A/N: As I was writing this, I got too overexcited to post this chapter. Wow, I don't know. I got too absorbed to writing it that it was pretty long - well this is a mixture of a happy and sad emotions. Just enjoy reading it. Oh, and by the way, don't forget to drop some reviews after reading~! Reviews are sincerely appreciated.


Chapter 3

The Vargas Residence

As the car wandered through the familiar streets of Venezia, Lovino kept still. After the house was reduced to flames, he decided to flee from his birthplace as he was constantly reminded of his fratellino's death and moved in to Spain where his best friend Antonio was residing. And now that five years has passed, he is still unsure if he wanted to go back to that place and face the sad reality that has dawned to them.

Antonio was getting weary as the clock kept ticking. Breaking the silence, he spoke. "Lovino, are you alright?"

"T-Toni, of all the vacation places that we could go, why did you choose Italia?" Lovino inquired with a sound of uncertainty and grief evident in his voice as he spoke.

"Perdóname, mi tomatito," Antonio replied nervously and apologetically, "I forgot to tell you that my boss has assigned me to take photographs of the beautiful Italian scenery for the current travelogue magazine the editorial staff is going to release next month, and he has given me two weeks. I'm not sure if you wanted to come...but I don't want you to stay alone in the house for two weeks."

Lovino sighed. "N-no…I'm fine." As he noticed that they were nearing the abandoned manor, he held Antonio's hand and squeezed it tight. "C-can we stop by il mio casa? I just want to…"

"Are you sure about this?"

"S-si….I mean, how could I know that I have moved on if I have not the guts to go back to it?"

Antonio remained skeptical at the other's insinuation, but upon seeing the truth in Lovino's eyes, he finally relented and stopped by the sign that held the surname 'Vargas'.

As Antonio opened the rusty gates and traversed the long road that led them to the abandoned house, Lovino was in deep thoughts. The fire that broke out in what was once a peaceful confinement for him and his fratellino was spread like a wildfire in the newspapers around Venezia. The quietness in the area despite the wealthy and abundant lifestyle their house was implying was widely known among those who lived in the neighborhood. Rumor has it that their grandfather was a well-known Mafioso and the fire that destroyed the tranquility of the place was procured by their adversaries in this perilous business.

Lovino shook his head – there is no way that their grandfather's enemies had discovered them and he stuck to the belief that the fire was because of a faulty electrical wiring as the police investigations had speculated. But well, that their nonno is a Mafioso, of course, is a rumor he could never deny – the blood that runs along their veins is indeed a Mafioso's blood.

But he could never hate him, nor blame him for the tragic event that fate has dawned to them. After their parents were killed by those who opposed them, the two was left under the care and protection of their grandfather. Fearing that his grandsons would suffer the same fate as his son did, he decided to hide them and change their surnames from Roma to Vargas to protect their identities. Thus, he decided to build this house in deep secrecy and spent some years in hiatus to watch them grow. But of course, he could not last long in hiatus, or his enemies would be speculative. Thus, he had no choice but to leave them and entrusted Feliciano to Lovino's care.

Lovino was five years back then, and Feliciano was two. They were entrusted under the care of a well-trusted secretary of their grandfather who, after he blossomed to a ripe age of sixteen, left them and went back to serving their grandfather.

The two of them tried to live normally as everyone in Venezia did – they spent their days mingling in the neighborhood especially Feliciano, who was well known in the neighborhood as the "guy with a smile that never falters." They both attended school and surprisingly get the highest of the marks in their respective classes. They finished their college at a prestigious university in Italy where they both excelled in the field of their choice - while he engaged in academics, Feliciano engaged in the arts.

It seemed just like a second ago when Lovino snapped from his thoughts and he perceived the remains that were left of the Vargas residence. It has never changed – the house still stood majestically on its grounds as if it was never perched by the fire. As he disembarked from the car, he breathed heavily as he viewed the sight that beheld him before entering the house. He was trailed after by Antonio, who was watching him with utter concern.

As they entered the house, they were met into a spacious hall where the guests were entertained. The images of exquisite sofas and table that once stood in this hall has flashed back in his mind, as he imagine he and Feliciano laughing at the sofa as they entertain the guests. Leading them to the end of this living hall was the majestic staircase that led to the upper floor. The remains of a burnt red rug that lay still on its steps and the shards of a fallen off chandelier are still there, but to his surprise it was still standing on its ground. Probably because it was made of the finest marble, he mentally thought.

At the end of the staircase were three sets of staircases – one staircase leads to the left hall and the other leads to the right, while the center leads to a burnt door. He decided to open the burnt door first, leading them to what used to be their favorite place in the house. Lovino smiled at the memory as he and Antonio stepped into another spacious room. Antonio was awed – never in his life did he see a really large manor with such elegance and splendor. At the end of this hall, was a large window that gained access to a beautiful scenery of the sea, and in front it stood a white grand piano. Much to his surprise, the room seemed to be untouched by the fire. Lovino saw the amazement in the other's eyes and he chuckled, "Nonno designed this room to be the only area in the house that can withstand fire. He built a firewall around it, so the door was the only one touched. This is where Feliciano and I would usually spend our time together."


"FELICIANO! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU, IDIOT?!" Lovino barked, still fuming at his fratellino that his room was reduced to a perfect mess and his favorite guitar was broken. Figuring out that he is nowhere to be found around the house, he thought of the one last room in the house where Feliciano could be hiding.

Entering their favorite hall, he yelled angrily and his voice echoed the whole room. He saw Feliciano's art set dispersed on the floor, and a large canvas that depicted an unfinished work. He stared at it, and he was amazed at how the lines were beautifully stricken and the details well-defined. He seemed to calm down a little when he saw that his face was still incomplete by a mouth.

Looking around, the room looked really quiet, except for a cabinet that seemed to be shaking. Dio, is Feliciano really that scared? He thought. He approached the cabinet, and said in a low, cunning voice. "At the count of three Feliciano, you should have gotten out of that cabinet you're hiding in. Or I'll pull you out forcibly, and that will seriously hurt."

Inside the cabinet, Feliciano shrieked in surprise when he knew that he was discovered. He didn't want to go out, he was scared." But when his fratellone started counting, he stumbled out of the cabinet and kneeled in front of the other.

"M-MI D-DISPIACE, F-FRATELLO! I-IT WAS AN ACCIDENT! I DID NOT WANT TO BREAK YOUR G-GUITAR! D-DON'T GET ABGRY AT FELICIANO, P-PER FAVORE!" He cried out, his tears and incessant shouts overpowering the tranquility of the house.

Lovino sighed. As much as he wanted to strike his brother, he could not afford to hurt him. So instead of hitting him, he just replied. "Fine. I forgive you, idiot. But you will have no pasta for two weeks."

"F-FRATELLO! N-NOT THAT, P-PER FAVORE! I-I'LL DO ANYTHING…I'LL REPLACE YOUR GUITAR! J-JUST NOT THAT!" Feliciano pleaded, but Lovino stood on his ground. "THAT IS FINAL!"


Lovino laughed at the memory as he passed by the cabinet where Feliciano hid. Beside him, Antonio was astonished – the room's walls were smothered with vibrant red, green, and white colors on which the several paintings of Feliciano were hanged. The biggest and the most picturesque among them all stood on the top of the fireplace – it was a painting of the Vargas fratelli from which radiated the jubilance and ecstasy the two had spent together; probably the only image where Lovino's smile was cordial. He was still astounded when he heard someone trying to stifle a cry behind him. It was Lovino, and he was reduced from a laughing stock to a crying mess as the unmoving picture gazed through them.

Deciding it was too much for Lovino to take in; he led Lovino back to the car. Lovino was still shedding tears, and he found himself useless for not being able to find a way to comfort him. And with that scenario, they left the house behind them as they traveled their way on to the bustling center of Venezia. Little did the two know that in Venezia they would meet someone that would make them think twice.