Flashback continued.....
Sofia looked up from leaning at Ermanno's shoulder and saw Ermanno looking at Rose but everted his eyes and looked at Sofia and smiled at her.
"Do you want anything to drink?" Asked Sofia.
"A beer would be good," said Ermanno.
"Do you want anything Rose?" Asked Sofia.
"Could you grab a bag of chips and a soft drink would be good. Do you want me to help you?" Asked Rose.
"Na. I got it" said Sofia and left the room.
Ermanno was getting excited and had butterflies in his stomach being alone with Rose.
He looked at Rose and asked, "how was England?"
Rose looked at Ermanno and smiled and said "beautiful. My grandma lived in a small village just outside London and it was just wonderful to stay there"
"Didn't you miss everyone here?" Asked Ermanno.
"Of course I missed everyone. And I was happy to be back too." Said Rose.
"Did you miss your stuffies?" Asked Ermanno.
"Hahaha ... I don't play with them anymore. But I like hugging them when I sleep." Said Rose.
"Do you still have tea parties?" Asked Ermanno.
"No. I am grown up for those too. I like to play video games now." Said Ermanno.
"Have you learnt to cook?" Asked Ermanno moving a little further to her.
"Yep. I know to cook a lot of dishes." Said Rose proudly.
"Would you cook something for me someday?" Asked Ermanno.
"Sure," said Rose and smiled at him.
Ermanno moved close to her and hugged Rose.
Rose was shocked and pushed him off of her and asked: "what are you doing?"
"I missed you, Rose. I missed your tea parties and I missed how we used to play house and I miss you talking to me about your stuffies. I missed you. Did you miss me?" said Ermanno.
"Ermanno, I don't recall us being so close. And we played a few times. That's it" said Rose.
"Oh. Yes. Of course. It's just I liked the little time we spent together" said Ermanno.
Rose smiled and looked back at the TV.
Ermanno was a little hurt that she didn't miss him whereas he couldn't stop thinking about her.
Sofia came back with chips and drinks and gave them.
Sofia sat next to Ermanno and kissed his cheek and said "I love you"
Ermanno looked at Sofia and kissed her lips and said "love you too" and looked at Rose who was shyly smiling at him and looked away.
Ermanno was feeling a bit dizzy. He looked down at the beer and said "this shit is strong. I feel a little drunk"
"Ya. Me too. I feel sleepy. I am going to sleep now. Join me once the movie is over" said Sofia and kissed Ermanno and left the room.
Ermanno rubbed his eyes with his fingers and looked at his side and saw Rose sleeping on the couch.
She had her legs on the couch and was hugging a small pillow.
Ermanno smiled at Rose and went close to her and touched her feet.
He started moving his hand up from her feet to her knee.
He split her legs and climbed on her.
He was above her and looked at her beautiful face. He removed her glasses and kept them on the floor and then started caressing her cheek.
"So soft, Mio Rosa," said Ermanno.
He leaned down and kissed her lips.
He loved her lips and wanted more but he wanted to touch her.
He looked down at her body and started touching her exposed stomach.
He sat up and held her shorts, that's when Rose moved a little. Ermanno came back to the realisation of what he was about to do and moved away from her to the other end of the couch.
He held his hand on his mouth and regretted what he did and was thinking of doing.
"Ermanno" called Sofia looking at him.
Ermanno turned to the doorway and saw Sofia.
He stood up and walked to her and held her shoulders and said: "look, nothing happened".
"You were on top of Rose and kissing her." Said Sofia.
"It was just a kiss and I..I... Stopped when I realised it was wrong. Look I am sorry. It was a mistake. Please don't tell this to anyone. My family's reputation will be ruined. My parents will be ashamed of me. And my mom can't handle this. Please, I'll buy you anything you want. I'll give you anything you want. I'll do anything you want me to do. But please don't tell this to anyone." Begged Ermanno.
"You almost raped a 14-year-old Ermanno. And you molested her. This is a crime and you want to just buy it off. She is my sister. I can't do that to her. You need to be punished" said Sofia.
"Sofia, please. That beer got to my head. I wasn't thinking. I swear I'll do anything you want just please don't say this to anyone" begged Ermanno.
Sofia thought for a second and nodded and said: "you promised to do everything I say?"
"Yes. I'll do everything. I promise" said Ermanno and hugged her tight.
Flashback ends...
****************************
That was the promise that made Ermanno go through hell.
The constant fear of Sofia, that she would tell this to someone put Ermanno into panic all the time.
He paid for all her experiences. Bought her the most expensive things. Took her and her friends on vacations on his family yacht. And flew them to different places for exotic holidays.
Sofia would get him drunk all the time and he even started taking drugs to just calm his nerves sometimes.