– Maybe I'm exaggerating, but in any case, I don't have the same abilities as my parents. I didn't have any problems in this area until my third year, but now I realise that my knowledge has been exhausted. And-" She stopped talking and frowned.
– What?" I encouraged her.
– I'm more interested in humanities," Viper admitted, her eyes down on the table. It was as if she was ashamed of letting her parents' expectations down.
– Sometimes parents can be selfish," I said quietly. I felt sorry for her.
– You misunderstood me! – The girl exclaimed, looking at me again. – My parents are wonderful! It was my decision to come here, even though my parents gave me every right to choose, and even discouraged me when they found out that I had decided to go into physics and maths! It's not their selfishness. It's my mistake.
I have lived too long not to understand people and their true motives for doing this and that. Viper loved her parents very much, so she put all the blame on her shoulders. She was a victim of her parents' love, and no matter how much she assured me otherwise, it was her parents who made the choice for her. Implicitly, but explicitly. In front of me sat a simple, serious girl who had sacrificed her own for her parents' dream. She didn't realise it now, but she would surely realise it later, when she grew up and regretted her choice. No. She already does.
– And what is your favourite subject? – I asked.
– I like literature very much," she answered, and suddenly she was a little embarrassed. – But maybe now you can tell me something about yourself. It's like you're interrogating me on purpose.
– I'm sorry if I gave you that impression. I just don't think I'm interesting in any way. I'm good at science, I live with my parents and my brother. And I think I'd like to be-" I thought. – A pilot.
Viper understood my sarcasm. She brushed away a strand of hair that had fallen on her forehead and looked at me incredulously, but with a smile.
– It's a good profession. But I see you're in no hurry to become one. Have you not made up your mind about your profession yet?
"If you only knew what my birthright profession is! I am a hunter!" – I thought, smiling grimly at my own thoughts.
– I haven't thought about it yet," I said instead. – I still have a lifetime ahead of me. I'll have time to decide what I want.
I certainly have. An endless life.
Viper didn't say anything and glanced at her watch.
– I'm sorry, I have to run," she said suddenly, and stood up and picked up the physics textbooks on the table, which had been completely unnecessary and forgotten at today's meeting.
– But it's still ten minutes before the end of class," I said annoyingly, glancing at my wristwatch.
– I know, but I might miss the tram," she replied.
– As far as I'm concerned, they have a pretty frequent route," I said, someone who never tolerated mobility problems. You bet: it's easy to be mobile when you have a car!
Viper grinned.
– 'Not quite. I'll have to wait for the next half hour. I don't live in the centre and can't afford that luxury.
– Then we should make the next appointment,' I reminded him. – How do you feel about that? When?
She hung her bag on her shoulder thoughtfully.
– Monday, five o'clock. Is that okay with you?
– Absolutely.
– Just don't be late," the girl said with a friendly smile and went to hand in her textbooks, then hurried out of the library.
