“Well, why not?” Max laughed. “Keep the most important things close at hand, as they say. It’ll be good for both the soul and the body.”
“You’re always joking,” Constantin replied, appreciating the tease.
While they chatted, time flew by, and the guys on the bike returned.
Denis jumped off the motorcycle like he’d been scalded, adjusting his curly, unruly hair as he went.
“I told you not to show off,” he scolded Albert, who, with a triumphant look, handed Constantin the helmet. “You almost made my heart jump out of my chest.”
“But it didn’t jump out,” his friend retorted. “Next time, don’t hold on to me like a girl.”
“What, like a girl? Oh, you!”
Denis kicked Albert and they engaged in a playful scuffle.
Constantin finished his invigorating coffee and went to toss the paper cup in the trash.
It was already quite dark on the waterfront and the streetlights had come on. This was his favorite time, when the sea, with its calm, barely noticeable waves, marked the end of the day. Turning his head toward the benches, he saw her.
The graceful silhouette of the girl stood out against the backdrop of the evening sunset.
She was sitting on the bench, reading something on her tablet while adjusting her hair, which the breeze was swirling around. A moment later, Sophia took a hairpin from the pocket of her gray blazer and neatly twisted her hair into a bun. She set the tablet aside and looked in Constantin's direction, as if expecting to see him there.
He approached her.
“What a coincidence.”
“For some reason, I’m not surprised, Constantin,” Sophia replied. “The evening waterfront is perfect for a stroll after a long day. Oh, right – you like to work after sunset.”
He looked at her and noticed her tired appearance. It seemed she had been quite busy.
“I didn’t want to bother you after our last meeting. But I must admit, it wasn’t easy,” he said, sitting down on the bench next to her.
“Why wasn’t it easy?” Ephor furrowed her brows.
“God, Sophie,” Libby rolled her eyes, settling down next to her on the railing. “When you’re human, it’s natural to feel things. Every event shapes your mood.”
“Right, I promised to call,” Ephor continued, not waiting for an answer from Van, who was staring at her. “So much work piled up. And complicated clinical cases at work. I’m sorry.”