Chapter 6

Giovanna became elusive to Dante in the following days after what happened to them in the kitchen that afternoon in Lyon. Sometimes he deliberately wakes up at noon so that he can't join Dante for breakfast.
He came out of his room at nine o'clock in the morning. He didn't see him in the living room or the kitchen so he acted fine.
"Dante and I ate first," said his Aunt Zia when she came upon him and served him food. "Dante is in the back, cleaning up."
He just nodded. Maybe her Aunt noticed that she and Dante were avoiding each other.
“What's the news in your case? Has there been any progress?" he asked him.
"Not yet, eh. I haven't talked to Mama these past few days. I'll call later," he answered when he sat down at the table.
"Do you and Dante have a problem?" suddenly asked this to him.
He didn't answer. He noticed her avoiding the man. He was about to finish his meal when Dante entered the kitchen. He sweat from cleaning the back of the house.
"Hello, Giovanna," he greeted him with a smile.
"Hi," he replied briefly.
He sat across from him and looked down at him while he ate. "Want to go for a walk on the beach tonight?" He shrugged as he hurriedly ate. He wanted to get away from it immediately.
"Why?"
"Nothing. I'm lazy," he responded fatly.
When he finished, he quickly stood up and washed what he had eaten. Then nag. He apologized to his Aunt and locked himself in his room again.
When lunch came, Dante knocked on his room.
"Giovanna, let's eat."
"Alright, you and Aunt can go first and I'm full," he said without even opening it.
"I'm alone, eh. Aunt isn't there. It's boring to eat without someone," he said. He felt sorry for him.
"It's okay. I'm still full. I'll eat later after reading this pocketbook," he excused himself.
"Okay," he said forcefully.
He did the same when it was time for dinner. He didn't go along either. He was just lying in bed.
He thought of calling his Dad.
"Hello," said his Papa on the other line. "I'm glad you called. Why is your cellphone always off?"
"I just want to avoid people I know, Pa.
I know my cell phone will be buzzing with the number of people calling and texting me. Do you have any news on my case, Pa?"
"Are they looking at any angle on the woman's death? She may have committed suicide because there were traces of gunpowder on her hands. But the person who saw you really put pressure on you. Let it go, son, and this problem will be solved."
"I hope so, Pa. Please just help me and Mama in running the Pastry," he said.
 "Don't worry son. Your Mom is running fine. Bianca and Jana help her. Where are you now?"
"I'm here with Aunt Zia."
"It's good. Just be careful with that. I will call you with any updates on your case."
"Go ahead, Pa. Thanks!" And he turned off his cellphone.
He was relieved to hear from his Papa. At least the authorities found a different angle in the case involving him. And he smiled to think that his parents were partners in running his business. It still has a chance of coming back.
He lay down again and smilingly picked up the book he was reading earlier, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. He saw it on his Aunt's table in the living room so he borrowed it to read. His reading is still a bit thick and he hasn't been able to divide it yet.
He avoided Dante for four consecutive days. And since his Aunt's house is not that big, his room is the only hideout to avoid the man.
That afternoon he was forced to go out when he saw that his laundry was piled up in the room.
He simply went to the backyard.
Dante was afraid he wouldn't see him. He was about to sit on the stool when he felt him behind him.
"I will fetch water for you, Giovanna," he volunteered to him.
"Don't. Sto!, I can do it, eh." As usual, he didn't look at him.
He sighed before speaking. "Giovanna, do we have a problem?"
"Nothing," he responded evasively and immediately stood up to leave. Before he could leave, he grabbed him by the arm.
"There is, eh. You've been avoiding me for four days. Not moving. And I know that's because of what happened to us that afternoon."
"Let's not talk about that, shall we?" he said fatly to him and tried to break free from his hold on him.
"We need to talk about that," it said.
"For what? To hurt ourselves? I'm engaged, Dante ! So please, leave me alone and forget what happened to us!" After saying that, he immediately left. He left him standing there, seemingly stunned by what he said.
Since he did that, he himself avoided him. After its household chores, it leaves and will have lunch or it will be dusk if it returns home. It was like something pinched his heart and he felt guilty for what he had done. He wanted to talk to him but he really couldn't. It would be better if the two of them were in this situation so that he could avoid guilt.
He woke up early the next morning. He cooked something for them to share for breakfast. He didn't see Dante around. He thought it might be at the beach or at the resort and his Aunt ordered something here. But when lunch came and he still didn't see him, that's when he got worried so he called his Aunt Zia at the resort.
"He left earlier, saying goodbye to me.
He didn't even tell me where he was going," he said on the other line.
He frowned. He felt guilty.
Maybe he was forced to ask the police for help to find out his identity. The tension between the two of them may not last much longer.
"Oh go ahead, Aunt. I was just wondering because he's not here at home. Go ahead and maybe I'm bothering you.
Bye," he said goodbye.
It was THIRTEEN in the afternoon when Dante arrived. Giovanna couldn't stop his self and greeted him with a hug. He is very worried about it.
"Where did you come from and you worried me so much," he said, starting to cry.
Dante smiled when he saw his reaction to being gone for a few hours. "Why, were you worried that I wouldn't be able to come back?"
He nodded with tears still rolling down his cheeks. "Have you eaten yet?"
"Not yet, eh."
He immediately pulled him to the dining table and served him something to eat. He let him eat. He wanted to ask him many questions, but he would just let him finish his meal.
"You worry me a lot," he said while looking at it.
"I know. So, it means we're okay?"
He just nodded and he came to him. "Where did you go?"
"In town," he answered him sparingly while staring at him. "I thought maybe someone would recognize me there. But no one. I wanted to get away from here because you don't pay attention to me anymore.
I can't bear to see you suffer in our situation."
"I'm sorry! You made me feel even more guilty."
It laughed. "Giovanna?"
"Yeah?"
"You said before, you don't want to talk about what happened to us," he said. "Okay, I won't dig into that any more. But, please give me a chance to tell you everything I want to tell you now. After I've said everything, I'll be quiet." 
He was about to answer but his finger sealed his mouth.
"Please, listen to me," he begged him. "I thought I could handle your evasions mine But later on, I felt lacking. My day is not complete without you. I miss our company. When we walk on the beach holding hands and talking, laughing. I often dream of you. I see no other face, only yours."
"But Dante "
"I know it's wrong to love you, Giovanna. But it's more of a sin to hide my feelings from you. I love you so much, Giovanna. I now have a reason not to stay away from here. And you are that reason, Giovanna .I know I have amnesia. But here..." He pointed to the heart on his chest.
"In the memory of my heart, you'll never fade. You will never be forgotten, Giovanna. My memory will never forget you. But in my heart, you're there and it won't be forgotten." He felt his heart drowning in joy at his words.
He loves to admit to him that he has no other wish but for him to stay with him. If only it were possible. But, he is set to marry Enzo.
He gently squeezed his hand. He was still staring at him. "I love you, Giovanna. Let me make you feel this love of mine. I won't ask you to respond to it. It's enough for me to make you feel my love." 
He still couldn't move. He didn't even have a scratchy voice in his throat. He was dumbfounded and out of his mind floating on a cloud because of what he heard from Dante . He felt sorry for Dante .
Without saying a word, he hugged him tightly.
"I'll let you think about it first. I'll give you space, Giovanna."
Dante was NOT teasing Giovanna about his love for him for the next few days. Everything seems casual to them. They are still happy to talk and work together in the house.
"I'll put it away," he volunteered one morning after they had eaten.
"Don't stop. I'll hold it tight. You just stay in the living room and watch TV."
"Nope. I'm going to help you finish right away and we can walk to the beach again. I miss taking a bath there with you," he said with a touch of caressing.
He was thrilled by his guidance. "Okay, it's up to you."
They helped each other wash what they ate. Then they also cleaned the whole kitchen.
After that, they left the house and started walking on the beach.
"It's nice to take a bath today. The sea water must be warm," he said.
"Yes. Do you want to take a shower?"
"Yes, let's go!" And he pulled him into the water.
When they were in the water, they were like children who paddled and splashed in the water. Laughter
Laughter can be heard all around. When they got fed up, they raced to swim to the beach. There they lay panting on the sand.
When he is with Dante he forgets everything. His problem. Enzo. Everything. It has a different influence on him. His day wouldn't be complete if he didn't spend the whole day with him.
"I'm so happy," he declared while catching his breath.
"Why?" asked him with a frown
Dante .
"I don't know! All I know is that I'm happy now. You?" And he turned to it. He saw him looking up at the sky.
"Very happy. Because I'm with you," he replied to him who was now looking at him. He grabbed something from his pocket and immediately put it on his hand.
"What is it?" he asked with a frown to Dante while staring into the young man's eyes.
"I know the day will come when my memory will come back. This bracelet will help me to recognize you. Wear this bracelet everyday and please don't remove this. Even if my mind forgets you, but the memory of my heart will always remember you." It was a bracelet made of small sea shells. He liked it.
When he looked up, their eyes met. He averted his gaze from him and stood up from lying next to him. Maybe he'll kiss him again. Maybe he couldn't help his self and responded to his kisses like before. He knew he was serious about those words that Dante said. He could see in Dante 's eyes how true it was to what he told him.
"Let's go! It's getting late at night," he said.
He also stood up and they walked home together.

Book Comment (58)

  • avatar
    Liyana Mohammad

    Nice story

    12d

      0
  • avatar
    YAt

    مومتيع

    29/09

      0
  • avatar
    AmirAmir

    nice

    27/09

      0
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