PSPA

7

"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." - Carl Sagan

BENEDETTA'S POV:

"E amore mio grande amore che mi credi, vinceremo contro tutti e resteremo in piedi e resterò al tuo fianco fino a che vorrai, ti difenderò da tutto non temere mai.." I hum Mengoni's song as I continue to look at the empty road... or rather, empty of buses.

Palermo's public transportation system is a disaster. While in the north they complain about minutes, in the south we should thank the heavens if we find a bus within half an hour. Actually, the worst part isn't the late bus... it's the crowded people on it, and in the summer the smell of sweat becomes so unbearable that you feel like walking around with a gas mask.

I raise my eyes to the passing cars and increase the volume of the song.

Eleonora loves this singer, and she has infected me a bit. It always ends up like this, you're not interested in a song, but then you end up humming it because of your sister is playing it at home.

"Giuro sarò roccia contro il fuoco e il gelo, veglio su di te, io sono il tuo guerriero...."

It's not the continuation of the song; I've finished listening to all the songs on the playlist and returned to the first song. It's been 45 damn minutes in the meantime, and I'm seriously considering walking.

I huff, crossing my legs, thinking it's time to report the Amat... it's not possible that I have to spend half a day at a stupid bus stop! A person seriously risks sunstroke waiting for a bus that will never come.

I sigh annoyed and go to fiddle with the Smurf, which sways attached to the zipper of the backpack, but suddenly I hear a honk not too far from me.

I don't raise my gaze, sure it's not directed at me, and grabbing the Smurf, I squeeze it, releasing some of my frustration on its poor fabric body.

It honks again, and I raise my head to see if there's someone else waiting for the bus with me, but I don't see anyone... there's only me around.

It honks again, and I wonder what this person's problem is to honk the horn like a madman with no one around.

I raise my sunglasses in confusion, but I can't clearly see the person inside the Range Rover... the windows are tinted, and I can't see anything.

I put my glasses back on and lower my eyes, but with the corner of my eye, I see a tall, imposing man coming towards me, dressed elegantly with a relaxed posture.

I decide not to raise my eyes anyway, afraid he might mistake me for a prostitute, and I continue to squeeze the Smurf... strange that it hasn't worn out considering how much I'm digging my nails into it.

"Now you're pretending not to know me too?" a hoarse voice asks a few steps away from me.

My heart races with fear and I slowly raise my eyes, holding my breath to see who it is. "Professor," I mutter speechlessly.

What the hell is he doing here, and why is he speaking to me outside of school?

Every alarm goes off inside me, and clutching my backpack, I say, "Sorry, I didn't see you arrive."

"Or were you pretending not to see me arrive?" he says, taking off his sunglasses and pointing those magnetic eyes at me, making me lose all sense.

His insinuation makes me assume a more confident posture, and rolling my shoulders back, I mutter, "I wouldn't have any reason to pretend."

"I think you do," he replies, trying to intimidate me.

In reality, he succeeds, but I'll never give him the satisfaction of seeing me intimidated. Not anymore. "I think it's water under the bridge. We could move on from the misunderstanding, don't you think?" I ask, smiling innocently.