Soon my brother left. Could I call him brother after that? I don’t know. Dad took me to the salon, as he promised. My ears had already healed, and he gave me my first emerald earrings. Amber returned to her studies. Dad told me he appreciated her efforts. And if she wins the heart of his son, then there will be a wedding. Although he still had reasonable doubts about this. John, in a personal conversation with Dad, said that he was completely uninterested in Amber. He even hinted that he liked someone else, but didn’t say who. But what difference does it make to me? I’m just his little sister.

  “I would never do that to my sister!” This phrase constantly sounded in my ears. But I was embarrassed to ask anyone about it. We grew up together, and no one ever even mentioned it. Then why did he say that? I should have asked him about it himself, but I couldn’t. First of all, he left too quickly and didn’t tell anyone. I just told my dad that he no longer wanted to be a part of the py. The grandmother was extremely unhappy with him and tried to persuade Amber to stay, but she still returned to her parents.

  “Grandmother Eugena, don’t you see how he treats me?!” - she said indignantly and at the same time pitifully.

  “Don’t worry, dear, he’ll come to his senses. He’s just a stubborn boy. But he must obey his grandmother. If you like him, then you will be happy. He’ll love you, you’ll see.”

  “It seems you really don’t understand…”

  John would not be John if he did not do as he wanted at the moment. That’s why we don’t know anything about him for two months. I thought about that kiss, repyed it in my head many times and condemned myself for liking it. Peter returned to his studies. I didn’t tell him about that incident. First of all, I was ashamed. Secondly, I was simply afraid that he would judge me or go to sort things out. And we never know how it will end. Both options were unacceptable to me. Of course, I tried several times to kiss Peter in the same manner. But I didn’t experience anything unusual. I didn’t care, the strings of my soul remained in pce. Peter was too gentle for that. He was afraid to offend me even with a word. And John could use some manners. But there was something in his rudeness. And I liked it.

  “Stop doing that! He’s your brother. Even if he doesn’t like a busty blonde, there are plenty of girls who won’t turn him down and who will impress him. Don’t you dare think like that!”

  I spped myself on the cheek and winced. I miscalcuted the power a bit. I tried to throw away unnecessary thoughts, took the album and went to draw in the greenhouse. This calmed me down the best. But this time it didn’t work. I thought about him again.

  “What color are his eyes? I’ve never looked at them… Oh, that’s it, get this nonsense out of your head, girl! You are about fifteen, he will be twenty soon. With Peter the difference is greater, of course, but Peter is different.”

  I shook my head.

  “Please stop it, finally!!!”

  ***

  A few months ter, when the snow had already begun to melt and the first snowdrops appeared from the ground, Amber came to visit again. Or rather, she accompanied grandmother Agnia. The tter came to visit an old friend. They haven’t seen each other for several years. Grandma Agnia looked almost as good, still younger than her age, but new wrinkles appeared on her face. She was smiling as before. She stroked my cheek.

  “You are very cute, Christina,” she said, looking at me, “how is your dad?”

  “Dad’s okay,” I said.

  “Mabel told me that he’ll be home next year? You were probably bored without him?”

  “Certainly. I love him very much,” I smiled.

  “This is good.”

  She walked towards the living room.

  “Where is John?” she asked.

  “My brother? Should he have come?” — I was surprised.

  “I don’t know. I just asked. Eugena said he should.”

  “No, he is studying.”

  “I also thought, why should he? But since my granddaughter has arrived, he might as well visit us all for a couple of days.”

  “I’ll ask dad,” I said, and left them alone.

  It turns out that my grandmother wrote a letter to John and told him to come urgently, but he said he was busy and didn’t come. It’s for the better. I wasn’t ready to see him. (Will I ever be?) Amber was devastated. The grandmothers only talked about the upcoming wedding, and decided that their grandchildren should get married in a year, in the summer. John would have completed his bachelor’s degree and Amber would have turned 19 and was ready to become a homemaker. And the girl had to be present at all conversations between the two matrons. I sympathized with her. I decided to talk to her.

  “Do you want to take a walk?” I asked her.

  “With whom? With you? What should I talk to you about? With a little girl who draws flowers while sitting among the flowers? Don’t you have anything else to do? It seems like this... And now I have a lot to do...” She said the st phrase dejectedly.

  “No, not with me. I know that you don’t like me enough.”

  “Then with whom?”

  “You will find out if you agree.”

  “You don’t have any friends,” she snorted.

  And yet she went to the meeting. Probably because she was completely sick of being at home. I really couldn’t boast of having many friends, but I had one. And for me he was still my closest friend. I thought that a smart, level-headed guy could calm her down. At least she’ll be distracted. In addition, I was busy preparing for the competition and could not keep Peter company in the coming days. Peter was going to graduate school next year, but for now he was free and helping his parents with business, so he had enough free time.

  Amber, as I expected, no longer looked like a citrus when she returned home and even smiled faintly. She, of course, did not thank me, but I was not offended. I tried to understand her.

  ***

  John never arrived. My grandmother was negative all these days. Grandmother Agnia once asked her directly:

  “Eugena! When people love each other, they rush to their soulmate at the first opportunity. John almost never visited us, and he hasn’t come now. Are you sure that what we are doing makes sense? I’m not sure their feelings are mutual.”

  My grandmother just waved her hand with displeasure and said:

  “I just didn’t raise him well, and he’s stubborn. But it will pass. Let’s wait a little. It’s impossible not to love your granddaughter!”

  I chuckled to myself. Yes, grandma always thinks that she can decide for everyone. But that doesn’t happen.

  “Dad, how are things with John?” I asked in the evening.

  “He’s doing great,” the father smiled, “we were just talking this morning. He studies, and quite well, as always.”

  “And he’s not going home?”

  “Why are you interested in this?”

  “The grannies were just talking today. Our grandmother seems to have already decided everything for him.”

  Dad ughed and ruffled my hair. Today my hair was tied up with a ribbon in the middle of my ponytail.

  “My daughter, do you really believe that she will succeed in something? Until our tomboy wants it himself, nothing will happen.”

  I smiled back at him:

  “Perhaps you’re right. Listen, what about Ae?”

  Dad’s face took on a worried expression:

  “What’s with her?”

  “No,” I hastened to assure him, “everything is fine. You love her, right?”

  “Oh, is that what you mean?” — he noticeably rexed,— “Yes, maybe in a year I will propose to her, but now, I think it’s too early.”

  I hugged him.

  “Dad, I love you!”

  “I know honey. Now go get ready for css and go to bed. It’s already te!” He pyfully threatened me with his finger.

  Half an hour ter, I was lying in bed and trying to sleep.

  “I wouldn’t do that to my sister!” - it came up in my head again.

  “Come to your senses! You can’t do this. Amber already loves him. Even if it’s not mutual. He can’t belong to you! But how I want to look into those eyes again, just once...”