Welcoming Gift

Their study session ended for the time being when Martha stretched back that she's tired when something popped into her mind. She took her bag and her hand slid in. Vincoln was still studying that he didn't pay much attention to her actions while Victor frowned when he looked at the box she was holding. His brain lighten up the instant she took the box out of her bag. He then covered his face with his palm and moved his body closer to the table as if he was sneaking when he begun to whisper which made Vincoln to snap too.

'Little Grape, that'll make noise. Don't eat it now. Else, you'll disturb all here.' His eyes wandered around to include all in the library to his words when his eyes stopped at certain spot. He narrowed his eyes to make sure what he saw that he backed off immediately and looked at Martha as he synchronised his lips shaking his head either ways slowly.

'NO WAY. NOT HERE.'

/CRUNCH/(Sound)

Martha didn't get what he meant that she took a chip from the box and begun to eat them. The library was too quiet for a pin to fall which was now noisy with her chips 'crunches' that everyone begun to look at their table in a weird way. Vincoln who was watching whole time grabbed the box in her hands and looked at Vincoln.

"Good Vinny. Don't give her till we get out." a sigh left him when he rested his back on his chair board as he took a deep breathe.

/CRUNCH/(Sound)

Victor's eyes widened as he looked at his brother just to find his hand searching for more chips as he looked at Victor with his puppy eyes when Vincoln suddenly stood and begun to speak.

"Let's call it a day. /CRUNCH/" He said out loud when.

"Silence." The one at the counter or whatever tapped the board which has the word 'Silence' on it hard that it made noise even more than they did.

"Sorry ma'am we're leaving now." Tessa stood and turned to Martha.

"Food is your life huh!! Well let's get going. You'll faint if you stay here for another while." She packed her books as she glanced at Victorand smiled. He got what she meant and he smiled too.

...

"Aunt Bethany is really good at cooking these, Vinny!! I eally...lob....them.." Martha begun to stuff her mouth as they walked on the road. Victor and Vincoln were holding their cycles while Tessa's home was walkable distance to the library.

"Let me have a bite." Tessa extended her hand to take a chip from the box but Martha backed off the box in her hand making sure that Tessa wouldn't reach the box at any way.

"Eh!!! Aunty gave it for me!! How can I share this?? Aunty will be disappointed if she knew I wasn't the one finished this." She pouted at Tessa who left her hand in the air as if she was a statue. Her face left blank when she slowly backed off her hand when

"Mom said 'Take these snacks and eat them when you feel tired there'. That's applied for all here, you know." Victor uttered as he tilted his head to look at her pouted face as he halted for a moment for her to move forward and when she reached him he grabbed a chip and crunched it leaving Martha with a big 'Ah' on her face.

"Mmmm... As expected!! My mom's the best!!" Victor was enjoying his snack ignoring the 'Ah' girl beside him as he averted his gaze on purpose trying not to look at her face.

"Ehhhhhhh!!!! that's unfair!! She didn't mention to share!!! Vinny!!!!" Martha looked back as she faced Vincoln that her face bulged. Looking at her bumpy red face Vincoln couldn't help but smile as he moved closer.

"Mom gave those, right? I'll ask her to give you more when we reach home." Vincoln patted Martha's head as if she was a little kid as he smiled. His smile is as soft as fluffy bear that was enough for Martha to melt.

"Haaaaaa...I know you aren't like that dumbass. You're so cool, Vincoln." She then moved close to him held his hand and squeezed it with her hands as she buried her face in his limb making him chuckle.

"Haha, That tickles!!" Vincoln covered his lower face with the back of his left palm as she was stung onto his right limb. While he was smiling wide something popped in his head as he begun to give his voice.

"Vicky, dad said he needs to buy a welcoming gift for his colleague. He asked for our help. I guess he's not good at selection. What would be better to give for a aged person??" Vincoln begun ignoring the girl stung onto him and he looked at Victor as he waited for his response when the girl beside widened her eyes.

'Welcoming Gift!!! How could I forget that!! I didn't even give it to him. After these many days!!!'

She was thinking about the gift she bought for Vincoln as she backed off from his hand and begun to walk faster. Victor didn't look at her too since he was discussing the talk with his brother when Tessa followed Martha as soon as she could while the boys left in their discussion.

"What happened, Martha?? You seem in rush. Anything wrong??" Tessa was panting as she tried to reach Martha who was running in her walk.

"It had been a week, Tessa. I didn't even remember that" Martha facepalmed as she walked even faster that running was only the dew.

"What are you talking about?? Remember what??" Tessa tried to get her words but without Martha's clarity she couldn't that she moved her hand to land on her shoulder but halted as she heard Martha.

"A week ago, I bought a welcoming gift for Vinny. Ahh How dummy I am!! I've forgotten that I should give him the gift." Martha said as she panted making Tessa to stop while the boys caught her sight and Victor frowned his brows. He then stepped forward and reached the halted girl when he begun to speak.

"Tessa what's wrong??" He was curious about what made Martha to be rushed.

"She forgotten to give it to Vincoln." Her voice didn't explained anything about her mind that Victor didn't avert his thought on Martha.

"Huh?? Forgotten what??" His voice was calm and gentle but that calmness faded when he heard her words further.

"It's the welcoming gift."