French
Italian
German

In a small square in the old part of the town three young men and a girl were leaning on a wall. They were wearing oversized jackets and makeup; they seemed like early examples of the "New romantic" fashion. At their feet was a radio that played 'Love my way', the same song that played at the open-air dancing bar a few weeks earlier. Johnny looked at Mark as if to say "See?" Then saluted the youngsters only to be ignored.

"Psychedelic Furs. The best!" Johnny started dancing just like he did at the open-air bar but this time, alone. The new romantics seemed uninterested. "I saw them in Chicago last year. Richard Butler... awesome!" Johnny spoke in lousy Italian.

"Really? We saw them at a concert too! We hitch-hiked to London.." The girl spoke in a romagnolo accent.

"Best way to travel around!" The other new romantics joined the dance with their syncopated moves. Mark didn't dance, he watched the three new romantics along with the love of his life, dance with an uncertain look on his face. The song hit it's climax and Mark puked suddenly and abundantly.

Johnny went over to Mark and held his forehead as he puked. Mark stood away from the wall making an "I'm okay now" gesture, he went to the nearby water fountain and splashed water on his face. "It's the best day of my life and I end it with puking." Johnny smiled as he fixed Mark's messy hair. He looked around to check that nobody was looking and started kissing him again. Mark let himself go. His eyes were closed as Johnny kissed him roughly. He heard male voices mutter homophobic comments against them but he didn't care.

It was the kiss of a lifetime.

[~▪-▪~]

Mark and Johnny watched the train come to a stop together. Mark wore Johnny's blue shirt. On the platform were a few travellers ready to leave. Johnny's bags were those for his trip home, it was time for their goodbyes. The train doors opened and some people came out while others went in saying goodbye to their counterparts.

Mark and Johnny didn't move, they tried to delay the inevitable, even if it was only for a few seconds. The voice on the intercom informed that the Express train for Rome was about to depart from platform 1.

"Did you get your passport?"

"Yeah, I did." The travellers were all on the train except for Johnny. The conductor was a few cars down, looking at his watch. There was a moment of suspended, cruel silence. "There's an emptiness behind your eyes... there's dust in our hearts... Love my way, it's a new road..." Mark listened to these words that Johnny started to sing sweetly, whispering.

"I follow where my mind goes, so swallow all your tears, my love... and put on your new face... you can never win or lose, if you don't run the race." They hugged in silence, Mark desperately embraced him. The intercom went off again and Johnny grabbed his bags and entered the train. Mark blew a kiss at the departing train, he didn't want to kiss Johnny because that would mean goodbye and he wasn't ready for that but now as he watched the train leave, he wished he did. Mark watched the train disappear in the distance and wiped out, he walked along the platform and sat on a bench, his gaze lost in thoughts.

The memories of him and Johnny quickly flashed through his mind like a film. The early morning swims, their lazy breakfasts, their rides up to town, work in the garden, afternoon naps, some more work, games of volleyball and then nights filled with lovemaking that'd make Mark feel like somebody, like himself.

After a long moment he stood to go to the public phone. Mark dialed a number mechanically. After a few more moments someone picked up the phone.

"Jungwoo? Mom... Hey. Yes, I'm fine. I'm in Clusone, at the station. Yes... He left. Mom.. Please can you come pick me up?" Mark spoke on the phone as he choked back tears.

[~▪-▪~]

Mrs. Lee was with Mark in the car. She drove back to the villa and Mark was extremely silent. Johnny's blue shirt was open over Marks bare chest, the star of David necklace blew in the wind. She looked at him and reached out with her free hand and caressed his cheek. His mother's sweet gesture made him loose it, Mark's face crumpled up and he started to cry. She wiped his tears away with her free hand but he couldn't stop.

[~▪-▪~]

The Lee car was parked in town. Mark was alone, sitting in the passenger seat as the car radio played some summer song. In the distance was a group of Mark's friends who were walking about. Among them was Yeri who noticed the familiar car and then Mark. She waved at her friends and then left them to come towards him. "Hello." Mark only noticed her when she was close. "How are you?"

"Good, thanks." Mark tried straightening up to hide his emotions but his face showed that it was recently upset by tears. "I read the book you gave me, the poems are beautiful. I really love Antonio Pozzi. 'In the room's air- not you do I look at- but the memory of your face.'" She quoted with a smile. Mark nodded smiling back at her.

"I'm sorry you feel so bad. I just wanted to tell you that I'm not mad at you. I love you." Mark was surprised and comforted by Yeri's words. She extended her hand to him. "Friends?" Mark shook her hand and then got out of the car and hugged her, sighing.

"Forever?"

"Forever."

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(a/n: yo, eventhough i'm writing this, i'm feeling the big sad. no, i didn't cry 👺 my eyes just had a little sweat)