– That's right!
– You're making jokes again. Do you realize how I, as a lady, feel about this? How other people are gonna take it?
– How?
– Ruthra, come on. You know everything.
– You're going to screw up again now, aren't you?
– I will. Because first you have to decide for yourself who a person is to you, and then perform actions that will be understood unambiguously. You're all about the extravaganza. All your friends, all your friends, all your friends, all your friends, all your friends, all your friends. I don't like it.
– Here we go. Thought I was gonna have a great night with you guys.
– So walk me out. Then why did you grab me?
– Well, there are reasons.
– Then do me a favor and say them for everyone to hear. You're a grown man, but you're acting like a kid.
– I'm a naughty boy at heart.
– We don't doubt it," IuLia said, glancing at Catherine.
The banter and smiles gave lightness to the dialog.
– So what you're saying is that my behavior doesn't indicate some exceptional relationship. You think I can do that with everyone?
– Not exactly. You put us in an uncertain position with your good attitude, which I admit we are all very happy about.
– Oh, it's warm already.
– Rutra, understand, you are a good friend, a great leader, we respect you, only you decide to what extent we are friends, like a boy and a girl.
– Uh-oh.
– Oh, my God. I didn't expect that from you.
– He understands, Yat, he's kidding," Catherine explained.
– Bastard, then," YatSan said, smiling and looking into Rutra's face.
– Oh, okay. That's it, divorce and maiden name.
– Why, did we have a factory?
– Well, I thought you did. I thought you said you dreamed about walking through factories.
– Rutra, that's enough. Can you be a little more serious?
– I can. What is it, my queen?
– Ruthra, let me go.
– No way.
– Let go now.
– It's beyond me.
– Rutra, we are about to have a broken relationship beyond friendship – supervisor and subordinate.
– Oh, that's the kind of role-playing you like to do.
– Let go, I don't like it.
– Why is that?
– If you haven't realized it, the doctor can't help you anymore.
– You shouldn't do that. I really, really–
– So, if something is very – you should not be shy about it, you should say it directly and show it in your actions. Let me go.
YatSan forcefully freed herself and sat back down, Ruthra didn't hold her back much though, just grabbed her arm to keep her from getting too far away.
– I don't like that kind of behavior.
– Me, too. What am I to you? Make up your mind. You take me in your arms, put me on your lap, everyone sees it. What they're gonna think.
– Oh, my God.
– Not God, Rutra, but you have to think. This isn't anywhere, it's where everyone knows us. We're not at a resort, we're not on your cruise ship.
– You've ruined the whole moment of romance.
– It may be romantic to you, but to me it's serious.
– And I'm the wind.
– It's your behavior. You're everybody's friend, you love all the girls.
– Not all of them. That's too much.
– There you go. At least it wasn't just one.
– No, sunshine, just one.
– Well, then decide who.
– Determined.
– И?
– Give me your hand.
– Why would you do that?
– Give it to me.
– Ask.
– Hands and hearts?
Ruthra laughed.
– That's it, I'm gone.
YatSan wanted to get up and walk past Ruthra, because the couch was along the wall, and the only way out was from his side. At that moment, Rutra grabbed YatSan, hugged her, and put her back on his lap.
– Let go!
– Wait a minute.
He grabbed her hand lightly but firmly, pulled out the ring finger of her left hand, and while she tried to stand up, he put on a white metal ring with a sparkling stone. The polished white gold resembled a mirror-like surface, and the diamond scattered rays like cupid's arrows. The scene was worthy of a movie adaptation. Catherine's modest smile and IuLia's not-so-humble one blended into a cocktail of uncertain flavor, as uncertain as the expression on YatSan's face. She was clearly surprised and didn't know how to react. YatSan looked at the ring, shifted her gaze to Rutra, then to her friends. Iulia apparently read her thoughts from her facial expressions. She caught YatSan's next attempt at a queen's stance and almost shrieked:
– Yat, don't be stupid.
The silence continued.
– We should probably go," Iulia said, rising from the couch.
Catherine followed her. The girls could not take their eyes off the ring. As she left the table and passed Ruthra, Catherine looked at the diamond and said:
– That's a nice rock.
– Rutra, what is it? – YatSan said sweetly, then looked at her friends, who were also looking back at her.
She "told" them something with a look. Ruthra noticed it. Her friends' faces were cheerful, as always, with a twist of intrigue. Ruthra was encouraged, and he looked at YatSan, into the depths of her sweet, childishly mischievous, sparkling eyes, and held her close to him.
– Do you like it?
– Who wouldn't like it? Only in honor of what?
– Let's go. I'll tell you in another setting.
– Where to?" she barely had time to ask.
Rutra, having already lifted her in his arms, carried YatSan towards the exit.
– Rutra, what are you up to?
– It's gonna be great.
He carried her to the auto and put her in a late-model Ferrari convertible.
– You're going to drive me crazy right now," YatSan chirped, looking at the car while Ruthra shifted into the driver's seat. – But I have to ask…
Rutra looked at her intently. YatSan, after hesitating for a moment, said:
– …what role am I in?
– I'm telling you, it's gonna be great.
– I already know you well. I know you're gonna be great. That's not what I'm asking.
She kept demanding