Alberto was looking at himself in the mirror while trying to adjust his tie.

"Come on...stupid thing," he complained as he tried to tie the knot again, which ended up as a ball hanging down the middle, "damn!"

"Alberto!" Giulia yelled from below, "we're getting late; the Paguros can't keep them distracted forever. Get down now!"

"I'm coming!" He replied, annoyed as he untangled to start over.

He tried again, but the result was the same, causing him to cry in despair, which Giulia interpreted as a call for help.

"Santa Gorgonzola," she said, putting two fingers to her forehead; after that, she began to climb the stairs, "well, what's taking you so much?"

Upon entering the bathroom, she realized what was happening; she rolled her eyes as she passed, pushing the boy away. Alberto saw her annoyed, and without giving him a chance to protest, Giulia took the tie, unraveled it, and started from scratch.

"Three years working with nets, and you can't learn how to put this on?"

"No net is as difficult as this thing!" Alberto accused, pointing at it with two fingers.

Giulia rolled her eyes.

"We're already late; you should have called me earlier."

"I could've figured it out."

"Maybe, but we don't have all day."

Alberto didn't say anything and just looked away; she could be so obnoxious sometimes. Giulia gave it the last stretch, and the tie stayed in place.

"Finito!" She said proudly, then took her brother by the arms and turned him around, "well, what do you think?"

Alberto examined himself in the mirror; the red tie combined well with the black suit. Even if he wasn't a fan of those clothes, he felt hot in them, and they did not allow much movement, which he hated as it made him feel trapped.

"Not bad," he admitted; despite his complaints, he could sacrifice a couple of hours for Massimo and Maria.

Giulia smiled; knowing him, that's as close to a compliment as she'd get, and she could live with that.

"Benissimo, let's go before mamá and papá get here."

Upon hearing her, Alberto froze, years had passed, but he still felt strange hearing those words. He looked at himself in the mirror, making a face. Those who didn't live in Portorosso, nor knew what had happened that summer, always commented that, while Giulia was just like her mother, Alberto was the living image of his father.

He knew he should take it as a compliment. But at first, it was hard for him because Alberto did look like his father, but not the one they thought. Luckily those comments were always followed by an "except you're a little tanned than him," and he relaxed because he realized who they were referring to. Alberto was grateful people thought that as no explanations needed to be made.

And Massimo, as well as Maria and Giulia, were happy to present him as son and brother without the need to clarify he was adopted. Even the Paguros omitted that detail; although fair, both families viewed each other's children as their own.

To that matter, the three were aware that Daniela and Lorenzo made it clear that if something ever happened to them, they would entrust Luca to the Marcovaldos and vice versa. So, in reality, they had become one family.

He should feel happy; that summer, he went from having nothing to having two families and was grateful; he loved the Marcovaldos and the Paguros. It was just that...

When Alberto felt he could be happy, he was still there. He had tried to silence him for a long time; he ignored him, cursed him, had a phrase against him. But... he was always there, never left, and whenever Alberto committed the most slight mistake... he came back to haunt him.

Alberto pressed the edges of the sink while examining his face. Giulia had gone ahead, but when noticing he wasn't following her, she stopped, let out a desperate sigh, and peeked into the bathroom again.

"Now what?" She was upset until she saw Alberto's face, "Hey, I'm not that mad; I was just kidding."

But the boy didn't react. Giulia swallowed; she knew her brother; under that outgoing, cheerful and adventurous personality, there was a scared boy who underestimated himself.

"Berto, are you okay?"

Walking towards him and placing a hand on his shoulder, Alberto closed his eyes and looked down.

"Have you ever regretted it?"

Giulia turned her head.

"Are there things I did that I regret? Sure, we've all done something we haven't..."

"I mean... that day." He looked at her; from her countenance, he knew she thought of the incident at the beach, so he quickly clarified: "no, not that day, I mean the day we met. Do you regret saving me- and Luca from Ercole?"

Giulia looked at him in disbelief.

"What are you talking about? Why would I regret that?"

"Because after that, everything changed. I moved to your house, your dad adopted me, and you had to share your room."

Giulia covered her mouth with her hands.

"Oh God, Berto, if I ever said something that made you feel like you were invading or something, I didn't mean it, I swear, I-"

"But isn't that what I did?" Alberto turned to see her, "didn't I invade your life?"

"No, because to invade, you don't need an invitation; papá, mamá, and I opened the doors for you; you were always welcome."

Alberto just crossed his arms and looked at the ground.

"Why?"

Giulia opened her eyes; she didn't know what he meant.

"Why were you so kind to us... to me from the start? I understand it with Luca; he was shy and kind, and you shared a lot in common, a good kid, but I-"

He was filthy, rude, and taunting; he didn't understand how she came to like him.

"But you were also good- you still are," interrupted Giulia. "Look, you know how it was back then; Ercole thought he could do whatever he wanted, but I wasn't going to let him, so when I saw him bullying you two, I couldn't allow it."

"So it was out of pity?"

"No... I only saw that you needed help, and even more when you told me you were runaways, so... I did it because I felt it was the right thing to do."

And before Alberto thought that everything she did was because she saw them as two stray dogs, she added:

"And then you two gave me something I always wanted, friends. I went from being on my own to training with you two, teaching Luca, and having a good time; I felt I wasn't a weird kid anymore; I felt welcome."

Alberto looked at her, noticing her teary eyes. He also knew her well; sometimes, talking about that time made her feel sentimental.

"So when dad told me he wanted to adopt you, legally," Giulia looked into his eyes, "I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. Luca already lived with me for most of the year, and you and dad were waiting for me here. It was like having two brothers, you know?

She hoped that answer would end his insecurities, but the boy looked away again.

"It's just... I feel like I don't deserve it."

At Alberto's incredulous look, the girl shook her head.

"I mean... after everything I did; I stole things, almost killed me and Luca. I almost convinced him to leave his family, and I was so aggressive with you, I scared you on the beach, you almost died to save us in the race, I burned dad's boat..."

"Alberto!" she interrupted him, feeling irritated, "we've already talked about this; you screw-up that day, so did Luca, and so did I; we all screwed up! Even Daniela admitted that her decision to send Luca away was too extreme. But we talked about it, and we forgave each other.

In the end, everything was solved, and if I crashed into Ercole, it was because I couldn't let him hurt you, and I would do it again if necessary. Besides, you know papá doesn't blame you for the boat, it was an accident, and when you repaired it, it was better than ever, in the end, everything was solved, you see? No matter what happens, we can always fix it; isn't that what matters?"

Alberto just sighed and sat on the toilet bowl, resting his chin on his two hands, looking miserable. Giulia bit her lip, she was running out of things to say, but she had to keep trying.

"Besides, you returned everything you took; the fishing got better when you started helping dad- and you also got better at the deliveries. Even Marsigliese said so; you just needed a little practice. And don't get me started on all the ones you've saved being a lifeguard; I have heard that our beach has been called the safest in Italy."

She laughed, hoping her humor would rub off on him, but Alberto still looked just as miserable. Giulia hated to see him like that.

"And like I said, we've all made mistakes; ask those poor volunteers who had to clean up my vomit" she didn't like to remember that day. But also knew Alberto loved hearing her embarrassing tales to tease her. So she was willing to sacrifice herself to cheer him up.

A smile did form at the corner of the boy's lips, and Giulia even smiled. She would accept any teasing if he could leave that depression behind, but as quickly as the smile came, it was gone.

"Oh no, this is wrong," Giulia thought.

The girl finally gave up; she couldn't make him feel any better. She sighed and knelt in front of him, taking his hands in hers and squeezing them gently.

"I know you don't like to talk about how you feel, but..." she looked into his eyes, "if you don't tell me, I can't help you."

Alberto closed his eyes; Giulia did know him. He didn't like to talk about his feelings because... to do so would imply talking about that,

about him

And whenever he did, his voice got louder and louder.

"Alberto, will the day come when you stop ruining everything?"

"Alberto, I already have too many things to worry about for you to be another. Go play over there, or I don't know, just... let me work, will you?"

"You're old enough to take care of yourself."

But he also knew that since he met Luca and moved in with the Marcovaldos. It was easier to shut him up.

"It's just... whenever I feel comfortable and that I belong- I hear him."

He closed his eyes while Giulia opened hers, so that's what happened.

"I should have known," she told herself.

Giulia squeezed Alberto's hands with a little more strength. She had to be careful with her words because she knew how easily her brother could get mad. And whenever he got like this, he was even more explosive; even if the boy had learned to better control his emotions through the years, from time to time, he still had his attacks.

"Berto... you're a good boy, papá loves you, mamá loves you, I love you, Luca and his parents too, the children adore you, even the Aragosta sisters... you... you...., Bruno didn't know what he had; he had no right to abandon you like that."

Massimo and Daniela had expressed out loud what they would do to that guy if he ever came back, and it wasn't pretty.

"It's just that- you, Luca, mom, dad, and everyone else always say that I am a good person. That you're happy to have me, so..." Alberto closed his eyes again as tears ran down his eyes, "why did he abandon me?"

He hated to admit it, but even after everything he'd been through, and the people he'd met, he could never shake that thought. Why did he leave him? What did he do wrong? Was it his fault?

Even after moving with Massimo, there were days when Alberto would sit in the tree house and look out over the island. Sometimes he swam there, hoping to see... even if it was a hint that his father had returned, only to find nothing; the days passed, but he never showed up. Wherever he was, he had forgotten about him.

It always left a bitter taste in his mouth, one that he felt would never go away, even with the support of his family and friends.

"Incredible," he thought cruelly, "I can make fishermen, who used to hate sea monsters, accept us and even see us as their friends, but I couldn't do it with my own father."

And not only did he talk about Massimo. After Giulia and Luca left, he even made friends with those who surrounded them after the race. Each year, the number of people who accepted sea monsters grew, and despite this, his past still haunted him.

Giulia didn't know what else to say. Since the day the boys took her to the tower, not only did she understand Alberto a lot more, but she knew that it would be a long way until the boy could get over his traumas. Or could it be that he never would, no entirely, and she didn't blame him, she just... She hated feeling so powerless while Alberto suffered.

She sighed; it was time to do the only thing left.

She stood up and sat on the cup; both were already teenagers, fifteen and sixteen, respectively, so the space was barely enough for them to fit. Giulia pushed Alberto a little to get in.

"Hey! What are you doing?" he asked, quickly going from sadness to irritation; only siblings could achieve such a drastic change.

"The one thing I can do."

And before Alberto could question her further, Giulia put her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder, just having her close. Alberto felt better because he clung to Giulia's arm with both hands; and then supported his hand, head against hers.

"Do it; I'm not going to judge you."

So Alberto cried a little more, he didn't break into tears, but several ran down his cheeks. Giulia didn't say anything or move; she just stayed by his side without letting go. From time to time, she rubbed his back or moved her head, mostly to remind him that she was still there.

"I think I'm better now," Alberto said after what felt like hours.

"Are you sure?" Giulia asked, looking at his face.

Alberto sniffled and nodded.

"Yes, I am," he replied, returning her gaze, "thanks, I had to get it out."

She smiled and gave him a friendly punch on the arm.

"You're my brother; I will always be there for you."

Alberto also smiled, it was always rough, but at least he no longer had to face it alone. His father's voice would never go away; he knew that. Just because Alberto no longer feels so bad about it. The boy knew he would come back. There would be times when it would be more intense than others, but... at least he would never face it alone again.

Besides, Giulia was right; ever since he lived in Portorosso, he had achieved many things and helped too many. Regardless of what his father might think, he was making something of his life, and people loved him.

His father... was just a case of his own.

But whatever, he was grateful to have his sister; sometimes, one just needed someone to remind you how much you are worth. He stood up and took the coat hanging from the curtain bracket; as he put it on, he looked at his sister.

"Well, we better hurry up."

She smiled, getting up too; the light that filtered through the window reflected on the sequins of her blue dress, which did not look bad at all.

"Let's go, although I'm sure Lorenzo managed to distract them with some story about his crabs."

Alberto laughed; he knew how much Lorenzo was proud of them.

The two walked downstairs holding hands as Giulia turned to look at him over her shoulder.

"You know? I can only think of one reason."

Alberto stopped in his tracks while waiting for the answer; the girl wasn't sure whether to tell him; after all, he was his father, and she didn't know how Alberto would take the comment.

"That he's an idiot," she took the risk, hoping she wouldn't regret it later. "It's the only reason for someone to abandon someone like you; he has to be a complete idiot."

Alberto smiled; he knew she didn't mean it with bad intentions; besides, his dad could be a pain in the ass...

"But he's my father... No, Silenzio Bruno!" Alberto had already gone from the part where he was sad; to the one where he hated him for abandoning him, and sometimes he liked that side of him more.

"Thanks, Giulia."

She just smiled; after that, they closed the fishery and headed off to her parent's anniversary party; together.