Chapter 1
Waking up early is always a hard endeavor, but sometimes eyes get open without any stimulus and without trace of fatigue. Today was one of these days, when lashes lifted lightly and brain started swiftly. By moving my eyes from walls to ceiling, I tried to close my eyes, but as aforesaid, brain felt no fatigue and the act of slowly closing eyes ended on rapidly opening them back. Being unable to sleep again, I submitted by staring at a ceiling with no thoughts venturing in my mind. This peculiar occupation took all my attention for unknown amount of time. What a bliss it is, to lay and stare. Feeling of neither polarities overcame and it was plain existence without being conscious about it. My blissful moment was disturbed by the room turning slowly bright through a dark hued brown curtain. At last, I was drawn back to sense when stream of light passing through an opening in the curtain reached my eyes. I reflexively turned to the side contrary to the wall. There I saw my friend’s back, who was sleeping solemnly. No wonder, because clock showed 6:30. I wanted to get up, but heard the sound of stretching of a soft female voice from the side my friend’s face was directed.
I think it is better to mention now, that we three live in a small, one roomed apartment, with a kitchen and only one bathroom. I am a student studying in a average university where I completed my three years in economics. My friend that is next to me is Zeugmus, who attends the same university and in the same year as me. About the girl that just woke up , she is Syllepsia and… I don’t know much about her, except that she is an old friend of Zeugmus, as he himself told me about it. She doesn’t study nor does she work anywhere, but she follows Zeugmus everywhere. First time I met them, I thought they were spouses, but know I am convinced that they are not even in relationship, but indeed are – as Zeugmus said – old friends.
It is the first time when I see her waking up, because every time morning rises me from my dreams, breakfast made by her is already waiting.
- I hate… - she muttered to herself and slowly got up.
Her long and thick hair closed her eyes and were of length of her nightshirt. She entered a place, where a person can be in peace with himself, crooked. Twenty minutes afterwards or so I thought, came out the steam from the bathroom and dark figure, upon waiting a little bit, turned into Syllepsia wrapped in white towel. Even though I just glimpsed at her and then quickly closed my eyes, she caught the sight. After a brief pause “Morning” followed from her side. I opened my eyes and directed my glance towards her, and found her looking at me with red face blended with frown:
- Turn away… need to change…
- Ah, sorry – I turned away quickly and covered my whole self with blanket.
- Don’t try…
- I won’t look
After rustling sounds were over, she gave her consent to turn, upon which I quickly positioned myself to the bathroom, but before picked up clothes to change. Inside was still steamy and when I came out my clothes were damp and I felt cold. Zeugmus was already awake and our mattresses were put away.
- Finally! I thought, I will damp this carpet! – he said it with humorous tone. he entered the steamy room and – Oh, my God! Syllepsia! I seems that today you took shower in even hotter water than usual. Is your skin so coarse or you became even more coldblooded? – he shouted out these words from the bathroom and dashed out from there, kneeling and panting while holding his neck with his hand as if being suffocated.
- Sorry… Can’t help…- feebly replied the voice from the kitchen.
- I am not interested in your excuses! Wifey! Serve the breakfast!
Shortly after, the reply from the kitchen came directly to his head following “You wish”, in form of cutlery rolled in a layer and oilcloth. I moved away the body laid after collision and put the layer and the oilcloth. Bumped head came to senses and staggered to kitchen, from there he came smoothly with some tableware. After some inquires how he felt after the impaction, Syllepsia, with kettle in her right hand big plate pyramided with dozen of two layered toasts filled in between with cheese and sausages in her left, served the “table”. We started the feast, while Syllepsia served the tea to the tea bowl.
- Your lunch…
- You mean that this is also for lunch? – inquired Zeugmus, agter which Syllepsia nodded – But, it will not be enough.
- Need to spare…
- Oh my…- he whimpered – After I graduate, I will find a good paying job and then you will cook with abundance!
- How naive…
- You want to say that I will not find a good job?
I intervened their little dispute by giving “I thought what Zeugmus said was marriage proposal” upon which Syllepsia grasped the lead:
- Naive… - with a lukewarm smile, which was a rare sight to behold.
- Indeed it is naive to think that someone in a sane mind would take you as a wife. It is very naïve of you even to have this wandering thought.
- First “naive” – she puffed her cheek, but did not frown nor was angry.
- About “First naive”, you will see, I will definitely find a good job…
I let them have their usual jocular dispute which always ended in none of them being upset, but on contrary, you will always find them merry; in this dispute I occupied myself with snatching extra toast that belonged to one of them, from the plate. My hand nearly reached the plate when a hand passed a toast to mine. It was Syllepsia, but did she give her helping or his, I could not tell. I learned whose helping it was latewards, when Zeugmus counted his toasts in his lunchbox against mine, and counted one missing in his.
