Urochishe-Murmansk, Russia

Aurora Village is forty-five km away from the apartment where we stayed previously which is in the center of Murmansk, in a village called Urochishe, still in the Murmansk region.

It took approximately forty minutes to reach the location because the road conditions were covered in heavy snow.

"Do you know what myths/superstitions that are believed in Russia?" Joseph said loudly opening the conversation.

"I know and I've experienced it before. On my first day in St. Petersburg, a woman screamed and hit me while I was sitting on a cold rock in front of a canal." I said in a funny tone.

The weather was cold, and the car heater wasn't able to warm us enough.

"Why?" asked Yura with a confused face.

"It will make me barren."

"I also know, in Russia, that you are prohibited from whistling indoors, it will make you unlucky all day long," added Olga. The atmosphere in the car became a little noisy with laughter, each one fighting to talk about superstitions.

"Spit three times on the shoulder's of someone, before starting an activity, or before traveling," said Valter.

"But why? "

"That said, it can make the little devil on your shoulder, go away immediately. And be protected from bad luck," replied Valter.

"Doesn't the devil get angrier if he is spat on?" Joseph said, greeted by laughter from the car.

"If you leave the house and have to come back because you forgot something when you leave the house for the second time, you have to look in the mirror while sticking out your tongue," added Valter again.

"Why stick out your tongue?"

"It saves you from bad luck," he continued, followed by laughter from the whole car. The stories of superstition are quite interesting, some of which can be logically connected, and some of which are completely unrelated.

From a distance, we saw the expanse of snowfields, all in white, the car that brought us closer to the edge of the lake, on which was a wooden deck. Above the wooden deck, there were ten semicircular buildings, the walls of which were made of whole glass framed by triangles to the ceiling. It was a modern igloo where we stayed the night.

The location of Aurora Village is far from the settlement on the edge of a lake in a snowfield, I feel like being 'Elsa' in the animation Frozen. The remote and dark location of the Aurora Village makes it easy for us to see the Aurora without having to hunt elsewhere.

This time I shared a room with Mia, Yura with Olga, Liana with Joseph, and Valter by himself. Which means I can share and share as much with Mia. Mia is older than me, this year she turns twenty-eight years old, more experience, of course, also wiser in my opinion.

The weather outside the car again made me shiver with cold, I took a sip of Vodka which I held the bottleneck tightly. It is the only item capable of dispelling the cold quickly if there is no heating or fireplace nearby.

I was just trying not to look too fragile in the cold weather, I had prepared myself so well that I was wearing layers of clothes but still I couldn't help it...

Cold...

Brrr ...

Very different from my six other friends, who seemed more ready for the cold. Am I just a little tacky? hey

OOOOUUUCHHHHHH... Ow... Owwwwwwwwwhhhh...

I slipped backward on the slippery rock that froze as I walked towards the deck, if only Valter hadn't caught up, I might have ended up in the hospital.

"AARGHHHH!"

"Are you okay?" Without Valter while holding and catching me from behind.

"Oops, almost. Be careful stepping Jade, the road is very slippery" shouted Mia from the direction of the car, who also heard and witnessed the small accident.

"Yes, I think I'm fine," I replied with shock mixed with fear.

"Slow down, Jade." whispered Valter.

Ignoring my answer, Valter immediately caught my body and carried me to the front door of the Igloo room. His tall stature made me feel like a child being carried by his father.

"I love it," I said, scanning the room in the igloo where we would spend the night with the Aurora over our heads. There are two beds in the igloo, with thick fleece duvets that make them very nice and warm.

There are a pair of tables and chairs, an air heater, a fireplace, and curtains that can be opened and closed to the ceiling of the room. The bathroom inside is also equipped with warm water, warm wood floors with feather rugs everywhere.

In the corner of the room, there is a small foldable wooden staircase leading to a small room at the top that can be used for sleeping or just to enjoy the view.

"How about your leg, Jade. Are you all right." Mia asked, laying down on the bed.

"Well, it looks like nothing is wrong. Just a little shocked. Luckily Valter caught me from behind." I replied, I sat on the bed while watching Mia who was engrossed in typing words on the notebook while lying on the bed.

"Looks like he likes you," Mia whispered softly.

"What? That sounds absurd," I said with a laugh.

"I know him well, he's just shy and cold but it's true, he likes you," she replied making her eyes look bigger, trying to convince me.

"Is he your best friend?" I investigated with a face full of question marks.

"I've known him since I was little, Jade. His parents helped my family a lot, and they are kindhearted. Think... because I can make sure he likes you." Mia explained with certainty.

"What should I do next," I asked quietly.

"As I said before, you have to be ready to consider your answer. His time will soon come and he is good enough for a man" Mia replied definitely.

I was quite surprised by Mia's confession because everything seemed impossible, not even a single Valter's behavior showed his concern, or tried to seduce me. Am I the least sensitive?

Valter Manuel Hallstein, a German national man, is thirty years old with a height of one hundred and ninety-three centimeters, with blue eyes and typical German blonde hair. Typical of a man who is firm, disciplined, with a flat and cold expression, who rarely smiles.

The sound of the door banging stopped me from daydreaming about Valter.

Knock... Knock...

I rushed to the door, Olga and Yura were seen standing at the entrance.

"Guys, come on out, I'm building a fireplace," Olga said half shouting.

"We'll join in soon, I'll be soaking in Jakuzzi enjoying the fresh air outside," Mia said from the room.

"Are you coming, Jade? Soaking will keep you warm and refreshed."

"Very well," I replied. Mia is the oldest figure among us, she is the one who organizes and coordinates our trip.

I admire her.

The warmth of the hot water inside the jacuzzi, while looking at the white snow in the Murmansk region is an extraordinary life experience for me, it appears that the sun is peeking between the igloos, but not hot enough to melt the snow in a place that is almost near the poles.

Olga, Yura, and Valter were not far from where we were soaking, they stood by the fireplace while exchanging stories and enjoying the atmosphere.

"Can I join in?" Asked Valter then, handing me two bottles of beer for me and Mia.

"Of course." Welcome, Mia.

"Anyway, I'll be finished soon, my novel is waiting for me in the room before dinner arrives. It would be nice for you to accompany Jade to chat," she added. I can't get Mia to stay, but there's no reason for me to refuse Valter from joining Jakuzzi.

"How are you, Jade. Are you all right?" Valter asked later, sitting inside Jakuzzi with me.

"Well, I feel better, just a little shocked. By The Way, thanks for helping me, I can't imagine without you then." I answered a little stiff, not as my usual self.

"Your welcome Jade, I'm glad to be able to help you," added Valter as he continued to look at me.

I met Valter's gaze and stared deep into his eyes. Mia is right, there's no mistaking it, this man in front of me likes me, I can feel it from seeing clearly in his eyes.

I kept looking back at Valter, I'm not the same girl I was yesterday, an innocent girl, resigned, who can only say yes when someone offers me anything. nor am I a cowardly girl who runs away from commitments and leaves a man with a million hopes.

[I'm sorry, Deniz. ]

That girl is no longer there, I am moving towards a better version of me, which is able to take responsibility for all risks and choices, knows exactly what I want, also struggles for my happiness.

"What are your next plans after Russia, Jade?" Asked Valter.

"Actually I don't want to go home, maybe I'll go to Italy, or to Germany with Yura and Mia," I answered innocently.

"Why don't you come with me to Finland. You are already very far from home, you should feel every city in Europe, and Finland is the closest country from here." Valter explained as he stood out of Jakuzzi, holding out his hand, intending to help me stand out.

"I'll think about your offer," I said, showing my best smile and stood up holding Valter's hand.

There is nothing more beautiful when you go to close your eyes at night, with natural lights dancing in the sky. It is a peaceful night when sleeping on the mother's lap listening to bedtime stories.

I now understood that a beautiful night belongs not only to the star-studded night but also to the aurora-studded night that danced beautifully in the sky.

☃️☃️☃️