Luca and Alberto :)

thats gay

Alternative title: fish boy learns what gay means

Since the school year was over, Luca and Giulia returned home to Portorosso, newfound knowledge and memories still fresh in their minds.

They had settled back in nicely Giulia greeting her papa warmly, and then Alberto grabbing Luca and Giulia quickly, dragging them outside.

Luca had missed Alberto greatly, so much so that it became a problem back at the academy.
———

The day it became clear what that feeling meant, was permanent in his mind:

He became so distracted from his classes,
Giulia realized she was the one that had to snap him back to reality.

"Luca, ma che fai?"

(translation: what are you doing?)

Luca snapped out of thought, a blush covering his cheeks as he realized he had zoned out.

They had just finished dinner, and Luca was helping her with dishes, her mom had just left to meet a friend.

"Scusa! It's nothing, really, I've just been... thinking over some things."

(translation: sorry)

"Oh yeah? Cos'è?"She says, focusing on scrubbing the dishes and handing them to Luca to wipe them dry.

(translation: what is it?)

"Well... it's just..." Luca scratched his neck in embarrassment.

"Go on."

Luca groans, over exaggerating. "Well, you know how people, well, humans and sea monsters, get married?" His face went red. "Well maybe not married... get together? And then like are a couple?"

Giulia looks at him confused. "Si?"

"What if... what if it wasn't a boy and a girl couple?" Luca finally gets his point out.

Giulia smiles, "Santa mozzarella! I thought you were going to ask something else." She takes a breath.

Luca looks at her confused. "Like what?"

"Nothing, never mind, but yeah Luca, there are couples that consist of both boys, or both girls... or not."

"Oh." Luca seems shocked but overall pleased, as a shy smile appeared on his face.

"There, finito!" Giulia says as they finish their last dish and go sit on the couch.
Luca, although still lost in thought, continued to smile.

(translation: finished)

"So... you have anyone in mind?" Giulia asks, elbowing Luca to get his attention.

"W-what!? N-no." He says, crossing his arms, erasing the trace of any emotion from his face.

"Luca, come on you have to tell me who you're gay for!"

"Gay?" He asks.

"Oh yeah, gay, that's what you call it, well I mean there's a more technical term but it doesn't really make sense until next years biology class." Giulia informs him.

"I've heard some of the upper class men use the word before, to describe their friends? Or certain things?" Luca shares his observation in the form of a question.

"Oh yeah, ugh it's so over used but they basically use it to call anything like strange or unusual or.. sometimes bad... but I think it's just cause they're closeted."

"Bad??? Closeted??"

"Closeted means when a gay person hasn't told anyone they're gay, and... Bad like... people don't think it's natural, or ethical or even legally right..." Giulia trails off.