Unwelcome Presence

Emanuele looks at Johnny, expecting rebuke, shock, anguish, or something more or less like that.

Well, there is surprise in his eyes, that's a fact. But his tone of voice doesn't change when he asks:

"Is that so?"

The girl is dead embarrassed, but proceeds with the explanation:

"He touched me. Only once. And then we never talked about it again... So I didn't make a big deal out of it. But... I guess I should have told you anyway. But I was afraid. I'm sorry."

The boy sighs deeply and looks at the walls of his own home. Then he finally speaks:

"It's okay."

"What?"

"It's okay. I'm not angry about it."

"I don't understand. In the hospital you were so sad when I told you about the kiss."

"It was different."

"Why?"

"Well, until then I had only a suspicion that something was going on between you. And what upset me was that you didn't even count on the trust that was established between us. I felt a little betrayed in that respect. And also... Wait. On the day of the kiss he didn't touch you