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The living room started off dim even before Alberto went inside, the blue window tint adding less and less personality as the sun went down. When he did, he found Luca on their couch with an ice pack laid peacefully on his forehead and a blanket placed with worry and the need of recovery.
Seeing this scene, Alberto got worried. He certainly isn't as humane as Luca to know how to take care of someone while they're sick.
He took off his shoes silently and walked forward to where his boyfriend was located. With the intention of care, Alberto extended his neck, his eyes quickly noticing the small detail of Luca's chest bobbing slowly full of sleep.
Practically walking on his tippy-toes, he took off to the bathroom where their bathtub lays. Now, this is where his quote-on-quote skill that he swore was going to be useful one day – also known as: eavesdropping and hoarding leaves from trees – came in handy.
He's heard from many English-speaking Indonesian tourists – usually older than the age of 40 – coming to Portorosso to use pomegranate leaves while showering when they're sick, as it makes them feel better and believe the healing process will be faster. At first, Alberto thought it was all bullshit. His thoughts fuelled with, "are these people crazy?" and "how can pomegranate leaves help you heal faster?" to him, it was an absurd belief. but he couldn't admit to anyone that it didn't stick to him like glue, being portrayed in his mind as tips for the future.
When walking around portorosso, Alberto harvested every leaf he could find. It didn't matter if it was tiny or large, hard or soft, unique or common. He held every leaf with affection and education. and when he inevitably spots someone giving him a dirty look – 'cause he probably looks like a madman – he shoos them away with, "pomegranates can heal you from sickness faster."
He never gained the ability to be able to identify which leaf is which, but of course, he could always ask someone.
That "someone" is his dear step-sister, giulia.
Who was – without-a-doubt – already sick of categorizing leaves for him.
So here he is now: pulling his long, curly hair up in a ponytail, positioning his collection of pomegranate leaves and carefully illustrating them like some art piece on top of a bucket full of water equipped with a scoop inside. (Styling the pomegranate leaves to look presentable isn't a part of the healing process, but he wanted to make it seem as loving, caring and relaxing for his darling.)