This traffic light doesnt want to turn green! While I wait to cross the road Im bewitched by a celestial vision. Theres a guy in front of me on the other side of the road whos waiting to cross. Hes handsome to take your breath away, like someone out of a billboard. Brown hair with shades of wheat colour, eyes as blue as the sky in a summer day and he is as tall and mighty as a Greek God: its impossible not to notice him. I hope he didnt perceive my steady gaze. We cross the road in opposite directions and for a moment I meet his eyes. I feel like a fifteen-years-old girl and, overawed by that magnetic look, I blush. I proceed in my direction and try to get rid of the embarrassment, but when I come in the classroom I still find myself trying to get that wonderful vision out of my head and to take my stupid smile off my face. I start even to feel guilty towards Max. What would he think of his girlfriend dazed at the sight of another man?
The morning drags on heavily between long or boring lessons. Time seems not to pass and my clock is there to remind me that every time I watch it. Luckily its time to take our lunch break.
<<Planet Earth calls Isabel... So, do you want to make me part of your todays bewilderment or you want to keep it all for you?>> Roberta asks, intrigued by my attitude of teenager with the head in the clouds.
<<Not a big deal, Robbie. This morning while I was coming here I bumped into a not emotionless vision. I feel like Cinderella after seeing for the first time her prince.>>
<<Where have you seen him?>> she asks with curiosity.
<<He was standing at the traffic light. Now that I mention it he had a road map in his hands. Who knows where he was going! Maybe he is not even Italian, from the aspect he could come from Northern Europe...>>
<<Why dont I ever have these meetings?>> Robbie snorts. <<And dont you think of your Max? Dont you think about how he would be hurt if he knows that you remained in a daze thinking of a stranger? Anyway, if you happen to see him again, think that Im still single!!>> we both laugh.
The first part of my day is over. Now I have to run home to help my mother and then dedicate myself to dance. Sunday Im going to have a dance recital and bad impressions arent allowed. <<Strength and courage, Isabel! Get a move on!>> I say to myself aloud.
<<Isabel!>> my mother screams.
<<Tell me!>> I answer, caught unawares by her agitated tone and diverted in an impetuous way from my thoughts.
<<Listen, I need you to give me an hand to settle the guest bedroom. A new tenant is coming and he will have to stay here with us for some time. I havent had much time this morning to get organized and I knew of his arrival only few minutes ago. I didnt know he arrived today.>>
<<Is he a student?>> I ask with curiosity.
<<He isnt. Dont make questions now but help me before he arrives!>>
Sometimes I think my parents have really a lot of work with this huge three-story house. The ground floor consists of a hall, a very large dining room, a living room with a fireplace where we usually gather to watch TV or to converse and receive guests, a large American-style kitchen and then my favourite room: the gym where my parents placed a huge mirror all over the wall and a sound system. On the first floor there are the six rooms with bathroom that we rent and my fathers office. Instead, on the second floor theres my bedroom with external bathroom, my parents bedroom with service and finally the guest room. On the top floor theres a very large terrace where in summer we go to sunbathe and sometimes to eat with friends. Fortunately we have a housekeeper who helps us. My mother is a tireless woman, she takes care of everything, even to prepare meals for the kids. Maybe she would also need to go on vacation and take some rest.
We changed the sheets and cooled the room. Now we just have to wait for the guest.
<<Do you still need me?>> I ask my mother with the hope that I can duck out.
<<No, my dear. Go back to your workouts. Thanks for giving me a hand.>> she says mildly. Finally she relaxed.
<<Youre welcome.>> I go away giving her a kiss on the cheek.
Before going down I go in my bedroom to wear a black jumpsuit. I go to the kitchen to get some water and then I run to the gym. From this moment on no more distractions, Isabel! I turn on the stereo and begin to warm-up.
Heaven Out of Hell by Elisa fills the room and finally the song and I are one. Theres nothing more exciting than getting carried away by music. It makes me feel free, happy and able to fly. I will never stop dancing. Its the thing that makes me happy the most.
While Im vaulting I feel observed. I stop and see a silhouette reflected in the mirror. Its behind me leaning against the door. I cant believe my eyes! Im a heap of conflicting emotions. That look overawes me! How is it possible? Usually no one affects me this way. Im paralysed, unable to utter a single word in amazement. Ironically that wonderful Greek God that I met this morning at the traffic light is here, in my gym, and hes looking at me with a beautiful smile! Im going to melt like snow in the sun. He has tousled hair that gives him a very sexy air, wears a grey cotton long-sleeved shirt and black jeans and holds a black leather jacket. He could easily be a model. He has a well formed and lean body. Im practically making him the X-rays! I dont know how long he is there staring at me. I continue observing that wonder in front of me for I dont know how long. It seems as endless moments have passed and I feel rather embarrassed. Luckily my parents come to save me.
<<Isabel, this is Matthias. He is the new tenant I told you about>> my mother says, noticing my discomfort.
<<Nice to meet you!>> I say almost stammering. Luckily I can pretend that its shortness of breath due to the physical activity from which I have been interrupted.
<<Nice to meet you too, Isabel! From what Ive seen you should be a dancer and, I dare say, even pretty good!>> Matthias says to dampen the formality of introductions but without taking his eyes from mine.
<<Thank you. I dance since I was a baby... If I wasnt good I would be worried a little>> I answer with an ironic and perhaps slightly hateful tone: as far as he makes me happy about the fact that, unconsciously, with that sentence he helped me overcame the initial frost or paralysis in which I had fallen. I dont want him to realize how much he affects me.
Mentally I thank my parents who invite him to visit the rest of the house and soon I take advantage of this to take the reins of my self control back and to metabolise what happened. I turn off the stereo, wipe the sweat from my forehead and head for the hall to reach the stairs and go to take a shower. I dont know if Id like to freshen up for the sweat in the gym or if I need a cold shower to recover from the hot flush that has possessed me when I have had the vision of that beautiful man.
Also Matthias is in the hall to retrieve his luggages.
<<Can I give you a hand?>> I ask him putting shyness aside.
<<No, thanks>> he answers smiling at me
I almost melt again looking at his face. I smile too and climb the stairs taking the steps two by two to avoid further contacts with his eyes. What the hell is happening to me? I feel like an idiot. Not even in adolescence a thing like that has ever happened to me.
Also Matthias is in the hall to retrieve his luggages.
<<Can I give you a hand?>> I ask him putting shyness aside.
<<No, thanks>> he answers smiling at me
I almost melt again looking at his face. I smile too and climb the stairs taking the steps two by two to avoid further contacts with his eyes. What the hell is happening to me? I feel like an idiot. Not even in adolescence a thing like that has ever happened to me.
I meet my mother near my bedroom and ask her: <<Why did you decide to rent the guest room too? Its the first time it happens. Usually when we are fully booked you have never rented this room...>>
<<Matthias is the nephew of a dear old friend of mine, so he is a very special person for us. He is here in Turin for work and, having not other rooms available, your father and I have decided to host him in this room.>>
While we are speaking he comes to us and my mother helps him to settle down in his room.
<<Isabel, get some towels for Matthias, please.>>
<<Yes, Ill be right there.>> I take what I was asked and while theyre still in the room I hear my mother whos talking with Matthias.
<<Im sorry that this room has not a bathroom as the others. Unfortunately the space didnt allow us to build one and so to avoid making a too small room we decided not to put it. Usually this is the room we use for friends who stay no more than a few days. You can use the bathroom that is next to Isabels bedroom and youll have to share it.>>
I cant believe my ears! Shes allowing him to use my bathroom, invading in this manner my privacy and my cosiness. Good heavens! Only the thought of having to share something with him gives me anxiety. I begin to hate my mother at this moment, I cant even hold back a grimace of displeasure towards her. Luckily it was noticed only by her. Then, arming myself with a shy smile I address Matthias: <<I promise not to take too long in the bathroom. In the morning Ill try to get up earlier not to make you waste time. Now, if you excuse me, I go to take a shower.>>
I come in my room and lie down on the bed a few minutes, breathing deeply to succeed in focusing myself on the many news of this day.
A freshen up was really what I needed. I relaxed and now Im ready to deal with the evening with the awareness of having to meet the depth and the blue of Matthias eyes again. I go into the living room to join the others who luckily are already there introducing themselves to the newcomer.
I look at my friends face and I realise that Greek God Matthias not only makes a strange effect on me. His beauty is bewitching. The only difference is that they can communicate with him without stumbling over their words and without being ridiculous as I did!
<<Well met, Isabel! Your mother has been very kind to make me go around the house and to introduce me to the other boys and girls. I saw the terrace and I wanted to congratulate you. She said that you take care of it and, particularly, of the roses.>>
I nod and thank him. My heart beats wildly because he continues staring at me... Its really embarrassing. I cant help blushing.
The phone ring brings me back to reality.
<<Isabel is for you!>> my father yells from the hallway.
<<Hello! This is Isabel>> I answer nonchalantly.
<<Hey! Ive been calling and calling on the mobile phone...>> Max reproaches me.
<<Forgive me, I must have left it carelessly in the gym.>>
<<I wanted to remind you that this evening Im going to come and get you to go take a ride or something.>>
<<I remembered it!>> I lie.
<<See you later then and, please, dont be late as usual!>>
While I talk on the phone, I notice the presence of Matthias who doesnt hesitate to listen and I see his eyes suddenly become sad. I look away from him and concentrate on the conversation. <<See you later at 9 p.m.!>>
Lately Max and I dont spend much time together. Once we saw every night and we spoke on the phone at least a dozen times a day. Little by little we realized that maybe it would be better to meet less. The wait has its charm.
I hang up the phone and come back in the living room: <<Sorry guys and girls! You know how Max is. If he doesnt hear from me a thousand times a day he goes out of his mind!>>
<<Dont worry, Isabel!>> Rebecca exclaims.
<<We were asking Matthias if he would like to go out with us. In this way we will show him this wonderful city and maybe we could also go to some clubs>> Alex says.
<<Of course! Id love it!>> Matthias answers enthusiastically.
<<What do you say? Will you bear our company?>> I ask him with a shy glance.
He nods without saying a words, continuing to stare at me. I have to overcame this feeling of embarrassment. Now I make him many questions. Maybe, becoming acquainted with him, this fear of meeting his eyes will end. Strength and courage!
I reset everything and with calmness ask him: <<Where do you come from?>>
<<I come from Rome!>> he answers looking at me as if before him there was another person.
In fact Ive sent away the awkward teenager who had taken possession of my mind. I dont know how Im succeeding in it but Im coming back to me. Its about time!
<<Wow, I love Rome! Its wonderful, but I couldnt live there. Its too chaotic and packed with tourists. Maybe one day you will guide us in your city. Ive never finished visiting all Rome.>>
<<Sure! When you want, Isabel, Ill be at your disposal.>> he says without concealing a sly smile.
<<Ill remember it when I want to escape Turin and my thousand commitments.>>
And maybe when you will stop getting embarrassed when you look at him. My subconscious intervenes.
Between a chat and the other the time flew. My mother invites us to take a seat at the table. Somehow she saved me again.
At dinner Matthias is much involved and not at all in trouble. This thing makes me hope in a unexpectedly natural way for his rapid integration into the group and makes me wish, again, to win quite so rapidly the embarrassment that his presence causes me. I get lost when I observe him. He has something mysterious. When he is absent-minded the light in his eyes changes. What is he worried about? Handsome and mysterious... I have to stop looking at him like that. Sooner or later someone will notice it and thats not good. I give a glance at the clock on the wall and I realize that its really late. Its already 8 p.m and Max will be here in an hour. I say goodbye to everybody and get up to go in my bedroom. When Im next to the staircase, I realized that Matthias has followed me.
<<Will you bear us?>> I challenge him ironically while we climb the stairs together.
<<I would say so!>> he exclaims smiling at me.
<<I guess youre tired... You better go and rest. Later, when Ill come back home, Ill make sure not to make noise to avoid bothering you.>>
<<Im not at all tired. I think I will arrange some things in my bedroom and then Ill dedicate myself to read a book. Im sorry for invading your space... You know, for the bathroom...>>
<<Dont worry, I can tolerate it>> I say smiling at him.
Matthias is in his bedroom and throw himself on the bed thinking amused about Isabels exuberance and awkwardness. He is bewildered too by the many emotions of the days events. He feels attracted to that girl. He thinks back on the moment he saw her whirl. He would have stayed hours watching her while she danced. Since he met her piercing hazel eyes he could no longer look away from her. He is aware of her embarrassment. He feels attracted not only to her appearance but also to her vulnerability that she wants to hide by irony and self-confidence. He found her irresistible when she joined them in the living room wearing that cream dress that left her long toned legs uncovered. Isabel: a particularly beautiful face, framed by long brown hair with russet shades, big amber brown eyes, well designed full lips that contrast with the spontaneous and innocent expression. She has a toned body, a round and well-shaped bottom, generous breasts, narrow waist and curves in all the right places... Evidently, the sport has helped her to ensure that her body was modelled in the right places. Certainly she does not go unnoticed, everything about her is perfection and sensuality... Overwhelmed by Isabels thought he forgets for a while his problems and the real reason that has led him to move to Turin for some time.