Arriving off the plan and in America, Ivan went over to the international check to show them his passport. Yue quickly followed him to do the same. But what puzzled her was the fact that he threw his away right after doing so. Was he not planning to go home one day? The two followed the crowd out past the security area and down the escalator to the bagging area. Yue went over to the conveyor belt to pick up her large suitcase. However it was way to heavy for her to pick up and she nearly toppled over while getting it off. Stumbling into him, Ivan took the bag into his hands for her.
"Oh, thank you." She breathed. "I should really get one with wheels."
"Da, you should." He agreed.
A moment of silence passed between them, where they simply stared into each other's eyes. Yue could feel herself being pulled into his violet irises, like a river of lavender spilling into a pool. Suddenly an image appeared in her head, a polar bear standing in a river hunting for fish. As soon as the vision had come, it had disappeared, and Yue was snapped out of her trance.
"Um, would you like accompany me to the car rentals? I have I car waiting for me. I could help you if you need to be somewhere." Yue offered the tall Russian.
Ivan giggled childishly and gave her a small grin, which held an aura of creepiness. "Глупая девочка, you are to kind." He said almost as a warning. "Of course I will accompany you."
The Chinese woman felt a twitch of doubt from his words. Was this really a good idea to be helping a complete stranger? On the other hand, she felt eased from the kind smile he wore. So she led the way towards the car rentals and checked out her temporary vehicle, a silver Subaru. Ivan helped Yue load the trunk with her luggage and even threw his own backpack in. Getting into the two front seats, they strapped themselves in and Yue drove out of the parking lot.
"So where do you want to go?" Yue questioned the Russian.
"I do not know. I have never been to America." Ivan answered.
"But you speak English." She stated curiously.
"I used to take business trips to England and Canada." He replied, avoiding eye contact by looking out the window. Not like she could look at him either when driving.
"What kind of business trips?" She inquired. Ivan didn't answer her and the air in the car began to become thick with tension and awkwardness. Yue decided against asking any further into the matter.
After a few minutes of quiet, she decided to break it. "Well if you have no where to go, you can come stay with me until you have a place." Yue decided as she pulled up to a red light. Ivan looked back at her in surprise.
"Глупо девочка, you do not know me." He told her with a serious face.
"我知道, but I can trust you." She stated with such certainty it almost seemed to shocked the Russian. Honestly, it shocked her has well. "Can't I?"
Ivan's face immediately softened at the question. "Da. You can." Yue smiled.
Suddenly a honk behind her surprised both of them. Yue noticed the green light and drove forward. Using the installed GPS, she followed the directions down the streets of Seattle and found her way to her new apartment. It was a large red brick building in the more poor side of the city, but it was affordable. Yue parked in the guest area and went to go check herself in at the office and received her key and parking number. Yue also told the manager about the unexpected roommate, but they let it slide saying no extra cost for the first three months. She was apartment number D46 on the fourth floor and parking space 46. First thing she did was park in her spot, then led Ivan up the stairs to 'their' new living area. It was empty, dusty, and had cold wooden floors, but Yue was happy to finally being able to settle in. Ivan set the bags on the side of the living room and looked around the apartment.
"I'm sorry, I didn't expect a roommate, so I rented a one bedroom." Yue apologize and slightly bowed.
"Is fine, I can sleep in the living room. Do you have any furniture?"
"I have a bed and a few pieces that were sent here early a head of time. They should be here in a week."
Ivan nodded and walked into the kitchen. Yue followed him in and saw him looking around the appliances. Well at least she had the basics.
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Ivan thought the same thing. At least they were able to cook until Yue's furniture got here. He didn't expect to suddenly move in with the small Chinese woman he just met, but there was something in him that prevented him from saying no. He had an unexplainable urge to stay within arms reach of her at all times.
Walking back out of the kitchen, Ivan saw Yue adorably struggling to push her suitcase across the floor and into what he assumed was her bedroom. Heading over to her he watched as she opened up her bag to reveal what she was carrying in her ridiculously large bag. Cook ware, utensils, and cook books.
"Why do you have materials for cooking in your bag?" He questioned her, a bit concerned.
Yue turned to look at him with a gleam in her eyes. "Because dinner is more important than anything to me." She answered with a strange air of truthfulness. "My clothes are in my carry on, and my other necessities are in my backpack."
The Russian man didn't know what to think about her logic and decided to let the topic drop. Yue moved her other bags into the room and pulled out a sleeping bag from the bottom of her bag, then set it up on the ground.
"Do you have a blanket or pillow?" She asked him.
"Нет, I am fine without." Ivan admitted the petite girl.
"Absolutely not! We are going to the market to get you a blanket." Yue declared and ran out the room to get her car keys. "Common!" She shouted from the door. Ivan chuckled at the girl's silly antics and followed her out the door. Together they went to the nearest Wal-Mart to pick up various items. She bought him a large blanket and a fluffy pillow, as well as simple things like shampoo and conditioner; toothpaste and a toothbrush, when she learned he didn't have one; soap; and various foods. When I came time to pay, he chipped in, despite her initial refusal. He had converted his Chinese money to American money at the airport and had over $700 US dollars. Ivan knew very well it would not last him very long, but he did not want to be a burden on Yue.
When they arrived back at the small apartment, Yue helped set up a make shift sleeping area in the corner of the living room. As the sun began to set in the background, Yue made both of them some quick cup of noodles. They talked about various things as they ate, what kind of movies they liked and other interests like that. However, Ivan enjoyed it the most as she spoke of her dreams and family.
"I have four siblings, all younger. Two of them are half siblings though. I still love them the same anyway." She said between bites.
"Are your parents divorced then?" He asked.
Yue shook her head. "No. When I was younger my dad slept around a lot and conceived two boys. My mother treats them badly so I stepped in to help raise them."
"That's very kind of you." Ivan mumbled sweetly.
Yue was definitely a strange girl. Naïve and innocent to the type of coldness he's seen and experienced, but he could tell she had a compassionate heart for her family. It reminded him a bit of his older sister Katyusha, who practically raised him and Natalya when their mother died.
"Do you have any siblings?" She imagined.
Ivan's face turned to a slight frown at her question. He guessed she let it drop because she didn't ask further and quickly changed the subject. It would probably be better to keep his life hidden away from her, he didn't want to risk he safety or get her mixed in anything. But why? Why should he care about a girl he had met yesterday, and magically ended up living with today? How did he even let that happen? Ivan wanted to search for answers to all of his questions; but when he looked over at Yue's expressed face as she talked on about food. He felt like he received his answer. Being in her presence was an answer in itself for now.
After maybe an hour or so of talking, Yue left to sleep in preparation for tomorrow. Ivan went outside to stand on her balcony and look over the city. The view wasn't anything grand and the stars weren't that visible, but he felt comfort from the familiar cold that surrounded his neck that seemed to burn in memory.
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Yue sat in her room and stared out the window while sitting on the window sill. Clouds covered the sky and blocked out most of the moonlight, much to her disappointment.
"Aiyaa, what am I doing?" She sighed aloud and scratched her head. She honestly did not understand her own decision to let Ivan stay with her. She trusted him, yes, and he seemed like he wouldn't hurt her even if he was creepy some times. But still. Hasn't she ever heard of stranger danger?
Vocally sighing again, Yue leapt down and crawled into her sleeping bag. She'd need to get up early to get a head start for tomorrow. She'd be going to her uncle's shop to ask for a job, then go and get her required textbooks from her college. Then probably go shopping for the apartment until her stuff came in.
Maybe Ivan could come along with her?
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Let me know if this is going to fast or feels to repeated.
Глупая девочка - Silly girl
Глупо девочка - Foolish girl
Нет - No
我知道 - I know
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