“When did you get back?”I finally asked, moving closer.
“About an hour ago, I think.Why do you ask?”she replied, smiling.I didn't answer; instead, I posed another question.
“When are you leaving again?”
“I have a photoshoot scheduled for tomorrow at the studio here; it was planned months ago, so I'm here for a couple of days.”She paused, glancing at me with concern, as if trying to read my mood.
“Is everything alright?Did you have a rough day?”she asked, concerned.
“Something like that,” I said, circling the kitchen table.
“Here, take the salad and set it on the table.Also, grab some wine from the fridge,” she instructed.
“Sure,” I responded curtly.
I then headed upstairs to drop off my backpack in my room.I longed for a long, soothing bath, but with only two showers and no tub, that wasn't an option.There wasn't time now for a shower either; dinner was nearly ready.I heard Dad coming down the stairs and decided to follow.I caught him wrapping his arms around my mom from behind, planting a kiss on her cheek that made her smile.
Just then, the doorbell rang.I opened the door to find Marco standing there, grinning as he pulled me into a hug—no kiss in front of my parents.
“Perfect, everyone's here!Let's sit down and enjoy a lovely meal,” Dad said, motioning for us to take our seats.“I missed you.I texted you, but you never replied, so I came over, and your mom opened the door,” Marco whispered once we were seated.
“Sorry about that.I was with my dad,” I said, glancing at him before shifting my focus to my mom.
“Can we talk later?”he asked.
“Of course,” I smiled at him, resting my hand on his knee.
“Here we go!I made plenty, so help yourselves.Parmesan is right here if you want some on top,” my mom announced, setting a large plate of ravioli in the center of the table.
“It's so lovely to have us all together,” Dad said, his voice filled with genuine happiness.
“So, how's school treating you, kids?”my mom inquired, her eyes darting curiously between Marco and me.
“It's going great, actually,” Marco replied, flashing a smile.
“Have you thought about your next steps?Any universities on your radar?”
“Yes, I have.I'm considering Milan; they offer an excellent biomedical engineering program.”
“That sounds really exciting,” my mom replied, clearly impressed, before redirecting her attention to me.
“And what about you, Luna?Are you planning to head to Rome for fashion design?”
“I've never liked Rome,” I shot back, my tone sharper than intended.
“Really?When was the last time you visited?We should plan a trip to see the university,” she suggested, continuing to enjoy her meal.I had just been there today and saw you kissing another man a few hours ago.But I couldn't voice that in front of my dad.Was it still lying if I kept the truth hidden?
“I was actually considering Milan too,” I replied instead.My mom’s jaw dropped slightly, and her onyx eyes fixed on me.I could tell she disapproved, thinking my choice was swayed by Marco’s decision.
“Well, that's interesting, sweetheart.You should explore all your options.We could even take a family trip to check out some universities if you'd like,” my dad suggested, somewhat taken aback.My mom remained silent, especially because of our guest.I noticed a flicker of hope in Marco’s expression, hinting at the possibility of us being in the same city next year.
“What's wrong with Milan?”I asked, irritation crept into my voice.
“Nothing at all; we just want to ensure you're choosing for the right reasons,” my dad replied, trying to keep his tone gentle.My frustration bubbled beneath the surface.
“It's fine; she still has time to think it over.I'm sure this isn't her final choice,” my mom chimed in, almost dismissively, as if I were just joking.
“Ravioli is fantastic, Mrs.Bernardi.Thank you for dinner,” Marco said, attempting to lighten the mood.
