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Don’t Fall in Love with an Aquarius: Don’t Trust a Libra. Volume 1
Don’t Fall in Love with an Aquarius: Don’t Trust a Libra
Volume 1
Anastasiia Deniz Mitchell
© Anastasiia Deniz Mitchell, 2022
ISBN 978-5-0059-2947-1
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
Volume 1
All the characters of this book and the correspondence included in the plot are fictional.
Any resemblance to a coincidence is accidental.
This is a story of two people whose fate leads them to a possible encounter. After a few years of penpalling, they decide it is high time for them to meet in person. However, is it so simple? Nevertheless, let me note that none of them has admitted so far that they have wanted it very much, and that each of them has been steady in the purpose under quite a different pretext.
My name’s Aziza, and I’m from Kazan, Russia. The city near Moscow. I don’t know what you consider by the word «near’, though. Eight hundred and twenty-two kilometers. Twelve hours to get to either side by car.
It’s not a memoir. It’s much more. It’s about a person whom I value more than anyone else from my friend list.
You’d think I’m mad. I don’t think I actually am.
What happened during the story turned my life upside down and made me realize all my mistakes.
His name is Emre. We met online, on Facebook¹. By the way, I wrote him first. I was looking for someone who’d help me learn Greek. I love the language. He indicated that he lived in Athens.
1. Facebook is a social network officially forbidden in Russia since January 2022.
So, I wrote him.
28 August 2017
Me: Hello! My name’s Aziza. I’m from Kazan, Russia. Could you help me with learning your native language, please? I adore Greek, so it’d be really kind of you if you didn’t refuse to aid me! Thanks in advance!
Emre: Hello, Aziza! Nice to meet you! Of course, I would love to help you! But I’m afraid I’m not a native Greek, and haven’t actually been there!
Me: Wow! Where are you from, then?
Emre: I’m from Ankara, Turkey.
Turkey? At least, I will get to know someone from Turkey!
I’ve travelled to Turkey with my family many times, but there was no one to get acquainted with.
Me: Wow! Indeed? That’s great to hear!
Emre: Right! Summer is almost over. So, what’re you going to do?
Me: Well, I’ll go to university.
Emre: Wow! Me too!
Me: Where at?
Emre: In Ankara. I’m a mechanical engineer.
Me: As for me, I’m an English student! Here, in Kazan.
Emre: Wow! Good! And I’m studying English. Just studying.
Me: Amazing! In our country, people don’t know English really well.
Emre: Haha, I see.
Me: Okay, I must go now. Let’s talk later. Bye!
I needed to help my mum. I had no dad. They got divorced when I was three years old. I was going to be a fourth-year student. In Russia, English students have to do a five-year undergraduate course to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree.
8 September 2017
Emre: Hey! Where are you?
Me: Sorry for the late reply! I’ve been rather busy these days! What are you doing?
The first days at university were really tough. A lot of homework. Demanding teachers. And all that jazz.
Emre: I’m watching an anime. How was your day? What did you do today?
Me: Well, I’ve finished doing my homework. Also, today, I went for a walk.
Emre: I’ve got an idea. Why don’t you take a photo of a street in Kazan? I’d like to see what streets in Russia look like.
Me: Ah, haha, okay. I’ll take a selfie tomorrow.
Emre: You don’t need to take a selfie. Just a photo of any street.
Me: Ah, okay. No worries.
Emre: But if you want to send a selfie, it’ll be good for me. Haha. I will see you.
Me: Haha. Right.
Emre: Have you ever heard of «Owari No’?
Me: No. What’s this?
Emre: It’s an anime.
Me: Ah, I see. Not yet.
Emre: I can guess you don’t have enough time, but I think you should watch it. But, actually, I know a few animes much better than this.
Me: I hope so.
Emre: Thank you.
Me: Welcome.
Emre: Good night.
9 September 2017
Emre: Oh, the correct phrase is «good afternoon’!
Me: Good afternoon is a time period between 12 am and 10 pm. Lol.
Emre: Oke.
Me: How’s your life?
Emre: What does it mean?
Me: It means «how are you’.
Emre: Oh. I’m fine. But a little but bored. But again, I’m fine. And you?
Me: Why bored?
Emre: Because I’m just sitting. Haha. And you? I don’t have any classes today…
Me: As for me, I had a class today.
Emre: Really? Oh my gosh…
Me: Yup. French grammar.
Emre: Wait, today’s the weekend!
Me: Yup. But not Sunday. Lol.
Emre: Wow! Bonjour, matmazel!
Me: Mademoiselle.
Emre: Oke. My French is over. Haha.
Me: Have you studied it before?
Emre: No, I just watched some movie… I ate a pepper. And it’s too hot. Omg.
Me: Poor you. It’s +18 Celsius here. What’s the temperature over there?
Emre: Oh, you’ve misunderstood.
Me: Seems like this. Haha.
Emre: Sorry. I had eaten a pepper, and I realized it was a cayenne pepper… So…
Me: Never mind… Omg.
Emre: It’s oke now.
Me: Hope you feel better now.
Emre: Yup. I’ve drunk some water.
Me: Go on. Haha.
Emre: What about you? How do you feel today? Are you great or just well?
Me: I feel good because it’s wonderful here. Now. Haha.
Emre: I’m glad for you. Which city do you live in?
Me: It’s Kazan.
Emre: Oh, I understand. Thank you. I forgot to say this.
Me: Welcome. Haha.
Emre: Tbh1, you look so funny. Because you always say «haha’. Do you really laugh when saying this?
Me: Yes. Why not? Haha.
Emre: Are you kidding me? Haha.
Me: Not really!
Emre: Oke, oke. If your birthday is tomorrow, what do you want as a present?
Me: No. It’s on October 1. Haha.
Emre: I said «if’. Did I use it the wrong way?
Me: No. All right. Haha.
Emre: Oke, what’s your answer? Haha.
Me: Haha. Well, Idk2. Maybe, a party with my friends. Maybe, just a gift. No matter which one.
Emre: Maybe, both of them. Oke. Do you have to go to bed in 5—8 minutes?
Me: Yes. So, you’re right. Haha. See you tomorrow.
Emre: Oke. Oyasumi.
Me: What’s this?
Emre: A Japanese word. Or do you prefer «slatkikh snov’3?
Me: Haha. Both of them are appropriate.
10 September 2017
Emre: Hey you! Do you want to see a Kurdish wedding?
Me: Haha, why not?
Emre: I’m trying to send it, but I can’t.
Me: Okay. No worries! How’re you today?
Emre: Trying to decide what subject to choose. And you?
Me: Homework again.
Emre: Are you kidding?
Me: Not at all! Mass media English is a difficult one.
Emre: Oke. Do your best. I trust you.
Me: Haha. Thanks. And what subject have you chosen so far?
Emre: Oh, it’s too complicated. But I want to improve my manufacturing skills.
Me: I see. And what stops you from choosing this one?
Emre: I have to choose a 10-hour class. Now, I’ve choice a 5-hour lesson.
Me: Choose.
Emre: Ooops.
Me: So, you’ve got to choose another 5 hours.
Emre: I’ve got to use «yup’. Haha.
Me: Haha. Which subjects do you prefer most?
Emre: Well, maybe, manufacturing, or, well, some technical lessons. Like robotics.
Me: Oh, nice!
Emre: And project management.
Me: As for me, I like English in mass media and English grammar. And also French.
Emre: I don’t understand your last sentence. What do you want to say?
Me: I mean, I like French most. And all the aforementioned ones.
Emre: Oke. And why do you like French?
Me: It’s a beautiful language, you see…
Emre: No, because I don’t know France very well… Just some words. Because of that, I can’t comment on this subject.
Me: Knowing English is good as well.
Emre: Haha.
Me: I’m just sharing my opinion. Haha.
Emre: Oke. I think Japanese is the most beautiful language in the world. Haha. Oke. You see, I don’t know English. Haha.
Me: You know. Definitely.
Emre: I have to have an advice level. Haha. But I’m not good. I have made many mistakes.
Me: Advanced.
Emre: You see…
Me: That’s ok if English isn’t your majoring. Yup.
Emre: One native language – one personality. I don’t like phrasal verbs. You have to memorize all of them.
Me: Neither do I, actually.
11 September 2017
Today, I sent Emre a few pictures of Kazan streets. I picked up the best ones.
Emre: Omg. I think you should take a selfie.
Me: I will! For sure! I forget all the time. Haha.
Emre: Anyway, I have to ask this. I can’t send you a «good morning’ message. I want to say you «dobroe utro’4. I imagined this – you will think like «Who have sent me this message?», and then, I will see my message. So, if you don’t tell me your real contact information, I promise I’ll just send you a «good morning’ message, or a «good night’ one. Did I lose my chance?
Me: Not at all! You can always use your chance! And, by the way, this is my real page!
By the way, why did Emre always suspect me of something like scamming? I’m just a usual girl! I wanted to sort through everything and help him if needed.
Emre: Oh, I know. I talked about applications like Whatsapp…
Me: Ah haha. Unfortunately, I don’t have any of them.
I didn’t indeed. Because I didn’t have time. And storage on my phone either.
Emre: Oh. May you try to install?
Me: I’ll try. Haha. Ok. How was your day?
Emre: It was good. So, did you install Whatsapp?
Me: Oh, not yet. I’m busy, sorry.
Emre: Oke. Sorry. Are you doing your homework?
Me: Evet.5 Haha. And you?
Emre: I’m watching anime. Hey, you didn’t tell me you know Turkish!
Me: Haha. Only some words.
Emre: Give me an example.
Me: Merhaba. Durumu. Evet.6
Emre: When do you use «durumu’?
Me: It means «weather’, right?
Emre: Haha. Right.
Me: I must go now, see you tomorrow.
Emre: Bye-bye!
Frankly speaking, I started being curious why Emre didn’t trust anybody online until he saw a selfie of a person. Was there some kind of problem..?
13 September 2017
Me: How was your day?
Emre: Not quite good.
Me: What has happened?
Emre: My university has changed the program.
Me: Oh, my…
Emre: And how was your day?
Me: The things aren’t so bad, actually. These are just programs. Nothing else.
Emre: But I’ve made lots of plans! For my free time. So, I don’t know…
Me: Well, it happens. You live, you breathe. You haven’t died yet. So, everything’s fine!
Emre: Haha. Thanks for your support!
Me: You’re welcome. Haha.
Emre: What’re you doing now?
Me: Just reading up some grammar material. Haha. And you?
Emre: You should take a photo for me. Well, I’m sitting. And reading a manga.
Me: Do you like it so far?
Emre: What? Manga?
Me: Evet. Haha.
Emre: If you want to learn Turkish, I can try to teach you. I’ll do my best.
Me: Thank you. Haha.
Emre: It’d be fine. My aim is just to make a some practice.
Me: Some. Without «a’.
Emre: Thank you. You’re a good teacher.
Me: You’re very welcome. Haha.
Emre: But I don’t understand where I made a mistake.
Me: Don’t out an «a’ before «some’. It’s a mistake.
Emre: Oh. Yup. Have you got any hobbies?
Me: Well, I like reading, walking, riding a bicycle, and travelling, of course! What about yours?
Emre: Wow! I don’t have any hobbies, but I like some kind of action! Haha. Dancing. Playing the piano. Reading manga and watching anime.
Me: Wow! Do you play the piano?
Emre: I’m not good. But – yup.
Me: Did you attend the music school?
Emre: No.
Me: I did!
Emre: Really? I was a dancer from our Ministry of Culture. We had some music lessons. So, I learnt it there.
Me: Wow! A teacher taught you?
Emre: Yup.
Me: Glad to hear this!
30 September 2017
Emre: Hello!
Me: Oh, hi! I haven’t heard anything from you for ages! How’s your life?
Emre: In fact, I didn’t understand what you said. My life’s good, but I don’t know what’ll happen in the future. I’m watching a movie. And how’re you? How’s your life?
Me: Oh, I see. I’m fine, thank you too!
1 October 2017
Emre: Hey! It’s your birthday today!
Me: Oh, thank you very much! How are you today?
Emre: Not bad. And you?
Me: I feel good, of course! It’s my birthday! What are you doing?
Emre: Just lying. And, maybe, I’ll sleep. Earlier today.
Me: You’ll have an early night, then!
Emre: Let me guess – you’re doing your homework.
Me: Absolutely! You nailed it! And what are you doing?
Emre: I’ve just told you. Lol.
Me: Ah, I see. Haha.
10 October 2017
Me: Hey! How’s your life?
Emre: Boring. And have you got any news? Have you finally finished doing your homework?
Me: Yes, of course! Haha. Why boring?
Emre: Because nowadays, I have nothing to do. I live alone, so that I have a lot of time to think. And my semester begins, I didn’t have to study until now.
Me: Oh, my.
Emre: Yup.
12 October 2017
Emre: Hey, don’t you think we can start practicing speaking?
Me: Why not? I’m available!
Emre: However, I have to find courage. Haha.
Me: Haha. For what?
Emre: For speaking.
Me: Haha. You have nothing to be afraid of. It’s just a little bit of practice!
Emre: Yup, but you should find a topic to discuss. Because my mind’ll be gone. Probably, I’ll speak without thinking. Haha.
Me: If you don’t think of anything, just speak. It’ll be fine. So, what were you doing today?
Emre: Oke, maybe, just voice would be good. Won’t it? Haha.
Me: Why not? Good voice is the key word for singing.
Emre: I didn’t understand. I talked about voice messages.
Me: Ah, I see.
Emre: I’m shy, in fact.
Me: Haha. Let’s chat in typing, then.
Emre: I’m shy, in fact.
Me: But why are you shy of your voice?
Emre: No, no. Just a minute, and I’ll call you.
Me: I’m afraid I’m going to bed now. So, let’s just exchange messages. Okay?
Emre: Oke.
Me: Now, time for me to go to bed. See u 2morrow. Bye!
Emre: Oke. Bye. Take care.
21 October 2017
Emre: Hey, how are you?
Me: Hi! I’m fine, thanks! And what about you?
Emre: I’m fine, but I have to translate something into English. I’m not good at it, though.
Me: You will! I see. You will be good even at translation! As for me, I’m relaxing at the moment.
Emre: Thanks! How was your day?
Me: Oh, quite well. I’ve seen the first snow today. And yours?
Emre: Oh, the first snow sounds cold.
Me: Exactly!
Emre: Today, I’ve visited my great-grandma.
Me: Wow! And how did she accept you? What’s your impression?
Emre: It was quite okay.
Me: Did she give you anything yummy?
Emre: No.
Me: Oh why?
Emre: She doesn’t like giving anything.
Me: That’s pity! My grandma was very-very generous!
Emre: You’re lucky! But I’m talking about my great-grandmother.
Me: That’s right!
24 October 2017
Emre: Hey! How was your day?
Me: Fine, thanks for asking! What about yours?
Emre: Great! Today, I had a language exam.
Me: Wow! In what language?
Emre: In English. Last year, I joined it too, but I didn’t pass. This year, I’ll get 85 out of 100. Because I have to.
Me: You will! I believe in you!
Emre: Oh, thank you. Anyway, if I pass the exam, can you teach me some basic Russian? I studied it, but soon, I forgot nearly all the words…
Me: Haha. I will!
Emre: Oh, thank you! You’re the best! You are my best friend I’ve met here, on Facebook.
Me: Oh, 10q very much! 10q = thank you. So are you – one of my best friends!
Emre: I didn’t understand your last sentence. What do you mean?
Me: I mean, you’re one of the best friends too.
Emre: Oh, 10q. you’ve taught me this. Haha.
27 November 2017
Emre: Hey, I haven’t been available for a long time! How are you? Any news?
Me: Hey! I’m fine, thank you! And what about you?
Emre: I’m fine too. And you’re writing to me earlier than I expected!
Me: Haha, yes! What’re you doing?
Emre: I’m going home. And I’ll watch an anime.
Me: Haha, as for me, I’m doing my homework.
Emre: Oh, my gosh. Do u spend your whole life doing homework?
Me: Not at all!
13 December 2017
Emre: How’s it going in Russia?
Me: Plus 5!
Emre: Wow, it’s good! Here, it’s minus 3 today… What’ll you do on Christmas?
Me: Just stay with my family.
Emre: Wow, could you take a picture?
Me: Tomorrow – yes, because now it’s dark outside.
Emre: Anyway, my family has a house by the university I study at. So, I prefer to stay there alone.
Me: Wow! It’s amazing! Because they must love you a lot.
Emre: No, no! It’s because they can’t pay a dorm or a hotel room! Or they just don’t want to. Haha. By the way, can you teach me some Russian words and phrases you usually use in your daily life?
Me: Why not? «Da’ means «yes’. «Net’ means «no’. And, finally, «Kak dela?» is «How’re you?»
Emre: Horosho!7 Very good! Come on, it’s too basic!
Me: «U menya tozhe’ means «Me too’.
Emre: Dobroe utro. Good morning! How can I say «you are welcome’?
Me: «Pozhaluista’.
Emre: I was in Moscow and Moldova when I was a high-school student. Anyway, what do you think about my writing skills?
Me: They’re good.
Emre: Which ones should I improve? Have you got any advice for me?
Me: Well, just practice, read more books in English, and watch more films. In English too.
Emre: I will try.
Me: And you’ll manage it. I believe in you!
Emre: Thank you! Tbh8, it’s not easy to find someone to practice because I’m a boy.
Me: Why? Is this a reason?
Emre: Generally, boys don’t wanna talk to me. Girls don’t wanna talk to me because some of them think I want to flirt with them.
Me: I can see that you don’t want to flirt. I’ve come across many kinds of people, and I can say if a person is flirting or not. So, you just want to practice.
Emre: Yup.
Me: But why don’t boys want to talk to you?
Emre: Idk. Some people are prejudiced against me. Because boys wanna flirt with girls! I think it’s a paradox. Lol.
Me: It isn’t, but it’s strange that boys don’t want to talk to you. Because it’s just practice.
Emre: It’s quite another perspective. People like the ones interested in him or her. I dunno, I think their ideas are strange. Anyway, what will you do when you graduate?
Me: Will be searching for my place in life. Wbu?
Emre: Come on! It’s a general answer! Don’t you have any specific idea? For example, I’ll go to Japan to do my Master’s Degree.
Me: I want to become a translator. Haha. Wow! You’ll do it.
Emre: I didn’t expect this answer. (Sarcasm).
Me: Haha. Are you going to learn Japanese?
Emre: Yup. If you have a question, I’ll do my best.
Me: Haha. And when are you going to start?
Emre: I have to get a scholarship, but Turkey doesn’t have enough of them. First of all, I’ll apply for Erasmus.
Me: That’s not a problem. You can easily apply for a scholarship right there, in Japan.
Emre: Yup. I think so.
Me: How many years left do you have?
Emre: A year. But Erasmus will be longer than expected.
Me: As for me, I’ve got to study another 1.5 years. Don’t give up. Follow your dream.
Emre: I’ll do my best. To be honest, I’m a little bit embarrassed about all this because you do many things, but I don’t do anything. If I can do something for you, tell me, please. I’ll do my best for my friend and teacher.
Me: Okay. Could you tell me about life in Turkey? Its customs? Habits?
Emre: What? What do you want to know about? Habits?
Me: Yes. Haha.
Emre: Bad ones or good ones?
Me: Everything. I want to know more about it. Because I know just a minimum.
Emre: First of all, I’ve never smoked. I don’t like to stay somewhere if someone has smoked there before. It’s not for me.
What? A non-smoker? This boy doesn’t smoke? Emre, you’re a rarity!
Me: But what’s life in Turkey like?
Emre: There are many people. I’ve lived in the capital of our country, Ankara, and Istanbul. Actually, most people care about money. As for the girls, most of the population here doesn’t accept working women.
Me: Oh, why so?
Emre: For example, if a driver drives poorly, they’ll probably say, «Maybe, it’s a woman who’s driving now.»
Me: How impolite of them!
Emre: But, in fact, women are more successful than men.
Me: I see.
Emre: And if a girl commits a sin, her parents won’t accept her back. So, she doesn’t know what to do because her parents don’t want to know her.
Me: And why so?
Emre: Because many families are rather conservative. It’s the East, you know. You can also marry when you turn 14. Oke, see you tomorrow.
Me: See you!
14 December 2017
Me: Merhaba!
Emre: Privet9.
Me: Privet!
Emre: Perhaps, I should say something. Yesterday, I told you many bad things about Turkey.
Me: That’s okay, actually. There’re many bad things in Russia as well.
Emre: In Turkey, there are also lots of kind people. And other things.
Me: I know.
Emre: I just wanna say it.
Me: Turkey is a marvelous country.
Emre: Yup. I think so, but sometimes, I don’t wanna live in Turkey because of the Turkish people who aren’t that open-minded.
Me: I know. I want to know about young girls and boys most. How do they behave in different situations? It’s all interesting! And then, I might tell you about Russia.
Emre: Yup, you can. Tbh, I wonder… Well, you don’t have to be kind to me. We’re online friends, and you’re like my teacher.
Me: I like to be kind to anyone! Because it’s the guarantee of friendliness.
Emre: Thank you, it’s oke. I understand.
Me: So, people in Russia always grudge about something.
Emre: Why?
Me: I don’t know. And sometimes, the temperature falls down to minus 30 degrees!
Emre: Same here.
Me: Really?
Emre: Yup. Last time, I felt cold to the core! So, what will you do on Christmas? In Turkey, we don’t celebrate it.
Me: Here, people celebrate New Year on January 1st. And Christmas – on January 7th. So, now, you know such facts about Christmas here.
Emre: Yup.
