Alberto was making some adjustments to the bike as I gazed out at the sea. We were at the top of the hill overlooking Portorosso; he was adamant we'd ride down it fully today. While he tinkered with the bicycle, I nibbled my thumb nail thinking quietly to myself. I hadn't said a word to anyone about Ercole's proposal. Life had been different but relatively easy here in Portorosso, but that would all change if people knew of Ercole's intensions to marry me. Papa scolded me for simply wanting to do some work for Uncle in his last letter….. How would he react if Ercole made the announcement in public? Would he come to Portorosso? What if word got back to my maternal grandparents? What would they do to me? To Ercole? It was a problem- a real problem.
Alberto- ignorant to all this- patted the bike approvingly and grinned over at me. "Alright! All ready to go! Come on, Ilaria! Let's go!" He sounded so eager and excited. I didn't respond, still staring out at the water. He blinked at me, slightly puzzled. "Hey? Hello? Earth to Ilaria? You doin' ok over there?" My thumb lowered as my lips parted a little. Well, there's no point in keeping in a secret any longer. It didn't feel right withholding this from Alberto anyway- Uncle and Papa, on the other hand, were a different story. Still, I wasn't sure how Alberto reacted either. With some hesitation, I spun around, looking grave and sullen.
Alberto immediately frowned, wearing a very concerned expression. "What's wrong? Is everything ok?" "No, to tell you the truth…. Everything's not ok." A pause ensued here. "Hey, if you're worried about riding down the hill, don't worry. We'll go together; I'll be right here with you," he tried to grin my way. I shook my head. "It's not that…." Another pause slipped in the conversation, allowing me to take in a deep breath. I shut my eyes for a moment, then looked straight at Alberto.
"Yesterday….. Ercole….. proposed to me," those words tasted worse than medicine in my mouth. Alberto blinked again, seemingly trying to comprehend the words coming out of my mouth. "He…. proposed….?" "For marriage, yes." Another increasingly tense pause. "I see. And you… said no, of course?" "Of course….. But I don't think he accepted my rejection. You know Ercole. In his mind, I'm afraid we're engaged, or at least intended to be engaged," I rolled my eyes. Alberto's face was now growing severe and dark. His eyes narrowed dangerously a bit. "So he still wants to marry you, even though you told him you're not interested?" "It would seem that way."
A very, very tense, quiet moment passed. My eyes grew a bit when Alberto suddenly began turning the bike around. I'd never seen him look so mad before. "W-What are you doing?" "I'm going to kick Ercole's ass." Oh boy! Definitely not good! I rushed out in front of the bike's new path, spreading my arms out a bit. "Alberto, no! This is not how to deal with this!" "Why not? The jerk's obviously not going to listen to you. He'll think you're engaged even if you tell him you're not until you're red in the face." "I know, but there are better ways to handle the situation. You going and beating him up won't solve anything." "I can try!" "No, Alberto! That's the not the way things are done in society!" "I told you, forget about all that "society" nonsense! You don't have to deal with Ercole alone. I said before that I'll help you, so let me help you!" "But this is helping anything!" I grabbed hold of the handlebars from the opposite side in an act of desperation. Alberto sent me a look. "Let go!" He demanded. "No! Not until you promise not to act irrationally!" After glaring at me for a brief second, he growled. "Fine!"
He all but yanked the bike from out of my hands, turning it the other way back down the hill. "What are you doing now?" I half-inquired, half-demanded. "If you're not gonna ride down with me, then I'll show you how to do it right." "No, Alberto, wait!" My hand reached out for him.
Too late. Alberto was furiously peddling down the hill. I watched in horror as his speed picked up and up. He was going too fast; I was terrified he might crash into something or worse. Even Alberto started to look apprehensive as he neared the ledge- the tall drop leading down into the ocean. His feet lost their footing with the peddles halfway down. "Alberto, look out!" I cried out as loud as I could. All I could do was stand there and watch as he and our bike suddenly toppled over the metal, rusty railing and down the side of the cliff. "Alberto!" My voice rang out all throughout the village.
I ran as fast as I could to the beach. I was going so fast that my shoes actually fell off my feet; not that I noticed. Holding the front of my dress up in my hands, I rushed over into the sand, frantically looking for any sign of him. The bike was up on shore, laying on its side half still in the tide, but Alberto was nowhere to be seen. "Oh god, oh god, please let him be alright! If I never get anything again, please let him be alright!" A mild moan made me spin right around. "Alberto?!" Something tall- roughly Alberto's size- was in the shallow part of the water. As I ran toward it for a closer look, it began to stand up. My feet came to a halt, my eyes steadily widening as it, or rather he, came into view. For a minute the world around me grew deafless; there was this sharp ringing in my ears. Unable to breath or voluntarily move, I fell backward into a sitting position on the sand. My eyes were enormous and my mouth was hanging open. The thing in front of me was wearing Alberto's clothes and looked just like him…. if he was a sea monster. I found him there on the beach and instantly learned two things: that sea monsters are real and that my dearest friend was one of them.
The sea monster version of Alberto was staring back at me with equally wide, terrified eyes. He didn't dare take a step toward me but his hand raised up in my direction. "I-Ilaria?" That was all he had time to say before some familiar voices interrupted us. "Sea monster! There it is!"
I somehow found the strength to stand back up and Alberto began swimming away. Ercole and his minions were apparently out sea monster hunting at the moment, all chasing Alberto with their sharp spears. Pure stun transformed into terror when they began throwing their spears into the water. Suddenly afraid for my dearest friend's life, I did something I'd never done before. I watched them for a moment as I held my breath. "Don't let it get away!" Ercole commanded his cronies, nearly neglecting my presence- funny if he truly thought we were engaged. But I had a gamble and prayed it'd pay off. For the first time in my life I made myself faint.
Everything went black for a minute or so. When I came too soon after I was laying on the sand with my head held up. "Tesorina! Tesorina! Speak to me! Speak to Ercole!" Ok, good; looks like it did pay off. My fainting caused Ercole to- momentarily at least- forget all about hunting Alberto. He cradled my head and shoulders in his thin, lanky arms.
"N-Nugh, E-Ercole….?" "Oh, my precious princess! Are you alright?! Tell me what's wrong?!" Ok, now I have to think of that story. Well he wants a lady and luckily I know how to be one. I tried to look as frightened and weak as possible. "Oh, my uh… uh, my feminine delicacy. It was too overwhelming for my soft feminine sensibilities, seeing a…. a sea monster," I lied, hoping for once that he'd believe it- which he did. "Oh, how of course! How stupid of me! You must have so frightened, my dear little one. Yes, surely you'd be overstimulated; this is too much for your fragile, passive character." "Yes….." I had to force myself to agree. All of this was to stall time so that Alberto might get away safely, even if it meant Ercole cradling me for a few minutes.
Ercole grinned down at me still in his arms. "Not to worry, tesorina. I'll take care of you! Here, let me carry you back home. I'll lay with you until you're feeling better!" "No! I mean, no. We… couldn't risk your reputation as a gentleman, what with people whispering that you took advantage of a lady who's just fainted. No, sir; I could never ask you to make such a sacrifice on my account," god this was painful. And what's worse, he was eating it up like candy. He actually nodded in agreement! The cheek!
"You're so considerate, my sweet one. Then allow me to escort you home." "Thank you, Ercole. I think I shall be fine managing on my own. You… want to make sure the beach is safe for the other residents, of course." "Of course! Ciccio! Get the net!" He hollered at his friends before turning back to me. He helped me stand back upright. "Fear not, my darling. I'll catch those nasty sea monsters. None shall get near you again! I will let nothing harm my future wife," he added with a sickening smile. "Er, t-thank you, Ercole," I cringed. "Call me if you need anything, my princess. I'll be serving you hand and foot for the rest of our lives." Then he ran off with his friends. I waited a minute, steadying myself before heading back home.
I practically tumbled through the back door into the kitchen. Uncle was out on his fishing boat. Good thing too because I fell with such force into the table that I knocked over an empty glass. It shattered on the floor, not that I heard the crash. I simply meandered my way over to the staircase, slowly ascending them and going into my room.
I collapsed onto my bed, my head landing on it's on the pillow. My gaze stared out the window to the sea; I could detect anything on the horizon. After watching it passively my eyes scrolled over to the new butterfly hairpin Papa sent me in his letter. The one Alberto first put into my hair… It was then that my eyes swelled up with tears.
He's a sea monster….. Alberto's a sea monster. Countless things suddenly made sense. His aversion to water, why he didn't swim for the Portorosso Cup, why he never visited me on days it was raining. Even him telling me to hide the first day we met- it all became so clear. He's a creature from under the sea, completely separated from human society, customs, and traditions. No wonder he's never come here before he met me; this is the Italian capital of hunting for sea monsters. And yet, despite all that, he still came…. He came here, risking his life each time he did, just to see me. He came to see me…..
Teardrops rolled down my cheeks onto the pillow, effectively blurring my vision. My mouth opened as I remembered to breath. He and I are from two different species, and yet for some reason, I don't care. I could care less that Alberto is a sea monster. All that really bothered me now was the fact that I wasn't sure if our friendship was over. I already wanted him back. I wanted him here. I wonder if I should have gone out into the water and tried to grab him, tried to hold him so that he might stay with me. Would that have worked? Would he have still left then? Deep down I know he did the right thing as Ercole and his friends were right there, but….. But I still couldn't deny it. I wanted to see Alberto again, and I wouldn't stop wanting to see him. It was a horrible, sickening feeling, not knowing if I'd ever see my dearest, most best friend again.
I'm not sure how long I laid there on my bed overtop of the covers crying. But I did cry myself to sleep at some point. I wept myself into a deep slumber, thinking only of Alberto.
[End of part one.]