Two for tragedy. Volume 1 - стр. 37

Half an hour later I was on the bridge, and as usual, leaning on the railing, surrounded by protective bars, I admired the evening Prague. Its lights shone in the darkness, filling the evening with joy and grandeur. Prague. My beautiful favourite city! My favourite country! How lucky I am to be born in the Czech Republic and to be part of this beautiful culture!

The noise of passing cars did not disturb me: I was deeply immersed in my thoughts and stood like that for about an hour, not taking my eyes off the lights of the city. Occasionally, noisy teenagers passed by me, but I just smiled, thinking that once I was not a quiet person either.

Suddenly, some animal instinct made me feel someone's gaze on me. I glanced cautiously to my right.

Not far from me stood Cedric Morgan. He was watching me.

I was immediately confused.

"What is he doing here? Why is he here? In Nusla?" – I wondered.

Cedric headed in my direction.

"He's coming to me?!" – A terrifying thought pierced my brain. I felt embarrassed and awkward, and my feet felt like they were stuck to the pavement. I prudently kept my eyes fixed on the Nusle neighbourhood under the bridge, pretending not to be embarrassed at all, and only glanced at Cedric when he came very close.

– Good evening," he said in a slightly surprised tone, stopping beside me.

– Good evening," I replied politely, having no idea how to behave in this unexpected situation.

– I didn't expect to see you here.

– Actually, I come here quite often, so I could say the same about you. – I shrugged my shoulders.

Cedric smiled. He was irresistible in the lantern light.

– It's strange. I come here almost every day, but this is the first time I've seen you here.

– It must be because I'm always on this side of the bridge," I suggested cautiously. – Which side do you usually come from?

– That side. – Cedric waved his hand in the opposite direction.

– Just as I thought.

– How far away from here do you live? – He suddenly asked.

The question surprised me. Why would he want to know?

– I think it's about half an hour's walk from here to my house.

– You walk here?

– Yes. Do you think thirty minutes is too long?

– I don't. It's just that I don't walk much and I mostly get around by car.

"No doubt you don't know what a tram is!" – I thought, and I couldn't help smiling at the thought that Cedric probably never took public transport.

– I live in the country," Cedric explained in a cool tone, obviously misinterpreting my smile.

– I didn't mean to offend you," I said, embarrassed. – I just thought you'd probably never taken a city tram before.

– Yes. I'll admit it," Cedric grinned.

There was silence. I didn't know him, he didn't know me, and we were just mutually silent.

– Could we reschedule for Monday? – I suddenly blurted out. I desperately didn't want to face him tomorrow. I wasn't ready to confront him. – Don't think I'm getting cold feet again. I had some problems with my flat," I lied to make myself look convincing.

– Of course," Cedric said calmly.

I was relieved.

– It was great that we'd met so unexpectedly. I wouldn't have had a chance to warn you, and you'd have been sitting in the library for nothing. Perhaps it would have been a good idea to exchange phone numbers! – I said cheerfully.