Chapter 7: The Seventh

The second day of the week at the college – Tuesday – starts with the Philosophy of Central Decree. The old teacher after an hour of rumbling about different theories and studies, poses a question.

"Many say that the world chose a path when Eddison made lightbulbs and access to electricity rapidly found its way into many homes. So, many authorities propose to cut the problem from the head – disable it. Electricity. Do you think it's viable?"

"No," someone answers, getting a wave of hesitant laughter from fellow students.

"That's a short answer. Next. Var?" the teacher crosses his hands on the chest, slightly annoyed.

"It's hard to predict."

"Well, yes. It is. Anyone else?" once again, not the answer he wanted.

Other students raise their hands: "But... we wouldn't be here if not for the technical progress and, eventual, space exploration."

"Good point. But since we find ourselves in such a situation... we have to find some solutions."

"But countries on other planets don't bother..." someone interrupts.

"It's their problem. We are living here. Right now," he knocks against the table, trying to indirectly tell – to stop such dissent on his lesson. 

What fulfills his wish – the ringing bell, signaling the end of the lecture. 

After the break begins, students go on with their business: some eat at the canteen; walk around the inner yard; gather in groups to discuss the latest events in their lives; diligent ones are preparing for the next lecture at the library.

Suni is the one, who would rather calmly spend the break, not rushing and be, preferably, on his own or in a small group. 

The small group this time consists of Var only, who has an interesting proposition on his mind. Gathering the courage for such a proposition cost him more nerves than he would like to admit.

"Hey... would you like to..." he starts, a bit stumbling on his words. "... go see a movie today?"

Suni raises his eyebrows. The wind in the inner yard blows the strands of his tied up hair around.

"I mean..." Var continues, "our town's only theatre is closing, so... it's the last screening ever."

"Closing? Movies are evil too?"

"Apparently."

Suni remembers what he observed yesterday – Var doesn't seem like the unpopular type, he was greeting and being greeted by many people, and more than a few approached him throughout the day.

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"Don't you have friends?" Suni comes off rather blunt.

"But aren't you... my friend?"

"That wasn't what I asked."

Var looks lost, trying to collect the words, "Just... it's a romance movie and they aren't into genre, so..."

"You think I am?"

"There might be a chance."

"I don't have a strong opinion on... romance movies."

"Is that... a yes?"

Somehow, directly agreeing to accompany Var to the theatre feels embarrassing – so, instead, Suni just nods.

Var visibly lightens and tries to hide his too-happy, as he thinks, expression, "Good."

Needless to say that Var couldn't wait until the college's schedule would come to an end. To the point of feeling restless. On the way home, he excitedly talks about the movie, their town's theatre and how unfortunate its closing is. And, how glad he is to find someone – Suni – to enjoy the latest screening with, although being shy to admit.

"Let's meet here in an hour," he says lastly at the spot near the lake.

When reached the mansion, Suni in a hurry flees to his room after grabbing some snacks from the kitchen. He doesn't notice either his mother or her lover anywhere. But if the problem of meeting them doesn't occur, Suni finds another concern – the clothes he has don't suit a casual meeting in a public movie theatre. Everything is either too pompous or there to impress someone with how expensive fabric is or how limited the produced quantity of different pieces. It was appropriate for the sphere of influence which he enjoyed, or dreaded, in the city. Even if something fitted to be worn at the private theater among other members of the aristocracy, it wouldn't be here.

The final decision: white blouse, black suit jacket for light weather and simple pants of the same color. He probably won't match with Var together, Suni thinks, while looking at his outfit in the giant full-length mirror.

The prediction turns out to be right, as Var chooses to go in the knit sweater.

"Sorry, I knew you would wear something like this... I wanted to find something similar, but..."

"But...?"

"My mom scolded me and said it would get cold, so..."

Suni chuckles, covering his mouth with a hand. Lightly pinches the sweater's fabric, it's soft. "Cute," he says before turning away and walking from the lake shore.

Var, even considerable time later, would still turn out to be smitten about what was such word – cute – addressed to.

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