Dancing To Happiness

The mobile phone starts ringing and, as expected, it’s Max who calls to advice me of his delay. He never succeeds in being on time!

<<What happened to you this time?>> I ask him snorting.

<<Forgive me, Isabel. I had a hitch, so unfortunately we can not go out together tonight.>>

The reaction is an immediate retort <<And do you tell me it only now? Fifteen minutes before “zero hour”? Nice, we are back to the usual routine!>>

<<You’re right to be angry, but my mother wasn’t feeling too well and she needs me, I’m sorry. I swear that tomorrow morning I will pick you up very early and first of all I’ll take you for a breakfast at the bar and then I’ll take you to the university.>>

<<Okay, I forgive you this time too but for revenge tomorrow I won’t give weight to my shape and, since you will pay for me, I’ll eat whatever will pass under my nose. Don’t stand me up again! Now go to your mother and say goodbye for me!>> I say softening my resentment.

I understand that this time it’s for a good cause, but it’s seriously hard to bear that he is constantly no-show.

I leave my room, slamming the door involuntarily. I shouldn’t but I’m still very angry. It’s the third time in the last ten days that he stands me up. I’m so furious not to realize that my “gentleness” in slamming the door made Matthias leave his room. His eyes are on me and scrutinize me from head to toe. Why is he staring at me thus?

Breaking the silence I say to him: <<Forgive me for the noise. But my better half has an innate and unbelievable predisposition to make me mad...>> he continues staring at me embarrassingly, practically he is devouring me with his eyes.

I’m sure red-faced. Finally he decides to tell me something.

<<No, do not worry about me. Tell me what happened to you, instead.>>

<<Max stood me up again! And to say that I got cute for him.>>

<<He will have no idea what he’s missing; you are beautiful!>>

And after this statement I blush even more.

<<Do you know what? Nothing goes to waste! If that’s all right, I’ll go out with you tonight.>> Matthias proposes.

<<Of course, I’ll guide you around the streets of Turin!>> I answer enthusiastically, worried about the strange emotions I feel and about having to be alone with him.

<<Would you like to go for a walk in the city centre and then to a pub for a drink?>>

<<I’d like it! Just give me a few minutes to get changed and I’ll be right with you.>> he replies amused to have noticed my eyes on his sweatpants, winking at me. I blush, realizing that I was devouring him with my eyes too. Good heavens! This man would be really sexy even wearing a garbage bag.

In the meantime I went down in the kitchen to drink a glass of cold water to recover and to dampen my ardour although perhaps I should swallow something alcoholic which could make me more uninhibited.

I head towards the hallway and in the meantime I notice that Matthias is walking down the stairs to join me. He wore jeans, a black cotton T-shirt with v-neck and a leather jacket. He is to die for!

He takes my hand and asks me if I’m ready to take him around. I nod and, breathing deeply, I start talking non-stop: <<I’ll take you by car to Piazza Vittorio Veneto that is one of the largest square in Europe and from there we will walk down the main streets of the city centre: Via Po, Piazza Castello, Via Roma and then we will get back from Via Lagrange to end up again in Via Po. Finally we will conclude our tour having a drink at Murazzi’s.>>

<<Perfect, I trust you!>> he exclaims, amused by my sudden gift of the gab.

We reach my car, a black Alfa Romeo Mito.

Put aside shyness and broken the ice, I start feeling at ease. So, to speed things up and to know him better, I bombard him with questions about his home town and his private life. When I put my mind I’m really pushy.

<<Sorry if I trouble you, but I wonder what the hell you are doing here in Turin, living in a beautiful city like Rome.>>

<<I work>> he answers.

Despite my court shoes are very tall, I managed to walk a lot and to follow the predetermined itinerary.

Going towards Murazzi’s I point out Gran Madre Church and Mount of the Capuchins.

<<Did you know that Turin is a magic city? Next time I’ll take you in Piazza Statuto. In ancient times it was the gates of the city, considered inauspicious, and out of this there were crucifixions. Because of its historical precedents it is believed that the square hides something evil, even it’s assumed that under the central flowerbed there’s the door to hell. Turin is the vertex of the triangle of black magic with London and San Francisco and also of white magic with Prague and Lyon. The exact point of the vertex of black magic is a small obelisk built in 1808 on a geodetic point according to trigonometric calculations and it’s placed in a flowerbed of the small garden.>>

<<Really?>>

I nod. Then I point at the three statues of Gran Madre Church and I explain him what they represent.

<<The statue in the centre represents Victor Emmanuel I, the right one is the allegory of religion with a tiara at its feet, while, the left one represents the allegory of faith, a woman holding a chalice. It is believed that the statue looks to the place where the Holy Grail is hidden. Instead one of the esoteric legend says that it is not its look that indicates where the Grail is buried but its index finger. For this reason unknown persons destroyed it.>>

<<Interesting.>>

<<Maybe as soon as we will have some free time, I’ll take you for a tour, making you visit the mysterious, subterranean and esoteric Turin.>>

<<I’d like it very much.>>

<<I do not believe in these things... Even though esotericism fascinates and frightens me at the same time.>>

<<I do not believe in these things too. Although at this time I perceive a little magic and more than through the gate of hell I feel to stay through that of Paradise.>> he says looking into my eyes.

<<I knew you would have liked this place...>> I say, pretending not to understand. Because I think he was not referring to the city... I’m the usual presumptuous.

While we are in the pub and continue to drink, Matthias lists the places that he would like to visit. Then he tells me something about his family. He has two sisters and he loves them much.

<<I moved here for work issues. I’m a financial consultant. My aunt told me that she knows people who need me and I need to have more clients and to gain experience, so I decided to move! Knowing your parents, she helped me to find an accommodation. She asked them the possibility to host me in your boarding house. Unfortunately there’s not much space in her house to host me.>>

<<I have never met your aunt. My mother told me she is one of her long-time friend that I have not had the pleasure of meeting yet. According to what she says, your aunt doesn’t live in this city. I’d be curious to meet her, she may reveal something that my mother did when she was young. Who knows, it may come in handy when she will be breathing down on my neck!>> I remark with a smirk.

<<Someday if you would like it I’ll take you there. She lives in Susa Valley since she got married.>>

<<Thank you, I’d like it very much.>>

I’d like to ask him also if he is engaged but I don’t think it’s appropriate. He may think that I have “other” interests in him.

We talk still a lot continuing to swallow beer which makes me more confident and less shy. We laugh and have fine throughout the evening. Without realizing it the time flew.

<<It’s very late!>> I exclaim, watching the time. <<It’s almost three in the morning and in a few hours I have to go to the university.>>

<<You’re right, the time passed quickly. I didn’t think it was so late!>>

<<Yes... It’s time to go to sleep>> I say very sorry to have to interrupt the pleasant chat.

<<Thank you very much for the nice evening...>> I say pausing to take courage and tell him that I had already seen him.

<<You know, this morning while I was going to university I met you; you were standing at a traffic light with a road map in your hands. I could not help but notice you and I have been fascinated by your look. I thought you were English or Irish... you are particularly interesting!>> I exclaim and then I try to repair <<Forgive me, I shouldn’t drink so much, I lose control and I don’t think to what I say...>> I blush and avoid looking at him.