Since that afternoon trip, Nadine had begun to realize that running into Rafka at the boarding house no longer felt strange.
They weren't close yet. At least, they hadn't reached that point. But now they exchanged brief greetings when they crossed paths, small nods when they met in the yard, or simply looked at each other before going back to whatever they were doing.
For Nadine, that was already a big change from before.
That morning, Nadine got ready to go out again. This time, she was headed to the market, which wasn't far from the boarding house. She stepped out of her room with a shopping bag in hand. She had only taken a few steps toward the stairs when she heard someone's voice behind her.
“Where are you going?”
Nadine turned around.
Rafka stood in the doorway of his room.
“The market.”
Rafka nodded.
“I’m going there too.”
Nadine raised an eyebrow.
“Seriously?”
“Yeah.”
“And?”
“We can go together.”
Nadine looked at him for a moment.
The invitation sounded simple enough. Still, one thing about it made her a little curious.
“What are you going to buy?”
“Not sure yet.”
Nadine frowned.
“You’re going to the market without knowing what you want to buy?”
“That’s why I’m coming with you.”
Nadine let out a small laugh.
“That makes no sense.”
“Does it have to make sense?”
Nadine didn't answer.
She only shook her head before continuing down the stairs.
“Whatever.”
Rafka followed.
They left the boarding house together. They didn't have any particular conversation along the way. Every now and then, Rafka asked her something, and Nadine gave a brief answer. Oddly enough, things between them didn't feel as awkward as Nadine had imagined they would.
When they arrived at the market, Nadine went straight to the section selling cooking ingredients. Rafka followed without asking many questions.
Nadine picked up several things she needed, then checked them one by one before putting them into her shopping bag.
Rafka watched from beside her.
“Do you come here often?”
“Pretty often.”
“By yourself?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you cook every day?”
“Not every day.”
Nadine went back to choosing ingredients.
“Only sometimes.”
Rafka nodded. His gaze shifted from the things Nadine had picked out to the vegetable section beside them.
“How come you’re not buying any vegetables?”
Nadine’s hand stopped.
She turned to him.
“I don’t like vegetables.”
Rafka looked a little surprised.
“Seriously?”
“Yeah.”
“Why? Vegetables are good.”
“I just don’t like them. They’re weird to me.”
Rafka laughed at Nadine’s answer.
“So what do you eat when you cook?”
“Food without vegetables.”
Rafka chuckled.
“That explains it.”
Nadine frowned.
“Explains what?”
“Nothing.”
Nadine stared at him for a few seconds, but eventually chose to continue shopping.
Rafka didn't ask anything else.
They walked from one vendor to the next. Every now and then, they stopped just to talk about something that wasn't particularly important.
After they finished shopping, they walked out of the market. Nadine carried several shopping bags in both hands.
“Let me carry one.”
Rafka took one of the bags from her.
“You don't have to. I can handle it.”
“I know.”
“Then why did you take it?”
“Because I want to help.”
Nadine fell silent.
She could still carry everything herself. But after thinking for a moment, she let Rafka carry one of the bags.
They walked side by side toward the parking area. There was nothing particularly special about that morning. They had simply gone to the market, bought a few things they needed, and then walked home together.
Still, Nadine didn't know when talking to Rafka had started to feel so easy. Just a few days earlier, they hadn't even greeted each other.
Maybe it was because they were starting to get used to each other.
Or maybe, without realizing it, Rafka was slowly becoming part of her little routine.
Nadine didn't know yet.
And maybe, for the time being, she didn't need to know.