Cibele wakes up in the hospital, she beats her eyes slowly, feels her throat dry, and her eyes burning, while Pietro looks at her slowly, quite worried.
— Oh my God, what happened?— she asks, putting her hand on her forehead, arching her eyebrows.
— Calm down, it's okay now! — He brings his hands to her face, giving her a warm smile, — But you scared the crap out of me! — He brings his hand to her face and strokes her cheeks. — The doctor said it was probably stress, did something happen?
—She disguises this with a smile, taking his arm, she lays down on the hospital bed.
He stops, and says, staring at her with a tilted face: — Well I'll go get the doctor, she said to call her when you wake up.
She nods. Pietro leaves, and soon returns with the doctor. She enters the room.
— Hello, how nice that you woke up Cybele! — Here are the blood tests you took last week, and I know you're here because you fainted, right?
— Yes doctor, how is my baby doing, fine?" she asks worriedly, getting into bed, she glances at Pietro.
He takes her hand and looks at the doctor.
— Yes, the fetus is about 7.5 cm, almost the size of a peach, she smiles, "But Cybele I don't want to scare you but I have to say, your pregnancy is risky! So no strong emotions, or fights, and watch what you eat, among other things ... —He looked at me with an appraising eye.
— Oh sure, doctor, I'll be careful. — Cybele says with lowered eyebrows and frowning glasses, concern clouds her features.
Pietro asks: — Does this mean she can't travel? — While he waits for an answer, he bites his lips anxiously, crossing his fingers behind his back.
The doctor answers, shaking her head: — Yes, yes, she can travel, just avoid making any effort to carry weight, okay! I'll wait for you on your next visit, a kiss for your grandmother.
The doctor says, with a smile on her face, leaving the room, leaving them alone.
Cybele flutters her eyelashes a lot and twists her mouth. — Why did you ask if I could travel? — She rests her hands on the bed and tries to get up.
— Well, I wasn't going to tell you now, but I want to invite you to spend a week with me in Italy. — He holds up his hands showing his palms, and his mouth curves into a smile. — I know, I know you don't want to rush things, but it would be nice to have you there, in my routine. — He looks at her with a pitying look on his face and raises his eyebrows.
Cybele takes a deep breath, and thinks, "Well, let's give it a chance," but says in a low voice, "Let me think about it, okay? And sorry if this is weird, but she avoids eye contact.
—- My uncle? — He shrugs his shoulders, and looks sideways, with his hand on his leg. — He's funny, short and a little bald too, why?
— Nothing, I just hope he likes me, I mean his whole family. — He puts a lock of his curls behind his ear.
He touches his forehead, and his eyelashes meet. — They'll love you, and I promise you won't regret it if you go!
But believe me, she would regret it.
He puts his hands on her belly, and tickles her, she laughs loudly, and their eyes meet, he comes closer and kisses her slowly.
— Now I want to go home, I need to take a shower. — She giggles, and kisses his neck.
— Okay, your sister and grandmother are outside, but your little sister and mother were too, it was a fight over who would go in with you. — He stands up. — Are you always this agitated?" He draws his eyebrows together, and yawns, then puts his hands to his mouth.
— Unfortunately so! — She giggles quickly. — You'd better get used to it. — He can't hold back his silly smile.
She gets dressed and he leaves the room.
— My granddaughter, how are you? — Her grandmother asks worriedly, taking her in her arms and hugging her.
Athena hugs her sister together with her grandmother.
— Where's mommy? — Cybele asks.
— She stayed with Iris to take care of the restaurant, your aunt disappeared today! Good, but let's go home. — She leaves the hug and takes her granddaughter's hand.
They arrive home, and enter Cybele stands in front of her house to say goodbye to Pietro.
His gaze meets hers and she feels a slight tremor.
— Thank you, for staying with me at the hospital, she says coming closer and giving him a kiss, her eyes narrowed. — She bites her lower lip.
He leans her against the gate and tilts his head close to hers, their mouths meet in a kiss, he bites her lower lips and pulls them to himself, she puts her hands on the back of his neck and strokes it. And they keep kissing. The kiss becomes intense.
Pietro had never felt such soft lips, kissing Cybele had become his favorite thing.
She stops the kiss and looks at him and answers with a happy tone. — You know what, let's go! I'll go with you tomorrow.
He wraps his hands even tighter around her waist, and gives her a happy smile. — That's great! He lowers his head, and kisses her on the forehead. — It will be great, having you there.
— I need to go in and tell my family. — She kisses him on the cheek. — See you later, she winks.
He looks at her and his eyes sparkle, "Everything looks perfect. — You're fine! — he says goodbye with a smile he couldn't wipe from his face.
— You're fine! — he says goodbye with a smile he can't seem to wipe off his face.
Meanwhile Alexia was at Paolo's house being comforted by her friend.
— Thank you for letting me stay! — She says, wiping her tears, sitting on the bed with her knees up, curled up, resting her head on her knees, and closing her eyes.
— Of course you can stay, but are you sure you don't want to talk to your mother? — He answers, spinning around in his computer chair, and looks at her.
— No, I'm not going back there! —Alexia says with anger in her voice, and sits up in bed, stretching her legs.
— Yes, you said that last month when I ran away," he laughs, and walks over to the bed, sitting down beside her.
— Then I don't want to talk about it anymore. — She says, closing her eyes.
—Really? Okay, we can talk about how beautiful your new cut is. — He gives her a friendly smile and puts his hand on her shoulder.
She pulls away, lying down. — Did you notice? — she asks, her eyes widening in surprise.
— Sure, I highlight your eyes actually! — The boy answers a bit clumsily and drums his fingers on the bed.
She sits back down on the bed, impatient. — Thank you, not only for the compliment, but for always listening to me," she looks away.
He leaves and returns to his computer chair, and hugs his friend, knowing that at that moment he didn't need words...
— If you told anyone that you saw me crying I will kill you. — she said, pointing her finger at him.
— You have to stop trying to look tough all the time, you're human, humans cry! — He says, looking at her, with a corner smile.
— You're such a pain in the ass, you sound like Athena," she fiddles with her hair. — A mafioso! My mother has outdone herself this time. — Putting her hand on her chin.
— You see, you can't stop talking about this subject, I think you need to talk... — He scrunches his nose.
— No, you know what I need! — She gets out of bed quickly.
— What? — He asks, grimacing.
— Your mother's cake, the best confectioner you can buy," she smiles, lifting her rosy cheeks.
She walks to the door and opens it.
— I agree, but at some point you two have to talk. — He puts his hand on his waist, and frowns.
She ignores him and leaves the room.
Cybele is reading on her terrace, when a visitor comes through the gate.
— Hi, I heard you had a bad time? — The blond man says with his hands on the back of his head, and looks rather shy. Leaning against the gate.
She is wearing a light yellow velvet skirt, and a thin pink tank top, he notices. He recognizes ''I gave this blouse to her'' and it is amazing how beautiful she really is, he shakes his head.
— Apolo? Hi," she says, smiling broadly, placing the book on top of the swing, "I'm fine now. — She walks over, putting her hair up in a ponytail, "Thanks for asking! Apollo, I know you don't want to talk, but I ask you to accept my forgiveness, regardless of whether we are separated, I...
He scratches his beard, and looking into her eyes. — No, we don't need to talk about it. — I came to say that I accept! I accept that we are friends, today when your aunt told me that you had been sick, I was worried, and I noticed that I don't want you to be sick," he runs his fingers over the small wall of her house.
She gives a happy and suppressed smile. — Of course, I just want you to be happy too! — She approaches the gate and opens it.
The Blondie looks uncomfortable, but enters. Silence settles in, but Apollo wanted to break through that barrier.
— And, anxious to have the baby? — He rocks back and forth and looks at her belly.
— Oh yes, very much so. — She brings her hands to her cheeks, — You know how anxious I am. — She laughs.
— Oh yes I do, all the women in your family are, you are incredibly strong and confident, but when it comes to anxious that's all of you. — He asserts with a corner smile and a frown.
— Thank you. — She curtsies in thanks, ironically, "I think I'm so anxious I've stopped drawing," she puts her hands on her waist, "I've actually stopped even thinking about fashion... -She raises her eyebrows.
— What? No, you can't, Belle! Your designs are amazing, and it was your dream. — He lowers his head. — Fashion! he says slowly.
— Yes, thank you! But how are you doing with your life as a teacher? You've always loved biology, you must be loving talking about it.
— Ah, it's a little tiring, but more rewarding I confess," he says with a smile on his face, and looks at the rapidly setting sun.
She rubs her eyes, and tears come out of them. Apollo notices, he raises his eyebrows in confusion without understanding, and approaches her.
— What's the matter? Are you crying? — He says worriedly, taking her shoulders.
— Yes, it must be the pregnancy hormones. — She brushes her hair out of her eyes and wipes away her tears, "It's just that I'm really happy that you want to be my friend, sharing the day-to-day stuff, you know? It's silly, I know! — She looks at him, her lips quiver and her crying gets more intense, she simply can't control it.
And their eyes meet, he hugs her from the front and says in a low tone: — Me too, me too...
Iris looks at the scene from the window, and decides to go back to Italy for good. She closes the curtains slowly, leaving the two of them alone.
Apolo and Cybele talk all night long. It seemed that something new was emerging between the two, a friendship.
— So, I guess I'll be right there, it's about nine o'clock...— He kisses her hand, — But stay calm, okay? You're going to be a great mom, I'm sure you're already getting organized for that. — He laughs.
— Yeah but it takes more than organization to take care of a child. — She smiles, scratching her hair on the side.
— Good a green fruit ripens slowly, You have to be patient he says looking her in the eye —Good but see you later....
— And actually I'm going to Italy tomorrow, but I'll be back soon, I don't want to miss Athena's wedding, she says pursing her lips together and scratching the back of her neck.
— Oh, I get it! He puts his hands in his pockets. I hope you had a good time," he licks his lips and scratches his beard.
He licks his lips and strokes his beard.
Athena looks at the gate and sees her friend and her sister talking.
— Apollo? — She asks, raising her eyes in astonishment.
— Hi, I just came to say hi to Cybele, and we ended up talking. — He puts his hand behind the back of her head, and places it on her body.
— Did you talk again? — She brings her hands to her cheeks, — But just like that? Don't get me wrong, she raises her hands in the air. — You are my godfather and godmother, besides you are one of the people I love most in this whole world, I wouldn't want to see you fight, she says, slapping her friend on the forehead.
He slaps her forehead and says: — I realized I love her too much to cut her out of my life like that, or just treat her badly, ignoring people was never my strong suit Teninha! He smiles sideways, looks down. — Good, but I'll be going now. I love you! Good night.
He walks out in front of her.
She takes him by the arm. — Are you saying this so you won't get a lecture from me about what they said, or? — Athena asks, twisting her face.
— Oh, so you already know? — Her mouth curves into a shy smile, ''You'll never forget this? — He looks at her sideways.
— Of course I know, I was reluctant to believe it until Paolo confirmed it, he wouldn't lie about it. — She shakes her head, and puts her hands on her hips. — What's gotten into you? — She gives him a shove on the shoulder.
He stares at her, gesturing with his hands. — I don't know, look, we flirted, she said she wasn't from around here, she was out for a walk, I was drunk. I seriously need to review the drinking in my life, I always end up screwing up. — He raises his hands in the air, and raises his eyebrows, — I know, I know it's no excuse but, everyone has made a bad decision in life right?
— Yes, just be careful Apollo, it's dangerous, and this isn't you. — She smacks him on the forehead, — Hey and you know how much I care about you ok?she says hugging him.
— She smacks him on the forehead, —Hey and you know how I care about you ok?— She says hugging him.
Before going to sleep Cybele goes to her mother's room.
She knocks slowly on the door.
— Mom? — She says opening the door, with two mugs of juice in her hand.
— Hi honey, come on in! — Julia says looking at her cell phone and wiping her nose with a cloth.
Cybele raises her hands giving a mug of juice to her mother, Julia takes it and tears continue coming out of her eyes. Remembering everything she had done, the situation with Alexia, how it was going to turn out.
All of this left her terrified, but nothing left her more terrified than the possibility of Giovanni coming back into her life?
— What happened? He talked to Alexia. — Cybele says, sitting on the bed next to her mother.
— No, she ran away. — She says in a crying voice. — I'm giving her a break, her mother lowers her head.
— Mom? What do you mean, she ran away? — Cybele is desperate, and looks into her eyes.
Her mother takes her arm. And she tries to smile but can't.
— Calm down, it's actually kind of funny, I already know where she is, at Paolo's! She always goes there when she wants to get away from here, his mother always calls me, and I also have this!
Your mother shows the cell phone on the tracker application.
— A tracked one, Mom, really?" She raised her eyes and held her mug of juice tighter.
— What else could I do? This girl gives me no rest. — Julia threw the cell phone on the bed, and drank the juice.
— Why are you so hard on her, mom? — Cybele asks, leaning against the headboard of the bed.
Julia looks at her frowning. — Because she reminds me of me when I was her age, impulsive, thinking she's determined, too strong, and thinking she's tall enough, stubborn? She thinks that only she is right, and I am afraid that the world will hurt her, or she will make bad decisions like me, and regret them...
— Mother Alexia is more than this, she is intelligent, loving, and yes, she is stubborn, but she will end up coming back to talk.
Julia makes the sign of the cross with her hands, blessing herself. — God hear you," she says in a tired voice.
— Actually, I came to tell you that I'm going to Italy tomorrow, I just don't know how to tell Giagia, she certainly won't approve. — Cybele says stretching her feet out on the bed.
(Translation: Giagia = Grandma)
— She takes a deep breath — so it's getting serious, she nudges her daughter a little.
— Yeah, a little bit! He makes me feel like I'm in a movie, you know, when I'm with him I feel like I'm floating. — She gives a silly smile, holding up her mug of juice.
— My goodness, just be careful dear! Her mother hugs her, never forget who you are because of anyone, she gives a half smile, and takes a deep breath.
Cybele nods, and gets out of bed slowly.
—Listen, can you sleep here? Like you did before? - Her mother asks, her voice cold.
She turns and takes a sip of juice, and looks at her smiling. — Of course Mom, everything will be fine, okay?
— Of course Mom, everything will be fine, okay?