romance and relationships

The streaming sunbeams filled the hut with light. The morning came. There was some hay in the corner of the hut. A pensive fellow was sitting on the hay. Two even legs were shown next to him on the hay. They were a girl’s legs. All of a sudden the fellow turned back and asked:
- How did you cause the hatred of the whole aul? You are so nice.
- I think that the cause of it is prostitution, - she answered.
- They just envy your beauty. Did you take a liking in me?
- Yes, but not only in you. It is possible that I did not take a liking in anyone at all.
- Why? You told me about your first love.
- No. It was not love. There was not love as such. I meant the man in whom I was just interested. Since that time I have not dated with anyone any more. A lot of time passed. We changed, and then he fell in love with another girl whom he married later. I was not in love with him. May be it was the reason of all that has happened to me.
- And you are young; - she said and set to stroking his hair with her fine fingers. – Love cools down, we are getting old, - she said giving a laugh. The fellow kissed her on her lips, having interrupted her talking. – I will love and respect you for my whole life.
- What do you need me for? You know that people hate me. Do you want to be despised as well? – She said.
There was silence. The aroma of the morning tea was felt in the air. The steps of passing-by people were audible.
- We should leave. Your mother can come back. If she finds me here with you I won’t be the better off.
- She should know that I am a grown-up already. I will tell her about us.
- No, don’t tell her. She will find out about us later.
- Do not be afraid. It is better to let everyone know about it than to keep it a secret for the whole life. We won’t be able to conceal it for long. But if you are not ready yet we can wait a bit. And so far we will keep our relations a secret. As soon as the evening comes we will date here in the hut.
- You are still very young, - she said, having put her arms round his neck.
- When will I see you again? – He asked.
- No, that is enough of it. I am sick and tired of it. I can’t stand this gossip any more. It is not in my power to stand it. I am not made of iron. Tears sparkled on her eyes. She was so disappointed either in her life or in herself; one could not say it for sure. Every time their date had the same finish. If only anyone could explain it. I heard there some writers who wrote about it. I should go to the library. I may find answers to these questions there. But I am afraid that I won’t be wanted there. I may be the cause of the problem. It is not for nothing that people look at me with despise. When I pass by the House of Culture everyone laughs at me. I heard every possible bad word said after me. Yesterday in the evening having found myself there I came across a crowd of young people. They began to accost me. I had hardly run away from them.
- It is daylight already. We must go. Get up! – She said. But the fellow did not want to release her from his embrace.
- Let me go.
- Where are you hurrying?
- That’s enough; let’s not continue it any more. You will meet your love. I am old for you, and we will hardly be able to make a family.
- I will always remember you, - he said.
- You will forget me, and you will forget me after some time. And I will forget you after some time as well.
- No, I will never forget you. The first love is always the most passionate one, - he said rising. He approached her in a state of excitement. She being embarrassed hid her legs under her skirt.
It was already broad daylight outside. The weather was nice.
The fellow was lying on the hay, thinking of them. He had been thinking for a long time whether it was love or not.
All of a sudden someone opened the door.
- We must run away, - they said, having huddled up to each other.
- All the same they will find out that we were here.
- You, run, - he said.
- No, I won’t. I may be sitting here with someone else.
Suddenly his father appeared near the gates holding a poker in his hands. He must say now that I covered our kin with disgrace. He was followed by his mother. It was unknown whom she sided with, whether she sided with the lovers or with her husband. After a minute’s thought the father threw the poker at them. The fellow sprang up with fright and ran out of the hut. And the woman remained where she was. It wasn’t clear whether she was alive or not. One thing was clear. No one loved anyone. Everyone loved only oneself.