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“Amico mio. Surely, you see that leaving Italy is a mistake, no?”
Cabrizzio’s emerald eyes sparkled with passion as he gestured enthusiastically towards the many regions and provinces of Italy on the map. By contrast, life seemed to leak out of the tourist’s eyes as they tried their best to pay attention to the model-like man’s speech. Taking a deep breath in, the tourist mustered what was left of their inner strength to interrupt the Italian when something on the TV behind them caught Cabrizzio’s attention.
“Ultime notizie. David Most, amministratore delegato di Valdivian, si sta avvicinando alla casa di Coolsville. Il residente…”
Cabrizzio’s arm dropped from the tourist’s shoulder and the latter quickly slipped away with a sigh of relief. Cabrizzio found himself doing what he had never done. He let his “stay in Italy” speech go unfinished as he abandoned his post to get closer to the TV. His heart drummed in his chest. He was sure he did not mishear it. He was sure that Coolsville had just been mentioned on the large screen mere moments ago. His Amore. “ It could not be…” He found his throat tighten as the thought that something bad, very bad could be happening to her right now.
On the screen, the helicopter landed and out came a funny looking man with short stature. The camera zoomed in on the man, David Most, and Cabrizzio found himself wondering if the man was not somehow a cardboard box realized into a person. That would not surprise him. As the man approached, the sturdy door of the lovely house opened. There went his hope that Dorian would somehow be able to guard his Amore from what was to come.
Cabrizzio never regretted coming to Italy. He never regretted falling in love with Italy just as much as it had fallen in love with him. He never even regretted being the first to be realized and the first to leave la casa. At least, until now. He found himself wanting nothing more than boarding the next plane to the US, to Coolsville. What he wouldn’t trade to be standing between Most and his Amore right now, so that he could shield her from whatever woes the sinister little man had in store for her.
The camera zoomed in once more and the lens focused to reveal someone exiting the house. Cabrizzio felt his heart sung the melody of longing with all its being. She was radiant. Gone was the rough diamond who had shyly asked him if he was referred to her as the “Beauty” during their first meeting (official meeting, thanks to the Dateviator). With her hair lightly curled to frame her lovely face and her red blazer, she looked even more dazzling than the last time he had the pleasure to spend in her embrace. She shone brilliantly. With her height, she easily towered over Most and looked every part the CEO that Most was not.
He watched the confrontation with bated breath. He felt his back rigid and tense. Tenser than even when he was a cabinet, he dared say. There was no audio to the live report, so he only had the two’s expressions to decipher. Most smirked and said something with cocky bravado. Whatever he said did not phase Cabrizzio’s beloved one bit. She looked down on him, literally and metaphorically.
“Me Amore. You got this. You are braver, stronger and more courageous than any warrior they have written about.”
He whispered, as if his tender words could somehow make their way to her. His gaze warm as he regarded her.
She too wore a soft gaze as she responded to Most. The villain laughed, though his eyes did not smile. Then, he stopped. And began to… cry? He wept openly after receiving a soft shake of her head and gentleness in her eyes. David Most, cruel and uncaring CEO of Valdivian left with his head down and tears pouring after speaking with his Amore. Cabrizzio found his muscles relaxing, though the urge to board the next plane did not relent. For now, he had to content himself with admiring her. So kind was his Amore, so empathetic was she that even a heartless villain like Most was defeated with love. The thought awoke his dormant urge, his burning desire to hold her in his embrace, to kiss her luscious lips senseless. It was so overwhelming that Cabrizzio for once was at a loss for words.
He closed La Casa Nostra early that night. Then came home and paced around his apartment. He looked through the many letters he had received from her and then his latest one he had written mere days ago, which was still on his table. He felt… torn. He loved Italy. Italy loved him back just as fiercely. Yet, seeing the event unfolded on the screen today was enough to yank the invisible strings wrapped around his heart back to Coolsville. What a fraud they would call him, if he was to leave Italy. He, who has made it his mission, his raison d’etre to introduce Italy to countless amico from all walks of the world and then to embark on convincing them to stay (because they must have lost their minds to want to leave Italy after seeing all the wonderful things here, right?).
He read her letters, one after another, again and again. He carefully packed them in his suitcase. He unpacked his suitcase after the invisible pleading eyes of Italy cried at him. He packed his suitcase again after his heart threatened him with a permanent strike. He scarcely slept that night, his bed felt too empty somehow.
At the crack of dawn, Cabrizzio was up and headed to the airport, suitcase in tow. Frustration soon followed as he learned that he would need a visa to enter the U.S. That made no sense. He had left the U.S. without one. Why would they demand one now to return?
Several hours that he could not afford later, he came back to the airport with a visa for U.S entry in hand. Government workers were people too. And he found that people were quite genial and helpful when offered a friendly smile (from a handsome face and hypnotic emerald eyes). He hurried towards the nearest counter, determined to get on the next flight to Coolsville.
Cabrizzio passed by his closed La Casa Nostra’s kiosk and found someone standing there with their back against him. They wore the most eye catching red shirt. His heart thundered in his chest. It could not be, could it? Time slowed down as he walked over.
“Ho paura che sia chiuso. It might not be open for quite some time.”
He spoke hesitantly, his throat uncharacteristically tighten.
“That’s a shame. I hear the owner is excellent at introducing Italy to tourists. And even better at convincing people to stay.”
She turned around and his heart soared. Dropping his luggage, he ran to her. He swept her up in his arms and did the one thing his lips felt like they were made for. Indeed, his entire human body was made to love her, was it not?
“ Me Amore! Fiore Del Mio Cuore! Is it you?”
He said as he tightened his embrace and peppered kisses on her lips and face.
“I hope so. Otherwise, you would have made a stranger very confused. And very delighted, Cabrizzio.”
She giggled and then planted her lips on his. Her kiss was slow at first, then quickly deepened with a fervor that matched his own. He wrapped his arm around her frame and she ran her fingers through his hair with the same neediness that he felt. In between kisses, they hurriedly exchanged confessions of love. Their kisses continued for a long time until one of them regained their senses and wherewithal to realize they were at a very public airport.
Cabrizzio beamed at her, taking in the sight of his Amore till his heart got its fill. Fortunately, his heart was as fathomless as his love for her. There was but one thing left to do, he realized in that moment.
He dropped down on one knee. He was glad to have learned of this human’s tradition.
“ Me Amore. Will you, Flower of My Heart…”
With tears brimming in her eyes, she leaned down and planted a kiss on his lips.
“Convince me to stay, Cabrizzio. Then I will say yes.”
“ Me Amore. I love you.”
“I love you too, La Salvaguardia Del Mio Cuore.”
La Salvaguardia Del Mio Cuore - safeguard of my heart. Cabrizzio did not think he could love her more. As she said those words, a realization had dawned on him. They might not know if they would stay in Italy. They might not know if they would return to Coolsville. But they were home. Finally, he was back where he belonged: La Casa Nostra. La Casa Nostra - Our Home.