DIARY OF VALERIA [ COMPLETED ]

Chapter 12

"So, where were we?" She asked smiling. I could sense that she was also enjoying telling her story. Understanding how it was like to share a dark secret to anyone, it was like a huge brick that was lifted off her shoulders. Now, I carried the secret with her, the great unknown, as she called it. The very act of sharing a story was very human, even for a creature such as Valeria.

"Ah! The Supremo, my Andres," she said. "He was unconscious when I found him, and life was seeping out of him faster that if I didn't act in haste, his heart would stop beating in a minute. I turned him over to see his face, and I sobbed to see how pale it was, drained with blood. He was at the brink of death, and there was only one thing I could do to save him. I loved him so much and I'd rather break the rules of the tribe and suffer an eternity of exile, than to see him die," she looked down, trying to stop tears from falling. But the pain was too much, as she recollected and her tears fell from her eyes, betraying her. I knew that she was trying to create a brave face for telling me all this, but emotion is tricky. I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. I didn't say it out loud; instead I lowered my gaze and let her cry. She's lucky I always carried baby wipes in my pocket for emergency purposes, and I can't even imagine that I would be using it for something like this. I pulled it out and offered it to her. She gave me a shy smile, as she thanked me for my act of kindness. I nodded, leaned back on my chair, and then I turned my head away to give her privacy.

I shifted my attention outside and drowned myself to the constant chatting of students and yuppies around us. The café was fully packed; the crowd was a mix of students, professors and young professionals. I could see that they were having a great time, sharing stories with their friends, relieving all the stress caused by work and horrible bosses. The lovers at the corner were enjoying their privacy, as if the chaos around the restaurant was nothing to them. They were in-love, and the only thing that mattered was the person sitting right next to them. Oh, how ironic it was. They were being so naïve for what could have been a danger in the midst, that here among them in this fancy restaurant, was a dark angel plucked out of time. She could massacre these people if she wanted to, she could let loose the diabolical serpentine hair under that turban and stun these mere mortals. But I doubt she was capable of killing innocent lives. Now that the veil that uncovered her persona was taken away, what I saw was a passionate and loving girl - a girl whose great tragedy came by loving a mortal man. How ironic was that? A girl who was immortal and preternatural, despite of the great power she possessed, remained helpless in the name of love. How ironic.

The time stretched and my musing pulled me when the waiter arrived with my food. He deliberately placed it in front of me, and I stared at it as if I was disgusted.

"Is there anything else I can help you with?" the waiter asked.

The waiter gave Valeria a glass of wine; then she told him that everything is great and she politely told him to go. And then, Valeria's face turned to me. Her eyes twinkled, with tears dried up, and this time, her brown eyes were a bit lighter than before. It's almost translucent! Her red lips are slightly parted. Rich and sensuous, she began to smile.

"It's just pasta, Isaiah. Go ahead and eat," she said.

"But, what about you? Aren't you hungry? You could have something like a... I don't know. What do you like, Valeria?" I rambled like I didn't know what I was saying. I wasn't sure what her main diet was. Does she eat regular food? Is she vegan?

But Valeria remained silent, then her smile widened, and she slowly shook her head. I could tell that she really found me amusing.

"I'm good. I already ate before I got here. All I want is this delicious wine," she said, "Now, go and eat while I continue my story, do you mind?"