Chapter 38: Chapter 38

Zenovia

“What gave you the right to ask me that?” I couldn’t control myself now as I glared at my father. My tone went higher, making Marisha and Maksimillian stare at me, speechless. Some other people already had their attention on us. On me, specifically. “I didn’t come here to be questioned by you. I’m just here because your son wanted to see and meet me! You are not originally part of this meeting, so you have no right! You have no right to act as if you’re a good father or whatsoever because you’re not!” I stood up almost violently.

The wooden chair made a harsh scraping sound on the tiled floor. I didn’t even mind that I barely ate my food. I just wanted to be out of there. I was oblivious to the other people’s stares that followed me.

My eyes stung as I almost ran away from the restaurant. Maksimillian and Mihai came after me. I didn’t even know where I was headed, as long as it was far away from my father.

“Zenovia!” Maksimillian called me, at the same time when my brother yelled “Zen!”

My tears already raced down my cheeks. I was barely aware that I was near the lift, where a few people come and go.

“Just go back in there and be with your father!” I told Mihai through gritted teeth.

“B-but… we’re supposed to have your favourite ice cream!” His voice croaked.

I faced him, not looking at Maksimillian, who let us talk for a bit. But I could feel his being edgy right now, not too sure about what he’d do or how he could even comfort me.

“I will not see you or meet you again if you’re with him, all right?” I shook my head, sniffling. “I can’t bear to be in the same room as he. And I don’t want to talk to him ever again!”

“Zen…” My brother’s eyes shone with unshed tears. I knew he was torn apart because I wasn’t on good terms with that… nenorocitule (fucker)! And I saw him appear behind my brother.

“Zenovia.” My father uttered my name like I was a little girl again. He used that tone when I made a mistake, but what mistake did I do now? He was the one who even committed a sin! He lied; he betrayed my mother; he had an affair for God’s sakes! And now? He had such a thick face for showing up here when he already knew I didn’t want to see him even after all these years.

I decided to ignore him.

“Tati, te rog, nu acum (Dad, please, not now)!” Mihai snapped at him to my surprise. “I told you to not come with me because she said she doesn’t want to see you! You just don’t listen! Now, look what you’ve done! She’s not even going to hang out with me anymore!”

Plump tears started to roll down his pale face, just like mine. I never heard him talk to our father like that. Or cry. Well, maybe because we hadn’t lived in the same house anyway. But even before, I did notice he was such a nice young kid, who wanted to have everything lively and agreeable because of him. He was not the type that wanted to have any fight with anyone. He was good at lightening up the atmosphere. But now, he couldn’t, and I didn’t even let him.

Mihai turned to me. “Can you give us another chance, please? Just the two of us. Just to stroll… maybe in Old Town?” he suggested with hopeful eyes.

I began to sob harder while Max gently rubbed my back. I looked up at my brother, who was a head taller than me. Then I slowly shook my head.

“I don’t know. I don’t know, Mihai. I-I just want to be alone for now,” I said and gently shoved Maksimillian’s hand and left them.

***

Maksimillian

I felt rejected when I tried to comfort Zenovia, and she pushed me away. Not literally pushed me but it seemed that she didn’t want my presence either.

It was the first time I was hurt for real. I knew she was hurting deep inside, too—the reason why she did it and walked away. And I tried to be understanding, in spite of the pain in my heart. I even asked myself why I felt this way, again, when we just have this deal between us. But yes, I was falling for her hard and fast than I could imagine. Never had I imagined it actually. It never occurred to me that I’d even fall for any woman in this lifetime.

But instead of wallowing in this emotion of being torn and got rejected, I tried to man up. I turned to Mihai, who pressed his eyes with his fingers to stop his tears. I was touched by his ardent brotherly love for Zenovia. It reminded me of Rurik’s care for me. We were cousins, but we treated each other more than that. We were like brothers, in fact.

In the corner of my eye, I noticed Aunt Marisha stand behind Daniel. She gave me a look of sympathy. I bet she already knew what was going on with me. I could hide nothing from her anyway.

“Do you love my sister?”

I was caught off guard by Mihai’s question.

“We… are on the stage of getting to know each other, Mihai,” I told him honestly. At least that was what I wanted to believe. Zenovia and I were starting to open up to each other, weren’t we? She even told me about her father and everything she went through after his affair.

He swallowed and nodded, staring at me. “Then, you’re not her boyfriend yet?”

“It’s… complicated.” I had no choice but to say it. It came out bitter though.

He scoffed upon hearing it. “Right. My sister’s complicated, so I’m not even surprised!” He gulped once more, looking at me in the eye. “But can you… Can you tell her that I’ll be around until she makes up her mind?” He slowly shook his head. “Can you tell her I’m not going back to Bucharest without spending some time with her? Please?”

I let out a heavy sigh. “What makes you think she’d change her mind if I’d tell her?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe you’re someone special to her. You must know she’s never dated anyone yet. You’re her first, right?”

My heart somersaulted when he put it that way. I knew it was the innocent “first” about the first guy she was with, not literally the one who actually devirginised her. Or was it? He could not possibly know it, could he?

Chert poberi. I must be overthinking and overanalysing things!

“I’ll tell her your message. But try to call her, too. Maybe she’ll answer. Okay?” I put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it a little.

He nodded and sniffled. “I’m sorry you’re caught into this.”

“It’s okay. I did half-anticipate all this, after what she told me about your family history.”

He chuckled bitterly. “It must be hard for her to tell you about it. My sister doesn’t just open up to someone who’s not close to her.”

“You seem to know her very well despite the fact of your distance from each other.”

“I keep tabs on her. Please don’t tell her that. She’ll be mad,” he added quickly.

I chortled. “Are you free some time? Just the two of us?”

He looked at me before he nodded. “Sure. I’ll give you my number then.”