Anna was walking tiredly towards the office building. All her morning routine had been messed up. She was angry and wanted to cry. She missed the hot latte, the slow awakening clutching the mug, the ritual of shuffling between the kitchen, the bathroom and the bedroom in a pair of panties. She had not even eaten breakfast because she felt it was embarrassing.
Namely, Ottó had arrived with two large sports bags the night before. Just without any previous consultation or discussion. Two weeks ago, he kept saying that he could not leave that girl because they had too many things in common. And now there are two huge bags in the narrow hallway. Even though the boy had nothing to do, he got up when Anna did, and was everywhere in the thirty-five square metre flat. He rearranged his vitamins, boiled water for his super-healthy breakfast, then went to the toilet and did not come out until she left home. Anna wanted to eat chocolate muesli with fruit yoghurt, which Ottó thought was very irresponsible. The boy who worked as a nurse said that no flavoured yoghurt should be consumed. What is more, no dairy products at all. He had already expressed his disapproval of coffee, as well as tea in bags, Nescafe, and alcohol. Without the latter, however, Anna and Kata would not have been able to collect that fancy set of glasses. They each got six Campari glasses. Ottó must not have any sets at all. He might wonder when the elegant Martini set would finally be collected, too.
However, it started off so exciting.
They were travelling in the same compartment on the train. When Otto sat down opposite the girl, they smiled at each other. The smile turned into a conversation and then into an exchange of phone numbers. The first date was a long time coming, because Otto rarely visited the capital, where Anna lived. Eventually, a family day organised by his workplace became their first date. Anna was surprised by the strange choice of programme, but was happy that this relationship was starting off in a different way than she was used to.
What she liked most about Ottó was his honesty. He spoke openly about his burnt-out relationship and how hard it was for him to break up. He said he had had drug problems earlier and the girl had helped him through the long, difficult process of giving up drugs. The thought of breaking up had never crossed his mind until Anna got on that particular train. But Ottó wanted to make sure that he was making the right decision by leaving his girlfriend and continuing to look for happiness on Anna’s side.
Anna had not had a boyfriend for a long time. Light flirtations and short adventures made her everyday life colourful and varied. She had not felt the need for a permanent relationship until Ottó came along. She liked his seriousness, his thoughtfulness. She was tempted by the image of a different kind of relationship. She began to long for adult life, not only in work but also in living with a man. Most of her friends were already living with their partners, while she never thought of it. She loved the fact that she could date whoever she wanted, and if she felt like it, she could brighten up her busy weekdays with one-night stands.
But two weeks ago, everything changed. Ottó’s cautious approach became passionate from one moment to the next. He no longer wanted anything but Anna. However, a little healthier, with fewer parties and less time spent with friends. This did not bother her, as she knew that he simply wanted to live in line with his profession. In addition, because of the distance, they could have met only at weekends, so it would have been no problem for Anna to go out with her friends on a weekday.
However, Ottó arrived with two sports bags.
He claimed to visit hospitals with his CV.
From now on, he wanted to live in the capital.
With Anna.
Without having discussed it with her first.
She dropped his bag on her table.
– Anna, what has happened to you? – a look of concern appeared on her colleague’s face. – Something’s really wrong, isn’t it? You’re as white as a sheet…
– No, no, nothing serious, it’s just that I think Ottó has moved in with me.
– You panicked – the other whispered sympathetically.
– I don’t know. It’s just that – she had difficulty finding the words –, I don’t know, like I couldn’t breathe properly. I’ve been short of breath since I stepped out the gate of the flat.
– It’s too early, especially if you’re so upset.
– Do you think so?
– Otherwise, I think you’d be on cloud nine.
– I don’t know. I have never moved in with anyone.
– You didn’t do it this time either. Ottó showed up at your flat without asking you. I think you should just tell him that you need more time.
Anna calmed down. Ottó was such a mature, serious boy. Everything could be discussed with him. He had told her so much about the importance of emotional intelligence, honesty and open communication. He had read dozens of books on the soul, on different personality types, on the harmfulness of games. Even this conversation with Ottó would be exciting and uplifting.
She had no idea that Ottó had been staying with his previous girlfriend. Nor that he had to move out of the flat because he refused to contribute to the costs. And it was never revealed that he had been out of work for a while. The boy hoped it would be easier to find something in the capital. And if not, the enthusiastic Anna would not notice that he was not so keen to get a job.
Ottó was an impatient, impulsive boy. He had no idea that with Anna who wanted a serious relationship, he would have been happy if he had waited a little. It would have taken only a few weeks for her to give in. Instead, he angrily slammed the door behind himself and rushed into the uncertainty.