Soloists

Part 1 Gosia #3

I only woke up when the train reached the next station, and when I opened my eyes, I saw green irises. He was smiling, so there was nothing left for me to do but to smile back too.

- What station is this? - I asked, hiding a yawn in my hand and trying to see something in the darkness outside the window.

- Malbork - he answered, looking at me warmly.

I was about to start my interesting conversation when my stomach made a shrill burping sound so loud that everybody in the whole damn carriage heard it. I looked at the green-eyed man and seeing his amusement, I burned with such a blush that I felt the bottoms of my of my feet. I was only reassured by the realization that underneath that damned blue makeup, there was no blush to be seen. Now all that was left was to deal with my belly that was rumbling like a dying motorcycle. Admittedly, I hadn't eaten anything (except for a roll at the station, which I had not eaten anything (except for a roll at the station, which only stirred up my hunger) since noon, and it was after midnight. But must such things always happen to me?

Meanwhile, he put down the newspaper he was holding in his hands, leaned toward me and asked:

- Why don't we go to the restaurant to eat something? - and seeing that I was looking for an excuse, he quickly added: - You can't tell me that you're not hungry. We all heard.

I looked around, registering the covert smiles of my fellow passengers, and as my gaze fell on the glass, I became aware again of my appearance. I had already analyzed whether I had chance to get rid of the blue paint even from my face in the train bathroom, but I knew from experience that cold water would only smudge everything and I would look even worse.

- I would rather not show myself to people like this. - I said, making a movement to embrace my figure.

- But I think you look great!

- Certainly - I grumbled.

- The company of an avatar does not happen very often - he said with a smile, then he stood up and held out his hand to me.

Half of the carriage was already making fun of me. I still had to run through the streets of Warsaw in this disguise, so why should I care about the stares of a few unknown people in the train.

- All right - I said, shaking hands with the stranger and squeezing behind him.

How fortunate that the restaurant lounge was only two carriages further away. 

We stood in the doorway, I glanced at the empty tables and the bar where no one was and I breathed a sigh of relief.

- So which table would you like? - asked my companion.

I shrugged my shoulders.

- Maybe here. - I pointed at the first one.

- Here you are.

I sat down and immediately took to browsing the menu. Green-eyed didn't say a word, so we chose our dishes in silence. When the waiter approached the burping in my stomach filled the whole carriage. My companion laughed under his breath still looking at the menu.

- I'll have the duck with cranberry sauce - I said confidently, ignoring what had just happened and with all my might  praying that my stomach would settle down.

- For me, chicken with cauliflower puree and still water each - He placed his order quickly - And please hurry before my companion passes out - he added.

The waiter snorted with laughter and nodded, and I was flooded with anger. How dare he make fun of me? But after all, it was funny, no more so than my silly musings.