If Ever | Damiano David Story

Chapter 18 | In Rome

"Ciao a tutti." I say as I walk out of the bar.

It's been a month since I've moved to Italy and I'm still trying to process everything that's changing in my life. I got a job as a barwoman at a bar in Trastevere. It's mid-summer, meaning it's a tourist season so my luck of Italian speaking wasn't a big problem. I'm still taking intense courses to learn Italian though. I have set it as a goal to get my Italian on a decent level, and be able to use it on my daily life, until September and I think I'm going to make it. I've been working for two weeks now, and I have met some nice people already. My social nature came in handy, for sure. The money I make from working is decent, but if you include the tips, that are very generous in the summer, thanks to tourism, they are more than enough for me to live comfortably and put some money aside because you never know.

I rent a small studio apartment in Trastevere. It's really tiny, but the neighborhood is just so beautiful, and I can't even believe that I actually live here. I walk to the crowded streets of Trastevere with a huge smile on my face. I love this city and I feel so lucky to live here. My apartment is about ten minutes away which is very convenient for me, since the night walking in a city I don't know, did make me a little anxious.

I walk into my apartment and open the light. I'm not going to lie. My apartment is kind of sad, since it's almost empty. Except from the necessary stuff, like fridge and oven, that were included, it has no furniture. Only a matter on the floor by the window. And my stuff is spread around all the apartment. My suitcases are thrown on the floor and open and there are clothes coming out of them. I should really invest some money on furniture and I will once I settle down.

I lay on the mattress and grab my phone. I open it and see a message from Marsia asking me If I'm done with my shift and whether I can talk. I videocall her and wait for her to answer.

"Hey."

"Hi." I say smiling. I know I've only been gone for a month, but I miss her so much already. "What's up?"

"I booked plane tickets to come and see you."

"Really? When?" I'm really happy hearing that. I could really use some company and hers is the best I could ask for. As I said, I've met some nice people, but I haven't really come close with any, except Sienna, my coworker, but I'm positive that I will eventually.

"First week of August."

"Yay." I say excited. "That's awesome news."

"There's more."

"What?" I ask not knowing what else it can be.

"Nefeli is coming too."

"What?" I ask excited. Nefeli is my little sister whom I have also missed so much. "When did you plan it?"

"We've been planning it for some days now. We wanted to surprise you."

"That's so awesome."

"We're going to have so much fun. And by then you'll have new Italian friends that you're going to introduce me." She winks at me.

I chuckle but I'm happy to see that she's moving on. Some days after I left Greece, she and Stefanos decided to end things and I could tell that she was a little sad. So, I'm happy to see that she's feeling better now. "I'm happy to see you like that."

"Of course." She says forcing a smile. "Its about time I find myself again."

"How are things between you two?"

She hesitated for a second. "We're cool. I actually went by the bar today with Zoe and it was okay. It's not perfect but we're working on it."

"I'm glad." I really want them to get along because I love them both and I know how important their friendship is to them. I really hope they'll get through this and be good friends again.

"What about you? Have you met anyone interesting?"

I shrug my shoulders. "That's the last thing running through my head right now."

"Is it really?"

It is and it isn't at the same time. I have no interest in meeting anyone at the moment but there is someone that I wish I could meet. Since the night of the Eurovision, I couldn't deny my feeling any more which sucked. I don't like feelings and I never seemed to have a problem moving on from someone but this time it's different and it drives me crazy. I can't stop thinking about him and it got even worse since I moved here. The night they won Eurovision I texted him to congratulate him, and he replied to me saying thanks but nothing more. I never told him that I was moving in Rome. I just couldn't do it and I felt like I didn't have the right to. I was the one to hurt him and it didn't feel right contacting him now. I should just let it be and move on.

"Why don't you text him to tell him you're in Rome?"

"We've been through this before." I tell her looking away from the screen. "He's not even in Rome. What's the point?"

"What do you mean he's not in Rome?"

"Haven't you seen their social media? They're in a different country every week. They have concerts all over Europe."

"Okay Leda. You know best."

I smile at her not saying anything.

"Anyway, I should let you rest. I miss you. Goodnight."

"Goodnight." I reply smiling before I hung up the phone.

I place the phone on the floor next to me andlie to my bed. I don't want to be thinking about him, but I can't seem to stopand being in Italy makes it worst. Everything reminded me of him and I couldn'tstop thinking about our "If ever". The first time I had to say goodbye to himhe had told me that If I was ever in Rome... and here I was, in Rome, alone in myapartment.