“Well, you already have,” Her teacher tried to appear offended.
“Never mind, you’ll get over it.”
“How come? May I ask?”
“Demonstrating my independence.”
“Oh my! This is serious.” Konstantin Konstantinovich rested his chin on his hands and stared at Dina. “You’re becoming more and more interesting by the minute.”
“So are you.”
“Me? Why?”
“And why me?”
“I asked first,” Dina’s companion chuckled.
“All right, I’ll tell you the truth. Although I still need to pass the state examination with you.”
“And defend your thesis!” her teacher pointed out with a cheeky smile. “I am the President of the State Committee at your Faculty… but go on! Nothing ventured, as they say.” He cut himself off. “By the way, how about some champagne? It was your last exam today! My treat.” Without waiting for a reply, Konstantin Konstantinovich called a waiter over and ordered a bottle. “So, I am all ears. Why do I surprise you?”
“Do you know what they say about you at university? Among the students, I mean?”
“Hmmm… Not all of it, I bet.” Dina’s teacher stared at her with an attentive and expectant smile.
“What do you know?” asked Dina.
“Oh no! You started it so you ought to continue.”
“All right, I will.” She paused, as if summoning the courage. “Well, they say that by the end of the course there’s no female student left who hasn’t… well, you know.”
Konstantin Konstantinovich covered his face with his hands as he laughed. “Yes, yes, I’ve heard this. However…”
Dina interrupted him. “That’s not all. Half of them are then forced to have abortions.”
“Just one small correction,” Konstantin Konstantinovich interrupted, “no bimbos… They also say that I have a child in every year level.”
“I don’t find this funny.” Dina looked serious.
“Well, it depends,” He stopped laughing and looked at Dina. “So what do you find surprising?”
“What I heard about you does not match what I am seeing right now.”
“Really? What doesn’t match?”
“Firstly, you’re not such an idiot…”
Konstantin Konstantinovich chortled. “Well, well! An idiot, but not a complete idiot! Why, thank you!”
“Don’t interrupt me,” Dina rebuked him. “You’re intelligent and have a good sense of humor.”
“One can’t look at beautiful girls with these attributes?”
“One can look, I suppose, but not at every single one…”
The waiter arrived at this moment and began removing the two extra sets of cutlery, and arranging the appetizers on the table.