CHAPTER 3

Everything’s not okay in the first place. 

Mariella turns her back to them and just walks away as if nothing happened.

“I’ll accompany her—”

“Don’t Elmo. Just let her.” Enrico said before turning his back too.

“But…”

“Elmo.”

“Yes, uncle.” Elmo sighs in defeat while watching Mariella go. He can’t understand but the first time he saw Mariella, there’s a strange feeling inside him. He wants to know her.

Marcella wants to watch her daughter until she reaches the borders but her husband calls immediately. She can’t disobey him or else they will argue again. Mariella, on the other hand, looks back when she steps outside the borders.

Little Mirabella is looking at Mariella while her arms are wrapped around her father’s neck. It is their first encounter, Mirabella’s shocked and confused because of her young age. 

‘I don’t like her.’ Words pop in Mirabella’s mind before looking away and tightens her grip on Enrico.

+++

“You promised that she will never step inside the borders no matter what!” Enrico loosens his necktie the moment they enter his office inside the mansion. “I shouldn’t have let her live that day…”

“Mio Amato… Mariella’s just—”

“I don’t want to hear her name!”

“M-My daughter’s just a kid.” It is painful for Marcella to hear his husband straightforwardly neglecting one of her beloved daughters. “I will talk to her later. Don’t worry… she will never break the rules… again.” 

“Even our Mirabella, at her young age, felt the threat when she saw her!” There is an emphasis in every word he is saying.

“She will understand. I know Mirabella will understand. Besides, she’s her twin—”

“No… They are not twins. I only have a daughter and she’s Mirabella.” Enrico sits on his swivel chair and opens the folder on his desk. “If I see my Mirabella cry again because of that kid, pardon me but I won’t hesitate to get rid of that being.”

“Mio Amato!” She kneels again in front of him. Marcella willingly down herself just to protect Mariella. “Please… I always beg to have mercy on her. Please…”

“You may go. I have lots of paperworks to do. Take care of Mirabella.”

Marcella stands up trembling and looks sharply at Enrico who’s busy doing the Mafia work.

‘What a merciless father?’  

+++

“Mamma, I’m ready. You’ll teach me—” Excitement suddenly vanishes in Mariella’s little face when her mother looks at her as if she will get scolded.

“Let’s talk first, Mariella Giordano.” Marcella walks toward the small sofa and waits for her daughter to sit across from her.

Mariella stands on her ground for a while, presses her lips toward each other, and looks down. She shouldn’t cry or else, Marcella will get mad at her.

“I’m sorry, mamma.” She suddenly utters after facing her mother whose heart immediately softens. 

Marcella can’t get mad at Mariella for a long time because she can’t make her daughter feel that she’s alone and no one’s on her side. She’s too young for everything.

“Come here.” Marcella opens her arms for Mariella and makes the little one sit on her lap. She kisses Mariella’s temple before saying her words. “Please… piccolina. Don’t ever do it again, hm? You’re making me worried. Do you want mamma to feel sad if something bad happens to you?”

“No, mamma. I’m sorry.”

“Promise me…” Marcella gently cups her face to make their eyes in contact. “Promise me again, piccolina. Don’t you ever, ever, step inside the borders… again. I’m saying this because I don’t want you to be in danger. This is for your own sake. Understood?”

Mariella blinks twice while staring at her mother who is hopefully waiting for her positive response, that she will never do it again otherwise, she will be in grave danger under his father’s mercilessness.

“Yes, mamma. I promise.”

“Thank you, piccolina.” Marcella plants a kiss on her daughter’s forehead before she lifts her to stand in front of her.

“Let’s go. Like what we planned, you’ll train—”

“Mamma…” Mariella is hesitant to ask her mother but she really wants to know.

“Yes, piccolina?”

“Is he my papà?” Mariella asks with sadness in her voice. 

“Y-Yes, piccolina.” Marcella can’t look at Mariella’s disdained expression. It doubles the pain she is feeling because she’s a mother. Mothers feel the worst when their child feels afflicted towards something valuable to them.

“Is he mad at me? Did I do something wrong? Did papà dislike—”

“No… No, piccolina. Papà… Papà loves you… so much. It’s just that…” Marcella thinks of suitable words for Mariella to understand the situation.

“Is that love? Distant? Cold? Hm, mamma?” Innocency is written on her small face.

“Mariella, listen.” Marcella holdsher shoulders and tries to convince her daughter. “Papà is just acting like that because he has duties to fulfill. Maybe now, you can’t understand but as you grow up, you’ll figure out why he has to be distant and cold towards you.”

“I want to grow up fast.”

Marcella smiles sadly while looking at Mariella. 

‘I hope that you’ll just stay as an innocent kid, piccolina. I don’t want you to see the cruelty of this family. It will just disappoint you… that is for sure.’

“Mamma? What’s on your mind? Deep thoughts?” Mariella waves  her hand in front of Marcella who doesn’t notice her silence while staring at Mariella.

“It’s nothing. Let’s go.” She offers her hand that Mariella immediately grabs.

“Mamma, the little girl with the same face as mine, is she my sister?” Mariella curiously asks again, which makes Marcella halt. She knows that Mariella will surely ask after that encounter. “I read in one of my books that people who were born on the same day with the same face are called twins. Is she my twin, mamma?” 

“Yes, piccolina. She’s your twin sister. She’s minutes older than you though.” Marcella’s voice becomes weak while explaining and uttering the last sentence. 

“Really?” She suddenly feels excited, which makes Marcella surprised. “Can I play with her, mamma? You know how dull living here—”

“I’m sorry, piccolina, I forbid.”

“Why?”

“No explanations for now.”

“Okay.” Mariella just agrees but asks another question. “What’s her name?”

“Mirabella.” Marcella said in a little voice yet it sounds clear to Mariella’s ears.

“Mirabella…” She repeats while reminiscing about their first encounter. “I like her.”

“Glad to hear that.” Marcella smiles and starts training her daughter. 

At her young age, Marcella wants to teach Mariella how to fight. She doesn’t know what tomorrow is waiting for Mariella. Like what is stated in a saying, It is better to be safe than sorry.

On their break, one of the servants delivers sandwiches and orange juice. Marcella just watches Mariella enjoying her favorite meal after training.

“Mamma, I want to learn how to use a gun.” Mariella suddenly voices out her thoughts. Her mother thinks she is kidding because her eyes are focused on the sandwich in her hands so Marcella asks.

“Huh? What is it again, piccolina?”

“I think it’s cool to master it.” She smiles sweetly at Marcella, trying to convince her mother using her cuteness. “Do you know how to use it, mamma?”

‘Of course I am.’ She said in her mind, cannot speak it aloud.

“Guns are not for kids, piccolina. It is dangerous for you to handle.”

“But Elmo is a kid too but the elders allowed him to use one.” Mariella explains.

“Elmo? How…” Marcella sighs when she remembers that her daughter could swiftly catch up. “But Elmo, who is your cousin by the way, is older than you.”

“Is it based on age?” She asks softly.

“No…” Marcella looks away while recollecting the past which includes the first time she holds a gun, a real and dangerous gun. She was three that time. “It is up to the person who handles it.”

“Then, no more excuses, mamma. Kindly, teach me. Please?” Mariella talks like an elder dealing with something special. 

“You might get hurt, are you ready for that?”

“If that’s the only way to learn it, why not?” She smirks, and can’t hide her eagerness.

‘Oh God… she acts like me when I am at her age.’ Marcella sighs in defeat. ‘How can I say no?’

“Fine. But…” Marcella widens her eyes. “Use it if necessary and don’t make me regret teaching you.”

“I swear.” Mariella shows her pinky finger and they make a promise. Marcella mumbles something before breaking the pinky promise.

“Protect yourself, piccolina. Protect yourself from them.”