Chapter Six:
The Weight of Words9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVRVA2o72T
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOu6CTmjSZ
As we walked, my mind wandered back to Janine. It had been a while since I’d asked about her—mostly because I didn’t want to seem too nosey or like I was prying into Marcus’s business. But today, I couldn’t resist.
“Yo, how’s Janine doing? You guys still talking?” I asked, trying to keep it casual.
Marcus smirked, his usual confidence shining through. “You know it. We talk all the time. Why? You missin’ her or something?” He raised an eyebrow, giving me that playful side-eye.
I rolled my eyes. “You wish. I just wanna know how she’s doin’. I know you two always keep in touch. What’s up with her?”
He shrugged, then smiled to himself, clearly proud. “She’s good. Focused, like always. You know how she is—got her head in the books, always making her parents proud. She’s got big plans, man.”
I nodded, remembering how she always had that kind of laser-focused energy about her. Janine was a girl who had it together. A Mexican and African American mix, with a ghetto tongue that made you listen, and yet she was one of the smartest people I knew. Funny, playful, and never too serious, but when it came to her work, she was all business.
“I know what you mean,” I said. “Her parents—those rich ones, right? The ones who keep it low-key? You never really hear about it, but you know they’ve got money.”
Marcus chuckled, pulling his wallet out from the side of his backpack. “Yeah, they’re wealthy as heck. But Janine’s not about that flashy life. She’s real humble, always rocking casual clothes, not trying to show off. It’s part of what I like about her. She stays grounded.”
He opened his wallet, pulling out a picture of Janine and himself together at prom. They looked so happy in it, their smiles wide, like they were the only two people in the world. Marcus’s smile softened, a little bashful but full of joy. I couldn’t help but grin at the sight.
“Man, look at this,” he said, his voice quieter now. “She’s the real deal, Han. I asked her out during summer vacation, and she said yes. I’m letting the cat out the bag, but I’m proud to say that she’s my girl.”
I slapped him on the back. “Heck yeah, that’s awesome, man! I’m happy for you.” My grin was genuine. “When’s the wedding? You guys going for a big ceremony or what?”
Marcus laughed, shaking his head. “Nah, not yet. We wanna finish our last year of high school first. We’re gonna be married on word, though, you know? We’re not gonna date around—we’re doing this for real, like God intended. Respecting each other, putting in the work. But we’re both focused on college and getting our lives together first. She’s gotta finish her stuff, and so do I.”
I raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on my lips. “Dang, I didn’t know you had it in you to make all these preparations. That’s cute, bro. Real grown-up of you.”
Marcus shoved me playfully. “Shut up, man. You’re just jealous because you don’t have anyone who actually likes you like that.”
I snorted. “I don’t need nobody. I’m just out here living my best life, avoiding drama like always.”
Marcus shook his head but his smile faltered just slightly. “Nah, man, it’s not even like that. I’m giving her space. She had it hard this summer.”
I slowed down, noticing the shift in his tone. “What do you mean? What happened?”
He hesitated for a moment, his fingers fiddling with the strap of his backpack. “Her mom… she killed her dad, Han. And then she shot herself in front of Janine.”
The words hit me like a punch to the stomach. I felt my heart drop, my feet nearly stopping in their tracks.
“Her… her mom killed her dad?” I whispered, unable to process it. The image of Janine, her face frozen in shock as she watched something so horrible unfold in front of her, made my stomach turn.
Marcus nodded, his face hardening. “Yeah. I don’t know how she’s even handling it, man. It’s messed up. That’s why she’s seeing a therapist now. She needs help.”
I stared at him, my mind racing. I’d never imagined something so horrible happening to her. Janine had always been so put together, so strong. The thought of her going through something like that—it hurt, it scared me.
“Marcus…” I started, but the words didn’t feel right. “Have you been talking to her? Or are you just… giving her space like you said?”
He shrugged, his voice lowering. “Yeah, we text here and there, but it’s like… she doesn’t really want to talk. When she does, it’s like something in her breaks open, and she just starts crying. I can’t do much except let her talk and try to comfort her. The therapist’s helping, though.”
I stopped walking completely. “Marcus, you gotta talk to her. Like really talk to her. You can’t just leave her alone to deal with all of this. She needs to know you’re there for her. She needs you.”
He looked at me, his eyes distant for a moment. “I know, Han. But it’s hard. She’s not the same happy Janine I fell for anymore. She’s… different. And I’m afraid she won’t ever be the same again.”
I placed a hand on his shoulder. “You have to be there for her, man. I know it’s tough, but she needs someone she can rely on. You can’t let her go through this alone.”
Marcus looked down, lost in thought. “I know you’re right. I just… I just hope she’s okay. I want to help her, but I don’t know how to fix it. I’m scared that I won’t be able to get through to her. That she won’t be the same person.”
I could see the vulnerability in his eyes, the fear that came with loving someone who was falling apart. It hurt to see him so unsure.
“You will get through to her,” I said firmly. “You just gotta show up. Be there. Even if you don’t know what to say, just be there.”
Marcus nodded slowly, his expression softening. “Yeah. Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
We kept walking, but the weight of his words hung in the air. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy for any of us—Marcus, Janine, or me. But we were all in this together, and we had to figure it out somehow.
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