79 Knowledge Day

Today is the first of September, the universal day of knowledge, bright backpacks, school uniforms, the smell of brand-new stationery, white bows in girls’ hair, oceans of flowers… and children’s misery. That exact expression was plastered across our temporary daughter Masha’s face as she headed to her new school.

“At least smile for appearances,” I try to put the girl in a better mood, but all I get is an eye-roll and a groan from those gray eyes. “Look, the kids are happy, smiling…”

“Because they’re idiots,” the brat grumbles worse than some bitter old woman, glaring hatefully at the passing students chirping away while dragging bouquets bigger than themselves. “What’s there to be happy about? Bet you anything they’ll start whining in a month.”

“Well, Luka likes it. He’s smiling too,” I ruffle the boy’s soft hair, and he beams at me.

“That’s different. The rest are just brain-dead morons.”

“Maria!” I shoot the blonde a pointed look, then glance at Nazar like maybe he’ll rein in “our daughter” at least a little.

“Masha, don’t swear,” the brunette mutters while watching the people around us.

And I accidentally get distracted staring at him for a second. Stylish trousers, a light shirt stretched over that perfect athletic body. The bastard’s gorgeous.

“I already feel like agreeing to this school adventure was a mistake,” the girl keeps muttering darkly as she stomps along in her new shoes. She wore the school’s official uniform with the logo and had her hair pulled into a high ponytail. She categorically refused bows, giving me such a look that I actually felt awkward suggesting them. “I’m never gonna need this crap in life anyway…”

“Don’t say stupid things,” I argue with her. “Without basic schooling, you won’t get into anything.”

“Funny. Considering I’m not planning to get into anything.”

“And why’s that?” Yartsev finally joins the conversation. “I’ll pay for you to study at a good university. Your education’s on me now.”

“You don’t have to.”

“And I know that,” he looks at the girl seriously. “But I want to, and I can afford it. So march to school and quit grumbling.”

The schoolyard was beautiful. Soft music played, paper flags and balloons hung around the ceremony area, there were countless kids and relatives, and even more flowers. Everyone was greeting each other after the long summer break.

At first we wanted to find Masha’s class and homeroom teacher, introduce ourselves, and hand the girl over into reliable hands. Then we’d go find the first-graders and stick Luka with them.

Pushing through the crowd, I followed Nazar, who was holding Masha’s hand. I was leading the boy behind me. Suddenly Yartsev stopped dead, and I walked right into his back.

I was about to tell him exactly what I thought about that when I noticed the reason.

Standing in front of us was a family made up of very familiar pieces. A man who looked exactly like Nazar, and a shocked blonde woman I’d definitely seen somewhere before. They were holding Andry, Egor, and Soli by the hands.

“Hi, Auntie Anya,” the kids muttered, while I turned a panicked look toward Nazar, having absolutely no clue what the hell we were supposed to do now.

The brunette’s relatives stared at our “family” wide-eyed, apparently struck speechless. His brother recovered first, furrowing his brows angrily as he glared at his twin.

“Nazar, maybe you’d like to explain what exactly I’m seeing?”

“Hey, Kirill,” my beloved sighs irritably. “Meet my Anya. And these are… the kids, Masha and Luka.”

Obviously, he almost said “ours” and caught himself in time.

“Whose kids are these?” the blonde woman finally snapped out of her stupor, and I suddenly remembered where I’d seen her.

Only then did it hit me that Nazar once invited me to his brother’s house. I instantly wanted to smack him upside the head. Later.

“Ann,” Yartsev addresses me while pointedly ignoring the question, “this, as you probably guessed already, is my brother Kirill, his beloved wife Vicky, and you already know the kids.”

“What the hell are you doing again?” his twin hisses, stepping way too close and burning Nazar alive with his stare. “After the ceremony, I expect answers!”