4

" And where are you... Airu? I'm already there, as agreed..." I mentally tried to clarify the situation, because I didn't see any stranger anywhere.

"I'm here, not far, behind a tree," I heard the rustle of his voice in my head. "I see you..."

"And why don't I see you? Why are you hiding?"

"We can't let your big-eyed neighbors notice the two of us... because your parents will know..."

...What neighbours? There is no one nearby...

"Taura!" someone called out to me behind.

...Holy shit, my mother's friend Madeleine, who lives a couple of kilometers from here, was approaching me with her noisy smelly dog, Koky. Why the hell brought her into our park?

"And why are you alone at this time?" Madeleine asked with a sparkling smile and shortness of breath when she was nearby. "Or is Jenny around here somewhere?"

"No... I'm just breathing air..." my excuses poured out desperately. "I want to feed the squirrels..."

I felt in my pocket for a couple of nuts, which I always carry with me for a quick snack, and extended my open palm in front of me to prove my intentions.

"At this time?" Her face stretched out with a suspicious expression. "Now the dogs are being actively walked, what other squirrels? Are you hiding something... did you come on a date?"

... Well... what does she care?

"No, what are you talking about!?" I tried to express this in as innocent a tone as possible.

"Your mom has been worried lately that you've become infatuated with some boy... and I thought you were on a secret date... You've never been here alone before."

She, dressed in a heavy woolen jacket, smoothing her large curls dyed blond, disheveled from the wind, began to walk around me with Koky, who snorting and peeing, digging leaves.

"What boys, Aunt Madi? I'm totally busy with my studies and I want to be a scientist like my dad...

"Well then I'll take you home and talk to Jenny at the same time... It's getting dark quickly!"

... Damn it! What a shame! I had to agree with her intrusiveness, and she was carried away in endless chatter about all sorts of nonsense. I don't like empty talk about anything. Well, it's understandable that she's worried about me.

"Taura... we will have to postpone our meeting," Airu's voice rustled.

"No, no..." I mentally objected to him. "There is no need to put anything off! I'll think of something! I want to see you! Do not fly away!"

"But how?"

"At night! Just wait a couple of hours, I'll sneak out."

"I can't wait... I'm busy…"

"Where is your ship?"

"At park… hidden so that no one can see... I have to go... another time..."

I was so annoyed that our meeting fell through that I could not hide my irritation when I returned home with Madeleine. I heard her hurriedly whisper to my mother about her suspicions. Damn it! Now I will be watched more closely.

Airu fell silent for a long time, and I tossed and turned for half the night without sleep, looking at his pocket watch and waiting for news from him. He responded only a day later, again citing being busy.

I decided not to demand a meeting with him anymore, thereby showing my dissatisfaction and did not maintain long-term mental communication, emphasizing how important my studies were to me.

I only had a couple of years left before college and had to pass all exams.

By the way I wasn't the only one such a nerd at our school... also one boy… diligently gnawing on the granite of science noticed my zeal in the library.

"Any help?" an awkward teenager with curly hair depressedly tapped his pen on the table, making notes from a large anatomical atlas.

"Nothing... someone has already taken the book I need! What the hell! Who needs it so much?"

I rummaged with frustration on the high shelf, climbing up the ladder.

"Probably me," he grinned, handing me an astronomical catalog with the names of stars and galaxies.

"And why did you need it? Do you know a friend who will take you to the nearest star?"

He opened his eyes in amazement, batting his thick eyelashes, taking my sincere indignation for a joke.

"Cool... I might think you have such a friend!"

"But anything can happen! Why not?"

I stood in front of him in a mannered pose, hands on hips.

"I'm Arthur!"

"Yes, I know... a nerd like me. Do you also have grandiose plans for life?"

"Well, it's normal... Taura... to have such plans."

"Huh!" I sat down opposite him, snatching the book from his hands and staring at one paragraph.