CESARE FERRARI

Chapter one

Leniela

*One week later*

“Good morning Princessa” My mom’s chirpy voice greeted me as I descended the stairs clad in a yellow top and belly denim jeans alongside my hand bag. I smiled seeing her in her usual flowerish apron while setting the table.

“Good morning mom” I walked towards her and kissed her cheek before taking my seat at the dinning.

“Sorry i overslept mom, i couldn’t help you with breakfast” .

My mom, Mrs Amalia Moretti, smiled back at me while placing some frittata in front of me. I couldn’t help but salivate as the aroma hid my nostrils. Now I feel completely guilty.

My mom took the main seat then placed her hands on mine"You always help me in the kitchen, a single day shouldn’t make you feel guilty, common, eat up before it gets cold, you wouldn’t be able to eat it then". She gestured towards the plate and I chuckled, putting some pieces inside my mouth .

“You know me too well, mom”

“Why wouldn't I, you're my figlia,” She replied, raising her chin and I laughed. She always found a way to make me smile.

“You aren’t eating mom?”

“I’ll have mine later” she replied and I nodded.

“You don’t have to go to the bakery today if you aren’t feeling well, Princessa. Aldo can take care of it. she said after a couple of silence. I gave her a confused look.

“I noticed ever since your birthday you haven’t been yourself. Is there something wrong? Do you want to talk about it” she softly inquired and I gulped down the frittata .

I tried so hard ever since the day I found out about my condition to conceal my sad mood but she still noticed . Is there anything I can hide from those blue eyes of hers?

“I’m fine mom, it’s just- i feel overwhelmed and nervous finally becoming an adult” i replied looking down at my now empty plate.

“Is that why you wrote this?” I lifted my head to see her holding a familiar paper and my heart skipped.

“Mom!” I whined, taking the paper from her and she chuckled.

Few days ago after my birthday, I had decided to make a list of the things I dreamt of doing. Most of them are silly and daring but I had to do it. I must have left the paper lying in my room. If she saw the content then she might suspect something and i can’t let her find out.

“Don’t worry, I only saw “Things to do for the next four months” .

I smiled at the headlines.

She took my hands in hers and our blue eyes stared at each other. “ We only have each other now Lenie, no matter even if you turn sixty tomorrow, i’ll still be here to give you the guide you need as your mother and friend. Just remember to take things easy alright”

I nodded, already getting emotional. I quickly got up and gave her a tight hug. If only she knew I wouldn't be able to make it even half of sixty. Today was the first day of the month and the official count up to my death.

We disengaged from the hug, and she cleaned my stained cheeks. “ thanks mom, for everything”.

She patted my auburn hair."No need to thank me sweetheart."

“I’ll be waiting for you at the bakery,” I informed taking my bag and stepping out of the house.

“Of course sweetheart, take care”.

Inside the cab, I couldn't help but reflect on my life. A year ago I lost the man who had been a father figure to me in the hands of cancer and my mom was devastated. She would act tough in front of me but I knew what she was going through and the only thing she distracted herself with was her bakery downtown. My mom was all I have in this world and now I’m about to leave her alone, she would be so depressed. Ever since the death of my parents, she had taken upon herself to raise me up with the little she had and this is how I’m going to repay her?.

The car soon stopped in front of the bakery, quickly cleaning my eyes, I stepped down and went inside.

“You look great as always Lenie” Aldo, my mom’s manager and assistant baker, glanced at me and I smiled. He was in his usual white uniform and a hairnet. If there’s one thing I noticed about him is that he always complimented my outfits each time I came here but I feel comfortable around him.

“Thanks Aldo and good morning to you too, i’m sorry i came late today” i pouted moving inside the counter and placed my bag on a stool before moving to the storage room which was just beside and took my apron and hairnet with some new plastic gloves.

“ What matters is you’re here now, oh! We have a customer already, I’ll go check on the oven” he said and I nodded. I walked back to the glass cabinet facing the man who had just entered.

“Hello, good morning and welcome to Amalia’s bakery. What would you like to have?”

“Some cornetti please"

“Alright”

“I opened the glass display cabinet and quickly packaged it.

“Here you go” I handed the pack to him. "Freshly baked this morning, enjoy!”

“Thank you,” he smiled and handed some notes.

Hours had passed by with me serving a lot of customers and it was now time for me to go home. My mom didn’t come as she said I guess she had something else to do. Aldo said he would stay a little longer.

“You just kicked me out like i wasn’t existing” i heard my friend Emma’s voice and i turned to see her moving towards me. Her face looked dead serious and I knew I was in serious trouble.

“Emma,” I covered the space between us and hugged her. “I’m so sorry you know I’ve been busy with helping mom here”

Emma scoffed. “ Are you sure that’s the only reason? Cause it’s like you’re avoiding me”

“Why would I do that? Common have a seat '' I tried pulling her but she shook her head.

“You look like you were going somewhere, i can drop you off”

“I thought of visiting my dad,” I replied.

“Now?” she glanced at her wrist watch “ but it’s four already. Can’t you go tomorrow? It's late to visit the cemetery alone?”

“It’s fine besides i wouldn’t take long”

“Alright, i’ll go with you”

“Emma,” I protested. Emma was older than me for a year. She got her car and license last year after clocking eighteen. Ever since then she always gave me rides back home from school. Unlike other bratty rich kids Emma was different. She’s been like a big sister to me.

“Hey there Aldo” Emma waved at him who was now standing at the counter.

“Hey Emma, nice to see you drop by” Aldo replied back with a smile. Emma’s cheeks were now as red as tomatoes.

I gasped as she suddenly pulled me outside. We got inside her car and she took a deep breath.

She’ld been this way ever since Aldo started walking for my mom months ago"When do you intend on telling him about your feelings?"

“I don’t know what you’re talking about” she said and ignited the engine.

“Oh, then you wouldn’t mind if Jose goes on a date with h..”

“You wouldn’t dare” she growled at me and I chuckled.

Jose was a constant customer at the bakery who had shown interest in Aldo but he kept turning her down

“We’ve been friends since childhood, do you think i wouldn’t know besides it’s very obvious the way you act with him around”

She faked a cough.

“For someone who recently graduated from highschool and never had a crush you do know things” she mocked with a chuckle and i rolled my eyes.

“ That is soon going to change” .

Emma choked for real this time, almost losing control of the steering.

“Hey!” I cautioned.

“ you- Leniela Moretti fall in love and have a boyfriend?” she laughed “ Even the car doesn’t believe”

“I’m dead serious”

Emma threw me a glance to see if there was a hint of joking but there wasn’t any. "wait, what in the name of Mary? when did you decide that?”.

 “ I just want to know how it feels I lied with a shruggled.

“You know what Lenie, in as much as i love poking you on the fact that you don’t have a crush i’ll prefer you remain the "Mary book” i know “

I laughed at the nickname she had been calling me for years now because of my studiousness.

“Don’t take my jokes to heart Lenie, you’re brilliant and having a boyfriend now might distract you. You might even get hurt in the ship thing take me for example. I love Aldo but can’t even confront him”

“You finally admitted it” i said and she rolled her eyes “ it’s not because of what you say to me, I know I’m naive with this kind of things but i promise i’ll be alright besides how will i get familiar with it if i don’t experience it”.

She sighed" Does your mom know about it?". 

“No and please do not tell her about it” I pleaded. 

No one spoke for a while

“You always dreamt of modeling right? Why don’t you focus on that, if you want I can convince your mom with the help of my parents to change her view about modeling”.

Yes it was my wish to become a model but my mom kicked against it from the first day i brought it up. My mom is quite religious and she sees it as an indecent job. Sometimes I feel there’s something more to it, like she doesn’t want me to be exposed to the world.

“I don’t want to be a model any more”

“Now you’re surely kidding, what’s gotten into you? What happened?”

“Glioblastoma happened” i muttered inwardly before looking out of the window.

“I just have different aspirations now” she didn’t look convinced as she stared at me before concentrating on the road again.

*Ring, ring*

Emma’s phone alerted and she slide across the green button"Hello dad, alright i’m on my way"

“I hate to leave you alone but Dad wants me at home” She gave me an apologetic look and I waved it off. The car stopped in front of the cemetery.

“I already told you i would be okay” i replied ready to step down then she held my hands.

“We’ll talk about it another day okay”. There was no way I would change my mind but I nodded anyway.

“Bye!” I watched until the car disappeared from my sight. Taking a deep breath, I turned and took the path leading to my adopted father’s grave.

Thirty minutes later after crying my heart back, I was walking back towards the path I came in when I heard a voice.

“Did you think you could run away from me?” . I quickly turned but saw no one.

“Am I beginning to hear the dead speak or what?” I asked no one in particular. Deciding it was just an illusion, I took another step again when..

“You should have thought twice or trice before doing what you did”. The cold voice came again and I quickly turned but saw no one but this time, I noticed something.

My curiosity kicked in and I moved closer to the wall which prevented me from seeing what was happening. My heart almost skipped out of my chest at what I saw.

It was a group of men and there was a woman whom I couldn't see kneeling in front of a man- a man I knew so well.

CESARE FERRARI.