24
DOUĂZECI ȘI PATRU
lingered after school, but Comrade Director didn’t approach me.
Was it because of our classmate’s outburst? Did the agent retreat,I fearing that students would be paying closer attention? Although I had thought about skipping the meeting with the agent, I realized that I was
failing my original mission.
Medicine for Bunu.
If I didn’t see the agent, I wouldn’t get any medicine.
I walked home, my mind tangled with predicament and paranoia. I empathized with the student who had the outburst. It could have been me.
And I did nothing to console him. I sat there, hollow-faced and hollow- hearted, relieved when Comrade Instructor ordered him from the room.
What would happen to him now? And what was happening to me?
While waiting after school, I had missed the chance to walk home with Liliana. Had she heard what happened in class? As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t brush the question from my mind. Were there signs that Liliana was an informer? Maybe. She was quiet. Private. She asked odd questions.
And the very first day we walked home together, she was behind me, which meant she left school after I did. Which could mean— She had been meeting with the Secu herself.
Did Liliana care about me or did she just need information? I could have smacked myself. What sort of hypocrite was I to even ponder that question?
I approached our building and saw Cici on the sidewalk. She rushed to join me. “I’ve been waiting for you. We can’t talk inside.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Something happened. I’m not sure when or how. Someone came to see Bunu.”
I thought of the old man with the spongy nose. His message about coffee. When I told Bunu, he had just shrugged and said, “I already knew that.”
“Was it the friend he plays chess with?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I wasn’t there. But Bunu is . . . improving. Pui, do you think someone negotiated treatments or medicine? And if so, how?”
“Medicine?” I tried to appear deep in consideration. “Have you checked the supply of Kents?”
“Yes, they’re still there. But it got me thinking. Bunu is alone all day.
How would we know if anyone was coming see him?”
“Why would it matter? Bunu has friends.”
“Mama wouldn’t want Bunu having meetings at the apartment.”
I thought of Mama’s comment about Bunu. “Cici, instead of being sad, Mama seems angry that Bunu has leukemia. Isn’t that strange to you?”
Before Cici could reply, a darkened silhouette appeared. Starfish.
“Cici, my lady, hope to see you at video night this weekend?”
“Sorry, I’m busy.”
“Ah, that’s right. You have a date with Alex.”
I turned to Cici. “Alex Pavel?” Alex was Liliana’s brother.
“You didn’t know?” sneered Starfish. “I thought you two worked it out together. Family business.”
“Shut up, Starfish. He just asked me ten minutes ago,” said Cici.
“Yeah, and he’s pretty excited about it. He says you asked him.”
“Get lost. I’m trying to talk to my brother.”
Starfish disappeared.
“That’s the other reason I waited for you. I know you’ve been spending time with Liliana. If it’s weird for me to go out with Alex, I won’t.”
I hesitated. “It’s a little weird.”
“Okay. I’ll cancel.”
And then I felt bad. Most guys wanted to date Cici, but she never wanted to date them. Alex was arrogant, but if she wanted to go out with
him, I didn’t want to stop her.
“No, don’t cancel. It’s fine.”
“Are you sure, Pui? It’s not a big deal.”
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
Is that why Alex had glanced at me in that morning line? He planned to
ask my sister on a date?
“How was school today?” she asked.
The story had probably circulated. “Strange,” I whispered. “A kid in class had a complete breakdown. He stood up and shouted to everyone that he’s an informer.”
“What?” Her face pulled with alarm. “Did you know?”
“I had no idea.”
“Stay away from him, Pui. Far away.” She wrung her hands with concern. “And surely, he’s not the only student who’s an informer. See, this is why Mama and I constantly tell you to stay quiet. You never know who’s watching and reporting.”
Guilt rose within my already sour stomach.
“You’re right,” I said. “You never know.”