La Prima Luna (The First Moon)

Chapter 9 : Not Just a Bunch of Kids

Tense. That was the only word that came into her mind after fifteen—maybe even twenty minutes of sitting in silence. She was sitting at a small dining table, in a small room of the small house that was passed on to Giotto. The blond himself sat at the left end of the table; his elbow placed on top of it to support his head with his palm on his left cheek. His eyes looked lazy as his head faced the door, and not the man who sat across him. Clearly, he was avoiding an eye contact. The other man, who was sitting at the right end, was Ricardo. His position was different, yet it held the same meaning. He sat, while completely facing the door, with his hands crossed and eyes closed. Val took the last sip from her teacup and then glanced at the other two cups from which the steam wasn’t coming out anymore. She sighed.

Just an hour ago, when she was with Giotto in front of his house, Ricardo came. As soon as he spotted Ricardo behind Val, he stood and mentioned Ricardo’s name. Ricardo seemed dangerous at first as if a dark aura surrounded him. His expression was even more sinister compared to G. Just when she was about to ask Giotto who he was, Ricardo said something unbelievable.

“Long time no see, cousin.”

“...”

That was it. No small-talk, no hug, no fist exchanges, not even a smile. Nothing.

“Come in, I’ll make you some tea,” Giotto welcomed his cousin flatly as he turned around and went inside his house. Val stood frozen for a moment before she realized her hands being pulled by Giotto.

“Eh? G-Giotto, wait. Shouldn’t I be going home?”

“Hm? Why?” he asked innocently.

“Why?? Well, don’t you need some privacy? It’s been a long time since you two have met, right? Especially—at this kind of time,” she replied hesitantly, not wanting to mention Antonio’s death. She thought they needed privacy to talk about their grandfather.

He responded with a weak giggle, and said, “Help me—to make tea. Please.” His face looked as if he was begging. She nodded in defeat and then turned to Ricardo.

“Salve, I’m Valentina,” she introduced herself as polite as always. Ricardo only nodded.

“I believe you know my name already,” he answered before going inside right away. But there wasn’t much talking since then and that was how they ended up sitting together as statues.

She simply couldn’t take the tight atmosphere anymore. She stood up and was about to say something to break the silence before she heard a door creaking.

“Hey Val. Thought you’d be here, mom was looking for you,” G informed as soon as he spotted his sister.

“Oh, it’s you. What was it about?”

“You know, it’s about breakfa-” He stopped when his eyes caught something ‘new’.

“Ri-Ricardo!?”

“Eh? You know him too??”

“Of course I know him! He’s Giotto’s cousin.”

Ricardo didn’t even budge. However, Val could sense that he was feeling annoyed.

“Well, then, you should go home and have breakfast,” Giotto said to Val, smiling.

“AH! Right! Breakfast! I should be helping my mom cooking!” She panicked and hurried her way back home as she shouted, “Ciao!”

“Ciao!”

“I didn’t know he’s coming, Giotto,” G spoke.

“Hm? Haven’t I told you?”