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03

LORENZO

I head into the bedroom remembering how crazy the beginning of my evening was, it's getting late and I need to get back before you notice my absence.

“Our question. But I think that before I answer them I want to know why such a beautiful girl is alone and crying here, an isolated place and that as far as I know only I came – I say observing the girl who seems to be calmer.”

“Well, I don't know you, and from what I know I shouldn't be here at girls' school. So I guess the one who has to answer something is you," he says with his beautiful nose.

“Fair enough. Well, my name is Fernando, I study at the school next door and really shouldn't be here, but I discovered in these gardens a refuge. Come to think of it, I wouldn't mind sharing with you that you seem to be so sad.”

I realize she doesn't recognize me, maybe she's the only one who doesn't know me in this school and that's good because I can get to know her better without my last name speaking louder.

“It's not worth it, but anyway my name is Francesca and I study here. I'm new, actually, I mean it's been three months since I've been in this school and the first time I've been here. Things are tough you know...”

"Isn't the adjustment easy?"

I get out of my thoughts with my friend, Guiseppe, running towards me looking flustered.

“Dude, let's go fast! The inspection will begin and we must be in our rooms. You lingered today, what happened, I mean, where were you?”

“I was in my refuge, but anyway, let's go I need to tell you something interesting that happened to me.”

“Man, you play with danger, you know that if they catch you in the gardens of the school next door the thing can get ugly on your side. If this happens even your last name will not save you.”

“I know, but it was by taking a chance that I met a beautiful girl and that captivated my attention.”

“How is it? Has anyone seen you?”

“Yes, but she didn't seem to recognize me, believe me? I even took advantage of it and gifted myself as Fernando only, I don't want my last name to stand out from me. And thinking about it I didn't lie, I just omitted my first name.”

Everyone knows me as Lorenzo Rocatelli, but they forget that my name is Lorenzo Fernando Rocatelli.

“Dude, that's bizarre. Who in Florence does not know you, the only heir of the largest pasta company in Italy. Isn't she fooling you.”

“Dude, I saw sincerity in her, without commenting on the way she behaved. She didn't throw herself on top of me like any other and still tried to intimidate me by saying she was wrong to enter the grounds of the girls' school.” - I laugh.

“She wasn't wrong.”

“Yes, it wasn't. But if it was another one I could use it to blackmail me, especially if this other one was Rafaella.”

We went into our room and lay down, waiting for the inspection to pass.

As soon as we get ready the door opens and the monitor puts its head inside.

"It's time to turn off the lights," he says and waits for the lights to go out.

As soon as I flip the switch above my bed, the light goes out and he walks out shutting the door.

I take a break and turn on the lamp light.

"Man, these rules are too boring, it's not even nine at night and we need to be in bed. We're not kids anymore, we're sixteen," Giuseppe says as he sits up in bed. “But tell me more about the girl you met who didn't recognize you.”

"She's beautiful, a natural beauty I hadn't seen out there. Not to mention that the conversation flowed well, without talking about fortune, just about life in a deeper way. I can't explain it, but she touched me. She seemed to carry a deep sadness. I wanted to embrace her and protect her from the world.

“Has my friend been tied? I lived to see that. Be prepared that when Rafaella finds out it will make your life and the girl a living hell.”

“Rafaella sucks, she may be beautiful, but she becomes horrible because of the way she acts with others. And another, she's not my owner or anything of mine. My father may even want me to marry her, but that's not going to happen, he can write it down. I feel nothing for her but pity for the horrible person she is.”

“Well it's not here anymore who spoke, just be careful that this girl is not a scammer and curl you up.”

“Rest assured, I know how to take care of myself. Now let's sleep that tomorrow classes start early. Good night.”

“Good evening, my friend.”

Guiuseppe is a good friend, I have known him since I came to study here at the age of eight, we identified at first and became inseparable, so much so that on vacation he usually goes to my house and together we travel around.

We grew closer when his parents passed away in a plane crash.

It was a very difficult time in my friend's life, but I was by his side at all times and fortunately he got back on his feet.

He is heir to a large agricultural machinery company and my father's company is one of his main customers.

Since my friend is a minor, his uncle is his tutor and takes care of the company until he comes of age and takes over the company.

I consider my friend, the brother I didn't have.

I turn off the lamp light, but I can't close my eyes remembering the conversation I had with the most thought-provoking girl I've ever met.

Why was she so sad?

"Let's do it this way, you just tell me what you feel comfortable with and every time you feel lonely come here to talk a little. I always come here to think about life and having your company will be something very pleasant.

“I'm usually not treated that way, but thanks. I'll remember that.”

"So you're new here?" By the way it's not liking it very much.

“That's not it, it's that it's not easy to be different. I'm not like the other girls, I don't have a big last name, but anyway I don't want to talk about it.”

“I see.”

There I understood that she should not belong to high society, she should probably be studying at the girls' school due to a scholarship, even her dress caught my attention.

Not that I care, but I realized it didn't seem to be new, especially for someone who's been in school for such a short time.

Knowing this, I believe that Rafaella and her friends must be making the girl's life a living hell. I know those girls and they love to trample the less well-off.

Why does this girl intrigue me so much?

Something in her screams for protection and I'll do it, but how?

I don't know.

I'll try to learn more about her and whoever finds a way to help her at least be more accepted.

How will I be able to get to it if I don't show up in the garden again?

I need to see her again, I need to talk to her more.

I roll over in bed and nothing of sleep comes. I close my eyes and only see beautiful eyes as black as night. Her low, embarrassed look, her flushed cheeks, her beautiful hair...

She's beautiful, just beautiful.

Her name is gorgeous like her and sounds like a sweet melody when pronounced.

Francesca...

What have you gone through or gone through, Francesca?

What will be your story?

I need to earn your trust to find out, I need to see you again.

Tomorrow I will try to find her again even though it is risky, I will just need my friend to help me not to get caught and I know he will gladly do it.

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