Reminiscences 12

Temptation 

Ben supped away on his spaghetti with what could only be described as a very runny sauce. Between mouthfuls, he also sipped the clear, dark yellow liquid that he had also bought, which turned out to be sharply flavoured apple juice. As he munched away, he became aware that there weren’t many others dining at this time. It was only around 11.30 a.m. so before the lunch rush, Ben speculated. There was one person though that had caught his eye, and that for the wrong reasons. There was a young woman sitting a few tables away. She had glanced briefly at him as he returned from his money recuperation exploits. That was when Ben had first noticed her. She was certainly attractive; a full, healthy-looking face, well defined with ever so slightly dark skin. She was also a well proportioned looking female, not overly large, but neither was she off-puttingly skinny. Her hair was jet black, straight, shinny and shoulder-length, making for an exquisite crown. All this was very positive, but it was her dress sense that made Ben wary. Her clothes were tight, with just a little too much on display. This gave her the air of a femme fatale and Ben thought that he had enough on his plate, dealing with getting used to a new city, without such an added distraction.

Ben did his best to not notice her as he worked his way through the plate of spaghetti and the apple juice. It was hard though and a few times he found his field of view being drawn in her direction. He struggled to keep his focus on the Romanian style Italian fare before him. He was glad when, after a few minutes, he was able to polish it off and arise to head out of the restaurant. However, as he turned his back to the temptation and prepared to leave, he felt himself hesitate. He quickly whipped some money out of his pocket as if he needed to count it, using this distraction as a way to compose himself and offering it to any onlookers as an explanation of why he was standing still. The hesitation proved significant though.

He was just ready to head off when he heard a voice and sensed a presence near him.

'American?'. Ben swivelled to see the origin of the sound, although he already knew.

'No, actually not,' was his very polite reply.

'Oh, ok. Where are you from?, said the voice that Ben could now see was coming from the young lady who had previously been sitting a little way away from him.

'England, he answered briefly, uncertain how much he should enter into discussion with her.

Nice. What you do in Romania? was her next question.

'Just visiting, spluttered Ben in response, starting to feel a little nervous.

'You like to visit Cișmigiu?', said the young lady.

Ben was a bit taken aback at this statement come question, and he wasn’t altogether sure if visiting Cișmigiu was something that he would like or even should do. It was not something he had ever really thought about. It was like he was starting to get drawn into something that was going to be hard to get out of.

'Maybe. What is that actually?', he said trying to clarifying what was being offered.

'It is park. I go in that direction. I show you', she said tantalisingly.

'Ok, thanks', Ben found himself unable to refuse, thinking that she was probably just trying to help out an obvious stranger and that in any case, he was big enough to handle himself.

They left the restaurant. The young lady took the lead, beckoning Ben to follow after her. They exited the underground passage of the Metrou station and headed back down the road that Ben had already explored, but with a more definite purpose, going beyond the point to which Ben had reached. As they went along, Ben enquired of some more details regarding his new found female companion.

'What is your name?'

I am Oana'.

'What do you do?'

'I am student of international relations'.

Ben realised that there were some jokes to made here, but he decided to refrain. Maybe she was just putting into practice what she had been studying, he chuckled to himself, as he thought about the predicament that he was now in.

After a brief walk, they arrived at a park that Oana pronounced to be Cișmigiu. It looked nice from the outside and Ben started moving towards the entrance, expecting Oana to follow. She, however, remained standing. Ben was slightly startled by this role reversal and turned to look at her.

'I go now. At next bus stop, I get high on the bus', was her explanation.

Ben was alarmed by her declaration of intent, but then he thought that judging by her liberal use of English grammar, maybe she hadn’t quite meant what she just said.

'Oh, ok. So you are going home?', he clarified.

'Yes, I go home, I need to study but I give you my telephone number. Maybe we meet tomorrow', she said, opening her bag and taking out an exercise book. She scribbled her number in it and then ripped out the piece of paper with it on and offered it to Ben. He accepted, said goodbye and then watched as she continued her walk up the street leaving him behind.

Image by Enrique Meseguer from Pixabay