in the smoking room, in her usual in the pose, she was sitting sideways on the floor, and one leg hanging on the floor, the other was on the windowsill. She was looking out of the window as usual, and slowly smoking a cigarette. It was heard as someone quietly closed the door. and quietly and slowly approached in her direction. Marina knew who it was, so she did not even move. A guy from their team sat down with her, and, as always, afraid to look into her eyes, did not know how to start a conversation. – Juliana told me you are not coming with us, why? The guy asked with sadness in his eyes.
– My plans have changed; I am going to another place, with another person.
– Who is this man? He spoke with a tremor in his voice.
– This is my aunt; we are going to the sea with her. What else? What questions do you have for me?
– None of them. Sorry. I did not want. The guy put out his cigarette and left the room. Marina understood that she was wrong, and could not help herself. The upcoming evening, a conversation with a friend, was pressing on her. A trip in a crowded subway, it greatly annoyed the girl, and she understood that she did not want to live like this anymore. Evening came, and the long-awaited phone call rang.
– Tell me, how was your day? Marina heard her friend’s voice, and she felt uneasy. Have you discussed everything down to the smallest detail for the upcoming weekend? Have you changed your mind, maybe to the country with us?
– I do not know how to tell you about it, but Aunt Natasha was visiting us yesterday, and she bought me and herself a ticket to the sea. There was a minute of silence on the phone. Marina’s heartbeat increased.
– Well, relax with your aunt. I thought we were going together.
– You know how important this trip is to me. I need to go. We will definitely go together. The girl heard short beeps in the receiver. A feeling of resentment overwhelmed Marina that she did not understand her. After all, a friend has a boyfriend, and she has someone to spend the weekend with, and not just weekends, but days and nights, and perhaps a lifetime. Okay, the girl thought to herself, and started packing her suitcase.
Chapter 2
The airport was crowded. Everyone tried to fly away for the holidays. A little further, away, she saw the boss, and pretended not to notice him. What a pity that my friend did not come to see me off, the girl thought to herself. How I miss her.
– What are you sad about? Pretty woman? She heard her aunt’s cheerful voice. We will find you a groom. I’ll sing you love songs!!! I love you Marina, more and more every day!!!
– Aunt enough! The girl shouted irritably, and her face and neck turned red with anger. Dear forgive your crazy aunt; I am just in such a good mood! The plane landed at Sochi airport. People got off the plane in high spirits. Everyone was having fun, and it seemed that no one was tired on the way. – Sochi welcomes us, my aunt said happily. Let us go, let us leave our things, and we will catch the maximum positive! I have booked a nice room, in a nice hotel, you will like it. Marina, silently, agreed with it was useless to argue with everything that Aunt Natasha would tell her. A short time later, two young ladies were coming down to breakfast. Marina was wearing a short denim skirt and a stylish T-shirt; her black curly hair hung from her shoulders and involuntarily attracted the attention of men. The girl always wore a high heel, which emphasized the slimness of her figure. Sitting at breakfast, in a cozy cafe at the hotel, two girls discussed the planned events. – First we will go to the sea, then to the Riviera Park, and in the evening, I looked at a cool cafe on the embankment. Marina listened animatedly to her interlocutor, and her eyes sparkled. The girl showed with all her appearance that she was happy, and nothing burdened her.
The view from the hotel window accordingly overlooked the sea. The girl stood on the balcony and admired the seascape. The sea was calm, and went far beyond the horizon. It was transparent and clean, settled during the winter months, after the summer bathing season. The weather was hot; the beach was gradually filled with vacationers. Some have already bathed in the sea. Marina inhaled the clean, moist sea air, and could not breathe enough of it. This place seemed to her an oasis, a paradise, after long trips on the subway.
– My child, she heard her aunt’s voice, is this your first time at sea?
– No. As a child, I flew to Turkey with my parents several times. But that was so long ago. And it’s not that at all. Especially since you know Mom, is it possible to fly somewhere with her.
– Oh, yes, that is right. Let us go quickly; we do not have much time. Two beautiful women were coming down the stairs to go to the beach. Marina felt the eyes of men on her, she liked it, and at the same time, it was a little annoying.
– Marinochka, your character does not match your image and style at all. You need to be a little more brazen, especially in our time.
– Yes, I agree with you. I need to be at least a drop of your character, or the character of my girlfriend.
– The day spent on the beach was just great. I even got a little tanned! Natalia said enthusiastically, finishing her glass of wine. Let us discuss tomorrow. What are our plans? Riviera Park, excursions to waterfalls, or just the sea, the sea.
– Of course, first the sea, and then everything else! How good that you came that evening, if it were not for you, I would be sour now at the dacha in the suburbs, in the company of these bores. And also this kind guy, he got me.
– «What guy?» Auntie asked eagerly. Marina told her everything about a colleague who liked her very much. At the next table, a cozy, evening cafe, excursions were also discussed. The two women were talking about a trip to the boxwood grove, and Natalia could not help but keep silent, and got into the conversation. Marinochka!!! As always, she said happily. That is all settled, we are all going to the waterfall together tomorrow. After a morning, hike to the beach of course! Marina happily agreed with her every word.
The trip to the waterfall was carried out on its own. That is why it was so fun and entertaining. In the morning, Marina did not leave the feeling of excitement, and she could not find an explanation for this. The girl’s heart was beating anxiously, and a slight tremor passed through her body. Vacationers were approaching the entrance to the Sochi National Park. The company consisted of three cheerful, charming women, much older than her. This company had a heightened sense of humor. And the age difference was not felt in any way.
– The weather in this place does not coincide with Sochi. Look what a cloud.
– Yes, it is a light cloud; a light rain will come out of it. I will not go to the waterfall in the rain, another objected, it is dangerous, it is slippery, I know, I have been there a hundred times.
– Girls, do not quarrel. There’s a great cafe there, I’d like some wine!!! We’re at the sea!!! There were several cars and three motorcycles at the entrance to the park. Then there was the territory of the cafe. There were many vacationers walking around the territory, people were sitting at the tables and waiting for the ordered dishes. An order was being prepared on the grill, and this smell teased Marina’s appetite.
– Aunt, let’s sit down!!!
– Of course, we will sit down, why I came. The territory of the cafe was a large circle, and a cozy layout. Two large halls, one upper, one lower. A summer dance floor, live music, there were also summer benches on the territory, and vacationers could sit down and admire the surrounding nature. The vacationers sat down at a table, the waiter served the menu. Marina was spinning from side to side, looking at the local attractions. She could not help but hear the sound of water, and involuntarily asked the neighbors accompanying them,
– What are those sounds?
– This is a river – a «Miracle beauty», you see there a stream, and it has not dried up yet. Go and have a look. This water flows from a mountain waterfall, a place of wonderful beauty, is not it!
– Yes,