My relationships with women did not work out very well. So by the time I was thirty-eight, I was still a bum. My last relationship ended in a fiasco.
At that time, I was a common clerk, as they say. I worked in an office, earned an average salary, which was not much of a bargain.
I had a friend, Roma, with whom I had been friends since college. He was a manager in a nearby office. I met a girl, Irina.
We often went for walks with her in the city at night. All I could do was to please her with flowers and sometimes by going to a restaurant. I know that she, like any other woman would want more, but I could not give it yet.
Once near my office Irina accidentally met my friend Roman. I had no idea that some kind of relationship had started between them. Irina hid it from me until Roman introduced us.
He was also surprised at the moment that Irina and I knew each other. We decided to let her make her own choice. And it certainly did not fall on me.
Irina, reached for material prosperity. I walked away. But her relationship with Roma did not last long. Roma realized that Irina was only interested in his side of the welfare, not him personally.
After a few years, my career skyrocketed. And I immediately felt the attention of the opposite sex. Except that after the breakup with Ira, I did not trust anyone. I just do not believe in sincerity feelings manifested to me.
Although, I really wanted a family and children. But I did not want a woman to be with me just for the money. Earlier, when I was at the beginning of my career, they were not interested in me. And now, having become an executive, I suddenly became desirable to everyone.
One day I met a young woman. Our acquaintance happened in an elevator. It stopped, and the two of us ended up together. I can imagine how scared that woman was at the time.
I returned from a business meeting in high spirits. Everything had gone well and that was something to celebrate. That’s how we met. I saw her fear and tried my best to reassure her. I tried to make her laugh. We spent more than an hour in the elevator. We left the elevator as old acquaintances who had arranged to meet.
After that, we started seeing each other. I felt I was falling in love with Zoya. I really hoped that she would be in love with me. And then, I introduced her to Roma, before that, I proposed to her.
She promised to think about it. A couple of days later, I happened to see Roma and Zoya talking sweetly in a cafe. I became terribly jealous. I remembered how it had already happened in my life.
I could not control myself, I flew into the cafe. Started to blame the betrayal of both. Then I just turned around and left, not hearing what they said after me. Late that night, Roman came to me and explained:
“Old man, you shouldn’t have acted like that. You did not understand, offended and insulted everyone. You shouldn’t measure everyone, by Irka. Zoya just wanted to know from me what you really are. And who could tell her everything about you, only your friend. There’s nothing between us and there can’t be. Believe me. You shouldn’t have hurt her feelings. I’ll get over it, I understand, but Zoya? I don’t know.”
And then I realized what a fool I had been. Romka really was my friend. I went to Zoya to apologize.
It took me a while, but she understood and forgave me. We’ve been happy for over 15 years.
