We went to a spacious coffee shop with very few people in it. We got a menu and I started to choose what to eat with passion.
- Artyom, can I combine a jalapeno sandwich with hot chocolate?
- Try and tell me later.
- Okay! I'll have a jalapeno sandwich and hot chocolate with cinnamon and caramel. And what is jalapeno?
The waitress stopped to write down the order and looked at me and then at Artem.
- So. Bring this one orange juice and a sandwich with ham, mushrooms, and cheese. Bring Halapeno on a platter, I will pay extra for it separately. I am Americano and a sandwich with tomatoes and smoked duck.
- Well, thank you for ordering it," she said, leaving us alone.
- You're not saying the letter "R"?
- Sometimes. Your name is complicated. Arthur.
- Svyatoslav is kind of easier?
- Yes, there is no growling letter. Fish-ba. Rafi nad. Ra-ti-fi-k-k-k-tiya.
- You say ratification, but you can't say Artyom?
- Yes, Artyom. But I like your name.
I got the juice and switched to it, looking for Artyom.
- What do you want from me, Stefan?
- You are.
- I'm not gay.
- Me, too.
- Oh, yeah?
- Yeah, well, yeah.
- Informative.
- Briefly and essentially," I nodded.
And suddenly Artyom laughed in his voice. And it was so good now. It was like home.
We never talked about it again. I decided to change the subject to motorcycles. He supported me. It was obvious that he, like me, loved them and was sick with them. Artyom laughed when I told him about the first time I got on the bike and then just fell on the barrel. And I listened to his races.
And then they brought those jalapeños. Somehow Artyom asked for more ice. I already asked the Holy One what it was, and he told me to forget about them if I didn't eat spicy. I didn't eat spicy. But I wanted to try.
- I'm not going to die, am I?
I decided to put a piece of pepper in my mouth and start chewing. It was spicy at first, then very spicy, and then I seemed to burn all my taste buds in my mouth.
I opened my mouth in a mute scream, drinking all the juice in a volley, then his coffee. And nothing helped. I wanted to run to the toilet and drink all the water from the sink, but my red lips were squeezed and I had an ice cube touching them. With my eyes crying, I watched him drive a cube over my lips. My lips were numb and burning at the same time. I opened my mouth slightly and the cube slid inside.
- Finish my debauchery here! - I licked Artem's finger before he moved away and closed himself again. I'll kill the Holy One!
- Svyatoslav, you are not a saint at all! - I exclaimed.
- You are in a public place, Stef," the Holy One showed me.
- Are you jealous, Ravinsky? - Artyom put on sunglasses, throwing money on the table. - I have to go, I fed you, gave you my brother's hand. My mission is fulfilled.
- Will you run away, Ristalov? Did you also shit in the bushes? It's like you, Artyom," said Svyatoslav. I looked at one or the other and... and I didn't like it. Artyom looked happy, but Holy looks at him cunningly.
- Watch your speech, Ravinsky. You owe me, don't forget.
- Go away already.
I gave him a sad look and kicked the Holy One in the leg.
- What is this "You owe me"? What do you owe him, huh?
- What are you fighting about? - The Holy One snapped while rubbing his leg," your redhead didn't give up on me, so stop rattling.
- Then why did he come out so kind, huh? - and he fell asleep and stuck his head in the table. - If you try to steal it, I will fight with you.
- Yeah, let's hear each other's hair out. And who else am I going to fight for? For Ristalov! Don't make me laugh, dear. Finish your sandwich and go home. I bought two bottles of wine and nachos.
- Nachos somehow sounded on the same dangerous note with jalapenos. Can I say no beforehand?
I was horrified to see a lonely pepper on a plate. Mal, yes, I did.
- Or are you going to eat in Artem's company? - I laughed and gave up thinking that the Holy One might like Artyom.
At home, the wine was flowing in the river, the music was thundering, and the night jumps were not over. We only had two glasses enough to be overjoyed. The drunk Saint was drawn to sing sad songs, and I was drawn to talk.
- That's why he was so cold to me, huh? I reach out to him with all my heart," I howled, shaking with tambourine.
- And you're as cold as an iceberg in the ocean," Svyat replied, swaying from side to side. - And you are so beautiful and windy.
- Listen, let's call him, shall we? Do you have his number?