Riot

Emanuele stares at Joshua's placid and slightly hopeful expression, and for a few seconds a perplexed silence envelops everyone in the house. The girl opens her mouth to answer, but fumbles and cannot utter a single sound.

Joshua supplements his own question by saying softly:

"We've already lived together for a while, we know each other's habits. And good, now that we'll be in my own apartment, we'll have more privacy to talk."

The girl almost screams:

"But talk about what? There's nothing for us to talk about, and my patience on this subject is wearing thin."

"Why all this effort to deny that you have feelings for me? It's obvious to everyone, even your own boyfriend, and yet you insist that there's nothing between us."

Johnny intervenes:

"Emanuele has made her choice. As the honorable man you claim to be, you should just accept it and leave her alone."

The sentence is short, but enough to disconcert the older man, who seems to absorb every word spoken. Then he shakes his head affirm