«Interesting,» Lana thought. «Is it true or not?»
David noticed her gaze, and it confused the professor. He tried to take control of the situation and addressed her: «What’s the matter? Doesn’t the demonstration excite you? What would you prefer to hear?»
«A love story…» Lana drawled significantly. Everybody laughed, and David felt his cheeks blush. But Marina turned to the auditorium, looked at the students, and their laughing faded. Her freezing glare made their blood curdle, as if a real Russian killing frost enveloped them.
«Then you’re taking the wrong course.» David forced himself to speak with a calm voice. «It’s chemistry, not literature.»
«Professor,» the girl said and grinned. «Tell us how you found your true love?»
«We were studying in the same graduate school, and after our graduation we got married,» David answered hoping to finish this crazy talk.
«How many times did you fall in love with a student?» Lana Limpson asked impudently, and whispering ran over the hall. All the students stared at the professor, and he could not find words to answer.
«I recommend you save your curiosity and attention for the next test. You’ll need it,» Marina told Lana, and other students laughed. The tension abated and the demonstration returned to its normal course.
But this dialog revived memories in Vlad’s heart, and he thought about his first demonstration, because that day changed his whole life.
Studying in the Moscow University, Vlad Lapin was the best student, and he was the first to prepare and show a demonstration all by himself. Bashful, Lapin tried to fight his shyness. So, while telling his report, Vlad forced himself to look at the other students.
His eyes met the gaze of a girl whom he had seen every day during the months gone by, due to the fact that they studied in the same group. However, only at that moment did Vlad suddenly notice how different she looked from her schoolmates.
Most of them were blonde and slim, but this sturdy girl had black curly hair. Doe-eyed, she stared at Vlad with seeable delight, and her brown eyes, framed with long eyelashes, displayed all her feelings and the slightest nuance of her emotions.
Her sincerely rapt glare flattered Vlad, and he sensed such enthusiasm as never before.
«Any questions?» the professor asked the students when Vlad had finished. The brunette timidly raised her hand. Her query showed she did not understand a thing, and everybody, except Vlad, laughed.
«Is she mocking me or what?» he thought gazing at the girl. She blushed and cringed confusedly glancing around, and Vlad felt pity to her. He calmly answered, summarizing his report.