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“Daddy, those fish too?” A small toddler Alberto asked, pointing up to the night sky.
An Italian-looking man who looked a lot like Alberto, but with dark eyes, scooped the little sea monster into his arms. He walked him over to a crib that had a starry fish-themed mobile hanging over it. He placed him in the crib with a gentle smile.
“Yes, il mio bambino. Just like your mobile.” He said while pointing to the mobile. “The little ones are anchovies, and the big one watches over them while they sleep. Like you should be doing right now.”
The tiny Alberto stood up in his crib and reached up to the big moon fish of his mobile. He smiled when he touched it. He giggled and laid back down.
“Alberto, don’t put that in your mouth. A blanket is not a chew toy.” His dad said with a slight chuckle. He gently pried the blanket out of little Alberto’s mouth. Alberto’s father kissed his forehead and left his child to sleep in peace.
Years later, Alberto was a small child. He looked out to the human town across the water from the island they lived on.
"Daddy, what is that place?" He asked.
"That's the human town, Alberto." His father answered while ruffling his hair. He then knelt down and looked Alberto directly in the eyes. "I know I go there every now and then. But that's to get the supplies we need. Alberto, you can't go there. It's much too dangerous for you. At least for now. I'll tell you all about it if you promise me. Ok?"
"Ok, daddy! I promise. What's it like?" The small Alberto agreed. His father smiled and began telling him all about the town.
Some more time later, Alberto was older now. He was a fresh new teenager. He was currently having a fight with his father. His father was going to leave and Alberto didn’t want that.
“What do you mean ‘leave’?! You can’t leave! I need you here!” The newly 13-year-old Alberto yelled. He had a hold on his father’s hand and was trying to pull him back to their tower.
Alberto’s father sighed and turned to his son. “Alberto, don’t do that. Please. I need to go. You’re old enough to be on your own now.” He said. His voice was strained with emotion.
“Silencio Bruno! I don’t care what you say! If you leave I… I’ll hate you!” Alberto cried. He finally let go of his dad’s hand to wipe his eyes of tears.
“I have to do this. Ti amo, il mio bambino.” Bruno Scorfano said. He gave his sniffling and crying son a kiss on the forehead. Then he jumped into the water, changing into his sea monster form and swimming away.
Present Day~
Alberto jolted awake with a gasp. He rubbed his face and groaned and flopped back onto the bed. He then sighed as the cat, Machiavelli, jumped up and purred while rubbing against him. Alberto gave him pets.
“Another stupid bad dream. Wait… what’s today?” He said to himself. He looked over at a calendar. He saw today’s date circled with the words “Luca comes back” on it. Alberto then jumped out of bed.
“Luca comes back from school today! Woohoo!” He cheered. He quickly got dressed and ran downstairs. He shoveled in his breakfast and yelled out a quick good morning.
Massimo chuckled at Alberto’s antics. “You’re just as excited as I am. We can walk over to the train station soon.” He told his adopted sea monster son.
“But I’m already ready! I’m way too excited to wait!” Alberto replied. “How about I meet you there?” He then suggested with a grin.
Massimo chuckled again and gestured for him to go ahead. “Yes! Thanks, Massimo!” Alberto cheered and gave him a hug and ran off. He poked his head inside a second later.
“Um, really quickly. I was just curious, it means nothing. But uh, what does ‘ti amo, il mio bambino’ mean? Again, I’m just curious. I uh, overheard a guy... say it to their kid. Yeah.” Alberto asked a bit nervously.
Massimo gave a smile. “It means, I love you, my baby boy. I say something similar to Giulia all the time.” He told him.
“Oh. Ok. See ya later!” Alberto quickly said and left, the door slamming shut behind him.
Alberto excitedly ran across the town. He was so happy and excited to see his friends in person again. It was like euphoria. Until he rounded the corner to the train station. The earliest train was here, the first of the day. It wasn’t the one Luca and Giulia would be on.
Alberto gasped and hid behind the station as he saw someone step out of the train. It was a man that he saw. A man with dark hair and dark eyes. A man who looked a lot like Alberto himself.
Alberto’s joy was completely gone, replaced by panic and hyperventilating. He repeatedly whispered “no” to himself in disbelief. This couldn’t be happening. This was going to be the best day! That couldn’t have been him! Could it?
Alberto peeked around the station to look for the man he saw. But he didn’t see him in the crowd at all. He gave a slight sigh of relief, but he was still a bit on edge. Alberto hesitantly came out and made his way to sit on a bench and wait for Luca’s train. He finally relaxed fully when the train left and everyone dispersed.
Sometime later, Massimo joined him in waiting for the train. Luca’s family also came by. Alberto was starting to recover from the near panic attack he had. He whispered “Silencio Bruno” to himself a couple of times to help calm down. It was just a trick of his mind. He just saw something. It’s impossible it would be him.
By the time the train arrived, Alberto was back to the way he was this morning. As soon as he saw Luca, he rushed over and hugged him. He knocked the other boy down and onto the floor of the station from the force of his hug.
“Luca! I’ve missed you so much!” Alberto exclaimed. “I told you I would be ok.”
“Alberto! I’ve missed you too. I have so much to show you!” Luca responded, hugging his best friend back. Giulia giggled at the sight.
“Don’t I get a hug?” She teased. The two boys laughed and got up. Alberto gave Giulia a welcome hug.
“Come on! We got so much to catch up on! Andiamo!” Alberto yelled out happily. After saying hello and giving hugs to their family, the three underdogs ran off.
Alberto kept yawning throughout the day. He kept playing it off. But soon Luca just knew something was up and had to push a bit to get Alberto to open up.
“Alberto. What’s going on? Something is bothering you. I can tell.” Luca pushed gently. Alberto sighed, knowing his best friend wouldn’t stop pushing cause he cares too much.
“Alright. I… haven’t been sleeping well. I’ve been having bad dreams. Well, more like memories… About my dad. It’s… around the time he left.” Alberto finally admitted. He rubbed his arm awkwardly and looked at the floor.
“Santa mozzarella. I had no idea, Alberto!” Giulia said and then went over to hug Alberto. Luca joined in the hug.
“It’s ok now, Alberto,” Luca told him.
“G-Guys. Really. It’s ok. I’m fine. I know it’s ok now. You can stop hugging me now.” Alberto said, a bit embarrassed. After a moment the two released him.
“Are you sure that’s everything?” Luca asked in concern. He still felt something was wrong.
“Uh, yeah. Yeah. I almost thought I saw him earlier today. But that’s completely impossible!” Alberto answered with a nervous chuckle.
“Ok. As long as I know you’re ok.” Luca said.
“Come on you underdogs! Let’s go get some ice cream!” Giulia suggested. The two boys got excited at the idea and the three ran off to get the delicious frozen treat.
Later, the three best friends were enjoying the ice cream. They sat at the fountain they met at. Alberto suddenly began to choke on his cone as he saw someone. It was the same man who looks like his father. Giulia patted his back with concern. Alberto coughed out the cone and breathed heavily.
“Alberto, are you ok?” Luca asked with lots of concern. The man looked over at the three of them. He seemed to have heard Luca.
Alberto began to panic as he stared at who looks like his father. He began hyperventilating and everything sounded like a high-pitched ringing. He could barely hear Luca and Giulia’s voices. Once the man took a step closer, Alberto let out a yell and fell backward into the water. He immediately popped back up, now in fish form, and ran off.
“Alberto! Wait!” Luca called out, reaching an arm out for him.
“What was that about? Let’s go make sure he’s ok!” Giulia said. Luca gave a nod and they ran off, forgetting all about their own ice cream.
Alberto ran all the way to the top of the hill. He sat up against the small building with the patio roof. The same one Luca was stuck under during the race due to the rain. Alberto breathed heavily and sat with his legs against his chest and his tail curled around him.
“No. He can’t be back. He’s never coming back. He’s not here. Stupidio Bruno! Stop making me see things! He would never come back. I’ve waited so long for him to come back. Now my life is great and I’m seeing him! Why?! Why are you doing this to me, Bruno?!” He said in his panic. His eyes began to well up with tears.
“Alberto! What happened? Are you ok?!” Luca called out as they ran over to him. They saw Alberto look at them and then look away to wipe the tears from his eyes.
The two knelt down next to Alberto, putting comforting hands on his shoulders. They helped wipe the water off of him and he changed back to his human self. Alberto took a moment to calm his breathing.
“I saw him. I saw my dad.” Alberto explained. His two friends gasped at that.
“Your father is here?” Massimo’s voice was then heard. The three kids looked to see the fish catcher standing there. “I was coming up in the boat when I saw what happened.” He quickly explained.
The big man then went over to the young teens and knelt down. “Alberto. The family you make is more important than anything else. But if your father is here, you should talk to him. No matter what, he will always be your father.” He advised.
Alberto’s expression changed into a look of anger. Anger that came from a deep wound. He then suddenly stood up, facing all of them.
“I don’t want him as my dad! Everything was finally perfect and he decided to ruin my life again by showing up! He left me two years ago! I wasted my time counting days, hoping that he would change his mind and come back! And he never did!” Alberto yelled, a few tears pricking the corners of his eyes again.
He ran off yet again before any of them could say anything. Luca immediately ran after him, quickly followed by the other two.
“Wait, Alberto! What are you doing?!” He called out.
“I’m gonna make sure he never shows his stupidio face again!” Alberto yelled back. His found family chased him all the way back to the town square. The man stood by the fountain.
“Hey!” Alberto yelled out to the man.
The man turned around and his eyes widened. “Alberto. It really is you. My son.” He said with an exasperated breath.
Alberto walked up to him, glaring right in the eye. “Silencio Bruno! I don’t want to hear you talk unless it’s to answer me. What are you doing here?! Why return now?! It’s been two years! My life was finally happy and now you’ve arrived and ruined that!” Alberto yelled, starting to tear up again from his anger and sadness.
“Il mio bambino. I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to leave you. But I had to. Look at you, you’re so grown up.” His father replied.
“Alberto… this is your father?” Luca asked in surprise.
“Bruno Scorfano.” Alberto’s dad introduced himself.
“Bruno? But that’s the same name as the voice. Oh! Oh…” Luca said in thought and then realization.
“Answer the boy’s questions,” Massimo spoke up with a voice that was vaguely threatening towards Bruno. He put a protective hand on Alberto’s shoulder.
Bruno looked at each of them and seemed to have connected some dots. “Ah. Si. I understand.” He said with a slight nod.
He then took a breath and looked Alberto in the eye. “Alberto. Why I left that day… was to find your mother.” He then said,
Alberto’s eyes grew very wide. “M-My… mother?” He repeated with a shaky voice.
“Si. I need to tell you a story, Alberto. I should have told you a long time ago. You see, unlike us, your mother is human.” Bruno revealed.
“My mother… is human?! I’m half-human?!” Alberto exclaimed. He needed to sit down from that reveal. So he sat at the fountain. Everyone else joined him. Bruno then began to tell his story.
Bruno’s POV~
Ever since I was young, I was always fascinated by the human world. One day I gathered all of my courage and did the change for the first time. I learned how to walk and went to the human town that was closest to me. It’s a town that is far away from Portorosso.
I met your mother there, Alberto. We quickly became best friends. Her father was a carpenter. That’s where I discovered my love for building things. It was so amazing to me. Being able to take anything and create something out of it with your bare hands and some tools.
One day she discovered my secret, that I was a sea monster. One of the happiest days of my life. Cause she didn’t care I was so different. She cared about who I was, not what I was. I realized then that I loved her. It was a little while until I finally asked her out.
We managed to keep our secret from the whole town for years. Eventually, we got married and had you, Alberto. For the time being, everything was perfect. We weren’t sure what you were going to be at first. But I knew no matter what, I wanted to raise you as a human. Just like her. It turns out, sea monster genetics are a lot stronger than human.
It was… the day we found out what you were… when everything went wrong. The town saw us, our fish forms. They were so angry. Angry at your mother… for bringing a monster into town and... having an abomination with it. I feared they were going to kill us all.
She took you in her arms and grabbed my hand and we ran. She was always so brave. We couldn’t lose the townfolk for long though. So… she told me to swim away. She told me to take you somewhere safe. She said she would distract the town. I didn’t want to leave her, but we could hear the townsfolk getting closer. She said she loved us… and then pushed me into the water.
I did as she wished. I swam for as long as I could. I found that little island with the wicked lighthouse near a town. There you could be safe. I raised you there as best as I could. I made sure people would stay away, I gathered supplies from the townsfolk in secret, and I used the materials I found to build everything I could for you.
Il mio bambino, I didn’t want to leave you. But it hurt so much, day after day, not knowing if she was ok or not. You have your mother’s eyes, Alberto. Seeing them every day made me so happy and so in pain at the same time. Mi dispiace. I’m so sorry, my son.
After finding the town, I searched for her as discretely as I could. I didn’t want to be recognized. And… I finally found out what happened to her.
End Bruno’s POV~
Bruno moved to kneel down in front of Alberto. He placed his hands on his son’s shoulders. His face was in such pain as his eyes watered. He could barely get the words out of his mouth.
“Your mother is gone.” He strained to get out. Alberto’s breathing got heavier. The young teen got up and began walking towards the water.
“I-I need some time to process this. A-Alone.” He said before quickly running off.
Alberto went back to that island. He stood in front of the old tower. The same tower he lived in for 14 years. Now that he knew everything, it was as if he was seeing it for the first time. He placed his hand on the cold and hard stone. After a moment he heard someone come up behind him.
“I know you wanted to be alone. But your friend insisted I come here, to talk alone with you.” Bruno said softly.
“Heh. That Luca. He’s a good kid. Got a really big heart too. He’s the best friend I ever had.” Alberto said with a small smile to himself.
“Alberto. You’ve done so well for yourself. You found a real family who loves and accepts you. I know what I did can’t be forgiven with just a simple sorry. But if you would allow me to… I would like to work on making up for what I did. I would like to be part of your life again, il mio bambino.” Alberto’s father said to his son.
Alberto took a small breath and then turned around. He looked his father in the eyes. “Do you remember the last time we both stood here? What was said? I… I said that if you left, I would hate you.” Alberto said while hugging himself.
Bruno was about to say something, but then Alberto ran up and hugged him. “Ti amo, papa. You don’t have to be quiet anymore.” He managed to say.
Bruno visibly relaxed and smiled lovingly and returned the hug. “I will never leave you, no matter what.” He said.
Alberto and his father returned to town. Everything was finally perfect again. The newly reunited father and son felt that they could finally start healing their old wounds. They had a lot to catch up on. First thing was to tell Bruno all about how Luca and Alberto met and ultimately got accepted by the town.
Bruno wasn’t going to impose though. He would stay in town but in a hotel. He and Massimo exchanged a look. They shook hands with a friendly smile. Bruno agreed Alberto should stay with Massimo.
“You don’t have to have just one father figure in your life. As they say, two is always better than one.” Bruno said to Massimo with a grin.
Massimo chuckled. “I completely agree with you.” He said.
Luca and Giulia joined Alberto at the hideout, looking up at the twilight sky. “So, no more ‘Silencio Bruno’ anymore, huh?” Luca said with a chuckle and a smile.
“Heh. Yeah. I want to hear everything he has to say. I want to know more about my mom. He never talked about her before. I guess I understand now why.” Alberto replied.
“Things are gonna be different now, Alberto. With your dad here and all. Are you sure you’re gonna be ok?” Giulia then spoke up.
“Hey, we’re the underdogs! It will take some time to adjust, but you guys by my side, I know I’ll be ok.” Alberto said. The three best friends then shared a big group hug and laughed.