"What have you been drinking?" Thomas asked him.
"Why does it matter, I asked you and you didn't answer me. "
"I don't even know what it was, how... "
John nervously squeezed his hand on Thomas's elbow and the guy looked away from him.
"Julia asked me to dance, and I don't see anything wrong with that... "
"She asked you to dance" John grimaced "how could she, and you, how could you go with her, how...
"Well, what's the big deal, John, it's just a dance, we're not doing anything... " He suddenly fell silent, except for that kiss, which John shouldn't know about. John didn't look at Thomas, he sat down sadly on the bench and pulled out a bottle of wine, he tipped it over and wiped his wet lips. Thomas sat down next to him.
"Where did you get the wine, John? " John's anger subsided a little.
"Jerkabs sold it, he's trying to make some money, that's why he's doing it."
"Jerkabs, he's been caught doing it before, and if they find out you're.. "
"Jeez, Thomas, don't they care about me, it's my money and I do what I want, when I was at Uncle Michael's farm he gave me some pocket money, so why should they care about me, my worthless life and I'm a complete mistake, no one wants me, isn't that right, Thomas, isn't that right. "
John dipped his lips in the wine again and held it out to Thomas, he took it, wondering why. Thomas coughed from the sudden flow, and John took the bottle away from him.
Thomas could feel John's sadness and despair.
"Come on, John, I danced with Julia, but it doesn't mean anything, it doesn't mean we're a couple, does it" Thomas said soothingly.
"No, it doesn't, but you agreed to go with her, you agreed to go with her as if to spite me. "
"Believe me, John, I didn't do it to spite you, we're friends, have you forgotten? I don't understand why you even thought of it " Thomas felt a warmth spread across his skin.
"Yeah, friends" John said, nervously twirling the bottle in his hands. No one seemed to be paying attention to them, and those who did were probably just pretending not to, because no one came up to them and snatched the bottles out of their hands. Thomas wondered if the teachers had seen this, they would have made them answer, but they weren't here, so maybe they were doing the same thing. At this thought, Thomas felt warm and smiled, and the lights went out again and the music started.
"Damn it, but she's so mean, how can she do this to me" John said in a raspy voice. He was drunk.
"You drank a whole bottle of wine".
"I love her, and she obviously hates me, she even likes you better than me, am I really that worthless, what's wrong with me? "
John shrank back in despair and put his hands in his lap.
"Come on, John, don't be so upset, I'm sure there's someone else you'll like, forget about Julia, why would you want her? "
"But she's so beautiful, you've seen her. " John tipped the bottle, but there was nothing in it.
"Yes, she is, but she's not the only one in the world, isn't she, find someone worthy of you, and forget about her, why do you need someone like her? " John looked at Thomas and felt some suspicious.
"You're saying that on purpose because you like Julia" his anger rised inside him. His eyebrows furrowed.
"What are you talking about? "
"Yes, I'm right, you like her, and you're doing this on purpose, to spite me, to keep me from being with her, right? "
"She's never going to be with you anyway, don't you realize that she doesn't love you? "
"It's not your business who she is going to be with" John said, jabbing a finger into Thomas's chest.
He stood up and staggered off, Thomas wanted to follow him, but he held back and let him go, "Since he thinks I asked Julia to the dance on purpose to make him angry, what a fool he is, doesn't John believe me, but he's drunk now and he's saying all kinds of things. "
Thomas stood up, exhaled heavily and decided that he had to go home, he had nothing to do here, John had left and he went away too.Thomas was already near the house and he felt sick and stopped.He breathed in the fresh night air and exhaled.
"Hey, what's wrong with you" he heard a voice from behind him.
It was the same man who had been sitting on the stairs, and now he was sitting on the stairs again.
"Why are you so late?
The man was smoking and smiled at Thomas.
"Sit down and talk a bit, I see you are not feeling well. "
Thomas looked around, no one was home, the lights were on, he told his parents not to think about him because he would be late.Thomas felt better.
He sat down next to the man.
"Let's go inside" the man suggested.
"No, I need that fresh air. "
The man pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and handed it to Thomas.
"No thanks, I don't smoke. " Thomas saw the man's exhausted face by the light of the lantern.
"You look upset" the man suddenly said.
"No, I am not"
"Well, tell me, there was some kind of party, I guessed, otherwise you wouldn't be dressed like that " the man said, blowing clouds of smoke.
It was dark outside, only a lantern dimly lit everything. The man's hands were black and scarred. He wore a long shirt, old torn slippers and black pants that looked like window curtains.
"Yes, you guessed it" Thomas said, exhaling heavily "My friend thinks I'm a liar." The man looked at the guy with a frown.
"How so? "
"You see, at this age, everything happens so suddenly, we grow up and begin to learn a lot of things"
"17 years old, it is the perfect age. "
"Well, I wouldn't say that" Thomas smiled wryly "it's all so hard. "
The man coughed.
"Don't worry about liking someone, there's nothing wrong with that, when I was your age I hooked up with more than one, believe me. "
"Seriously?" Thomas arched his eyebrows.
The man laughed out loud.
"Yes, it's the age when you want to try many things, I don't see anything illegal. "
Thomas smiled.
"Well, I'm not like you, I've never dated anyone, and I'm not very good at these things to be honest."
"Don't worry, Thomas, I think you'll find someone who's right for you, you're a very nice guy. "
"How do you know that? You've only talked to me twice. "
"It took me five minutes to tell what kind of person you are. "
The man got up and left, disappearing into the darkness of his house. The next day Thomas decided not to go to school, he knew that John was still angry with him, he didn't write or call. He had suddenly appeared on that dance floor, but not by his own will, although he liked the way Julia touched his shoulder and the way she clasped her hand in his. And that kiss. Thomas didn't want to think about it, he suddenly got up, washed and dressed and went to the kitchen. His mother was sitting there eating something.
"Are you going to go to school today, son? "
"No, I don't want to" said Thomas sleepily.
"And where is dad?"
"He had to leave quickly at work, he was called away. "Suddenly Thomas sensed some concern in his mother.She looked away when she met his eyes.
"Is something wrong, mom?" he asked.
"No, everything is fine, go have breakfast. "
Thomas sat down at the table and still couldn't understand why his mother looked so upset.
"How did it go yesterday" she asked "Was everything fine? "
"Yes, it was good. " His mother put the salad and potatoes in front of him, but he couldn't eat because he could still feel a sadness in her, even though she tried to hide it.
"Mom, what's wrong with you,tell me"
"Nothing is wrong, Thomas, you should eat. "
"No, mom" Thomas put down his fork and looked at his mother who was leaning against the refrigerator "I'm not ten and I can see something is wrong with you, can you explain? "
"Your father... " Mom suddenly let out a sob and started to cry.
"What did he do, Mom? " Thomas asked, wary.
"He filed for divorce. "
Thomas looked at his mother in shock.
"What do you mean, you two had a fight or something? "
"I don't know how it is possible"
Thomas stood up and walked over to his mother. She looked at him with blue eyes full of tears, Thomas hugged her.
"Don't be upset, mom, he doesn't deserve to make you cry. "Thomas didn't understand what happened.
"Mom, but why did he do that? " Thomas asked as he pulled away from his mother.
She wiped away her tears and Thomas could feel the despair in her eyes.
"I don't know, he said he was unhappy in our marriage and that he wanted a divorce, but it was all so sudden that I didn't even have time to realise it." Thomas suddenly had a thought.
"Maybe he has someone" he asked.
"I don't know Thomas"
"I'm going to find out" he said grabbing his jacket and flying out of the house before his mother could say anything. "I can't let him do this to us he will be responsible for everything if he has someone then I will... " Thomas clenched his fists nervously.He didn't know if his father was at work. He worked as a manager in a prestigious restaurant.Thomas was lucky he was sitting at a table with a woman. "That must be her" Thomas thought, while his mother was crying he was having fun.Thomas walked over to them and looked at his father.
"How can you do that, my mum is at home crying because of you and you are sitting here having fun" Thomas shouted.
The woman sitting at the table stood up at his father's gesture and went away, Thomas noticed that she was wearing a red dress that was above her knees and high heels and her face was painted, hair was curled back and she was thin. "She probably dresses like that for him" Thomas thought.
"Thomas, calm down, sit down and let's work this out calmly. "
Thomas sat down and looked up at his father, indignantly. They were sitting at a table outside, a cool breeze blowing, and his father gestured for Thomas to bring him a plate and put the previous one away, though it was clean, because obviously this woman hadn't come here to eat.
Thomas could feel the happiness in his father. "Why is he so happy", Thomas thought, and his eyebrows arched, he stuck out his lower lip and said:
"Maybe you can explain something"
"Are you hungry, Thomas?" his father suddenly asked.
"No thanks, I'm not hungry, then maybe you should say something" Thomas said, staring at his father and clasping his hands.
"What do you want to hear? "
Thomas exhaled angrily and turned away.
"Who is she?"
"She's a colleague of mine, and why do you care? "
"How dare you say that, my mom is crying at home because of you. "
"Calm down, Tomas, your mother and I have already decided we can't be together. "
"So you rushed to her after mum, how can you do that? "
"Elizabeth is my co-worker . What makes you think we're having an affair?"
Thomas sensed that his father was lying.
"Really?" he smiled sarcastically "tell me you were just sitting here talking about work. "
"We were "
"Don't lie to me, I know she's your concubine" Thomas shouted "You're a bastard." Suddenly people walking by looked at the table where Thomas and his father were sitting.
"I'm not going to lie to you, Thomas, but Elizabeth is my girlfriend." The father blushed and found it difficult to look his son in the face.
"A girlfriend" Thomas said "and how long have you been with her?
"Half a year"
Thomas couldn't believe it.
"I was wondering why you started dressing like that and now it became clear to me. "
"Thomas, I'm sorry, I should have told you this a long time ago and I didn't want to lie to you or to your mother, but I just don't love her, you know." Thomas turned away again from his father in indignation, disgusted to see him.
"So when did you realize you didn't love mom? "
"I don't know" he shrugged.
"I didn't realize you were such an asshole. "
"Thomas, I'm your father, you'd have to choose your words carefully without me you ....
"So what you're saying is that me and mom couldn't live without your money. " Thomas looked at his father.
"I'm not saying I'm not going to leave you to your fate, I'm going to give you money. " His father pulled a wad of money out of his pocket and handed it to Thomas.Thomas pushed his hand away.
"I don't want your money, but I still can't believe you would trade my mother for that woman. "
"Elizabeth is a good woman, you don't know anything about her."
"So my mum was a bad woman".
"I didn't say that, Thomas, she just wasn't the one I really wanted. "
"You disgust me. "
"Thomas, calm down, people are watching. "
"You just don't care about us, do you? "
"I do care about you, I love you, Thomas. "
Thomas snorted indignantly and folded his hands.
"And what do you plan to do next? "
"I've already filed for divorce and ur mom has to give her consent. "
"I don't want to know you, you're just leaving my mother for no good reason, you've lived with her for years, not just a couple of months, and then you realized she wasn't right for you, and it was all because of this...woman. "
"I loved your mother, but that was a long time ago. "
Thomas glared at his father.
"So you've been lying to her for so long, I don't think there's just one woman you've been dating. "
"Your mother and I have already made up our minds, Thomas, so please accept it as it is, I know it hurts, but... "
"There are no buts, I want you out of our lives, I don't want you in our house, I don't want your money or anything else. "Thomas stood up nervously, almost knocking the waiter over, and without even noticing he pointed a finger at his father.
"You're not my father, you're nothing to me, you just left us, and I won't forgive you for that. "
"Thomas... "
Thomas ran, not feeling the ground beneath him, his face burning, in his chest all hell broke loose.Thomas was very mad.
"Hello " said a familiar voice.Thomas recognized who it was.The last thing he wanted to see right now was someone. It was Julia.She looked at him with concern.Thomas looked around but there was no one around.
"Thomas, are you okay?"
"I'm okay Julia, what are you doing here?" Thomas said calmly.
"You weren't at school today, and I wanted to talk to you." Julia looked down.
"What about? "
"I'm sorry Thomas about yesterday, I just didn't know what I was doing, I know it was unpleasant but... "
"I wouldn't say it was unpleasant " Thomas said, barely audible. Julia obviously didn't hear that, she just kept her head down and only now Thomas noticed the black skirt and blue blouse she was wearing.
"I was just a little out of it, a little excited, that's all." Thomas didn't have time to say anything, Julia walked away without looking back, wandering off to her house.
Thomas shrugged his shoulders and thought of his father again.He felt sad and inconsolable"What a bastard he was to leave us like that, I mean nothing to him".Thomas opened the door to the house and felt someone's eyes on him.
"Hello, Thomas" Richard said, but Thomas didn't say anything, just looked at the man with the cigarette in his mouth.
"What are you doing in my house? "
"This is my house, Thomas" the man said calmly. Thomas suddenly looked around, and everything here was strange to him, this table, this couch, everything was unfamiliar, but why did Thomas confuse the door of his own house with that of Richard's, probably because of anger. Thomas scratched the back of his head and was about to close the door when Robert invited him inside.
"I'm glad you came here" he said.
Thomas sat down on the chair opposite the man.
"Well, tell me why you are so sad, Thomas, something's happened again. "
Thomas lowered his head but didn't say anything.The man stood up and his spine seemed to crack, but nothing really happened.
He found some cookies and handed them to Thomas.
"Now I'll make you some more tea to calm you down. "
Thomas took the biscuits gratefully and looked at the man who wore wide pants and a long shirt, but this time he looked surprisingly happy.
"Mr. Richard, I mean Richard, tell me why things are so complicated, why people hurt each other, for what? "
"Without pain, this world wouldn't exist" Richard said meaningfully "I myself experienced a lot of pain when I was young, when my mother died, I didn't seem to be living anymore, I just existed. "Thomas suddenly felt sadness in the man.
"I'm sorry. "
"Thomas, believe me, what you are feeling now will pass, and although things will never be the same, you must not live in the past or the future, you must live now. "
"In fact, I'm so angry at my father for leaving my mother so easily, I can't forgive him. " Thomas took a bite of the cookie and sipped his tea.
"He said he didn't want to know you? "
"No, that's what I said, my father said he could help us with money, but I refused and said I didn't need it. "
Thomas clutched his cup nervously.
"Maybe your father just couldn't keep lying to you" Richard said calmly.
"He had another woman, and my mom is in a bad time right now. "
"Don't worry Thomas, your mom will get over it, she's a strong woman. "
"A strong woman" Thomas repeated "And how do you know her? "
"We're neighbors, after all " Richard smiled "I've talked to her over a cup of tea, just like I'm talking to you now, and she's a pretty good woman, actually, she's a very good woman. "
Thomas smiled.
"Yes, my mother is a good woman. "
"Your father is just not the right man for her. "
Thomas ate one cookie and looked up at the man.
"Who does she really need? "
"Well, that's not for me to decide, but you have to know, Thomas, you shouldn't get upset about it, I understand that it hurts, but you shouldn't forget him. "
"I'd like to forget him forever and never see him again. "
"But he'll still be your father, won't he?
"So what if I think of him as a nobody, but I don't know how my mother will take it. "
"I told you, your mother is a strong woman. "
Thomas sighed and didn't know if the man really understood, but he felt better.
"Did you really love your wife?" Thomas suddenly asked.
"Yes, she was my reason for living, but when she died I just existed like after my mum's death, but then everything fell into place, time healed my wounds, and although I can't bring Lavender back, she will always be in my heart. "
"May I ask what you did for a living?"
The man suddenly smiled.
"I was a history teacher, but I've been retired for a long time. "
Thomas was a little surprised.
"I liked my job, but sometimes I got such horrible kids."