"He's gone... isn't he?"
It wasn't a question, more like a statement. To me, there was no more use in trying to hide it from him, Alberto could see straight through me without me even saying a word.
I took a sad heavy sigh out and nodded my head, "Yes..."
Alberto only stared ahead, and I wished I could read his mind that second, just to know how much pain he was in.
"Like I said," He spoke back quietly, his words timid and aching, "Everyone I love... leaves me."
That nearly made ME die from broken heartedness myself, the way he said that reply.
"No, Alberto- no, it's not like that!"
He slowly closed his eyes, weak tears slipping out before he turned his gaze over to Giulia and saw her feeble, uneasy stand.
"You knew...?" He asked her, and she stiffened right up, afraid of how to respond, "How long..?"
"Just three days ago," I spoke for her, as she was finding it hard getting out her defense.
Alberto sighed, and rolled his head to the side of his pillow, still in the same hospital bed he had been in for three days.
"I don't know why I expected him to stay, I mean, this is my dad I'm talking about... why would he?"
"Alberto-"
"Alberto-" He looked up when he heard his name being said a second time and blinked in surprise as he saw Mr. Marcovaldo coming out of the shadows of the hall into the recovery room.
"What do you want?" He asked him, tears in his eyes as he looked at that enormous man, "To leave me too?"
Mr. Marcovaldo shook his head and placed his big hand gently on Alberto's shoulder.
"You are not just a worker for me." He said, his voice deep and soothing and Alberto's eyes sank in tears, "You are MY son."
The young teenage boy clasped his eyes tightly closed and began breathing heavily in and out like he was hyperventilating in his weeping.
"Y'know," He said finally, looking up at the man and whimpered out, "Marco may be my dad... but you are my true father."
My heart hurt seeing this intimate scene and Alberto hugged the huge fisherman with as much strength he could muster.
Me and Giulia looked back between one another then back at the two and Giulia nodded her head. I knew instantly without having to be told what we needed to do. Wanted to do.
Giulia and I slowly approached the two and joined in in the intimate hug.
The four of us embraced for well over a minute and when we let go of one another, Alberto was chuckling embarrassed.
"I..." He began and the three of us stared at him with warm smiles and accepting eyes, "I love you guys."
It was after that day, that things started to go right. I could feel the summer spirit and joy for real, and I was ready to start living it, instead of hiding from unnecessary drama.
~x~
It was two days later that Alberto had been let out of the hospital and he was limping weakly from the pain of his stitched-up wound.
"So what's the punishment?" I asked him as we sat atop the highest cliff and looked down at the lively bay below, "Y'know? For-"
"Freeing all the fish?" He asked before I even got a chance to. I nodded my head quickly and he smirked, landing his head in his hands and sitting there, peering cheerfully at the world below.
"I have to be a watchman for the farm for two and a half months."
"Oh joy," I replied with my own smirk and he just nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders.
"Y'know what, it could've been worse." He admitted quite easily, "I could've been killed."
"That is sadly unfortunately true..." I replied, having to conclude correctly his past prediction. I sighed out a little as I saw Giulia waving her hand as she climbed the hill to us.
"I wish I had what you two have."
I blinked my eyes puzzled when I heard Alberto say this and I looked at him with a cheeky grin.
"You mean... LOOOVE?!" I chimed out and he shoved me playfully, covering his ears and uttering in embarrassment.
"No."
I looked at him, seeing him going red in the face (Which believe me, is a rare sight from Alberto,) and I pat him on the back with ease, telling him, reassuring him.
"You will."
"Will I-?"
"One day."
"Which day?"
"You'll just meet the right girl and it'll happen. It won't have a chance of not happening because you'll want it to happen, even with your better judgment."
He stared at me, flabbergasted at my words of wisdom, and only uttered out.
"Really?"
"OF COURSE!" I laughed and Giulia began to giggle as she reached us.
"What are you two on about-?"
"ROMAAANCE-"
"Nothing," I squeaked, covering Alberto's blabbering mouth with my hand and Giulia huffed out a laugh, squeezing between us and hanging her arms over both our shoulders.
"Well, no news is better than good news, is what my papa says."
"Our papa," Alberto added in and Giulia giggled, shoving him playfully before grabbing my hand and pulling me up to my feet to follow her. Alberto winked at her and she nodded back, I was left wondering what the heck they were planning now.
She pulled me to the highest point of the hilly cliff and we both looked down in amazement and awe at the landscape and scenery.
"What are you thinking about?" She asked me, as my eyes peered right across all the natural beauty of mother nature, and when they had seen everything they landed on her.
"I'm thinking..." I told her, my heart feeling full of joy and hope and... love, "I think... I love you."
Giuila froze up the second I said those words, and she glanced her eyes to her hands, her hand that was holding tight in mine.
"Do you really mean that?" She asked, half doubting my sincerity.
"How could I not?" I asked her back with a small blush heating my cheeks, "It's... you."
She smiled widely and kissed me on the cheek, hugging me tightly and whispering shyly in my own ear, "I love you too."
"How much?" I asked cheekily, a shy grin being pasted on my lips and she scrunched her own lips to the side, adding back teasingly.
"How much you got?"
"I knew you were a gold digger," I joked and she laughed along with me. We stopped however the moment we kissed again, and I let out a delirious sigh, adding.
"Perfect..."
Summer was still fresh in the air, and I was going to live it and have a blast. But we're not quite done with our story yet.
You'll see what I mean.