— It’s been a while since I’ve been to the university... — I glanced around.
On the already greening spring grass, students sat in small groups here and there. Some were reading, others eating, and a few were studying.
The buildings of LSE were classic on the outside, but inside, they were all high-tech and modern.
What am I even doing here... — I scanned the clusters of students on the lawn again, but there was no familiar blonde head among them.
I came here looking for a girl whose name I don’t even know... Have I completely lost my mind? Maybe it’s the new combination of meds causing this obsessive urge to go somewhere without knowing where, to search for someone without knowing who?
I’ll definitely need to consult with my therapy coordinator... I’ve read about the side effects of the new drugs, but maybe it’s the specific combination...
Suddenly, I felt a tap on my shoulder.
— Vladislav, I’m glad to meet you, — a tall, burly man, one of my professors, smiled at me. — You’re just in time. Today we’re assigning mentors for first-year students.
The professor said he was happy to see me, blah blah blah, and that today they were selecting mentors for the freshmen.
Of course, I decided to tell him that I’m on an independent study plan, rarely come to campus, and therefore wouldn’t be able to properly help a newbie:
— Mr. Black, you know my situation. I can’t become a good mentor because I don’t have the chance to attend all the classes or participate in regular university social life, — I said, glancing over the professor’s shoulder and spotting something that made my heart race.
The blonde noticed me looking at her and raised her gray eyes to meet mine.
Plane? — she mouthed silently.
I only nodded, but the professor interpreted the gesture in his own way.
Seriously? — I thought in shock. — It couldn’t have been this easy...
— I’m glad you accepted this proposition. You can walk around and choose anyone you like! — the professor clapped me on the shoulder and quickly walked off.
— Be my senior, — the gray-eyed blonde somehow managed to approach me almost without me noticing.
She asked me to be her mentor... What a day this is turning out to be...
— Huh? — I was a bit taken aback. — Are you sure? I’m not often here on campus. I rent a flat and study on an individual plan...
— Oh, sorry... — the blonde lowered her head. — I’m not very sociable, and I was just so glad to see you, I don’t know why... — she smiled. — But really, you don’t have to.
I immediately picked up on a familiar accent, though it was barely noticeable.
— Your accent sounds familiar... Where are you from?
— Ukraine, and you?
— Same, — I smiled. — Hard to believe I can speak something other than English here with someone besides Olya.
— Cool. — The blonde smiled back, but suddenly crouched slightly and, leaning in close, whispered. — Damn, he’s going to find me any second.
— Who? — I asked, surprised.
— My ex, — the girl sighed. — I got kicked out of the dorm two weeks ago, but I flew to Germany and still haven’t sorted out my housing situation. And of course, he wants me to stay with him, — she rambled on, sounding flustered. — The worst part is, if I don’t find a place, I’ll have to go to him. I can’t ask my parents for more money; they’ll kill me. It’s only been a month since classes started... Damn, he’s coming this way, help...
— Sasha! — A brown-eyed brunette approached us. — Why are you hiding behind this upperclassman? Let’s go home! You’re not seriously going to live on the streets, are you?!
— Kyrylo... — The blonde instinctively gripped the sleeve of my jacket.
— Sasha is now my mentee and has already agreed to stay at... my sister’s place, — I interjected, spouting some nonsense. — Just until she gets back into the dorm, of course. Isn’t that what this senior-junior program is for, mutual support? — I directed the last part at the blonde, not her ex.
— Awesome! — The blonde threw her arms around my neck and whispered. — Thank you.
— Idiot, — Kyrylo muttered. — You’ll come crawling back to me anyway, — he smirked and walked off.
— Thanks for saying that in front of him... — The blonde stepped back a little. — But you’re not obligated to help. I’ll figure this out on my own...
— Do you really think I’d let you live on the streets? — I smiled, satisfied. — You’re officially my mentee now.
— But you didn’t even want to join the program... — she said, surprised. — I heard you declining.
She’s such a kid... — I sighed heavily. — What am I supposed to do with her?
— See, now you’ve gone all gloomy... — The blonde pouted a little. — I’m not a child. I’ll handle it myself.
And suddenly, I burst out laughing.
Such a kid... And this kid has me so intrigued that I can’t think of anything but those gray eyes and light hair? What a disaster... This must be what a lack of intimacy does to you... A disaster. I’ve hit rock bottom.
— Hey, what’s with you? — She shook my shoulder. — Stop it, it’s not funny!
— You’re such a kid, — I said aloud this time. — Come on, let’s go get your stuff.
— No, I’m not going to Kyrylo’s today... — She looked away.
— Are you scared of that guy? — I asked, surprised.
— No. It’s just that seeing me today would hurt him. I broke up with him right there at the airport, — she sighed.
— What? — I was taken aback. — I remember you rushing off the plane first, and all that just to dump him quicker?
— Actually, I didn’t plan anything, — her gray eyes met my blue ones. — But I couldn’t talk to you until I sorted things out with him.
— Sounds almost like a love confession, — I smirked.
— Jerk! I... I just thought we could be friends! — She got angry for some reason.
— You don’t dump boyfriends just to make friends, — I pointed out.
— Well, sorry! — The blonde pouted childishly.
— By the way, what are you studying, Sasha? — I asked, curious.
— International Law, first year, — she sighed. — My parents decided everything... And you?
— I’m in International Economic Relations, final year, master’s program, — I smiled. — I chose it myself, but more because it was trendy, not because it was my passion.
— And what would your passion be? — Sasha smiled too. — Let me guess... Literature, languages, or journalism? You’ve got quite the gift of gab!
— Yeah... — I confirmed, surprised. — At first, I wanted to study literature or languages, but since I decided to study abroad, I knew I’d be at a disadvantage compared to native speakers. My high school focused on languages and economics, and economics always came easy to me, so...
— Got it, — the blonde kept smiling.
— Do you have any classes today? — I asked.
— Yeah, one more lecture... — she sighed.
— Let’s meet up here after it’s over and head home, — I suggested.
— Okay... — Sasha smiled. — Thanks, Vlad... — she added almost in a whisper.
My blonde darted off, and I immediately dialed the first number on speed dial...
— Olya, you won’t believe this... — I was grinning ear to ear, though thankfully she couldn’t see it, but she probably heard the happiness in my voice.
— You found her, — she said softly. — You even introduced yourself, didn’t you?
— That’s not all, — I continued.
— Exchanged numbers? Set up a meeting? — Olya guessed quietly.
— No... And yes, and... even more, — I paused for effect. — She got kicked out of the dorm... She’s going to stay with us until she sorts out her housing situation... Imagine, she dumped her boyfriend right after getting off the plane, — I went on, spilling everything to my friend in a rush of emotion.
— I see... — Olya sighed. — So, she noticed you too. That’s a good sign, — a laugh came through the phone. — Should I move out of the flat today?
— What are you talking about? — I asked, surprised. — She’ll stay with us for a couple of days, maybe a week.
— And you’ll just let her go back to the dorm after that... She’s probably pretty cute... No, don’t answer that, — Olya paused briefly. — I want to see for myself.
— Don’t make things up... — I protested weakly.
— Sure, sure... — the girl sighed. — But still, tell her before...
— Why do you assume I’m going to get involved with her...
— By the way, I didn’t even get to finish... — I could practically feel her sly smile. — If she’s important to you, tell her before you move from friendship to something more. Better yet, before she moves in. Because at home, she might figure it out on her own... And that won’t make things any easier.
— Olya, exactly! Hide all the meds, everything of mine, — I requested.
— Vlad, you shouldn’t deceive her.
— I’ll tell her everything, just not today.
— Fine, we’ll figure it out when you’re here, — she relented. — I’ll be waiting for you at home.
— Thanks.
The beeping on the other end snapped me out of some kind of daze.
Before the conversation with Olya, everything still felt unreal. Like some strange dream featuring me and this blonde.
I found her so quickly—could this be fate? But I don’t believe in fate...
It’s all about the person. It’s all my fault. I’m the one to blame for getting sick. Me. Olya... Olya, of course, isn’t to blame for her illness. But genetics can’t be ignored either. It’s not fate. It’s just an unfortunate coincidence.
Just like with Sasha. It’s not fate. She just has nowhere to live, and I happen to have a flat. I got lucky—a fortunate coincidence.
I need to find out how old she is, urgently... She looks like such a kid. But she’s living without parents or a guardian, so she must be of age.
Why am I so fixated on her age?
Age doesn’t matter at all for friendship. I’m only twenty-one... I’m in a master’s program now, and after that, I might write a thesis. Though, what’s the point... Just to stay in university longer?
And her? At best, she’s eighteen. Still, she’s here without her parents... — I sighed and checked the time. — Almost half the lecture has passed.
— Boo... — a whisper right in my ear.
A slight shiver ran through my body...
I felt that everything was somehow completely different now, and I couldn’t tell if this was the start of something good or the beginning of the end...