UNTIL DAYLIGHT

5

5.

And when I no longer have

love, wait for you to come back

to beat this sun on the skin.

I thought of that boy and his green eyes in mine. I almost ran the risk of being enchanted by looking at them. How does a person, with only two eyes, take you so much?

I sighed and massaged my temples.

"Alessia, are you all right?" Mrs. Frazzi came up behind me, looking at me questioningly.

I gave her a smile and shook my head before answering her. "Nothing, I was just thinking about the apartment I saw today."

And it wasn't just the apartment ..

When I said that sentence, I could see a veil of sadness in the eyes of that lady who had been staying with me for two weeks now.

“Wasn't that okay?” She asked almost hopefully for a positive response, one that would give him hope that I would still be there with her. But my financial funds were running low, and I could no longer afford that room. I still hadn't even taken my first salary in my new job.

“No, I didn't like it.” I said, smiling at her. She did the same, pleased. "It was with the common room. I should have shared it with a boy, if I'm not mistaken."

She looked at me laughing: "It was like a stab in the heart for you, right?"

"Absolutely yes!" I exclaimed starting to laugh.

“Anyway, thanks for looking after here. I almost almost hire you.” She spoke aloud, her face had an expression on her face that suggested she was pondering this proposition to herself.

“I can help you when you need it, you know very well!” I said. "But tomorrow I have to talk to you about a problem .." My voice trailed off. I would have told her that from the next week I could no longer give her money every night or morning.

"Tell me now, I'll have to close here soon." She took the keys and placed them on the counter.

I shook my head, undecided whether to tell him now. Maybe I would have taken off this burden, and if she had not agreed, the next day I would have started looking for a new place, a new apartment.

I would have made the shared rooms fit, if not ..

"It's about paying for the room ..." I muttered in an uncertain voice. "From next week I won't be able to give you the money on time, that's why I'm looking for a place to stay as soon as possible."

The lady in front of me stared at me for a couple of minutes, as if what I said was one of the greatest nonsense in the world. She was good, kind, but also gruff. I had grown fond of her from the first day I set foot here inside her. She had welcomed me, initially with a lot of indifference, a bit like she did with anyone who crossed the threshold of the door of her business. She had grown used to my constant presence. She knew what time I went out in the morning, and what time I left for lunch. Or, also, when I started for the afternoon shift, leaving me a note, and a plastic cup, on the counter, with the words: "Be careful, and before you go home remember to go to the supermarket."

By now it had become a habit for both of them.

“You know you can stay here as long as you need, and you don't have to worry about the money,” she said. "I like your presence here, and then I really need someone who can take over for me in those few hours when I go to the doctor, or do the shopping .. Hurry up my things too."

I hugged her tightly, instinctively.

It was my way of saying thank you. Thank you for this kindness of her, for this for welcoming me as if I were a person of her family.

She returned her embrace by stroking my back.

I went to my room to go to sleep. I passed by the room where that girl was with that guy, and she could hear moans, whispers. So she was her girlfriend ..

I closed the door behind me, and threw myself on the bed.

***

The next morning I helped Signora Frazzi clean the entrance. Fortunately, I would be working in the afternoon that day. I could not have survived the morning, also because I had not fallen asleep easily. I kept thinking about that boy's gaze, his voice ..

It has been a long time since I felt certain sensations, or rather, I don't think I have ever experienced them. Not even Matteo had this effect on me the first time we met.

I moved the last things, putting them back in their place, and took a magazine throwing myself dead weight on the sofa positioned a few centimeters away from the reception. Signora Frazzi was arranging the latest records, making an initial monthly account of her earnings.

"Excuse me .. Good morning!"

I looked up and it was him. He glanced quickly at me before heading to the counter. Signora Frazzi looked at him too, scrutinizing him.

I stared at him as she turned away from me to talk to Nina. I heard what she was saying, so I took the opportunity to listen:

"I wanted information about my friend who spent the night here last night .. Milena Molinari .." she said.

Friend .. Yes, sure ..

“Does it seem to me that she was here too last night, or do I remember correctly?” Nina asked.

He nodded. "Yes. Can you tell me if you, by any chance, took the room too for this night?"

Nina nodded, and she turned to go to the closet where she had placed the last records, of which she had marked the reservations of the night before.

He turned to me, I lifted the magazine to his face and ignored it.

I heard him approach and he sat down on the loveseat opposite mine. I could see a grin on his face. I felt my heart beating madly, not understanding why. I felt tremendously embarrassed.

I didn't have to look like a teenager at first crush!

I closed my eyes for a second, then just closed the magazine, fixing my gaze on his face. He was beautiful, and his eyes indescribable.

“Do you still have so much to watch?” I asked sourly.

He started laughing and leaned forward. "Do I embarrass you, baby?"

"Who, you? But do me a favor!" I exclaimed, opening the magazine again and covering my face. I bit my lower lip and took a deep, silent breath.

“No, no reservations to this name for tonight!” Nina came back and saved me from this embarrassment that had been created for me.

“Perfect!” She got up from the loveseat. “Thank you for your kindness, ma'am.” She smiled.

She then she glanced at me, winking and then walking out of there.

I closed everything and put the magazine on my legs, taking a deep breath.

How had she done it?

"But do you know him, Ale?" Nina asked.

I looked at the lady in front of me. "No, I only saw him yesterday with that girl she was looking for .."

She didn't seem convinced, and with a hint of a smirk on her lips, she went back to finish arranging those papers she'd taken.

I went back to my room to take a shower and get ready for my shift, with her voice and her eyes in my head.