobbed against his chest. "Thank you, Santino." She closed her eyes and tilted her face up, lips parted, offering herself with unguarded trust. Santino, goaded by her sweetness, kissed her hard. After a long while, they broke apart. Blushing to the tips of her ears, Aliana shoved him lightly and scolded, "I couldn't even breathe!" He chuckled, stole another few kisses, then finally left under her lingering gaze. By the time he returned to the village, dusk had settled. He hurried home and found Clementine busy in the kitchen. He realized he had been gone all day. She had probably been worried. When he stepped in, Clementine flicked him a glance, then turned back to the stove as if he were invisible, the ladle moving steady and sure. Santino gave a sheepish grin. "Hey, Clementine, what's for dinner?" Clementine shot him a look. "Oh, so you do remember you have a sister-in-law. How come you're back so early?" Santino caught the edge in her tone and tried a playful smile. "I missed you, that's all." He moved quickly to help with the cooking. A faint flush rose on Clementine's cheeks. "Smooth talker," she said, laughing as she scolded him. "Out with it. What did you do all day?" Seeing that her temper had mostly cooled, Santino told her how he had run into Aliana. When Clementine heard that Aliana might give up college because of her grandfather, her eyes went misty. "Santino, you have to help her. That poor child." Her voice was firm. "I will," he promised, without a second's hesitation. "Good. Now leave. The kitchen is no place for you to loiter." With that, Clementine shooed him out. With nothing to do, Santino decided to prepare the medicine he owed Clarissa.  He took the Astragalus he had harvested in the mountains, fetched a few other herbs from his room, and brought out the old herb pot his parents had used. He tipped everything in at once. After a few minutes, an unusual but enticing aroma drifted from the pot. He guided a thin thread of his inner energy into it, warming it slightly. Before long, the mixture was ready.