The Alchemist's Pride

Chapter 11. Even the strong shows weakness

There is actually so much that Leyla still doesn’t know about Juan Marc.

This is one of those things.

It seems that her question physically pains him, but with an embarrassed look on his face, he begins to tell the story.

“Well, I was in my first year at university here in Prague. During the orientation, I met a charming girl. She was literally the embodiment of perfection for me, from her crown to her toes. I was immediately in love and admired her long blonde curls, beautiful body, and baby blue eyes!” Juan Marc theatrically sighs and dramatically throws his hands in the air.

“Everything went well. After two weeks of long-distance admiration, I gathered my courage and asked her out. Of course, I was on cloud nine when she said yes. So, I thought it was cute and made a reservation at an expensive and exclusive equestrian estate about half an hour drive outside Prague. One of those places that has everything, from a restaurant to a spa, from horses to exotic ducks in a pond. A classic outing, I thought.” Juan Marc sighs again, looking seriously burdened.

“Little did I know, friends, little did I know!” Stèfan and Leyla exchange amused glances at the dramatic words.

“So, that morning I polished my car from six in the morning. The night before, I laid out my clothes and ironed them to make sure I looked my best. The same clothes that earlier in the week had cost me a fortune when I bought them.

“I carefully chose my outfit. Not too formal, but also not informal. After all, it’s a farm-type restaurant, so I reasoned that a suit wasn't necessary. A semi-formal, or smart-casual type of outfit would do the trick, especially considering it's a daytime outing and not an evening one. I had my hair cut earlier that week, bought myself a new shaving cream, and even bought an extra pack of gum to stash in my jacket pocket.”

Stèfan and Leyla are now genuinely curious and look at Juan Marc expectantly.

“And then?” Leyla asks, her brown eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“I left almost half an hour early to make sure I was on time. I had to pick her up at ten o’clock on the Saturday morning from the girls' dormitory. So I waited for her, dressed in an outfit that made me look like a male model. Dark gray pants from the latest fashion, a semi-formal shirt with the top button undone, and a cream-colored denim jacket that would change the Calvin Klein brand from underwear to outerwear! Well, I really felt I looked good. Anyway, as I waited for her, listening to music I had loaded onto a USB stick. After all, we were going to drive awhile to the place, and music always creates a pleasant atmosphere.

“Promptly at ten o’clock, she walked up to me. Beautifully dressed in a floral dress that just reached above her knees, delicate sandals on her feet, her beautiful face expertly make-upped, with golden curls cascading down her back. I still remember how dry my throat became. Wow, she looked stunning.” Juan Marc lets out a long sigh of satisfaction as Stèfan and Leyla laugh at the picture he paints.

“Well, she got into my car. Now look, my first car wasn’t the newest or the best; but it was my only one. And although it was old, it was always impeccably clean and really made a neat impression. But when she got in, I remember there was a strange look on her face, you know, a slight disapproving look. The kind of look where she didn't have to say anything to showcase disapproval, you know? But blinded by love, I told myself I was imagining things. I should have paid more attention to the genuine gemstone bracelet, the Gucci handbag, the genuine leather sandals, but this first-year guy who had never had a serious girlfriend didn’t pay attention to such things. I was just too excited and nervous to worry about a handbag or a sparkling necklace.”

Juan Marc pause for a moment to catch his breath.

Leyla pours him another cup of coffee while she nudges him impatiently.

“Come on, continue, Juan!” Stèfan and Juan Marc smile fondly at Leyla’s impatience.

“Well, so we drove off. The first few kilometers we traveled in absolute silence, horrible silence, as I think back. Aside from the mutual good mornings, there was silence. She didn’t say a word, and neither did I. Just before we left the city, she suddenly asked where we were going. Very relieved that she was finally saying something, I excitedly explained that I thought it would be nice to do something different instead of taking her to the traditional Czech Castle Complex. I then explained that I had a reservation at Barvick Estate, which offers an incredible variety of outings. Anything from horseback riding to a guided tour of the show and thoroughbred department, a restaurant where the estate owner's wife is an internationally acclaimed chef, Babette Barvick. There’s also a spa, tennis courts, various walking trails on the premises, as well as a wine cellar with a selection of fine wines. While I rambled excitedly about everything to her, I came to realize she was dead silent. There was also no expression on her face.”

“Suddenly, she interrupts me and says the dreaded words that no man wants to hear, especially not on a first date: ‘You’re not dressed appropriately for the place.’”

Stèfan and Leyla first look at each other in surprise and then at Juan Marc, who sighs heavily at the memory of that day.

“So, why did she say that? What did you say in response?” Leyla sounds quite dissatisfied.

“Andrej and Babette Barvick turned out to be her parents, my friends, and the equestrian estate was her home.”

Stèfan and Leyla look genuinely surprised, then burst out laughing spontaneously.

“No way! Your luck can’t be that bad, Juan. And then? Did you go on with the date?” she asks curiously.

“Well, the worst was yet to come. After she dropped the bomb in a somewhat toneless voice, I asked her if she still wanted to go, seeing that it was her parents' place and her home. She then suggested we should just go and, slightly snooty, suggested we should go horseback riding, since I was too informally dressed for her mom’s restaurant.” Juan Marc wears a sour smile as he tells them this part.

Leyla's brown eyes blitz as she listens to Juan Marc, and there is a disgusted look on her face. Poor Juan Marc! How humiliating must that have been for him? If only she could meet that girl face to face!

“As you can imagine, after that, my nerves were shot. I stalled my old car twice at the traffic lights, almost ran over a pedestrian, and babbled like a schoolgirl, all out of sheer nervousness. I could get over the fact that my expensive outfit wasn’t good enough for her, that my second-hand car wasn’t luxurious enough, but one of my biggest fears was that I had never ridden a horse.”

“In our household, there was just never time for things like horseback riding. Or maybe it was because no one in my family was interested in it. Understand me correctly, a horse is a lovely animal, and I have endless admiration for the creature, but I still do not know to this day, why I never learned to ride a horse.”

“To get back to my story, because I didn’t want to look like a weakling, I didn’t get as far as telling her that I couldn’t ride. How do you tell a girl who obviously grew up on horseback that you can't ride and have a lifelong fear of them?” Juan Marc asks, without really expecting an answer.

Stèfan waves for Mrs. Donatelli to come and remove the empty plates and leftover food.

“But to cut a long story short, I gathered my last bit of manhood, held my head high, and casually parked my 1995 Fiat next to the BMWs, Porsches, and Bentleys. My throat was dry. There was a slight tremble in my fingertips when I opened the door for her. And of all days, my friends, the Fiat’s door had to get stuck that day!” Juan Marc begins to laugh as he recalls those humiliating moments when the Fiat’s door refused to open.

“She didn’t appreciate it. The more I pulled on the door, the more it creaked and stuck. It must have taken a good five minutes before I got her out of the car, closed the old Fiat, and struggled to fit my expensive denim jacket again.”

Juan Marc laughs along with Leyla and Stèfan at the thought of the picture he painted for them. He never thought he would laugh about that episode.

Mrs. Donatelli sets a fresh pot of coffee and clean cups in front of them on the table, and Leyla pours each of them a steaming cup of coffee before Juan Marc continues with his story.

“The so-called date didn’t last much longer. While we were walking along the pathway, and let me make this clear, friends, she deliberately sent me away from the main buildings toward the stables, and not towards the restaurant. But before we got close to the stables, her dad came toward us, greeting me with a very stiff nod and commanding her to walk with him. I just walked to the stables and wandered around there for about half an hour, before I left again because she didn’t came back.”

Juan Marc gives a bubbling laugh when he sees Leyla’s sympathetic eyes on him.

“Ley, it literally took me the first two kilometers of driving to forget her. Don’t look so worried. I didn't had a broken heart. Just a bruised ego!”

Stèfan looks slightly confused.

“So, is that about the two kilometers of broken heart that gave you a fear of horseback riding, because I still don't get your fear of horses?”

Juan Marc bursts into laughter before continuing with his story.