CRAVING U (The Rook Café) (27 page)

The fourth day of
the second week, a series of events dictated that the two of them should be
together, alone, at the
Rocca
.  The day was clear and they had a perfect
view of the Alps to the north.  They walked up the paved road that led past the
Renaissance building and onto a gentle rise that gradually grew into the hills
above Lonigo.  “I’d love to introduce you to my friends.”  Federico leaned
against a low wall and opened himself up to her.  “Could you come to Marostica
some day?  I’d come pick you up in the morning and bring you back in the
afternoon.”

“That’d be
awesome,” Marika said enthusiastically.  “Maybe if we’re lucky we’ll see the
famous living chess match.”

“That’ll be tough
unless you want to wait around until September,” he said kindly, not wanting to
make her feel bad about her error.  “And it’s only held once every two years. 
Tradition.”  He raised his hands in defeat.  “But I can get some tickets for
you if you want to go in September.”

“Cool!”  She
hopped up onto the wall and sat down next to him.

“Do you know the
story behind it?  About Lionora, the beautiful daughter of the Lord of
Marostica, and the two knights who were competing for her love?”  His voice was
so animated that she immediately found herself transported into a past of epic
love.  “It’s a tale of courtly love from the 15th century which is played out
every two years on the main square, an enormous chessboard laid out in front of
the Lower Castle.”  His eyes, shaped like a cameo figure carved in sardonyx,
shone with trembling excitement.  “The two noble knights, both in love with
Lionora, decided to settle the matter with a duel, but Lionora’s father ruled
that the duel would not be fought with arms, but with their minds, through a
chess game in the center of town using real people as the pieces.”

Marika listened
to him in silent reverence, transfixed by his eloquence and knowledge.

“When you come to
visit, I’ll show you around the medieval center of the old town and tell you
all of the details.  I’ll be your own personal guide, all for you.”  He gently
touched her cheek.  “And as soon as they are ripe, I’ll bring you some of our
famous cherries too.”

“I love cherries.” 
She batted her eyelashes.

“They’re still a
bit sour, but they’ll be juicy and sweet in a couple of weeks.”  A metaphor for
their own dreams.  “You’ll love them.”

“You’re really
incredible,” she said, amazed by his ways.  “I’ve never met a guy like you
before.”  The fact that she didn’t love him, at least not in the most primitive
and irrational sense of the word, didn’t keep her from appreciating how
wonderful it was to have him near her, more than anyone else could be at this
moment in time.  “Next Saturday would be perfect.  I could tell Carlotta to
come too, she’s go nuts about a road trip.”

Federico could
only nod his agreement, suppressing his disappointment.  He liked Carlotta, but
what he really wanted was to be alone with Marika.  He didn’t necessarily want
to try anything with her; if anything was going to happen, he wanted it to be
natural and unplanned... and mutual.  And he was willing to wait for that.

“I’m all tied up
tomorrow.”  Her voice was uncertain and revealed a touch of unease.  “Sorry.”

“Would it be of
any use if I begged?”  His eyes were calm and his voice was warm and
accommodating.

“Not in this
case,” she had to admit, a bit ashamed.  “You know,
The Rook
is
organizing
....
”

“It’s OK,”
Federico interrupted before she went any further.  “I wasn’t trying to pry.”

“But you aren’t.” 
She paused.  “It’s just that Matteo Zovigo is leaving for Milan the day after
tomorrow, and we wanted to give him a going-away party.”

“And this makes
you sad.”  His expression changed.

“No,” she lied,
not knowing why.  “We’ve known each other forever and...,” her voice faded
away, not knowing what to say.

“I told you that
it’s OK.  If you aren’t sad about it, why are you telling me?”  His demeanor
was mature, but clearly worried.  “Go, say goodbye, do what you have to do, and
then come back to me.”

Even though
theirs was in no way an exclusive relationship, it was obvious that her past
with Matteo had created insidious doubts and fears in his mind.  And so she
said, “You know what?  Why don’t you come with me tomorrow?” 
Since they
were all just friends and part of the same world, why not invite him?
  “Wanna
be my plus-one?”

“Sure, I’d love
to.”  His eyes came alive hearing those words on her lips: it was the offer
that he never would have dared to dream of.  “I’ll pick you up at five.”

“Perfect,” she
said, hiding her inner drama behind a smile.  “Hey, it’s getting dark.  Can you
take me home?”  All of a sudden, Marika felt like something was wrong, that her
invitation was dangerous, but it was too late to take it back.

The next day was
the first real day of spring: the sky was blue, the sun was shining, and the
warm air was filled with the smell of blossoming trees.  An ode to nature,
totally out of tune with Marika’s state of mind and her impatience to have this
day over and done with.

“Farewell to
Matteo?” 
It couldn’t be true!
  The months since that first meeting at
her own house between Matteo and the
San Carlo
representatives had
passed by in a silence of nothingness, protected by a limbo of illusions and
memories.  And now that the moment had arrived to face his impending departure,
she didn’t feel even remotely ready to let him go.  She felt as sour as the
cherries of Marostica.  Right or wrong, reasonable or egotistical, Marika was
relieved, though, to have Federico at her side for this final goodbye, because
if she were left alone with Matteo, with his bottomless eyes into which she
would fall with no hopes of ever getting out, she never would have the strength
to say goodbye.

Marika and her
friends had decided to throw a very Milan-themed going-away party for Matteo at
The Rook
, with a chic happy hour featuring all the cocktails and hors d’oeuvres
that you might find in the trendiest Milan bar, plus rivers of free-flowing
beer.  Everyone was there: friends and a noisy throng of party-crashers. 
Matteo had arrived with Dario and Carlotta, followed by a stream of cars loaded
with classmates and teammates, and Lucrezia lorded it over everyone as if she
was some kind of First Lady.  Even Valerio and Marcello had come, mostly for
the opportunity to hook up with some unsuspecting girl amidst the general
euphoria.

When Marika and
her ride got to
The Rook
, the party was already going in full force,
wheeling and spinning about its king and self-proclaimed queen, and after
taking one look at it all, Marika’s only desire was to run away and continue
lying to herself that it wasn’t true.  The sun was hanging low in the sky and
cast voluptuous amber shadows over everything.  Marika forced a smile to her
face as she got out of Federico’s car and walked straight into Matteo’s field
of vision.  His face froze.

“Why did she come
with him?” he asked Dario, busy at the buffet.  “Did you know about this?”  He
wanted an answer.

“Kind of.”  He
choked down the food in his mouth and paused.  He was torn between the demands
of his girlfriend and the responsibility he felt toward his best friend.

“Thanks!”  Matteo’s
heart grew cold and disgusted.  “You’re a real pal.”

“What did you
want me to tell you?” he said, following Matteo as he stalked away.

“The truth,
Dario.  Just for once.”  He turned and stared at Marika, shaking his head in
disbelief and despair.  “Why is she doing this to me?”  He tightened his fists.

“And just what,
exactly, is she doing to you?” Carlotta accused, butting in.  “What are you so surprised
about anyway?  What did you want her to do?” 
Live in a dreamworld waiting
for a prince who never shows up?
  “When have you ever given her anything to
hold on to, huh?  Tell me that, Matteo,” she thundered.  “She cared so much
about you, and as thanks, you dove straight into Lucrezia’s already crowded
pants.”  She was furious.

“What did I do?” 
He was at the breaking point.  “Dario, do me a favor and either get her out of
here or get her to shut up because I’m about to disrespect her... and you too.” 
He clenched his jaw and turned his back on them.

“Yeah, go on, get
really pissed off!”  She kept at him, tapping a finger into his chest.  “After
all, it’s what you’re best at.”

“Cut that out,
Carlotta.  Leave him alone.”  Dario tried to cool her passions.  “It’s none of
your business.”

“What do you mean
it’s none of my business?  You can’t speak to me like that, Dario!”  In her
excitement she started flinging her hands through the air while she spoke.  “But
you remember how it was, you were there when she was so depressed because of
him and we didn’t know how to help her.”  Her eyes began to shimmer.  “I love
her, and I’m not going to let anyone hurt her.”  She pointed directly at
Matteo.

“I care about her
too!  I don’t want her to get hurt either!”  Matteo was roaring like a cornered
lion, revealing hidden sentiments that could no longer be concealed.  “But you
don’t know anything about it!” he hissed, putting his hands on top of his head
and walking quickly away from them.  They were left standing like statues on
the edge of the crowd.

It was like the
finale of a bad movie, where every character has said or done something wrong
and now must pay the price.

“Hey guys.”  The
couple jumped, not having heard Marika arrive.  She was unaware of what had
just happened.  “Sorry, did we startle you?”  They clasped hands and exchanged
kisses.  “Where’s Matteo?  I wanted to talk to him.”

“Of course.” 
Dario took her by the hand.  “I’ll take you guys there.”

They found him
sitting on the hillside.  He stood up when he saw them approaching, staring
aggressively at Federico until his eyes turned to Marika’s face and instantly
lost their coldness.

“So, tomorrow’s
the big day.”  Marika hugged him, and then started to introduce Federico.  “This
is
....
”

“Uh-huh,” he
murmured impolitely.  “We’ve met before, remember?”

“Congratulations
about
San Carlo
!”  Federico stuck out his hand.  “It’s an amazing
opportunity.”

“It’s just a
try-out,” Matteo answered, giving him a violent high-five and squeezing his
hand.  “Can you give us a minute?”  His grip tightened.

Before answering,
Federico turned towards Marika to see what she wanted.  They exchanged an
imperceptible look of complicity.  “Sure man, no problem,” he said to Matteo,
then added to Marika, “I’ll wait for you in the parking lot.”  He turned and
left, followed by Dario and Carlotta.

Here it was, the
moment she had dreaded: being alone with him.  “Are you nervous about tomorrow?” 
She breathed deeply, trying to hold it together.

“Yeah,” he
replied, equally trepidatious.  “Really nervous!”  He showed his vulnerable
side, quivering in the effort to keep his emotions in check.  “I’m not nearly
as confident as I seem.”  He kept staring at her, hoping that in his eyes she
would be able to read the feelings in his heart that he was unable to shape
into words.

“You’re going to
be great, I know it!”  She smiled at him.  “After the first few days, you won’t
even remember your life before
San Carlo
.”

“Do you really
think so?”  His voice still had that doleful sound of disappointment.

“Why do you keep
asking me these things?”  Marika no longer understood him, but how could she,
now that he had shut her out forever from his emotional side.  “I’m doing my
best!  It’s not easy for me either!”

“I know,” he
admitted.

She couldn’t take
it any more.  Another second and she would be humiliating herself in front of
everybody by begging him not to leave.  “Good luck,” she said quickly.

“OK, thanks,” he
whispered, exhausted from the effort and turning to leave.

“
No, this can’t
be it!  This isn’t the way it’s supposed to end!
”
 
Marika saw him
take three steps before she felt herself racing forward and grabbing his arm
from behind.

Feeling himself
pulled back, Matteo turned around with an intense desire to take her into his
arms.

“I’m going to
miss you.”  Her big hazel eyes welled up when she saw his own eyes shining.

He smiled sadly. 
“Me too.  Tons.”

Marika knew it
was neither the time nor the place, what with Federico and Lucrezia nearby, but
she couldn’t keep herself from throwing her arms around his neck and letting
her body press in against his.

The other parties
stood in silence as they watched his virile body wrap itself around her in a way
that was clearly not just friendship. 
Federico turned
away in self-defense.  “
Why make myself suffer?
”  After Matteo’s
departure for Mila
n, things
would go back to the way they were before this public display of affection. 
Even Lucrezia did nothing, afraid that Matteo might reject her in front of all
present.