"You won't find the right one because you'll chase her away with your disgusting attitude." "Don't scare me." Marino chuckled. He suddenly jumped up. "Let's head downtown, your house feels so gloomy." He laughed but didn't protest, "Drinks on you." "Sure."*Domenico sat in a cafe two days after his and Marino's late night out. It was late in the evening but he wasn't ready to report back to his boss. That day was a mass failure, no contracts. He had a dreary feeling he would be fired. It would be so much better for him. He would go back to his home town and live with his family and perform whatever odd jobs he could. He looked down at his empty coffee cup. He was deceiving himself, he'd never be able to face the pity looks he would get. He'd go back to them alright but when he had made something of himself. The cafe door opened and a lady entered. He froze, his heart rate palpitating. The tall brunette looked too familiar, too famil... He sighed, relaxing when he saw her face. Ho
"Don't cry" He passed her a tissue, "It's my choice. Don't blame yourself." "Bro Nico, we'll send you food everyday! You have to be as fat as I am!" Mario said firmly in his little voice, his look stern, "you mustn't let mama cry." He smiled, patting his little nephew on the head. "Will you?" Andrea asked, now calm. "What?" He picked up his fork again, catching Marco's glare. "Will you let us send you foodstuffs every two weeks? Please, Nico. Let us feel like we're helping out." He sighed. "Ok... Plus my favourite homemade sausage." They laughed. Family was home.*Six days later, he watched her walk up to him in the same cafe. It seemed they had a thing for meeting in cafes. Luna. She was as always dressed simply but with an air of elegance. She looked more mature and very much more beautiful and she still had that air of innocence that surrounded her, that aura of goodness. Just as she made to sit opposite him, the church bells rang. She seemed disoriented for a second befo
He stared out the window; his emotions conflicting and clashing. She was sincere in her apology and he definitely forgave her... and his best friend, Marino. To think Marino had harboured the secret for years. He shook his head. He had been the fool all along, the fool who couldn't see what was right in front of his nose. He should have known; he should have sensed it. "Domenico." He looked back into her nervous eyes. "Its fine, I forgive you but it'll take a bit more time for the wound to heal." "You need space?" She was sad. He smiled, "You've given me enough space. We'll move on." Her downcast face lightened into a smile, broke into a giggle then widened in relieved laughter. They'll move on.*He didn't hear any of the insults his boss threw at him nor mind when he was denied salary for the month. It was okay now. His past was clear. He met Rosetta waiting at his door, decked in a red pant suit, high heels, a designer bag hanging stylishly from her left arm and her now lon
"Well Luna had one." Rosetta offered with irritation. "Not on the fourth finger." He shrugged, picking up his pizza slice again. "You could have told me." Domenico repeated. He paused, "Fine. I'm sorry for not informing you." "Cool. You can now get out of my house." "What?" Marino chuckled in disbelief. "Out" Domenico got up, "Rosetta, never make promises with your body again. Both of you, out." "What! You forgave me!" "Out." He said with finality and walked away.*"He's unbelievable" Marino spat after Domenico shut the door to his room, "he never liked you yet he's getting so worked up because I got you and he didn't." "You never got me." Rosetta snarled. "Besides, I was only getting my payment. Did you tell him that as you spilled your life's mess to him?" He asked as he fixed his hard gaze on her. Rosetta rolled her eyes, getting to her feet. "You're the worst person I've ever met, Marino. You don't feel the least bit of remorse that you shamelessly slept with my good f
"Yeah, fiancé" a sarcastic chuckle followed, "I trusted him. He shouldn't have proposed to me if he knew he still loved someone else, he shouldn't have led me on, he shouldn't have loved me if he knew that one day he'd go back to her." Silence. "Luna..." Sobs broke through the phone. "It's okay, it's okay" He murmured, the phone clenched tightly in his hand. "It's okay, it's fine." He kept murmuring as she cried. For long minutes.*"Rosetta, answer your calls now." Domenico ordered in his fifth voicemail."Please..." He pleaded in the sixth one. His phone rang the next second."You should have begged earlier, Mr." Her cheery voice came in at once."Now I'm left to wonder what you've turned into. Are you bipolar?""Something like that." He could sense her smile."You see why I'm so wary of men. The first guy I ever liked picked my sister over me. The second guy I liked treated me worse than a friend. Now here I am, back to square one."He chuckled, "You liked me.""Wasn't it obvio
She chuckled. "I feel really bad to say this but I have to go home now. I have practicals very early tomorrow morning." "Oh... Living in hostel?""No.""Right. You never stayed in one."He gathered the rest of his snack back into its pack. "I'll drive you home.""Don't bother" He refused, already opening the car door, "I'll take a cab." "Come on, Nico, be my guest."She started the car, looking expectantly at him. She waited seconds before he got back in. "Good boy."*"You're resigning?" His manager stared incredulously at him, his resignation letter held loosely in his hand. "Yes sir." "Why?" "Bad working conditions and personal reasons sir. It's stated in the letter, sir." His manager snorted, flinging the letter at him. "And you think you can get a better job elsewhere with your qualifications? Don't play such jokes on me again. Get out, go back to work." Domenico picked up the fallen letter and replaced it on the desk. "With all due respect, sir, I'm making no joke. I
Percy was still Percy; mature, smart, well behaved and well, Gabriella was a new face. The wedding went well and the couple definitely looked good together. Rosetta was past caring about the past. She just wanted her life free of any feuds or competition so she smiled all the way through and let herself be sincerely happy. "Did he meet with you?" Domenico asked Luna quietly as they applauded the leaving married pair amidst showers of flowers and glitters. "Yeah. He apologized, explained everything. We're good." The reception took place later on. The day ended on a happy note.*Luna walked to her car in the parking lot, forcing herself not to smile or get lost in thoughts. It was already enough that she had been daydreaming all day about him.The weekend was the best she had in a while. From Percy's wedding to watching a movie with him to spending the entire Sunday at her home with one of her girlfriends."Hey! Watch your steps!"She bumped into someone."I'm sorry, so sorry, I was
"Who's trying to kill you?" He asked after they broke apart."I don't know," she shrugged, "you just told me the same thing the nurse said but I truly don't remember setting up the fireplace or burning old clothes. I came home and I called you immediately and afterward, I slept off on the couch only to wake up and find my house filled with smoke and the neighbours hitting my door."Domenico placed his palms on her pale cheek."Maybe I did but I really can't remember," she added quickly, "I'm probably worrying for nothing."*Luna leaned against the pillow, waiting for Domenico to return from getting food for them.'Do whatever you wish but trust me, you're no longer safe'The words of the blonde-haired girl kept echoing in her head. She breathed out shakily. Did she mean it?"Your body is already stressed as it is, don't overthink," Domenico said upon entering."I'm sick of this place," she pouted, "I imagined cooling off with you in some fancy diner and staring at your beautiful eyes,