Marco Alberti's Links
Ah, my younger sister; self-proclaimed flower child. I'll admit that we come from different worlds; I'm a man of logic and reason while she is a woman of abstraction. Kyra's whimsical imagination may seem illogical at first but daydreaming has been proven to help find solutions to everyday problems in many studies. I’m someone who has difficulty conveying emotions that don’t sync up with what I think, but I guess Kyra’s here to help with that. If I may be honest, I almost didn't want a sibling at first because I thought they would just get in the way a lot but after some convincing I just had to accept it. Yes, it's natural for siblings to have their disagreements. However, I've reflected upon those moments where we fought that it's helped me see things through the other person's perspective. I don't think I could grow this much if I was an only child. I'm thankful for my sister, even if I don't say it enough.
My brother! True, he can be rather quirky but I appreciate the effort he puts into brightening up my day when I need it. He’s something of a smarty-pants, and it’s hard for me to keep up with that growing intellect of his! I’m certain he can teach me a thing or two.
I hit a rough patch in my life growing up so my parents signed me up for this international pen pal program. I'd spent the entire summer writing letters to what I thought would be nobody, but it turned out to be a lot of fun as soon as I got letters back. Blaze was the coolest person on paper but when we met face to face it felt so surreal. I have Blaze to thank for making a positive impact on my life.
We met through an international pen pal program when we were kids. The letters he wrote were rather lengthy but I was engrossed in each one, and I'd look forward to the next. Marco was at a dark period in his life and I felt his pain and loneliness. When we met face to face for the first time, it's like we've known each other for a long time despite the short time frame of the pen pal program.
Life in Australia, for me, was...hectic, to say the least. I found this pen pal program as a ticket out of the country at first, but who knew I'd find a lifelong friend in the process?
My sister was in marching band in high school and while I only came to the football games to support my sister, Cat's performance on the field stood out to me; like, she was a completely different person on the field compared to in class. We would also have lunch together back then; while I would prefer to sit alone, she took time to find me and we just talk until the next bell rang albeit she was also looking for my sister. Simply put; Cat can find joy in most everything she sets her mind to. I don't quite understand why she finds me captivating but I guess it feels nice to have that kind of attention every once in a while. Honestly, I quite enjoy her company, even if it's just us sitting around doing nothing.
I didn't know Kyra had a brother in high school but we did end up having some classes together. Marco was the smartest guy in both of my classes and also the most quiet. Outside of class, though...he was in theatre for a short time and he was incredible on stage. I don't know how Marco the academic genius and Marco the thespian can exist in one body. Even though I may never figure out what goes on in his head, he continues to fascinate me. He's great company; just full of surprises and talent.
Quick story time before I go any further: My sister brought home a friend from school one day, and I immediately ran back to my room in fear that my nerdy-looking face would scare her off. The friend in question was, of course, Zani. I also knew that my friend, Sunny, had a sister but he failed to mention how beautiful she was! It was like having Princess Jasmine herself in my own home (oh, how this brings me back to that painfully awkward time where I met Princess Jasmine at Disneyland when I was 5 and I got way over my head thinking I was better for her than Aladdin - hey, cut my childhood self a break here; he didn’t know any better! Crushes over fictional characters at that tender age were…whimsical, to say the least.)
I was so enamored by Zani’s beauty at first, I’ll admit. However, I didn’t want to act on these feelings due to the outdated notion I held at the time: she probably cared more about her appearance than her education. Of course, first impressions are not always correct. Zani’s beauty was deeper than what was on the surface. As Aristotle puts it, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
The plot thickens: I also helped tutor Zani back in high school, which is why Kyra brought her over often. Her worst subject was science which is where I excelled; so, it made sense. Much to my surprise, Zani was a fervent student with one heck of a drive. In return for my academic services, Zani offered me one of her signature makeovers. Now, before you judge me on this: let me remind you that when I was in high school I wore my hair tied into a ponytail, had pimples almost everywhere, and had these ridiculous prescription glasses that even Steve Urkel from Family Matters might have worn. Let’s just say after that makeover, I’m glad I got rid of those glasses, changed my wardrobe completely, and I learned the importance of skin care (I had really bad cystic acne at the time, mostly due to stress).
I’m usually not comfortable being the center of attention, for one thing; I was super awkward. However, I did teach myself how to dance and sing in secret. I mostly did this for Zani, but I like learning new things for my own personal growth. There was a production of Newsies that I secretly auditioned for and I ended up getting the lead. That alone gave me a new appreciation for theatre, as well as confidence in myself. Zani’s influence had a positive impact on me moving forward, and I think some of her charisma rubbed on to me.
Up to today, I don’t think I would be who I am if it weren’t for Zani. She’s helped me see the world through new lenses (and I’m not talking about contacts, although they do help with my astigmatism).
Who would’ve thought that Kyra had a brother, let alone an extremely hot one - like, girl?! Why do you hold out on me?!
Anyway, Marco and I haven’t really spoken much in the beginning, but I try my best to at least take initiative. Much to my surprise, Marco is quite fascinating given how intelligent he is, and I didn’t think I would click with a guy like that! I mean; Marco is lightyears ahead of me in the intelligence department, excelling in academics and whatnot, and as someone of average intelligence… I’ll admit it’s intimidating, but that’s the sort of thing that has driven me to do my best in many areas of expertise - all of which I set my mind and heart on. If I ever needed help, then he’d be the one I’d go to; if he didn’t know the answer, then he’d look for it in a heartbeat (figuratively speaking, of course, but he wouldn’t rest until he finds it). If I’m being honest, I’m probably dealing with a genius here. I’ve been singing many praises over his intelligence, haven’t I?
Well, that’s only Marco during the day, but once he’s off the clock…*giggles* he becomes the embodiment of every hero of every romance novel I’ve ever read - move over, Fabio! In this house, we stan Marco!
He’s a man after my own heart when it comes to dancing. Like, seriously! It’s like he’s an entirely different person when he dances, and I LOVE IT! 😍 Not only does he steal my heart through dance, but he has a refined taste for many other things like art and food…just to name a few. Oh, I forgot to mention he’s quite the thespian! I’ve seen him in our high school production of Newsies and he killed it!
Then, the cycle begins anew. Marco, the unassuming genius by day. Marco, the heart-throbbing Casanova by night. To think they’d exist in the same mind and body… but, hey; it’s what keeps me on my toes and I love the thrill of the intrigue. ❤️
Gen is either confused for my mother or my big sister due to our similar hair colors - it's a little embarrassing, to be honest. It's not her fault; coincidences like this yield some kind of irony in my perspective, and my sister is often mixed up in it.
Anyway, it's clear that caring for others is second nature for Gen. She has this strong maternal instinct and can read emotions very well, although when she tries to read me it's a little uncomfortable. I guess for someone who has difficulty listening to their own heart, Gen can decipher what it is my heart really wants and I very much appreciate she's the one that can do just that - not just for me, but for everyone around her.
Marco is a little hard for me to read at times mainly because he's the most objective person I've ever met and he's not afraid to tell it like it is. Marco has a unique way of showing he cares for others, that's for certain. Marco's not upfront about his feelings, but rather takes time to figure out what needs to be done in order to express himself fully. He's like a robot in that regard, but he's 100% human. I guess for someone who wears their heart on their sleeve, I may need to step back and think about how much of my own heart to wear on my sleeve at times.
Antonio is my academic rival through and through. We met around sophomore year in high school, yet we both fought for the valedictorian spot for our graduating class. We were also part of the speech & debate team, which meant that meetings and competitions were never a dull moment. I’ve never been so driven and challenged after meeting Antonio…like something just ignited me to action. I did have some help settling my differences with him thanks to Cat and my sister. They both suggested we take up fencing, and well…we both ended up really enjoyed it a little more than we like to admit.
As much as I hate to admit, I am grateful for Antonio’s charisma and drive. He helped me improve myself to greater heights.
I also share the same sentiments about Marco here. I was a transfer student when I met Marco, who always excelled in academics. I was no slouch in the classroom, either. I really needed a challenge, and Marco looked like a worthy candidate. We really brought excitement into the classroom, though we can get a little carried away with it. Marco’s sister and her friend suggested we take up fencing as a healthy outlet for our rivalry, and I felt alive when wielding a rapier or a sabre. I am grateful for the synergy that I share with Marco, though he doesn’t know this.