Innocence in Chains

2. First meeting

Luca came up to her and said,

"Amelia, you seriously bought 500 jar cakes? Are we supposed to roam around college handing them out to everyone?"

"Why would I go around college handing them out?" Amelia replied, flipping her hair with all the drama. "And why would I celebrate my birthday here? The university of Florence is beautiful, but not that beautiful that I'd have to spend my birthday stuck here."

"Wow. So if we are not going to join any classes today, where would you go with all these jar cakes and fortune cookies? Walk around the streets handing them to strangers?" Elena mocked......

"Not at all! Why do you think I told everyone to bring their bicycles? Amelia grinned, "We're going to Parco Delle Cascine today. it has been ages since we went there and after that we will go to my most favourite restaurant. Come on, let's go." With that, she dashed out of the classroom.

"She's got something loose in her head." Diego muttered.

"Well, what can we do?" Vittoria said, shaking her head. "Let's follow her to the park, ride bicycles, and hand out jar cakes and fortune cookies to strangers. why did I even become friends with her? Leaving my car behind just to cycle around like this......" Still grumbling, she followed behind Amelia and soon others joined them too.

While handing out jar cakes at the park, Amelia couldn't help but notice something odd. Everyone was coming up laughing, chatting, wishing her happy birthday.... But one Man sat alone by the pond, head down, scribbling something in his notebook. He didn't even glance around. it was like all the noise in the park didn't exist to him.

Amelia had never seen someone like that before. So quiet, such a stiff human being. Just watching him made her want to sigh and she didn't even know why. it's just she doesn't like such boring people.

But she picked up a jar cake and two fortune cookies and walked over to him. Everyone else had already received their cake and fortune cookie except him. Wouldn't it feel strange to leave just one person out?

Amelia covered her mouth and gave a little cough not loud, just enough to maybe catch his attention. But the Man didn't even flinch. No reaction, not even a glance. He just kept sketching, completely lost in his own world.

Amelia tilted her head slightly, her curiosity growing. She leaned in a little not too close just enough to peek at what he was drawing.

it was a nature scene. Gentle hills, trees swaying with invisible wind, birds in motion, a pond that somehow looked alive, all drawn with soft strokes of a black pen. The lines were delicate. Careful. It looked less like a drawing and more like a feeling.

Amelia's eyes widened. She didn't mean to speak. But the words slipped out, light as a whisper, "Wow...... it's so pretty."

Amelia said softly,

"Sorry..... I didn't mean to disturb you..... but your drawing style is really beautiful."

Still no response. Not even a glance. Amelia blinked. She had asked so nicely and he just......... Ignored her? Her? That stung. Her pride wrinkled a little. Was she invisible or something?

She stood there awkwardly for a second, holding the jar cake like it was too full of emotions to handle. Just then, Diego noticed her standing there, clearly not having the interaction she expected. He walked over, casual as ever, and placed a hand on the man's shoulder.

"Hey bro, do you sell your art anywhere?"

the Man finally moved. Just a small nod brief and silent. So...... he could hear them.

Amelia frowned slightly and muttered under her breath, 'What the heck....... Is he mute or something? Why doesn't he talk?' Then brushing off her confusion with a flick of her hair, She smiled again.

"Anyway, today is my birthday. I am treating everyone. This is for you ." She said aloud, Voice brightening... as she set the jar cake and three fortune cookies in front of him, maybe a bit more firmly than needed - not out of anger just..... being Amelia.

It took nearly 30 seconds. Then, in a voice so quiet that even Diego, standing right there, couldn't catch it, he said ".....Thank you." A faint nod followed. That was it.

Amelia tilted her head, watching him with a mix of interest and challenge "Well, I am Amelia, and this is my friend Diego," She said sweetly "And your name is....?"

In her head, she was already smirking.

'You won't talk? Oh...... I will make sure you do.'

Finally this Man lifted his eyes toward Amelia.... slowly. And in that single second..... everything changed. Amelia flinched, just slightly. Her heart began pounding like it had just remembered it existed.

His Skin was deep-toned, kissed by the sun- warm bronze, almost glowing under the golden light. Even the shadows cling to him gently, as if they, took, couldn't stay away. His hair was a soft, tousled mess, windblown and effortless, strands falling carelessly across his forehead. It looked like the kind of hair you'd only see in paintings or dreams.

There was a strange beauty in his face. Something soft..... but something aching, too. Like he carried too many unsaid things in his silence. And those damn grey eyes.... pale, distant, stormy met hers without hesitation.

A quiet intensity passed between them. And then, finally, in a voice as smooth as dusk and steady as thunder, he spoke-

"Rafael Bellandi."