Gamer - страница 4

I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“My parents are getting divorced…” I turned away, but it was too late to hide the tears.

Inna put her arms around me. I buried my face in her shoulder and, for a while, all I could do was sob. When it eased a little, I pulled back and wiped my face. Inna began fanning my wet cheeks with her hands, as if that could hide the fact that I’d been crying. Without thinking, I helped her. Then we sat on the nearest bench, and I told her everything.

“Andrey, I don’t even know what to say…” Inna paused. “But they’re not leaving you. They want you to have the apartment. They’ll help you. Maybe being together really is that hard for them? Arguing all the time isn’t much of a life either.”

“Yeah, but they’ve been lying all this time! It means I grew up in a lie!”

“Yes. And you have every right to be angry. It’s just… maybe they were afraid of hurting you and didn’t know how to tell you? I’m not making excuses for them. But they’re still your parents.”

“God, I hadn’t looked at it that way. Maybe you’re right!” I said. It felt as though half the weight I’d been carrying had fallen away. I really did feel better.

“Just don’t decide it’s all over, okay? Talk to them when you can. In the meantime, I’m here.”

After that, the whole thing seemed to loosen its grip on me. Then panic crept up without warning.

“But how am I supposed to live on my own? I’ve never done it… How do I cook? How do I pay the bills? What else do grown-ups even do?”

“Well, I can help with the food! I’ll cook for you, and I’ll teach you. Don’t worry. Paying bills isn’t hard either. I’ve done it a couple of times. And you can count on me for everything else. We’ll figure it out somehow!” Inna said encouragingly, looking at me.

I hugged her tight. Nothing at home had changed, and the hardest conversation still lay ahead. But now I could at least imagine surviving it. We arranged to meet that evening. On my way home, I’d remember what my parents had said, then think about Inna, and each time it got a little easier.

The exams at the end of ninth grade were almost upon us. I knew I’d manage a passing grade, even if it was only a three out of five. I gave up on schoolwork altogether and started playing Counter-Strike. It was great for keeping the thoughts away. I set an alarm for five so I wouldn’t be late to meet Inna, and threw myself into each new round harder than the last.

“How are you?” Inna asked when we were the last ones left in the classroom.

We’d stayed behind after the lesson. Inna was packing her schoolbag, and I waited by our desk. The teacher had already gone, leaving the room open for the next class.

“I’m okay! I thought about what you said and decided not to let it get to me. I don’t always manage it, but I’m trying!”

Inna let out a breath and smiled. So she’d been worried about me. After yesterday, I especially needed to know I mattered to someone.

Two boys from another class met us at the door. They stepped aside to let us through, peering over our shoulders.

“Well, well! What were you two doing in here all alone? Getting romantic?” One of them smirked and made an obscene gesture.

At our school, there weren’t many subjects people wouldn’t joke about, so you answered one joke with another. You didn’t immediately start a fight. That was a last resort.

“Yeah, you got us. We even left room for you two!” I shot back. The boys’ faces fell as they realized they’d lost that round.