And upon returning from the sanatorium, she was stunned by the truth.
Alina struggled to squeeze into the overcrowded bus.
She hadn’t been in these parts for a long time — since her grandmother passed away, she had only visited the village once.
Then everything somehow didn’t work out: studies, entertainment, life.
Honestly, she wanted to erase that one visit from her memory.
It was then that Maxim showed up.
And Maxim was the grandson of her grandfather.
Well, sort of a grandfather…
Grandma had always been known for her beauty.
That’s what her mother used to say before she went abroad with her new suitor, leaving 17-year-old Alina in the care of her grandmother.
That’s what all the villagers said too.
In general, when Grandma was in her fifties, she married again.
As she herself admitted — for her first love, with whom they parted ways foolishly in their youth.
Alina liked Grandpa Grigory: calm, kind, and he truly loved Grandma until his last day.
But he had one significant flaw — his grandson, Maxim.
Although at first, Alina had nothing against Maxim.
On the contrary, she was eagerly awaiting their meeting.
As a child, she thought all people were friends.
Besides, Maxim was three years older than her, so it should have been interesting with him.
But when Maxim finally appeared, Alina immediately realized that with such an arrogant guy, friendship would not work.
He looked down on her, constantly called her a little kid, which irritated her immensely.
They argued every time they met at Grandma and Grandpa’s house.
And each time, Alina eventually jumped on him, trying to start a fight.
Maxim, of course, didn’t fight with her — he just hugged her, carried her into the house, and announced: “Alina is fighting again.
But I can’t hit her back.”
And what happened in the end?
Maxim was praised, and she was scolded.
How she hated him!
Then they didn’t see each other for three years, or even more.
They met at Grandpa’s funeral, and then, a few months later — at Grandma’s funeral.
After the memorial service, they stayed alone in the empty house, and Alina looked at him in surprise.
The guy had long outgrown his teenage awkwardness, and now in front of her sat an attractive young man: broad-shouldered, tall — in short, a dream for any girl.
“Why are you staring at me, not blinking?
Are you planning to fight again?” — he asked.
Alina sighed.
“What fight again?”
“Well, how come, have you forgotten?”
Alina snorted:
“God, you’d better remember something that happened before we were born!”
“What are we going to do with the house?” — he got to the point.
“I don’t know.
Let it stand, I guess.
There’s no point in selling it — they’d give a pittance.
No one needs to live here.
We’ll come here for vacations, who knows.”
Alina sighed and for the first time agreed with Maxim:
“Maybe you’re right.”
He raised an eyebrow:
“What am I hearing?
You admitted I was right?”
Alina blushed:
“Enough already!
And anyway, if you want, live here.
I don’t need it.
I’m getting married soon.”
“Can’t be!
And someone fell for such a stubborn girl?”
How offended she was!
Alina barely restrained herself from childishly rushing at Maxim with her fists.
He, apparently, understood everything because he smirked.
Alina was ready to curse herself for revealing her feelings.
Thus, without making any specific decisions and stating that neither of them was interested in the house, they parted ways, never to meet again.
Two years passed.
Now Alina was heading to the village because she simply had nowhere else to go.
Of course, she could have stayed with friends, then rented a place, but she had very little money left.
Actually, she had none left at all.
All the savings she had accumulated for a small apartment, Alina gave to the groom for the wedding.
Together, they decided to organize a luxurious celebration, since her groom already had a place — a lovely two-room apartment in the city center.
They planned everything, and then it turned out that Alina was pregnant.
Anton — that was the name of Alina’s fiancé — was overjoyed as if he had received the gift of his life.
He immediately took charge of the organization:
“Okay, you’re going to the sanatorium.
I have a friend who can arrange a voucher.
You really need this right now.”
“But, Anton, we have a wedding…”
“I’ll take care of everything.
You just need to pick out the wedding dress.
You must be strong and healthy, and there are various treatments to maintain your health,” — Anton made a complicated gesture with his hand, and Alina laughed.
“Okay, you’ve convinced me.
You’re the best.”
Anton looked at her seriously:
“You don’t even realize how much you mean to me.”
They called each other every evening.
Anton talked about the wedding preparations, and Alina shared her impressions of the day.
“Anton, I miss you so much.
I can’t wait to get home.”
“Well, you’re like a little one.
Think about the fact that you’re taking care of our baby’s health right now.
By the way, we won’t be able to talk tomorrow.
We’re going to look at the hall, and we’ll be late there.
We need to figure out how to decorate everything.
You know, if you don’t keep an eye on it, it’ll all be done sloppily.”
Alina sighed.
She knew very well how responsible Anton was.
“And the day after tomorrow, I’ll be home.”
“That’s great.
I’ll definitely meet you.”
“Anton, it’s five minutes’ walk from the station to your place.
I’m not sick, I’m pregnant.
You’d better prepare a romantic dinner.
I’ve missed you so much.”
Alina was flying from the station as if on wings.
She imagined how she would hug Anton, how he would tenderly kiss her…
But a strange woman opened the door.
“Who are you looking for?”
“What do you mean — who?
Is Anton at home?”
“Anton is the owner of the apartment?
And who are you, by the way?”
The woman smirked:
“And I’m the owner.
Your Anton rented an apartment from me.
He left, that scoundrel, and didn’t pay for the last month.”
“And who are you to him?”
“Are you going to pay?”
Alina was confused:
“This is some kind of misunderstanding!
I was at the sanatorium.
Anton is here.
He was preparing for the wedding.
All my things are here!
What are you talking about?”
Alina pushed the woman aside and rushed into the apartment.
Anton’s things were not there.
And her own belongings were carelessly scattered on the floor.
She picked up one blouse, another…
Then she turned to the woman:
“We need to call the police!
Something happened to him!”
The woman shook her head:
“Nothing happened to him.
He drank and partied here with girls for two weeks.
Neighbors called to complain.
And when I said I was coming, he took off, leaving everything behind.”
“But we’re preparing for the wedding!
We’re going to have a baby!”
The woman seemed to feel sorry for the helpless Alina:
“So you know where the wedding is, don’t you?
Go to that restaurant.
Did you call him?”
Alina nodded.
The phone was turned off.
She didn’t think much of it because Anton often forgot to charge it:
“Yes, you’re right.
I’ll go now.”
“Take your things, or I’ll throw them in the trash.”
Alina quickly packed her belongings.
She didn’t find any money anywhere.
At the doorstep, the landlady stopped her:
“You were living with him here, right?
Come on, pay for the month.”
The girl meekly gave the money, though she had almost nothing left.
At the restaurant, no one knew anything about Anton, let alone the wedding.
Alina realized the truth — Anton had simply abandoned her, taking her money.
This couldn’t be happening, but everything pointed to exactly that.
She went outside, found a bench in the farthest corner of the square, and cried there for a long time.
Then she decided that she would go to the village.
She couldn’t see anyone right now.
Everyone would sympathize, as if she had buried someone.
She only had enough money for the tickets and a couple of pies.
She blamed herself for listening to Anton and quitting her job before the sanatorium.
Of course, she had also given her savings to Anton—to make the wedding truly luxurious.
The bus coughed out black smoke and disappeared around the corner.
And Alina, picking up her bag with all her belongings, headed to her grandmother’s house.
Her mood gradually improved.
She had always liked it here: the air was magical, the beauty was otherworldly.
She approached the house and froze.
Everything around was mowed, clean, cozy.
She pushed open the gate… And Maxim appeared before her.
— Well, what a surprise! Who’s come to visit us!
Maxim was wearing shorts and no t-shirt.
That meant he had already settled in here.
— And you? And when? What are you doing here? — she blurted out.
Maxim smiled:
— Well, I decided to relax. Mentally and physically, — he nodded at her bag. — And you, I see, aren’t here for just one day.
Alina suddenly felt her eyes sting, and then hot tears rolled down her cheeks.
Why?
Why does this always happen to her?
Why is he here, to mock her?
It already hurt unbearably.
She least of all wanted to see Maxim right now.
However, she didn’t want to see Anton either.
— Hey, what’s wrong?
She felt a gentle touch on her cheek—he seemed to be wiping away her tears.
Then Maxim grabbed her bag from her and ordered:
— Let’s go inside. We don’t need anyone to see the village’s biggest troublemaker crying.
Alina involuntarily smiled.
She used to be the troublemaker, once.
Maxim sat her on the couch, rushed for water, brought it, and handed her a glass:
— Well, tell me. Remember this: there are no unsolvable problems.
Alina returned the glass to him:
— Can I stay here for a while? I won’t bother you.
— Are you out of your mind? This is as much your home as it is mine. Stay as long as you need.
In the morning, Maxim peeked into the room:
— Breakfast, fast!
At first, Alina smiled, but then remembered that she didn’t have any money, so she wouldn’t even be able to buy food:
— I don’t want to. I don’t eat in the mornings.
At lunch, she said she was on a diet, and in the evening, Maxim cornered her:
— Alina, here’s the thing. Even though we fought more than we lived normally when we were kids, I still feel responsible for you.
Sit down, tell me what happened to you. And most importantly, explain why you’re not eating.
Are you afraid I’ll poison you?
She held on as long as she could.
But Maxim was looking at her so intently, and hunger was becoming more and more noticeable.
Alina cried and told him everything.
Maxim listened in silence.
When she finished, he stood up.
— Okay, I’ll start from the beginning. You haven’t changed at all. Still the same irresponsible girl.
Why do you always think only about yourself? Did you think about the baby? What will he eat if you don’t eat?
Alina blinked, confused.
Maxim took her hand, led her to the table, put pasta on it, and set a salad.
— Eat and listen to me. I’ll find your Anton. We were looking for worse ones, but I won’t promise that he’ll come back to you. But he will return the money, that’s for sure.
— I don’t want him to come back, I don’t want you to…
— That’s already good, it means you’re getting smarter. What else can I tell you? No one is immune to mistakes, and there’s no need to hide from them.
A month passed.
Alina looked better.
Her cheeks had a rosy tint, and her belly had started to noticeably round out.
Maxim went to the city, probably for work, but always came back by evening.
She cooked, tidied up both the house and the yard.
Once, he came, laid a stack of money on the table.
— I understand this isn’t all, but he definitely has no more. Of course, we can give him a deadline and let him search.
Alina looked at Maxim in surprise.
— Tell me, we’ve always fought, but you’re doing so much for me now. Why?
Maxim looked at her confused and even somewhat frightened.
— No reason.
— Maxim, don’t lie to me. You can’t lie.
He smiled, sat on a chair.
— You know how many times over the years I’ve dreamed that we’d live here together under this roof?
It would be such a coincidence. I even asked the neighbor to call me as soon as you arrived.
And while we’re here together, I was sure you wouldn’t leave just because of stubbornness.
And I’d be able to prove to you that I’m the person you need.
Well, here it is, almost everything is just how I dreamed. Yes…
— But I’m pregnant, — Alina sighed.
— Maxim, but you always hated me.
— Who told you that?
— Who else? You couldn’t go a second without provoking me. And you did it on purpose.
— What else was I supposed to do? Tell you I like you? So you’d laugh at me?
Alina stared at him, dumbfounded.
Now, all their arguments seemed completely different.
— What kind of person am I… Maxim, forgive me.
— I have nothing to forgive you for. Thank you for spending this month with me.
I’ll tell you right away, it hasn’t gotten easier, it’s actually gotten a lot harder.
— Why?
— Because now I really don’t understand how I’ll live without you.
— Maxim, but I’m pregnant by another man.
— I didn’t understand those words. What does that even mean? Or do you seriously think that the baby, your baby, can be foreign to me?
— Okay, enough of talking in circles. When are you going to the city?
Alina didn’t answer.
And he turned around in surprise.
She was smiling.
— Alina, what’s going on?
— You know, Maxim, nothing’s changed.
I still want to hit you to wake you up.
If you don’t kiss me right now, I’m definitely going to throw something at you.
Maxim cautiously took a step forward.
In his head, the movie “Girls” flashed, where the main character kissed the heroine and immediately covered himself with his hands, expecting a hit.
He felt the same way now, but the blow didn’t come.
Alina wrapped her arms around his neck and said seriously:
— Don’t let me go anywhere anymore, please, or I won’t be able to do anything without you.
