The Russian Next Door

CHAPTER 33 - Let's go home

'So what are you waiting for then?'

He smiled, passed his hand through my hair, stopped when his hand got to the nape of my neck and pulled my face closer. 'I'm sorry for hurting you, Roza.' A tear fell down my cheek and he kissed it away. Then, his lips collided with mine. I could feel the saltiness on my tongue. I rose on my tippy toes and deepened the kiss. I bit his lower lip and he growled. When we pulled apart, we were both breathing heavily.

'Let's go home.' he said, taking my hand into his.

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'It's too silent.'

'Put some music then.'

'My music?' he shook his shoulders in response.

'Why not?'

'Nah, I'm just teasing. I came to the conclusion that your music is acceptable. You don't suck as much as I thought.'

'Really?'

'Really, comrade.'

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'I'm hungry.'

'You have your snacks on the backseat.'

'Oh, yeah, I forgot. You bought me M&M's.'

'Aren't those your favorites?'

'Yes, they are. You remembered that?'

'I remember everything about you Rose.'

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'Your family is wonderful, you know?'

'Thank you.'

'They are all such nice people. I wish they could adopt me.'

'Don't say that. Is your family that bad?'

'I don't know. It's just I was never enough for them. Anything I did, they were never really satisfied. They always wanted more, and I understand that they want me to do better, but a ''good job Rose'' or maybe a ''we are proud of you'' from time to time wouldn't hurt. When I graduated, my father couldn't even make it and the moment I got off the stage, instead of hugging me or something, my mother began telling me about how my hair was messy and that the photos would look bad.'

'You are enough for me, Rose.' he said grabbing my hand and kissing the inside of my palm.

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I had the little oxalis from Dimitri's mother in my hands and was grimacing.

'Are you trying to kill that plant with your stare?'

'Ha, ha, very funny. No, I am trying to find a proper name for it.'

'Are you going to name it?'

'Um, of course I am. I have named all my plants since I was six. That's tradition.'

'Is it a girl or a boy?'

'Hmmm. A boy.'

Some minutes passes. I was still thinking.

'I knooooow! Can you guess how I'm going to name him?'

'Carlos.'

'Why on Earth would I name it Carlos? It sounds like a Mexican drug dealer's name.'

'Your other plants had these Latino names. I thought you wanted to do the same with this one.'

'Nope. I'm going to call it Lil' Dimka.'

'Why?'

'Because I want to. Firstly, because it's so small. And because I liked how your family used to call you Dimka. It's a nice nickname.' I was really proud of my invention.

'You know, my mother never gave to anyone not even a single offspring .'

'Really? Why?'

'My father brought her that plant. About two weeks before I threw him out. I guess she cared too much about it and she didn't want to share it with anyone. It was the last present he ever gave to her.'

'Dimitri, I so love your mother.' Then I remembered something. 'Oh my God.'

'What happened?'

'Dimitri, I am a plant killer. I can't take care of Lil' Dimka. I'll end up killing him. And I can't kill him. He is so precious.'

'You won't kill him, Rose.'

'You can't know that. Not considering my criminal record.'

'Look. We'll take care of him together then. And he won't die. Okay?'

'Okay. I am relieved now.'

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'Do you know what I found on your fireplace?'

'Photos I guess. That's where my mother is displaying them.'

'Yeah. But two photos in special.' he looks at me questioning. 'Somewhere in the back, on the left side. Two photos into a black frame, more exactly.'

'Oh, those photos.'

'Yes. And you were so young. Only sixteen. And you had your hair short. And you were smiling. You looked so cute. But in the other one you were so serious. Who upset you?'

'No one. I was in fact looking at Viktoria. She was climbing on a chair so that she could match my height and I was afraid she'd fall.'

'Always worrying. But you know what? You looked smoking hot in that uniform. I wish I could see you dressed in that uniform someday.'

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It turned dark. I feel sleepy. The radio was playing ''In the air tonight''. It's a sad song. But one thing is true. It really feels that I have been waiting for this moment for all my life. For the moment he told me that all he wanted to was to kiss me every second. Even though I've met Dimitri about four months ago, no one ever made me feel the way he does. I turn to face him. He turns too and smiles before turning his attention back to driving. It feels unreal. I raise my hand and take it to the nape of his neck, under his hair and caress that area. He sighs.

'Is this bothering you?'

'No, I like it. It's so calming.'

So I keep running my hand through his hair until I fall asleep.

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'I am soooo stiff from all of this sitting. And I totally shouldn't have fallen asleep. My back hurts.'' I say as we get out of the car.

Dimitri went to get out the bags. I went to take mine.

'I'll take it.'

'Ah, such a gentleman.' I said blinking rapidly for a few times and pretended to faint dramatically. At that, he laughed. I could never get tired of hearing his laughter.

We got upstairs and he handed me my bag.

I swing back and forth in front of my door. 'So I guess I'll see you tomorrow.'

He nods. 'Tomorrow.'

I gather a little courage. I rapidly get in front of him on my tippy toes and place a little kiss on his cheek. I say 'Goodnight!' and turn away to enter my apartment. As I am closing my door, I hear: 'Goodnight, Roza.'

I put my bag down and place Lil' Dimka on the table. I lean on the door and smile.