Amami teneramente
It was a hot summer day in the large Mediterranean town of Portorosso, a little island sort of similar to Cinque Terre, but more vibrant and filled with colorful people. This town had a reputation for harpoons, and it’s shoreline views and beautiful landscapes. But the town was mostly known for a big family known as the Bartellis. A long family line that has dated since the 1800s. They have been known to slaughter sea monsters, and have grown to have a following. Now, in the late 1950s, the last remaining offspring, Vittoria was destined to fulfill what her ancestors have done since then.
The girl was walking around the sidewalks of Portorosso, the Fisherman on the ocean, kids eating watermelon, and people playing a round of a game that originated in Italy called Scopa. “ scopa!” cries an elderly man at a wooden table with a man on the other side, cheering with laughter as he won the game. Vittoria smiles at the people crowding the match, her tan hands carrying what seemed to be a crate full of harpoon parts and spare tools. She walks to her families local shop, “ gli arpioni di Bartelli.” which bestowed all the materials you could want for your harpoon, imported from across islands.
Vittoria looked up at the sun as she held onto the crate, before she heard a familiar beeping from a vehicle, a scooter, or even,, a Vespa. She gracefully turned her head to see a ruby red Vespa being driven by Ercole Visconti, wearing a blue shirt, blue shorts, and dark brown slick hair, a grin was on his face, sunglasses covering his brown eyes as he stopped by the gelato store, his friends, Ciccio and Guido were beside him.
“ fretta! go get me my sandwich!” he exclaimed in his italian accent while removing his sunglasses before sitting down, his henchmen, Ciccio and guido rushed to go get it. I guess you could say that they weren’t really his friends, but his loyal worshipers who do his dirty work. They return with the sandwich, Ercole elated. Vittoria walked up to him, ercole turning his head before he got up, grabbing her hand has he kissed it gently. “ ciao~” he said in a suave tone, a goofy romanticized smirk was on his straight laced face, helping her to a seat next to him, giving her two bouquets of flowers with Oleanders and peonys.
Vittoria gasped at them, and held them as she took a small whiff of them. “ oh, ercole... they are so beautiful!” She exclaimed, ercole smiling as he felt proud. The boys returned with the sandwich, the tiny friend, Guido, almost dropped the sandwich when seeing Vittoria. He has a infatuation with Vittoria, but remains to keep it a secret. the sandwich flops onto the table, ercole elated as he tore a piece of the sandwich, giving it to Vittoria. he took a bite out of his deli sandwich, Guido looking at Vittoria before ercole noticed “ ey! what are you looking at Guido..?” he snapped, guido looking at him, shaking his head fervently.
Ercole rose his eyebrows, shaking it off as he continued eating his sandwich, ercole finished the sandwich, and pulled Vittoria by her waist, kissing the temple of her head. “ you look stunning today.” he said, whispering in her ear a bit as she blushed, chuckling at his comment. Meanwhile, guido and ciccio were Watching then from afar, ciccio feeling like he achieved his goal to make ercole happy. Whilst, guido was sad that he will never be with Vittoria. and that it’s never meant to be.
