At 6 PM, as agreed, Constantin arrived at the cooperative filled with numerous gastronomic spots and started looking for the name Sophia had sent him. The neon bright green sign read "YAY THAY." Across from it, hills stood like a natural wall, shielding them from the outside world, and above, hundreds of hanging lights had already lit up.
Even though there was still half an hour until the appointed time, the girl was already sitting confidently in a rattan chair, carefully studying the menu. She wore a black polo shirt and round black sunglasses.
“The evening promises to be fiery,” Constantin said, approaching her.
“Well, sometimes there's not enough spice,” the girl agreed, not catching his joke, and handed him the second menu. “What do you think of trying?”
“I’m old-fashioned. So, tom yum and Chang,” he said, not opening the menu. “What should I order for you?”
“I’ve already ordered – Pad Thai and coconut water.”
“Do you always come early?” Constantin asked.
“I value my time, but I really hate being late,” the girl replied, crossing her arms over her chest.
Sophia spoke casually and briefly, but for some reason, he liked it for the first time. Her cool demeanor seemed to stimulate Van, prompting him to study her more closely and get to her true inner world.
“When it comes to time, I'm impatient. I always feel like I could do more if I were more productive,” he continued.
Their order arrived, and while Constantin delved deeper into the topic, Sophia was already enjoying her meal.
“Every time people leave my exhibition, I think about how much more I still need to grow. Perhaps I haven't spent enough time improving the results of my work,” said Constantin.
“But you live only for creation. Isn't that enough?” Sophia replied.
“As long as there are negative reviews of my work, it's not enough,” Constantin shrugged.
“Why are you so calm?” Sophia asked. “Doesn’t it irritate you that some people don’t appreciate your paintings? They couldn’t even paint a single part of them, yet they still come to your exhibitions and leave negative comments.”
He paused to think. Did he feel irritation at the sight of the ignorant near his work? No.
“I can’t turn a detached skeptic into an art connoisseur,” Van shrugged. “But I can try to instill in him the idea that everything is art and has the right to exist. He may not find understanding in my paintings, but by listening to his favorite music, he’ll definitely get closer to my world without even realizing it.”
Sophia looked at him thoughtfully. For a split second, Constantin thought he saw a smile flicker across her lips. He could only guess whether it was a smile of solidarity or if he seemed ridiculous in his philosophical musings.
They spent the entire evening discussing various topics and taste preferences. It turned out they had a lot in common despite their different personalities.
Constantin unobtrusively studied her face, trying to memorize every line so he could later paint her portrait from memory.
While talking to him, Sophia occasionally glanced away and looked off into the distance over his shoulder. For a moment, it even seemed like someone was standing there.
Constantin glanced over his shoulder. At a nearby table, a couple was sitting together, sharing an ice cream and laughing loudly.
“Do you know them?” asked Van.
