Giovanna woke up the next morning when he was probably naked. When he turned around he saw Dante next to him fast asleep. He immediately remembered what happened to them last night. He slowly felt his forehead. It no longer has a fever.
He slowly left him side and got dressed.
He smiled as he watched him sleep. It's like a baby sleeping soundly on the bed. When he looked at the wall clock, it was nine o'clock. He quickly left the room and went to the kitchen to prepare their breakfast. Because his pets are also complaining about their stomach.
While he was cooking their breakfast, he thought of Enzo. He didn't know if he could still face him after what he did to him. Yes, he didn't know what he had done wrong.
But, how long can he keep it a secret and hide it?
He hasn't even solved the problem he was running away from them in Asti, here he is again and has created another problem.
You are so stupid! He pulled himself together.
After cooking breakfast, he peeked at Dante in his room. It is still sound asleep.
He wanted to wake him up so he could have breakfast but there was a part of his mind that prevented him from doing that. You didn't like it before. You will give too! You flirt!
He returned to the kitchen and ate breakfast alone. After he ate and cleaned the kitchen, he thought of going out to his Aunt's small garden. Sit there and get some air. Maybe no one will see him there because the plants planted in that part of the veranda are lush.
He sat down on one of the four chairs made from old tires as well as its center table. Just a minute after he was sitting there, he heard the sound of a tricycle that stopped in front of his aunt's house.
He quickly hid in a plant that was there. It couldn't be Aunt. His goodbye, he will be gone for two days, in his mind.
He was very surprised when he saw the face of the woman who entered the gate, his Mama. His heart leapt with great joy.
He hurriedly came out of his hiding place and met him. He missed her mother so much. And he hugged her.
"Mom, it's good that you thought of visiting me," he cried while hugging her tightly. It also shed tears. "Shhh... hold on! Im here”.
"Where's Dad?" He looked at her when he noticed that he wasn't there and he let go of her embrace.
"He were left behind and no one will take care of your Pastry. But I have someone with me and I have something good to tell you," he said happily.
He frowned at his mother's advice. "Who?"
"Hi Ma!" that man who entered the gate, Enzo. ‘Ma’ is there callsign.
He was stunned to see it. He didn't know how he would react. He seemed to have no joy in his heart when he saw it. But concern.
"Hey! Aren't you going to hug your fiancé?" His mom yelled at him and only then did he come to his senses.
He forced a smile as he approached and hugged him.
"I missed you so much, Ma," Enzo said when he let go of his hug. He suddenly kissed him on the lips.
"Giovanna, who-" It was Dante who had just woken up.
He couldn't continue what he was going to say when he saw someone kiss him. He just wore shorts and no top.
His Mama looked at him as if asking who the man was in front of them.
"Ah... Eh... My mom and Enzo, my boyfriend," he nervously introduced the newcomers to Dante. "Ah... Mom, Dante is with Aunt here at home.” He saw Dante's face darken when he saw Enzo. "Let them in," he told him.
"Yes, by the way, let's go inside," he said to the newcomers.
Enzo put his arm around him when they entered the house while Dante's gaze followed them as they passed through the door.
"Where is your Aunt?" His mother said to him when they sat down on the sofa. It was looking for its brother.
"It's in Cagayan, Ma," he said.
"That means, you and that man are the only ones left here?" Enzo asked him doubtfully.
He didn't answer right away. He knew by the tone of his voice and the way he was staring at him, he must be jealous.
"Who is Dante, Giovanna?" His mother asked him.
"Ah... eh... a-adopted by Aunt, Ma. She saw him on the beach unconscious and with amnesia," he answered the mother's question.
"Maybe that's your aunt's boyfriend?" laughingly asked him again.
He forced a laugh at his mother's advice. "It's not. It's true. Why did you rush here?"
"Because we're picking you up?" Enzo answered.
"Huh? I can't go home yet. The police might catch me," he protested.
"No more son. The case is over. You are acquitted!" his Mom said smiling.
"Huh? How?" he asked with his eyes moving to the two in front of him.
"There is a CCTV there at the CR son. And it was seen that the woman committed suicide. It was only when a woman saw you enter the CR that you were accused," explained his mother.
He didn't know if he would be happy with what his mother announced. I think this is the day he and Dante will be separated.
"Aren't you happy, son?" his Mom asked him.
"I am," he answered. The smile he showed them was forced. "Wait, have you eaten yet? I'll prepare you something to eat first," he said and went straight to the kitchen. He didn't wait for them to answer him. He had to avoid Enzo's prying eyes.
He knew he was just feeling him.
He had known him since then because they were younger. It is critical. It is easy to find out whether you are telling the truth or not.
He found Dante in the kitchen. He was eating quietly and he didn't even glance at him when he passed by him. He knew he saw Enzo kissing him earlier. He knew he was jealous and was hurt by what he saw.
He took a pitcher of cold water from the refrigerator and quietly poured orange juice behind it as well. He felt it. It seems that he has no intention of speaking and talking to him.
He took the sliced bread in front of him and quietly made a sandwich. He was simply studying it out of the corner of his eyes.
It just bends down and eats fast. It seems like it wants to finish the food on its plate immediately to avoid him.
He couldn't stand it anymore. "Aren't you going to say something?" He didn't answer but stood up, carrying the plate and went to the backyard and continued eating there. He just shook his head.
When he returned to the living room, he found his mom and Enzo talking. He heard them talk about their marriage. If before he was happy when talking about his upcoming marriage, now he has no joy in his heart. He didn't know why.
There's something wrong with him, but he doesn't know what. Could Dante be the reason? Does this really own his whole heart now?
No! It can't be, his mind screamed.
"Calm down first," he said as he placed the tray containing juice and sandwiches on the center table.
He placed a plate each containing a sandwich and juice in front of them and sat down next to Enzo. The man immediately followed him.
"We're going home tomorrow, Mom. So we can take care of our wedding," Enzo happily told him.
He just nodded.
NIGHT Giovanna was restless in his bed. He was thinking of Dante. Ever since he saw Enzo kiss him earlier, he didn't move until dinner. It really avoids him. But why is he affected? Dante knew from the beginning that he was going to marry Enzo.
When he looked at his Mama next to him, she was fast asleep. He slowly stood up and went out of his room. He wants to get some fresh air outside.
It was quite dark around when he came out. There is no moon and there are few stars in the sky. He took off his slippers and walked along the beach. He wanted to go to him and Dante's favorite place. He wanted to go there one last time. Tomorrow, he will leave and he doesn't know if he will be able to return there. He will miss Sperlonga, the beach, the rocks and of course Dante. Until he just misses that place and Dante because he has to face the man he decided to marry and fulfill the promise here.
When he and Dante reached their favorite place, he sat down on the sand. His eyes were focused on the vast ocean. He closed his eyes and smelled the wind blowing from there. He listened to the lapping of the waves on the shore and the sound of the rock grinding against the shore.
He took a stone next to him and then stood up. He whispered something to the rock and then threw it into the sea with all his might. Whatever he whispered was his own, that. He wanted that to come true but he didn't want to expect it because it was impossible for him to happen.
"What did you ask the stone for?" asked a familiar voice at the front of the rock.
He was horrified when the owner of that voice approached him. He was about to back away when he spoke again.
"It's me! Do you really have nothing else to do but run away from all your problems?" it asked again. When it was close to him, he recognized it. It's Dante. He saw his face with a hint of anger looking at him.
He was about to leave when he grabbed his right arm. He held his arm tightly.
"What the hell Dante! I'm in pain!" he struggled.
"Does it hurt? But you don't care about the pain I'm feeling right now," he said with a scolding tone in his voice.
"Dante... Please let me go!" he said now crying. When he saw him crying, he let him go.
It was confused. "Sorry... I didn't want to hurt you, Giovanna."
"You already know from the start Dante, that we really won't be able to. I thought you understood that," he said, crying.
"I know but, I can't lose you from me.
I thought that would pass but later my feelings for you deepened."
"Tomorrow, we will be leaving when Aunt arrives. I hope that when I leave, you will also forget me. If your memory comes back, I hope that you will not remember me either," he said, obeying immediately.
Even if he wanted to hug him one last time, he'd better stay away from him. He wants him to forget him. He didn't want to let it go. He knew he was responding to his love wrongly. He was blinded and he confessed there. What is important for him now is to get away from there and leave tomorrow. He wanted Dante to move on with his life without him by his side like before they met.
Dante was left there on the beach in tears.
It was good that Giovanna left immediately so that he wouldn't see him crying. He wanted to stop it but he couldn't. He knew from the beginning that he was going to get married. But he still goes on. Hoping that one day he will love him too and choose him.
But now, he will leave him. Even though he didn't make him choose between him and Enzo, he knew that he would choose Enzo. Who is he to choose? He is a stranger to him. It doesn't even know his true personality. Even he has questions to himself that he can't answer either.
When he could no longer see Giovanna, he sat down on the rock. His eyes focused on the vast ocean in front of him. You can see in his eyes a lot of sadness and regret. Sadness because he won't see Giovanna anymore. Regret because he knows he can't be with the woman he loves forever.
He was about to stand up when he lost his balance. He fell down and hit his head on the rock next to him. His vision darkened and he saw something in his memory. He fell into his palms because of the pain in his head. His world was spinning, as he held his head. He writhed in great pain and passed out.
Rama regains consciousness. He got up from his bed. It was as if clouds were lifted from his mind and everything became clear in his memory.
He remembered what happened to him. He was abducted to be killed by Mr. Barioga. Fortunately, he was only hit in the back and the water in the sea was deep, so he survived.
But how did he get there in Sperlonga? Who saved and helped him? He couldn't remember it. Then he will think about them. What is important now is that he can return to his parents and pay those who have wronged him.
He immediately looked for a payphone where he could call their house. Fortunately, he memorized the telephone number of their house.
When he saw a shop he immediately went there.
"Miss, how much is the fee for a long distance call to Palermo?" he asked the shopkeeper.
"Ah, it's only seven pesos and fifty centavos, sir.
What minutes will you consume on the call,
That's all you'll pay for. That can also be seen on the caller ID," said the shopkeeper.
"Alright thank you," he said and he dialed. just a moment later he heard someone answer on the cable line.
"Hello Ma. Is that you," said the familiar mother's voice on the other line. "This is Rama is Ma."
"Oh my god! Rama are you alive?" shout of his Mom on the other line. "We thought you were dead. We've been looking for you for months."
"Yes, I'm alive, Ma. I just had amnesia so I didn't get back there right away," he said.
"Where are you, son? Your Papa and I will pick you up," he said.
"It's in Sperlonga. I'll wait for you in Binoni," he said and hung up and paid.
Giovanna and his Aunt WORRIED when Dante still hadn't come home in the morning. They helped in the search for the young man but they still could not find him. Giovanna went to Dante's favorite place but it wasn't there either.
He blames himself for why he left it there last night, and maybe how it has become. He didn't notice that Enzo, who was standing behind him, had been watching him for a while.
His Aunt approached him. It's not hidden here that the budding friendship between him and Dante.
"Maybe he left when you're probably going home with Enzo," he said when he got close to him.
He didn't move. His Aunt had a point.
It may have left and gone far away. But where does it go? It doesn't know itself yet. He has amnesia and that is what worries him the most.
"I can't forgive myself Aunt, if something bad happens to him. I swear," he said with tears in his eyes.
Enzo immediately left when he heard what he and his Aunt talked about.
Giovanna found Enzo sitting on a sofa made of drift wood on the porch of his Aunt Zia's house. It seems to be thinking deeply.
"Hi, Pa," he said while giving him a kiss on the cheek. It's as if he realized from a deep thought.
"We're leaving now. We have a lot more to take care of in Asti when we arrive," he said to him.
"Huh? Ah... uh... yes, we're going home now." He even overcame the hypnotism and immediately followed what his lover said. Upon hearing his answer, he immediately obeyed in front of him.
He followed it. He headed to his room to get his things. When he got to his room he collapsed on his bed. He fixed his eyes on the ceiling. He closed his eyes for a moment. There in his vision he saw Dante's sad face. He turned away immediately. He was even more worried about the young man when he saw that.
where have you been Don't do this to me, Dante.
He stood up and took his bag from the closet. He took out his clothes one by one and put them in his bag.
When he finished putting everything in, he stood up with a smile. He looked around the room.
When can I come back here? I'm gonna miss this place, he thought.
He focused his eyes on the bracelet that Dante had given him the night they said goodbye. He picked it up and put it on. Again he kept his eyes on the inside of his room. I think, this is goodbye. He picked up his bag and went out of his room.
He found his Mom and Enzo in the living room. Both are ready for their departure. He looked for his Aunt Zia. He knew that it would be dramatic when he and his aunt were informed. They are always like that when he comes home to Asti after his vacation on the island. But this one is more dramatic than ever.
He saw him sitting in the rocking chair on the porch. Looking away. He simply stood in front of it and knelt down.
"Mmmm... I hate to do this," he began. "I hate good byes." Tears slowly rolled down his cheeks. He knew it was not for his Aunt, but for Dante.
"There you go again, you're going to make me cry again," he growled. "You know my eyes are more than papaya and I cry easily. All right, go ahead. I know what you want to say."
He smiled at his aunt's guidance. He already knows him. He stood up and hugged her tightly.
"I'll let you know when I find Dante. Maybe it's just sitting somewhere sulking."
"Thank you Aunt." And he gave her a kiss on the cheek.
He thanks his Aunt and she understands her feelings for Dante. It's not that he condones him, but he just lets him decide about such things.