Stolen by the Overlord

Stefano paced around, obviously in a fluster as he made the final touches to the living room, putting the place in order. Everything had to be perfect. Already a cake was set on the centre table, the sitting room well lit, with soft music playing in the background from the speakers. On one part of the wall, a number of colourful ribbons were arranged in such a way that they read the words 'welcome back, Aurora'. Everything was in place. Still, Stefano wasn't satisfied. He was so tensed up, he had this feeling that all that wasn't enough. In addition, each time he heard a vehicle or a motorcycle pass by, he would rush to the window to peep out and check who it was. Seeing as it wasn't who he envisioned, he would slowly walk back in with a look of disappointment on his face.  In a corner, comfortably sitting in one of the sofas that decorated the living room, Luca and Eva Filippo stared at him, then stole a glance at each other. Abrupt laughter followed. As the both of them giggled at Stefano hysterically, he was taken aback. A tad annoyed, he shot a question at the both of them. "Dad? Eva? Why are the both of you laughing? What's so funny?" He questioned, turning to face them where they sat. Luca Filippo was the father of Stefano Filippo. A rather tall, well built, middle-aged man, Luca looked quite good for his age. Perhaps it was because he took good care of himself, exercising, eating well and all that. Or perhaps it was simply because he inherited those looks. Either way, Luca could sometimes mistaken to be ten years younger than he actually was, save for those streaks of grey hair slowly emerging here and there that actually betrayed his age. He had had Stefano twenty-three years ago, born to him by his lovely wife Maria Filippo. She had given birth to him a year and a half after they had gotten married. Two years after Stefano's birth, Eva Filippo, Stefano's junior sister, was born.  Looking at Stefano, and then at his father Luca, one could immediately tell where he got his good looks from. Stefano was the splitting image of his father, it was like he was simply the younger version of him. Tall, even taller than his father in fact, with brown hair, hazel eyes and that muscular build, the resemblance was glaring. He even had his father's nose. Eva, on the other hand, took after her mother Maria, with her brown eyes and small nose. People who were familiar with Maria always reminded Eva of this fact. Her father in particular would always mention it every now and then that she was growing up to look just like her, and that she constantly reminded him of her. The cold hands of death had unfortunately snatched Maria away when Stefano was sixteen, and Eva, fourteen. After fighting a three-year-long battle with kidney failure, she had eventually lost. Perhaps the outcome would have been different if the symptoms had been identified on time and she was treated when the disease was at it's early stage. However, she had continued living her life as if all was well even after the symptoms first started showing. She had managed it, oblivious of the deadly disease worsening inside of her until the situation became so bad that she could not endure it any longer. She had suddenly collapsed in the house one Saturday morning. Alarmed and in panic, Luca, along with Stefano and Eva, had rushed her to the hospital, where, after a diagnosis, the doctor had revealed to them that Maria was suffering from a severe case of kidney failure, and that the disease was already getting to it's final stages. From then on, Maria had struggled with the disease for three years, under intensive care, dialysis and all of that. Sadly, she eventually passed away. The tragedy shook all the members of the family to the core. Stefano was just entering his third year of high school back then, while Eva was just done with middle school. Ever since then, Luca had done his best in raising his two children up. Deciding, due to personal reasons, that he wasn't interested in remarrying – at least not yet, it had just been the three of them up till now. However, they were happy, all things considered. "What's so funny? Look at you, Stefano. You look like you're losing it, you should see yourself right now. You're so stiff, so tensed up, and she isn't even here yet." Luca said, answering Stefano's question. "Huh? I look tensed? Well perhaps it's because I am." Stefano replied to his father. "Then relax. The place is perfect, everything is set, so there's nothing for you to worry about. You can't possibly welcome her properly if you're this nervous. Just calm down and be yourself. She'll soon be here, you know. I promise you, it will all be fine. And of course, she'll be happy to see you once again." Eva assured him. Stefano sighed in response to what his sister had just said. He then took her advice and went to sit down on the couch. "I guess you guys are right. I don't need to be overly worried and so tensed up. It's going to be fine, won't it? Everything is all set. It's just, well, it's been so long, you know? It's been six years. Six long years since I set my eyes on her. It is true that we've been talking on the phone and texting and stuff, but still, it doesn't change the fact that I've missed her. You all know how much she means to me." He expressed. "Yeah, we do." A familiar voice answered from outside. They all turned around instantly to see Diego coming in through the main door. "Good afternoon, everyone." He greeted with a wide grin. "Mio amico!" Stefano exclaimed upon seeing him. "Stefano." Diego replied, taking his hand and giving him a bro hug. "I'm glad you could make it." Stefano said. "Welcome, Diego." Luca welcomed him. "Thank you, Pa." Diego answered him. Luca extended his hand to Diego for a handshake, which he earnestly took. "Hey Diego." Eva greeted, throwing him a flirtatious smile. "Hey Eva." He responded, smiling back at her. Diego Christian was Stefano's good friend. They had met back in school, in the university. A year after Stefano had graduated from high school, at the age of seventeen, he had gotten admission into the L'Aquila university, and started studying there. It was in his second year, however, that he met Diego. That night, he had taken his phone and his laptop to the reading hall to charge as there was no electricity in his hostel. To pass the time, he turned his laptop on and began watching one of his favourite animé series. While he was doing that, a young man, about his age, approached him, attracted by what Stefano was watching. Turns out that Diego was also a fan of that animé series. "Hey bruv, good evening." This young man began upon getting to where he sat. "Yeah, good evening." Stefano replied, looking up from his laptop, his eyes staring at him inquisitively, as if asking the question 'what do you want?'. "Sorry to bother you man, it's just that, well, I saw the animé you were watching. That's Bleach. I'm a huge fan of it too." Diego disclosed. That statement alone was enough to grab Stefano's full attention. "Oh my God man, you're a fan too? That's awesome man." Stefano excitedly replied, turning around to face him as Diego sat down. "Yeah. Which part are you currently watching? " Diego inquired, peering curiously at the laptop. "I'm at episode two hundred and one. How about you?" "Oh I'm done with the series already." Diego revealed, much to Stefano's surprise. "Wow man, you finished it? Damn!" "Yeah. By the way, I'm Diego. Diego Christian. How about you?"  "Stefano Filippo." Stefano replied. And that was how the two of them had met each other for the first time that night. They were both in their second years at that point, and from then on, they had become close friends, and they remained that way till they both graduated from the university. That was a little over a year ago, and the duo were still inseparable. And the fact that they both lived in the same city was more than convenient for them. Stefano had gone on ahead to introduce Diego to his family as his good friend from school. And that was how the Filippo family became friends with Diego Christian. "To answer your question, yes Stefano. We know how much she means to you. I mean, you talk to me about her all the goddamn time. Why do you think I made it here? I really want to meet this person that you're so crazy over." Diego said. He then turned to Eva. "What's up with him? He's all riled up, isn't he?" "Oh that's putting it lightly. He hasn't been able to relax. Rather, he's been pacing around like he's got to pee. We were just telling him to calm down when you walked in." Eva answered. "Don't worry amico, it's going to be alright. The place looks great, it's obvious the amount of work you guys put into it. So don't worry about that, I'm sure she will like what she sees and appreciate you all for it." Diego assured Stefano. "Alright. How about me? How do I look? Good enough?" Stefano asked again. "Of course brother, you look great. Handsome as usual. You even smell good, I can tell from here. So you got nothing to fear. She's going to love what she sees, I assure you." He told him after a brief look. Diego didn't lie, Stefano did look good. He was wearing a checkered long sleeve shirt, which he left unbuttoned atop a white T-shirt on the inside. Below was a pair of denim jeans and his best pair of sneakers. His brown hair was well combed and particularly shiny today. Indeed, he had gone all out to look his best in anticipation of his friend, Aurora. With that, the two men sat down on the couch facing the one where Luca and Eva sat, and they all began to talk about other things whilst waiting for their guest to show up. And then, twenty minutes later, a taxi pulled up in front of the house. Immediately Stefano heard the sound of the taxi pulling up, he got off his seat in an instant and rushed to check who it was. To his happiness, he was not disappointed this time. It was none other than the person whom he was expecting, the person who had had him on edge the entire morning, his friend, Aurora. "Oh my God guys, it's her!" Stefano announced, his face a mix of excitement and a bit of nervousness. The rest of them with the exception of Luca rushed to the window to confirm, and sure enough, she was the one. She had just stepped out of a taxi and was now approaching the house. "Alright guys, take your positions. Eva, you head to the door and, when she knocks, open the door for her." Stefano ordered. "Remember, Stefano?" Diego called out to him. He swiftly turned around in his direction. "You got this, alright?"  "Yeah, I know. I got this." He answered. He then took his position in the middle of the parlour. The sound of her footsteps gradually became louder as she steadily drew closer to the door. And then it stopped. Three successive knocks on the door followed. Eva opened the door to reveal Aurora, standing there, looking as elegant as ever. The moment her eyes met Eva, she broke off into a cheerful smile. "Hey girl." Eva began with a grin. "Eva. Oh my!" Aurora exclaimed at the same time, and then the two ladies rushed into each other's arms in a warm embrace. "Welcome back, Aurora." Eva said to her. She had hardly finished saying those words when the voices of everyone else in the room echoed out from behind her: "Welcome home, Aurora!"