I looked at him.
“And she,” he pointed at the younger woman, “helped me write my course paper and then thesis.”
“Wow, it’s quite a friendship,” I thought and then said, “Are all of you qualified engineers?”
“The two of us – yeah,” the man pointed at the younger woman and himself. “And she,” the younger woman went on, nodding at the elder one, “is a musician.”
“A musician? Why are you begging here, then?” I shrugged my shoulders.
“Because we’re disabled, my girl,” the older woman said. “When you’re in suc a state, you can hardly move! Just think!”
“Of course!” I agreed.
“So,” she went on, “is your man, Emre, a would-be engineer?”
“Yes, he is.”
“And you?” the woman asked.
“I’m an English teacher.”
“What a seemingly good match – a teacher and an engineer!” she chuckled.
“Yeah,” I sighed.
“So, do you love him?”
“I do,” I said firmly.
“So, what’re you going to do then, after he didn’t meet you?”
“Err… Let me think…” I said thoughtfully.
“Will you try searching for him?”
It wasn’t a bad idea, though!
After a few minutes, I nodded confidently:
“I will!”
“Oh, my God!” the older woman laughed openly. “She’s a brave one, isn’t she?”
The man said, “When we were students, there was a curious saying among LETI inhabitants. If you have nowhere to elapse, LETI is the only place. That’s what many people did when they were alone or had no one to talk to. Seems like you’ve got to do the same.”
“So,” the older woman asked me, “will you do the same thing?”
“I have no choice,” I shrugged my shoulders. “I love him.”
“We hope everything’ll be fine,” she looked at me. “Good luck to you! And, of course, we’ll pray for you!”
I said goodbye to them and headed… yes, towards my destination point. LETI.
After an hour or so, I reached the University. The outer building looked like a castle. There were several inner buildings located inside the campus. The castle one opened on the street.
I’d say practically every building in Saint Petersburg looked like a castle…
As I came closer and closer, only one thought was running on my mind. To see Emre. At least to catch a glimpse of the man.
Emre! My Emre…
It was so illogical… Actually, the man who sent you off wouldn’t be worth even his name pronounced and thought of. However, love is such a thing that… you never know what you’ll think of a second or a minute later.
That was my situation. Only he was on my mind.
“I need to have a look at the timetable,” I thought. “What’s his group number?”
It wasn’t all that simple, though. Because of something I hadn’t even suggested before. The entry checkpoint.
“Hello,” I said to the security officer at the entrance. “I’m coming to a job interview.”
“Your first name? Last name?” there was both the question and the answer.
“Aziza Kadirova,” I said.
“Let me have a look in today’s job interview database…” he took a tablet out of his tabletholder.
What? How sophisticated it all was! I desired to see Emre without the stuff like red tape!
“No,” the man said after a while. “I’m afraid your name’s not included in today’s list. Maybe you’ll be able to come tomorrow in case you appear in the list…” he shrugged his shoulders.
“So,” I frowned, “I’m not permitted to be let in, am I?”
“No, I’m afraid you’re not, Miss,” the officer sighed.
Goodness gracious! What should I do then?
“What do I need to go in?” I asked.
“A pass. The pass is required for all the University staff and students.”
“How may I make it?”
“Well, you should address the entry checkpoint center,” the man coldly shrugged his shoulders. “Only then may you be let in.”
My Emre…!
I was absolutely desperate to see him. But how and when…?
Emre was so… unattainable!
I practically had no chance of getting inside!!!
I was hardly holding tears back. What was it all for?
“Okay,” I said. “Thank you very much anyway. Have a nice day!”
“Thank you! You too!” the man’s answer was.
What should I do, then? I needed to see Emre.
A student passed by me.
“Excuse me, sir,” he said to the security guard. “Where could I see the Master’s degree entrance requirements, please?”
The Master’s degree. Sounded exciting. Especially if you have to go on with your education.
Suddenly, it dawned on me. What if I tried to enter a Master course in linguistics there, in LETI? It’d be fascinating!
At the time, I had a great desire to enter the University. First, I’d get a passing card. Therefore, with the card, I’d have much more chance to come across Emre.
Now, I asked another question to the boy.
“Are you going to enter the Master’s?”
“Yeah,” he smiled.
“I can see now,” I nodded. “Which department?”
“Robotics.” One more proud answer.
“And are you from LETI as well?”
“But of course! And you?”
“I’m not,” I lowered my eyes. “But I’d love to be.”
“Come on!” he laughed. “You’ll do it! Which department are you willing to enter?”
“Is there anything concerning Linguistics, Philology or, well, English studies?”
“Yes, there is. The Linguistics department.”
Two months later…
30 August 2021
Something incredible had happened. Indeed.
Since now, I’d been a LETI student!!!
Let me tell you everything in detail, though. From the very beginning.
I had decided to stay in Saint Petersburg. I told my Mum, “I feel this is for me. I’d like to go on with my studies. What’s more, I can find a job there. Mum,” I was saying in ecstasy, “it’s a perfect, an awesome, opportunity, for me to proceed with both my career and my studies.”
Mother agreed. If her daughter wants something (something that’s