Chapter 10 - The day of the exam

The next morning she gets up early, takes a shower, gets ready, in silence, in the room she takes her things, runs to the kitchen, prepares a quick coffee and runs to the university. She sees Marco they say hello, they do a quick review together, as if nothing had ever happened between them, and they go in to give the exam, at the end of the exam, Marco and Christel both come out smiling and they both meet the eyes of Cosimo, Pietro and Mara, the latter looks at Mara and signals her, of the done type, and she smiles at her and she starts jumping and runs into her arms << you're too nerdy >> << you'll see that it will arrive for you too today >> Marco approaches Pietro and greets him << how did it go? >> << Passed both with 30!! >> << Congratulations >> << Thank you Pie >> Cosimo keeps staring at Christel << How are you?? >> << yes, excuse me, best wishes >> << Thank you >> << Pie are you waiting here with Mara? >> << Yes yes, I'm with her so we can study a little before the exam>> Christel approaches << Good morning >> << Good morning nerd >> Pietro answers her, << Thank you nerd >> and they hug each other, Cosimo looks at her and smiles << Best wishes.. I can take you out to lunch >> << But we have to go home, and Claudia is coming to Reggio, ah Maraa come here>> << What's going on?? >> << Do you know a Daniele?? >> << Daniele? >> << Read this message >> Mara picks up Christel's phone and reads out loud:

< My loves, I hope everything goes well this morning, I'm always more proud of you, don't worry everything will be fine, I'm sure, anyway I'll join you in a few hours, I'm coming to Reggio and then I'll follow you to Cosenza, I talked to Cosimo's dad and he made me talk to Giuseppe and he gives me work in Cosenza too, have you already taken a house? That it a dream, the three of us together and if everything goes well with three boyfriens that are friends, ah today you will meet Daniele, I met him three nights ago at the riding school, I went horseback riding and I talked to Cosimo's dad and he introduced me to Daniele. >

Pietro and Cosimo start laughing with tears looking at the shocked faces of the girls.

<< Since when does she go riding at the riding school?? So we leave her alone for 3 days and she starts practising horseback riding and making friends with Pietro?? >> << But who is Daniele >> << Daniele is coming here to pick up the packages. >> << ah so you know Daniele?? >> << yes he's a friend of ours >> << ah.. and he's coming to pick up our packages?? >> << Yes to take them to Cosenza >> << ah.. Ok friend, let's get ready to meet Daniele, so then we have Qui, Quo, Qua >> Marco starts laughing to bend in two << What are you laughing at?? >> << I think of Christel and Mara's face when they see Daniele, and Daniele's face at Christel's interface, but do you know who Claudia was with?? I mean, I died at the story... >> << It's thanks to him that we got rid of Ciccio's cross >> Cosimo laughs << I thinks I should also thank him.. Thanks to his bullshit I met this cross >> << look you can get rid of it >> Pietro jumps into the conversation << go to lunch and don't talk you two, be silent until I get back!! Go meet Daniele and just talk to him, make him stupid!!! >> Mara bursts out laughing, Marco follows her, Cosimo looks at Christel, she smiles under the moustache, Mara hugs her << Love come on don't make that face, he's right come on, a little bit>> and greets her. Cosimo takes Christel under his arm and they leave the university.

They arrive home, Christel remains silent all the time, packs the last things, Cosimo looks at the tablet, they ring the door, it's Daniele and Claudia, they say hello and start bringing the packages down, Cosimo waits upstairs, at the last package Christel starts closing all the windows and asks Cosimo to start going down, Cosimo gets up and goes down and Christel closes the apartment and puts the keys in the mailbox and leaves. Claudia is waiting for her in front of her stain << my love Cosimo she said to wait's for you they went to the hotel >> << it's fine for me, tell me everything >> Claudia starts telling her about how Daniele approached to talk to her, how he didn't try right away, about their horseback ride, the laughs together and how they spent an afternoon and evening in tranquillity. Of how he called her right the next morning to ask her to go out in the afternoon and go back to the riding school, at that meeting they realised that they had mutual friends, Pietro and Cosimo, about Pietro's arrival and how he re-presented Daniele to her, without realising that they were there together, about the coffee taken together with Pietro, and how he was sorry for Claudia's situation called Giuseppe and made her take the job in Cosenza, also doing her the favour of calling her father and convincing him to make her go to Cosenza with her friends. << So you want to tell me that Pietro put the good word to you with your father? >> << Yes, it's fantastic!! >> << And your father who was never convinced by mine to make you come to Reggio was convinced by Pietro?? >> << Yes because they've known each other since school >> << ahh!! Good!! >> <> << that's who he got it from!! >> << Who?? >> << Like who?? Cosimo no?? >> << true excuse me, but what happened between you?? >> << forget it I'll tell you later, we're here!! >> They get out of the car, enter the hotel and find Daniele waiting for them << Christel your room is at 22, here are your keys, give your documents to the reception, Cosimo is in his room on the 24th, we go to join Pietro so we can surprise Mara >> << ok! >> They greet Christel and she goes to the reception and then goes up to her room. She also finds her tablet on the bed and she is happy, she can finally rest and have some peace, she takes a shower, puts on a trucksuit and takes the tablet, inserts the code and opens on the Youtube page, there is a song paused "Voglio Parla' cu tte" by Gianni Fiorellino, plays play, listens to it, tears invade her face, the song ends, but she restarts it, as if she wanted to look for an answer to her thoughts. Those words, continue to read her mind, and he continues to listen to her again and also starts humming her, she lies down on the bed, she doesn't know what decision to make, she doesn't know whether to write to him, she closes the tablet, opens the window, goes to the bathroom she washes her face, and returns to the room but sits on the floor near the window and looks outside, while holding her phone in her hand, and she receives a text message, from Cosimo :< I miss you > she visualises it but doesn't answer, then he writes to him she answers < No > < ok, then I'll be there > she smiles < and I don't open it for you > < and I will wait > she hears a knock on the door and a text message arrives < it's me > < hi > < what are you doing? > < I think > he sits outside the door and answers her < can we think together? > < ok > < do you think you love me? > < I think so > < I think I love you too > < ok > < then I think you can open the door > < why? > < because I think I'm already in your heart as you are in mine > < and what does it have to do with letting you in the room > < come sit next to the door > she gets up and sits next to the door < you're there right? > < yes > < what divides us > < a door, but what happen to you today?? > < it's up to you now, either you let me in and we'll try to get through everything, or you leave me out and I'll leave you> < and.. if we continue to hurt each other > < with time we'll get to know each other better > she holds the phone in her hands < what do you want to do? > she waits a few more minutes then writes to him < next time I won't open anymore> < I love you! > she gets up and opens, he looks at her and slowly helps himself and gets up, then approaches and hugs her << Pietro is right we just have to learn to communicate and not to burst, everything will always work out >> she smiles, << How do you feel? >> << better now >> << no how do you feel physically >> << a little tired >> << ok >> she sits on the bed, takes the double headphones, opens the tablet, Cosimo sits next to her << then you listened to the song >> << yes it's beautiful >> << What do you think if tonight we stay just you and me and we order a pizza in the room and watch a movie >> << I think it's a perfect plan >>

Claudia closes the phone << I can't believe these two have dismissed us >> << I think it's the best choice they've ever made, you haven't been here these days, they've been terrible >> answers Pietro hugging Mara, come on let's go out for dinner << It's the first time we're going to celebrate without her, but thank you love for wanting to make this evening special >> The guys decide to go to the pizzeria and also invite Marco and other friends of Pietro and Daniele, after the pizzeria they go back to the Pub to celebrate and find other friends of University, everyone asks about Christel, Mara tries to send Selfies to her, but Christel decides not to answer, putting away the phone and continuing to chat and relax with Cosimo, who continues to kiss her and cuddle her in his arms.

The next morning Cosimo decides to get up early with Christel and to go downtown to have breakfast and after a bit of shopping for Cosimo, she finds a new gift for her father's birthday at Armani, and Cosimo pass it off as his, inside the Armani store they are both very well known, Cosimo starts chatting with one of the boys and Christel receives a phone call from Mara, she signals Cosimo and decides to go out to feel better, therr Cosimo takes advantage of it and buys her as a gift the new shopping bag of Armani by surprise.

He comes out of the store with the envelope in his hand, Christel sees him and smiles at him, he approaches << Love have you found something else?? >> << Yes, open it tell me if you like it >> << Love but it's beautiful, I was looking at it before >> << I know I saw you.. >> << But if you were talking to him.. >> << I got distracted, I said who is that girl who walks up and down, woww she is good, ah no it's christel>> Christel pushes him << you can bring her back inside >> << love but you see that you are jealous too >> she laughs << it's too little for you.. what did Mara want >> << she asked where we were, they are thinking of going back to Cosenza >> << What do you want to do?? >> << We paid until tomorrow >> << Do you want to stay?? >> << I could also go, I'm curious to see the villa and visit the campus, but if you don't feel well and want to stay for me it's fine to stay here too, we're fine even just the two of us >> he hugs her, kisses her, then caresses her face << Love I'm fine, and I'm fine because I'm with you, and I'm fine everywhere, but you have to drive and I have to stop in Siderno at my mother's, and I have to talk to my father, I have to stop by the riding school, do you feel ok with that? >> Christel smiles << on one condition.. >> << Tell me everything.. >> << I choose the music and at the riding school I go for a ride with the horses >> << If I don't like a song I change it and at the riding school you can stay as long as you want >> << Mmm at the riding school I know I can stay as long as I want, Pietro has already given me white cards >> << Already allies you two >> << and he still doesn't know that I'm the new daughter-in-law, then no one will be able to touch me anymore, I'll become worse than Ciccio >> cosimo spits the water, she laughs, << I'll be the Lady Calabrese >> << I don't know if I should Laugh or cry >> << Come on at least I'm one who knows the law, I'll become a criminal lawyer your dad will appreciate me even more >> << Stop it's not like that and don't let yourself be told these things.. >> << Okay okay let's go before they leave, so we can leave together.. >>

Mara and Pietro are loading the last things when they see Christel and Pietro coming from behind << Guys we decided to leave today too, Cosimo is fine and feels like facing the journey but broken, where are Claudia and Daniele? >> << Claudia and Daniele left early this morning, Daniele has the keys to the villa and they decided to leave so they start unloading things >> << Broken trip? >> Pietro asks << Yes we stop in Siderno for a couple of hours so Cosimo can see his mother and talk to his father.. I stop at the riding school to ride, if he feels good we leave if not I stay at home and see you tomorrow morning >> << Ah ok!! That you are leaving now with us.. >> << Yes the time to get the things in the room >> << I'll give you a hand >> Pietro replies << ok I'll wait for you downstairs I'll warn Claudia >> <>

In the car Pietro sends a text message to Cosimo < I have no choice, he'll understand when he sees me with her, I think, why?? > < Because I think about what to do too because their family already knows that there is someone in their lives, they will want to meet us sooner or later > < I haven't decided anything yet let's see how things go > < true, we'll talk later call me when you know something. > < ok.. > Christel looks curiously at Cosimo and he takes her hand while driving and kisses her << Love >> << Yes >> << I like how we've lived these last hours, we're committing ourselves >> and laughs << I'm not working hard, I'm quietly living the time together with you >> << Bravo >> he gives her a pinch on the leg << Aiaaa but you're stupid, don't do it when I'm driving, you see I spoke too early >> he laughs << You haven't started singing yet today, what's wrong with you? Your favourite song hasn't come out yet?? >> << Oh man, we've all completely forgotten... noooo>> << What?? What's going on? >> "bluetooth activated" << Call Mara sis >> " I call Mara sis" << My love everything ok? >> << My love the concert>> << Nooo it's next weekend right?? >> << Yes and we haven't booked anything yet only the pre-sale of tickets and Claudia doesn't know anything yet.. >> << Ok do you think that her parents let her come?>> << They have to let her or I'll talk to Pietro.. >> << Pietro?! How Pietro can manages to convince his family, in fact it makes the situation worse >> <> Cosimo starts laughing << Love what are you saying?? >> << Your father is friends with Mara's dad and he convinced her father to send her to Cosenza >> << What are you saying? You're making it up now on the spot?! >> Mara asks <> << No we celebrated too much and then she went to talk to Daniele and I stayed in the room with Pietro the little one >> Pietro looks at her <> <> << But sorry what's the problem?? You're in Cosenza you don't say anything for one more evening in Reggio or wherever the concert is it doesn't change anything >> says Cosimo <> << IN NAPLES >> Pietro and Cosimo answer in chorus << A week?? And when you were going to tell us, Monday Morning >> <> << ah but is my father coming with you?? >> Christel laughs heartily << Stupid no of course he's not coming with us >> << And how do you think you'll convince him to call Mara's dad >> << Just tell him that I keep you under control >> << What?! >> << No I have an idea, brilliant>> << May God help us, Cosimo hold on tight now the bomb starts >> << Noo waittt, listen to me, so he trusts Pietro right?? >> << Yes so far we're here let's go >> << If Pietro calls him and tells him that they're coming with us Cosimo and Pietro to keep an eye on us and that he's giving us the ticket he shouldn't make a fold >> they're silent << I mean my father has to pay you the ticket too and we become bodyguards?? I mean you didn't even invite us and how would you intend to say all this to my father?? >> Mara laughs << I told you to hold on tight >> << Don't worry, I'll take care of it>> << May God be with you Cosimo >> and closes.