Chapter 20: Chapter 20

PRESENT

CHAPTER 13: WALLPAPER

Anastasia kept pacing back and forth when Diana left. She felt slightly guilty about letting her best friend down, but her connection with Gualtiero is something Diana would never understand. She is Gualtiero’s familiar and she knows it comes above anything else in her life. Diana might forgive her anyway, once she has already moved on to some other guy.

She picked up her phone and decided to call Gualtiero. She didn’t even have to save his number. She knew his digits by memory even if they have yet to speak on the phone. Gualtiero isn’t aware that she uses an app to track his location. It was how she knew to be at the right place at the right time.

He did not answer the call so she decided to leave a text and let him know it was her on the other line. But she still did not get any response from him.

The older familiars have a lot of stories about Gualtiero. All stories of greatness. Anastasia’s grandfather and father have both served him during their time. She found out talking to her mother that Gualtiero was once a mate of the original vampire Lilith, but she is long dead now. The details regarding her death have become a myth over time, because it kept changing from generation to generation. To this day, no one knows the accurate details besides Gualtiero. Legend has it that he was with her and the Malkavian vampires in Italy when she died horribly at the hands of the vampire hunters.

Her mother told her Gualtiero had always been reclusive and private and has had very few human interactions for two centuries. No wonder why he seems to be strange at socializing and interacting. Strange but cute, she reminded herself feeling her heart fluttering. Except that he did not bother replying to her at all. That is not cute, she told herself bitterly.

Gualtiero said he was cursed and could not ever be involved with a human. On one hand, that means he would not really take it that far with Diana. Or would he? Anastasia still can’t read him. On the other, did the ‘human’ part include familiars? He did not really answer when she asked.

She checked her phone once again. Still nothing. She decided she could not wait for his reply anymore. She would go see him instead.

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“What was that about?” Diana asked when she felt a camera flash momentarily blinding her. Did Gualtiero just take a photograph of her? They were currently at the airport going for a quick meal before she leaves. Or more accurately, she was having a quick meal, while Gualtiero was noticeably more interested in his phone than joining her in eating.

“I do not know what it is called but this is definitely fascinating,” Gualtiero replied, gazing up at her, smiling. He showed her his phone wallpaper. It was the picture he had just taken of her. She felt herself blush but decided to appear nonchalant about it.

“It is called a wallpaper,” Diana informed. It never fails to amuse her how clueless Gualtiero is at modern things.

“Fascinating, isn’t it? You look absolutely beautiful,” he said. “But I cannot figure out how to put D and a heart in this photograph. Can you teach me?”

She took his phone from him. “Or better yet, let’s make your wallpaper more fascinating.” She posed to take a picture of them together, but once Gualtiero realized what she was about to do, he immediately snatched the phone back from her.

“No!” he protested. Diana was taken aback by his sudden hostility out of nowhere. Why was he being weird at having a photo together?

“I told you I do not fancy being photographed,” he said, coldly. “I apologize. I should have inquired if you would fancy being photographed for my… wallflower? I mean, before taking one.”

Diana was annoyed at him moments ago but that made her laugh out loud. “Wallpaper.”

“Wallpaper,” he repeated, looking embarrassed. “I am sorry if I startled you. I really just don’t…”

“That’s fine,” Diana interrupted. She didn’t want to make the conversation more awkward for him. She could already feel his uneasiness over the topic. “I have no problem being in your wallpaper, by the way. Here, I’ll teach you how to edit this and put a D and a heart.” He grinned at her and patiently listened to her explain how to edit a photo. He looked so happy with the edited result.

“I hope you would have a fun time with your relatives in Romania,” he told her. “I am going to miss you.”

“I’ll keep texting you while I am there,” Diana replied. “I will miss you too. By the way, what is your favorite food?”

She glanced at his untouched food and waited for his answer.

“Rare steak,” he said. “I do enjoy the food but I keep forgetting to eat because your company is more fascinating than the food.” He sounded to her as if he was lying but she did not pry, realizing it was almost time for her flight.

“I decided to write on the notebook you gave me. Just little stuff. Random thoughts, reminders. This will probably be filled by my adventures in Romania. Anyway, I just want to let you know I really appreciate this. It’s useful,” Diana said.

“I am happy you retrieved it,” Gualtiero replied. Diana froze. How did he know she threw it away before? Maybe he and Anastasia talk as much as she and Gualtiero do. It was a painful realization but she decided to ignore it. Maybe she is not done holding back after all. If Gualtiero can’t figure out who is more interesting between her and Anastasia, maybe she shouldn’t reveal her feelings for him too much either.

“I have to go,” Diana said, as she stood up and got ready to leave.

“Wait, how long will you be away?” Gualtiero asked. The idea that Diana would be gone for so long scared and depressed him. His thoughts were suddenly all over the place.

“One or two weeks maybe? I’ll let you know,” Diana replied.

“Diana, I…” Gualtiero began. “The wallpaper…”

Diana waited for him to articulate his thoughts, but he seemed to continue to struggle with it. “In words, it means Diana is in my heart. I do not really know how to say it properly, but I wanted you to… Well, you said Anastasia met this girl with a G and a heart in her cellular phone’s wallpaper and you thought she was my lover… so I was hoping if you see my cellular phone’s wallpaper, you would think…” Gualtiero paused some more and exhaled. “I think I should probably just write what I mean in a message. Be safe, Diana. My heart is lonely when you’re not around.”

She stared at him overwhelmed by her emotions. Tears were threatening to come out of her eyes, but she was sure they were tears of joy. She knew exactly what Gualtiero was trying to say. “I think what you mean to say is you are asking me out. Yes. I mean I would love that,” Diana said, with shaking voice. Gualtiero suddenly kissed her face very lightly. His lips were so cold.

Diana was speechless. It completely took her by surprise.

“That was my revenge… for when you kissed my face when I gave you the notebook,” he said playfully, as he waved her goodbye.

She laughed. “You’re so cheesy.”

“I’ve been told,” he shot back, grinning.

“I love you, Diana,” Gualtiero said. It was barely a whisper but it was like a loud ringing in her ears. She smiled timidly at him. As she ran to catch her flight, she whispered: I love you too, Gualtiero.

He smiled to himself as he walked past the exit door. Of course, he heard that. Even if he didn’t, he could hear it in her heartbeat.