Philophobia: A GerIta story

Chapter 2: Feliciano

I hum softly as Noodle leads me down the street towards the bakery I own with my twin brother, Lovino. Antonio, Lovino's boyfriend, also helps out when Lovino is in school.

Noodle stops, so I do as well, hearing cars rush by in front of me. I smile down at her, or at least somewhere around her, "thank you Noodle, good girl!"

I always tell her this, thanking her and telling her she's doing a good job is very important to me.

Lovino laughed when I named her Noodle, but Antonio loved the name right away!

She is a Siberian Husky, and is able to take over for me, as long as I hold enough command over her that is. Lovino told me that Noodle will always protect me from people that are dangerous, and although I'm not sure that's 100% true, it makes me a little braver.

The smell of delicious, if I do say so myself, pastries hits my nose, and I smile brightly, following Noodle into the bakery I co-own.

I could hear people, too many voices for me to figure out the exact amount, surrounding me as I let Noodle lead me to the kitchen.

Someone once told me that I shouldn't be working in a restaurant due to being blind, something about messing up an order, and especially with a dog that could shed or something along those lines.

I simply told them that; 'I was taught by my grandfather Roma, God bless his soul, to bake despite my illness, I haven't messed up an order since I was 12.' I never got another comment, thankfully.

"Feli!" Antonio says from around 6 feet away, I hear his footsteps walking towards me from around the table. He wraps me in a hug, and I giggle, returning the hug. "Hello Toni! Is Lovi coming back soon?" I hear a snort behind me.

I turn, facing my twin. "Lovi! How was class?" I hug him, although he has to catch me, as I aimed a bit too far to the right. He sighed, "class was fine, I ate lunch with Arthur, Emma, and Camille."

Arthur was like me, although he was only blind in one eye. He told me that he will likely become blind in the other within 10 years. Emma is a long time friend, since we were in elementary school, and is studying to be a veterinarian. Camille is mute, but it never stopped her, as she is the youngest law student in her class, only 18.

Antonio ruffled my hair, making me giggle. "Sorry Feli, but I need to take care of the customers out there, hungry for their delicious pastries you two make," he says, I hear his footsteps as he leaves the kitchen.

Lovino claps his hands together. "Okay bastard, we got things to make, I got the coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, you get to mixing the red velvet, peppermint bark, and pumpkin cupcakes, all the cakes and cookies are out already, but the chocolate chip ones are nearly out, I got those in the oven now."

I nod at his orders, sitting Noodle by one of the chairs.

I know this kitchen like the back of my hand.

My hands run over smooth tables, finding where Antonio left the ingredients out for me.

The recipe is done in Braille, which Lovi hands to me, just incase I forget.

But I never forget.

I roll up my sleeves, running over the scars that are permanently craved in my arms, gently touching the biggest and deepest one for a moment longer.

I can't see it, but I know Lovi is looking at them with pure sadness as he does every time they show. I know he remembers that night, even though I don't.