Right one at the wrong time

A Walk in the park

Konstrakta couldn't believe she had agreed to this. To be honest, she didn't really have a choice. But the fact that now the other three had simply left her alone with the Swedish woman didn't suit her at all. That was the last thing she had hoped for now: A walk in the park with Cornelia Jakobs. Well, the day's about shot.

She could have just left or told Cornelia she was having her dress rehearsal right now. But she didn't. Somehow, she had let Cornelia's infectious enthusiasm kind of talk her into it.

As they strolled through the picturesque park near the Eurovision venue, Konstrakta couldn't help but feel out of her element. The sun was shining brightly, the birds were singing, and people around them were enjoying the beautiful day. Cornelia, on the other hand, seemed to be in her element, smiling from ear to ear, and bouncing with each step she took.

Konstrakta had never been a fan of small talk or idle chitchat. She preferred the precision of gears and circuits to the unpredictable mess of human emotions. But what was she doing here then? With the woman with whom she had by far the least in common of all the candidates.

Cornelia, with her short, sun-kissed hair and a perpetually radiant smile, continued to bounce along the winding path like a child let loose in a candy store. She was a stark contrast to Konstrakta, who maintained her usual impassive manner, every step measured and calculated.

„Isn't this just the most amazing day, Ana?"
Cornelia asked, her voice filled with excitement.

Konstrakta couldn't muster up the same enthusiasm.
„It's just a day. A work day in fact," she mumbled, adjusting her sunglasses and looking away.

Cornelia laughed, a warm and melodic sound that made Konstrakta's heart do something it wasn't supposed to do.

„You're such a mystery, you know that? Always so serious."

Konstrakta clenched her fists in her pockets, desperately trying to ignore the way Cornelia's words made her wrists tingle that almost felt like nervousness. It deeply annoyed her. Everything here was just thoroughly uncomfortable for her. She should have said no and just left.

„I mean yes this place is beautiful and the weather but I still don't see what's so special. It's not the only beautiful place on earth," she said, feigning disinterest.

Actually, Konstrakta had a great interest in architecture, that was her first job after all, and in travelling, in nature. But for some reason, she definitely didn't want to give Cornelia the feeling that she was having fun or enjoying this walk in the slightest.

Cornelia stopped abruptly and turned to face Konstrakta, her eyes filled with curiosity.

„You really don't get it, do you?"

Konstrakta was taken aback by the intensity of Cornelia's gaze. She had expected the bubbly singer to be put off by her indifference, not to challenge her.

„Get what?"

Cornelia stepped closer, and Konstrakta could feel the warmth of her presence once again.

„Life, Ana. This is life. It's about enjoying the little things, like a beautiful day in the park, the laughter of children, and the smell of flowers in the air. I have never seen you genuinely smile whenever we met."

'Maybe that's because of you' Konstrakta thought glumly but didn't say it.

Konstrakta's guard was slowly crumbling, but she couldn't let Cornelia see that.

„Well, not everyone can be as carefree as you."

Cornelia reached out and gently touched Konstrakta's arm, causing a shockwave of sensations to course through her body. She hated it.