Gradually we slipped into a new routine. Alberto would go out fishing with Uncle in the morning while I made the deliveries. Then we'd eat lunch together before spending the afternoon biking and having a swimming lesson. By the end of the day we'd return home for dinner and Alberto would take off late into the night. On Sundays we'd do something fun together like go pick fruit or go for a family ride in the countryside. This became the new norm for all of us without any of us even realizing it.
I was getting better at swimming- at least I think. Alberto insisted on holding onto my hands or waist whenever I was in the water. He spoke with enthusiasm and pride on my progress, but still refused let me go in the sea. I was swimming but never on my own. It took me longer than I'd like to admit to comprehend why this was the case. Though he never admitted it himself, I knew he carried some trauma from the night I almost drowned. Not that I blamed him for that! I nearly died in front of his eyes; that can't have been easy for anyone to witness. We never went out too deep and the further down the ground grew, the tighter Alberto held onto my hands. I never told him I understood why this was the case, and I doubt he was aware that I knew. You'd never guess he did by the way he smiled and eagerly encouraged me, but his hands said it all. He was never too far away to hold me…..
The sun was starting to set and the two of us climbed out onto the shore. Alberto shook the water off him, turning back into his human form. Then he proceeded to put a towel over my shoulders. He made sure I was wrapped up all nice and snug, pulling it securely around me. I gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you." Unlike him, who could get dry at the drop of a hat- must be a sea creature quality- I stayed sobbing wet for some time after each swim. He mirrored my grin, moving his hands to rest overtop of mine now holding the towel in place. "You're getting better. Each day you get a little bit better." "Thank you, Alberto. If I'm improving, it's only because of your tutelage. I couldn't ask for a superior swimming instructor." "Well, I was born in the ocean," he laughed. I felt his hands give mine a squeeze- one of those gestures that can make your heart stop. My eyes shone back at him, this weird swirling in my chest starting to occur. It felt like… It's like I looked at him, and suddenly everything felt better. Everything was better. Alberto was here, and life was instantly better; better than it's ever been…..
After dinner we decided to take an evening stroll through the village, with Uncle's consent of course. Uncle's also been different lately. He'd been very supportive of Alberto and I spending more time together. It helped too that he was earning more money from fishing this summer than the pass three summers combined. He was right: Alberto was an expert fisherman. You can guess what that meant.
Alberto and I walked through the very quiet town streets, laughing and teasing one another. It was a beautiful night out; the air was so warm and smelt so sweet and juicy. A gentle breeze kept our hair flowing out behind us; mine more than his obviously. The streets were devoid of people, allowing us to talk freely amongst ourselves- which we did a lot of.
We were reaching the town square when I brought up the topic of the future. Admittedly it was a loaded question, not that Alberto caught on. "Do you really think we're gonna win the race?" "Without a doubt! We got this in the bag, Ilaria," he answered, his tone overflowing with confidence. My eyes peered downward a little, almost hesitantly so. "And then what? What will you do after the race?"
Alberto blinked to me with mild surprise. "What do you mean what will I do?" "I mean… are you going to stick around in Portorosso? Are you… going to keep visiting me, I mean us?!" He looked like I was speaking a totally different language than him. His expression was confused and a little bit startled. "Course I will. Why wouldn't I? You only live like a twenty-minute swim away from me. It's not that far to come." "But it's always you coming to me, which doesn't seem fair." "Hey! I told you- no more going out on that rickety rowboat by yourself. Don't worry about it, I don't mind the swim. Not if I get to see you at the end of it." "Alberto," my eyes widened in astonishment. He smiled my way- a real, profound smile. The kind of smiles you read about in storybooks. "I want this. I just want you to be happy…. because you're the reason I'm so damn happy now." "Alberto…." My eyes were moist in the corners. Still smiling ear-to-ear, Alberto stopped walking, making me halt as a result. The back of his fingers reached up to gently caress the top of my cheek, wiping the tear forming under my eye. "I didn't know I could be this happy…" "Me either," I giggled with more tears.
That moment was pure bliss; absolute tenderness in every sense of the word. It seemed to last only a second, and yet an eternity. But like all truly wonderful things in life, this couldn't last forever. We both flinched up startled and alarmed by an unwelcomed, familiar voice entering the square. I winced to see a sauntering Ercole and friends march their way over to where we were standing. And let me tell you, Ercole did not look happy.
"Well, well, well- look who it is? The vagrant who can't follow basic orders," Ercole fired the most hate-filled glare at Alberto I'd ever seen. As if acting on reflex, Alberto's arm and flat hand shot out beside him, effectively protecting me. He used his outstretched arm to push me behind him so he was positioned between Ercole and myself. Ercole looked like he was about to blow a gasket.
"Something's fishy about you; I mean besides the smell. You're hiding something." "Is it that I'm smarter than you? I mean I'm not really hiding that. It's just kinda obvious." Ercole took a threatening step towards Alberto. "You know, people think I'm a nice guy; always joking around. But really, I'm not," I let out a shriek at Ercole suddenly shoving Alberto- and hard too. His goons seized their opportunity to surround Alberto's sides, shoving me out of the way in the process. Ercole took another step Alberto's way. "How many times do I have to tell you to stay away from my girl, huh? Do you not understand the meaning of the word "mine"? She's mine! You have no right even breathing the same air that she does. But since you don't seem to get that little fact, let me make it clear to you," Ercole then punched Alberto flat in the jaw.
"Alberto!" I tried to run over to his side but one of his cronies grabbed my wrist to hold me back. That made Alberto mad. He was no longer looking at Ercole but the big, round guy now grabbing onto me. "Don't you touch her!" He yelled with a frightening authority. I think Alberto was about to charge at the guy before Ercole punched him in the gut, sending Alberto flying onto his back on the pavement. "No! Don't hurt him, Ercole!" My voice cracked, I was pleading that hard. They boys all acted as if they couldn't hear me. His friend let me go as he and the other crony picked up Alberto by his arms. This was like a horror play acting out in front of my very eyes.
That terror grew tenfold as they started dragging the raging Alberto over toward the fountain. I don't know if Ercole intended to drown him- or at least try to drown him- or merely get him wet, but either way it was a horrific situation. "What are you doing?!" Alberto demanded while thrashing in Ercole's cronies' grip. "Maybe a little bath will clear your head." "What?!" Alberto sounded just as frightened then as I was. My mind set into overdrive. I contemplated everything I could possibly do in that instant to save him. Charing Ercole and his friends was clearly out of the question, so I'd have to persuade him another way. If I could grab his attention, that is.
I scrambled to my feet, clasping my hands together in a begging fashion. "Ercole, stop! Please, Ercole; don't do this!" But he simply waved his hand back at me. "Be with you in a moment, tesorina. I've got to teach this boy a lesson first." Oh god, no! Please, anything but this! Anything but this! My hands were so sweaty that they began slipping on each other. "Ercole, please, I'm begging you! Please stop! What can I do?! What do you want?! Just tell me what you want!"
That was the first thing I said that finally caught his undivided attention. He paused, as did his goons, from shoving Alberto's head under the water. From this point of view, it really looked as if they were going to drown Alberto. But they thankfully stopped, and Ercole strolled over to me a few steps. He had this malicious, lustful look all over his face; even his body language screamed "desire". His thin forefinger ran underneath his lip him in a false thoughtful motion.
"Hmmmmmm, what do I want? You mean you'll give me anything I want? Anything?" Oh… Oh no, what have I done? The colour washed so much from my face, you'd think I was a ghost; not that Ercole noticed or cared. Not wanting his animosity to turn back on Alberto, I forced myself to stand there erect- it took every inch of willpower I possessed. Though I couldn't bring myself to say anything; I instead silently looked him straight in the eyes, which I guess was enough confirmation for him. I nearly gagged at the utterly sickening, twisted leer that curled on his pale, flat lips. "How about a kiss?" He cooed in a sing-songy tone.
All my years of feminine training overcame my body and brain. Not only did I act physically repulsed but the tone of my own voice completely changed. My hands drew up in front of my chest defensively. Anyone could tell that the idea completely horrified and disgusted me, but this is Ercole we're talking about. What I said next was a representation of all my years at the seminary and finishing school.
"How dare you?! We're not even married!" "Yet, my sweet; you mean "we're not married yet"," he corrected me in a way that made me want to slap him. But by some inner strength I didn't know I had, I refrained. Still, my hands did curl into clench, angry fists. I let out a low, unconscious growl while glaring daggers at Ercole. "Sir, a lady only engages intimately with her husband after she's married. I would never dream of committing such an act! To even suggest it is an insult to my character!" I'm sure Ercole had no idea what I was talking about, and I knew for a fact that he wasn't sorry, but he tried to play the innocent card all the same. His hand rose up to his chest.
"Oh, forgive me; you're so right, tesorina. I would never want to do anything to disgrace your character. Buuuuuuuut…" Oh no, here it comes. His sinister grin flooded back over his mouth. "It is alright for engaged couples to partake in some intimates, say a kiss on the cheek?" My mouth shot open but nothing came out. I wasn't trained in what to say when a boy asked for a kiss anywhere but on the lips. It still felt too familiar for my liking, but I realized that he wouldn't let Alberto go until I submitted to him in some way. Shutting my eyes and having my arms stiff at my sides, my head very reluctantly nodded.
The joy in Ercole's face was palpable. He rushed on over to me, turning his head to the side and leaning it in toward me. I winced and cringed at the same time, repeatedly telling myself that it'd be over in two seconds. Just to be sure he didn't try and sneak a full kiss in, my hand lifted up over the side of his face so to block it should he attempt to turn his head. My eyes winced shut and I leaned in to very quickly give Ercole a peck on the cheek.
Then my feet sauntered back as I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. Ugh, he smelt so gross! Does this guy ever bathe? Judging by how rancid his body stank, I'd say never. Ercole, on the other hand, instantly beamed with pride. His friends finally released Alberto as he turned back to face the three of them. "Ahhhhh, that's the good stuff. You see that, boys? That's the sweetest nectar man can ever hope to taste. And it's mine- all mine!" I'm just… in a state of pure disgust right now. If that's heaven for him, it's hell for me. What's worse is his stupid friends nodded in agreement. Ercole flashed Alberto one last warning glare. "Like I said, it's all mine. Stay away from her cause next time, you won't be so lucky." Then he and the others took off. I waited until I was sure they were gone before rushing over to Alberto's side. He was currently laying on the ground and coughing.
"Alberto! Alberto, are you alright?!" I got down on the pavement beside him, placing my hand worriedly on his back. He blinked back at me with concerned eyes. "Am I alright? Are you alright?! That jerk made you kiss him!" "Oh, I don't care about that, as long as you're ok. I had to stop them before they put your head in the fountain." "I know, and thanks. I don't know what would have happened back there if you didn't stop them when you did. Thank you, Ilaria; I owe you." "Heh, well now we're even- sort of. You save my life and I save yours…. Metaphorically speaking," I said and he chuckled. By now Alberto had both his hands on each side of my head as he inspected it carefully, as if kissing Ercole's nasty skin would infect me in some way.
He slowly released my head and we stood up, helping the other up. We each took in some much-needed breathes and then looked out onto the horizon in the distance. The summer wind rolled over us again in that moment. "What a night," I eventually sighed. "Yeah. Hope we don't have another one like it anytime soon," Alberto agreed. "Maybe Ercole's ego will finally take a hit when we beat him in the race." "Someone needs to put that creep in his place," his hands balled together upset. I peered at Alberto from the corner of my eye. "You think it'll be enough?" "It better be. Ercole's going down….. cause now it's personal."