JULIET

"Why is it so creamy?"

"The thicker, the richer."

"Oh, I want to feel that meat already. And that juice, what a delight!"

"I'll give you my meat and you'll be asking me for more."

"We'll see about that," I assure him while I get served that specialty that I had only heard of in books or seen in a few movies.

As soon as I press the meat, the thick juice drips all around and my mouth waters for wanting to put it all in.

But of course I can't be so greedy as to want to gobble it all up, so I go little by little, starting with the tip.

As soon as Franco sees me enjoying his meat and juice, he seems to be very pleased too, with a look of triumph on his face.

"For heaven's sake," I declare, still with my mouth full, but with the obvious need to express my emotions to him at this moment, "I've never had anything so rich and delicious before."

"I knew you had to try it."

His smile is seductive and complacent. He also takes the fork, pierces some sliced ​​meat and squeezes it in the juice of tuna loins, broth and mustard. I saw him make it when the restaurant closed and it didn't take that long because the meat was already cooked, but from what I understand, this is a specialty that is eaten here in Milan, the Vitello Tonnato. A tender meat accompanied by a sauce that has never been expected to combine so well with beef because it is tuna. I would have thought of them as two separate dishes, but never like this.

Franco is a very attractive and modern boy, he has his own restaurant on the outskirts of the city where people with good palates come to try his delicacies. Since I met him, I haven't gone to other places than this one, firstly because it's simple, small and cheap and secondly because both he and Donatto are extremely cordial to me, good vibes, they give me optimal vibes and fills me up of enthusiasm to know each other's dreams and expectations. The reason that brought us together is that they have both been living in Milan for a few months, but they lived in the United States for a few years and that made us hit it off from the start. Originally Donatto is from Florence and Franco is from Verona.

Donatto is in charge of serving the few tables and the bar that are available while Franco does the cooking.

They take care to always have everything clean when opening and also when closing.

"I heard some really dirty comments, or did I?" Donatto asks, coming up to us in the kitchen as we eat.

"Juliet tried my piece of meat" Franco argues and I let out a laugh.

"With the most exquisite fish-flavored sauce!"

"Hey, I'm not that dirty. But yes, you're right," says Franco.

Donatto pulls out a fork, throws his dishcloth elsewhere, and finds a seat around us, also piercing pieces of meat. He brings homemade bread that is also a specialty of the house and I accompany him to finish the exquisite sauce.

"So, do you start early tomorrow?" I ask, alluding to the cafeteria service they provide in the morning.

"Yes, darling. But no cafeteria at seven, only from nine to twelve," Donatto warns me.

"It's past midnight already. Do you sleep at all?"

"Seven or eight hours a day, although I don't usually quantify my organic needs," warns Franco.

"If I drink, I might get up at ten, but sometimes the night is intense and we end up flipping the closed sign in the middle of the night."

"And there they put notice that there is no cafeteria tomorrow."

"Right, baby."

"Well, one that does start at seven is me, so I would have to be parading my way home," I warn them. A pleasure that they have made me go to this exclusive place of the restaurant, I almost ran out of dinner for having vacated too late.

"Tell the guy you work for that he exploits you."

"It's a woman, actually."

"Last night you did not come from an event for a gentleman?"

"Yes, I accompany the grandfather of her baby to some events to serve as a translator, but that is more like overtime."

"And today?"

"Today it was overtime for her."

"Your monthly payment will be a millionaire's, darling."

"If I have the health left for it."

"Beginning, it's important. Italy is not as expensive as the United States" Donatto says the obvious, and yes, I have come to the same conclusion.

I put on my cloth jacket and take out my wallet to pay them.

"How much do I owe you?" I ask Franco.

"Well, today you ate from the platter. A shared font of three, so to avoid giving us a bad score on maps, consider it a house treat."

"You made me go into the kitchen with an exclusive service after closing the premises, you even served me with all the tables occupied and...

"And you helped us set up the last tables, the least we can do is feed you for a week," adds Donatto.

I look at them gracefully.

"Only this once, I accept," I warn.

"And then you buy us the restaurant or bring us millionaire clients."

"I know a few investors..."

"Four days of work or five and you already want to exploit your contacts in Italy? Be careful, baby," says Donatto.

And Franco seconded him "maybe when they want they can come to eat. I'll close the restaurant just for your people. Let's go."

He looks for his jacket and stands next to me.

"Where?"

"Well, I'll walk you home."

"Don't worry, the apartment they've rented for me is near. It's a quiet area, I'll walk."

"No ma'am. Italy is calm as long as you trust that some idiot won't appear around to harass you" Franco tells me and Donatto agrees "Of course, until he shows up." He points at me with his fork.

I turn to him and greet him with an enthusiastic hug.

"Thank you so much guys. I am grateful to have found you."

"Say that when we've been friends for a year, at least," says Donatto. "But we can also use an American friend who lives nearby who we can bother when we need something."

"And make us keep the kitchen open after hours."

"Whatever you need, guys." They saved my dinner for the second time.

"Rest up, baby. And have fun with grandpa tomorrow" Donatto jokes and I leave with Franco, leaving a laugh on the way.

Donatto locks the door once we leave the restaurant and walk with my new friend a few blocks towards home.

We talked about the weather, it's springtime in Italy. That puts everyone in a good mood, but also arouses allergies.

At night it cools down a bit, but nothing out of this world, it's an ideal climate and the night is clear with a huge moon above us.

Once in the huge house where I rent the apartment, I point out to Franco that this is it.

"Wow, it is just an apartment."

"In fact, there are several. It's a nice place, Candela, my boss chose it herself. She has good taste.

"Why something like this instead of a luxurious loft in the heart of Milan?"

"She stalked me and asked me to describe with one word the environment where I wanted to be and I just said "something homey" and she gave me this. It's pretty, isn't it?"

"Yes it is. Well, honey, I have to go back. A pleasure to have talked about the weather."

I let out a laugh and hug him.

"Same here, American girl."

"Rest my friend."

I kiss his cheek after shaking him and he pulls away a little. He turns and goes back the way we came.

However, as I insert the key into the lock to turn it, I have a slight feeling that I am being watched.

I turn to Franco who is already around the corner.

But then I look to the other end and I see it.

A dark figure, standing, staring at me.