Attracted and frightened

They were again on Lomonosova street.

For some reason, Martha really liked the place. The atmosphere of fun, carelessness, youth reigned over the usual landscape, over the gray gloom of this weekend. From the open windows of all floors motley, discordant music poured, everywhere one came across only handsome young faces, snatches of conversations in inexpressible and hard-to-translate student slang were heard, Russian speech was mixed with Ukrainian, sometimes with English, sometimes – one can't figure out which one. How nice it would be to just walk here, breathe in the spring!.. However, Nitram slowly but steadily led her along his route.

- Let's take a little walk?

Nitram started to smile, but then spoke seriously:

- I cook rice, you like rice, eh? Martha, I'm extremely hungry.  I've been waiting for you.

They entered the hostel, went up to the fourth floor.

Martha was a little shy. She somehow did not imagine this meeting that attracted her and in the same time frightened her like a forbidden fruit.
At first glance, the room seemed gloomy: narrow, long, with a high ceiling, divided into two parts by a kind of partition; two beds before, two after with a table in each half, a refrigerator, a TV, there was absolutely no space, only a narrow passage between the tables and beds.

Nitram's bed was to the right of the window, covered with a blue velvet blanket. In the same style as the bedspread, a rug hung over the bed. Exactly the same as Mengistu's, a shelf with perfumery and a portrait of the owner.

- It's you? Not similar at all... No mustache.

In the first half, two Russian guys were sitting on the beds, busy with their own affairs. But Martha knew that they still hear every word, and felt uneasy.

- I'm making dinner but threw everything, was afraid that I would be late for you, - he looked at her with a reproach in his gaze and a smile on his lips.

Martha met his look for the first time, and her heart began to beat faster. How good that they were not alone! - I don’t know what turned out...
It turned out very tasty - rice with meat gravy and an incredible amount of pepper and spices.

- You cook so well!

- I learned cooking here... Student’s life, you know... At home, I never even entered into the kitchen!

Martha ate her food with appetite and looked around.

- Whose bed is this?

- Also a fellow countryman.

- Does he study with you?

- No, he is studying in university. We just wanted to live together.

- And where's he now?

- He is now in Ethiopia... When he comes back, I will introduce you...

At that moment, two silent listeners left their books and quietly left the room.

- Do you have a good relationship with these guys?

- With the Russians? What do you think?

- How do I know? It’s you who lives with them abd I see them for the first time.

- Yes, good ones, - and a satisfied smile blossomed on his face. - If they didn't respect me, eh? they haven’t been leaving now.

Nitram got up, went to the door and clicked the lock...