Chapter 49. Just Lust

Marianna led me to a moderately large room. I looked through the window, where children each had a painting board, all engrossed in their scribbling.

"That's Valerio, our benefactor who was once a kid here. He's an artist dedicated to teaching the kids to draw. Isn't that wonderful?" She said with glee as she pointed to a man standing by a child, guiding her through the process of painting.

Dressed casually in brown slacks and a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, he sported a gold wristwatch. A strand of hair fell on his face as he looked engrossed; I could see the glint in his eyes as he painted.

"Rose?" Marianna called, and I realized I had been caught in a kind of reverie as I watched Valerio.

"A fine young man, isn't he?" Marianna smiled with pride. "I don't know if it's okay to go in. Valerio doesn't like it when we walk in on the kids during their painting lessons," she said, completely oblivious to the effect the man a few inches away from me was having.

"Oh…how professional,"