Love Sick (Legături bolnăvicioase)

I met Alex on the first day of college.

She was nothing but a boring voice that kept hammering on

with thousands of questions, requests and nonsense.

I was somehow indifferent to her,

and I had no idea about what was going to happen.

Watch out!

Don't forget to tell mother

to send me some summer clothes by train next week.

I won't.

We'll call you at Mrs. Penes.

It's not Penes, father. It's Mrs. Benes.

If only I could still catch Cristina.

Bucharest is crazy!

-What floor is this? -3rd floor.

It's useless. If they were at home, they'd have answered by now.

I think I hear something.

I wonder if this building is earthquake-proof.

Man, what a climb!

-Hello. Here we are. -Hello, welcome.

-This is my father. He drove me here. -Nice to meet you.

Don't leave them here. Take them straight to the room.

We have two more bags of clothes and some books. That's it.

-Come on in. -And the desk.

Come on in.

There, with the bags.

I'll put it in a corner. It won't bother you.

That eats up a lot of electricity.

My father can take it back home.

God forbid, why take it back? This is a decent house, after all.

Yes, it's very nice.

-Can we put these bags into the room? -Sure. Over there.

God, what was I thinking?

Where can you put the desk? What do you need a desk for?

It's not big. It's just a tiny desk.

Especially now, I have my finals, It's essential.

Who'll help you carry it up? You?

We'll carry it up together.

My little girl is a good girl. She won't cause you any trouble.

I've never rented out a room before.

But the pills I take have ruined me, so I do what I can.

That's life...

Alexandra, my girl.

Back when I used to visit your mother on campus, she had a great place there.

Never mind. I'm just happy to be rid of the cockroaches I had at my dorm.

God, Bucharest is filthy!

Let's just carry the desk up, then go and grab a bite.

Take a look, here's what a doctor at the clinic gave me.

I think he's absolutely useless.

I had a load of tests done, X-rays, the whole lot.

But don't you get them free at your clinic? Tests are expensive.

Can we go downstairs for the desk? Someone might steal it.

Go, sweetie, go! Use the front entrance, there's more room.

I wanted to keep the neighbours from seeing you

because of the rent and all, but what can you do? Nothing!

Nothing.

Up.

-All set? -Hey! I rang at your door.

I'm Cristina, a classmate of Alexandra's.

-You're her father. -Yes.

Let me help you.

-Lighter now? -It is.

-Why didn't you use the elevator? -It's out of order.

Right, they're doing maintenance work. Come!

Up.

It's you again. I have to lock the door,

all kinds of crazies around. Come in.

It's not so cool living on campus.

I've never lived on campus, 'cause I'm from Bucharest,

but it was tough for Alexandra.

We never told you, but your mother would cry all day whenever we visited you.

She said you lived in filth.

Kiki, would you ask Mrs. Benes to make some space for me?

Well, didn't you arrange it?

Auntie Lucretia!

At least this is a decent house.

-Do you need the whole closet? -Just enough for clothes.

Oh, what a mess!

Auntie, please, could you empty the closet?

OK, sweetie. Where can I put it?

And can you make some room on the shelves for her books?

Yeah.

We'll take these old papers and put them in the other room.

"Women's Magazine" and "Flacara" from 1966...

Just attracting moths and ants!

You were lucky that little Cristina recommended you.

You think I'd be renting, if it wasn't for her?

-Will you be leaving today? -I don't want to drive at night.

That's my brother. That's what he always does.

Well, Alexandra, if you don't want me to take back some of your clothes,

I might as well go now.

I'd love to see where you live. I have no family in the countryside.

-Of course, any time... -Kiki!

-What's that guy saying? -Kiki!

Kiki, please!

Tell him I'm not speaking to him.

Tell him yourself. I don't even know him. Why won't you tell him?

Kiki, come out, please! Let's bury the hatchet.

Sandu, beat it! If you come anywhere near me, I'll kill you!

-What is this noise? -Sandu. We're having a fight.

Look how thick the dust is.

Just a moment. I think we should settle up first.

I asked Cristina to tell the girl

that I wanted the rent paid up 6 months in advance.

-Through October. -How's that?

May, June, July, August, September, October.

-Through November. -November, right.

He made me so angry.

Lucky you came.

Hold on. How about I finish up here and then we go for a drink?

No. You go.

Do you mind that I invited myself to your parents' place?

Why? We can go there in the summer.

Ok. We'll talk tomorrow.

Do you want me to pick you up? I'm not coming to the first seminar.

We paid 6 months in advance, so you needn't worry about it.

Will you help me put the books away too?

I'll get an earful from your mom if I'm late.

Come on, I can't do it alone.

You'll be fine.

Man, student life is hard.

But it's nice too!

That's French. Dubois.

Say, this girl... Isn't she a bit odd?

I don't know. I don't think so.

It was the first night I slept over at Alex's place.

I fell asleep, a bit drunk from too much beer,

and I dreamed we were both running in the rain, as if in an obstacle race.

In the morning I woke up and looked at her.

She was sleeping peacefully.

I could smell the scent of sleep on her

and that's when I desired to see her always, every morning.

I'm leaving so I won't spoil your plans.

-Don't start! -Tell me about this Alex guy of yours.

Alexandra is a girl!

Well, I'll just hang around and make sure about that.

Fine! Happy now?

I understand why you're acting like this.

As mom said, such wounds take time to heal.

And what did dad say?

You can be ironic, it won't change my feelings about you.

My feelings have changed.

You won't give up. You want us to fight again?

I want you to leave me alone and be done with this.

If my apology is bothering you...

Try to change. Words are not enough.

If we need to stop seeing each other, then so be it.

That's what you've understood?

Why shouldn't we see each other again?

Because seeing you gives me a bellyache.

And I feel nervous like before an exam. And my skin turns red.

You're ruining my shirt.

I care about this relationship more than anything.

Right now, I'd give up anything for Alex.

You don't know what she's like. She's really special.

I'm not interested in your classmate Alex.

Then how about being interested in what I want?

I don't want you to call me anymore. I want us to stop.

And if you love me, you'll do as I ask.

-So that's what you want. -That's what I want.

Can you promise me that and keep the promise?

If that's what you want, then I'll disappear.

I didn't ask you to disappear. I asked you to stop this.

I got what you said.

But are we prepared to deal with the consequences?

-Hey. -Hey.

I hope I'm not late.

-This is Alex. -Alexandra.

And this is my brother, Sandu.

Where did you call me from? I could barely hear you.

From Kogalniceanu Square. I took a cab.

What did you two order? I'll have a tea.

We're sipping from the cup of bitterness.

-Does anyone want anything? -You sit here. I'll go.

-So you wanted tea. And you, Kiki? -You said you were going back to work.

Your brother's name is Alexandru too?

Why "too"? Is your name Alexandru?

-Come on. Did you two have a fight? -No.

You both seem upset.

-I don't want to make it worse. -No. On the contrary, we made up.

OK.

Here's something I bought you. I hope you like it.

I think they're beautiful.

I saw these earrings and thought of you. I got myself a ring.

What's with the bracelets?

They're nose rings from Papua New Guinea.

-That was mine. -Not anymore.

So? When will I see you again?

-On Sundays. -When?

Sandu.

You're acting tough, aren't you? Can I call you on your birthday?

Bye, Sanda.

That's how you wear it. It's cool.

What does it look like on you? Let's see.

It's cool, but doesn't go with what I'm wearing.

-You didn't like the earrings. -They don't match what I'm wearing.

I really don't feel like going home. Where can we go?

-See a movie? -Nope.

-Let's have a cake instead. Feel like it? -Yes.

-Are you still upset? -Upset with whom?

-You seem a little upset. -I'm not upset. I'm happy you came.