While Anechka was engaged in her children's affairs, I somehow unexpectedly plunged into the memories of school years ... We studied with Mark in parallel classes. The girls did not consider him super-handsome, but they liked to talk with him. He was very charming, cheerful and ... quite rich. I could afford to study in some cool high school, but preferred a regular district school.
By the way, this was the main reason for the scandals in the family of Mark. His father believed that the school is not the best educational institution. But Mark stubbornly defended his point of view. What to hide, I fell in love with him without a memory. He also drew attention to me: he communicated with me at the changes, saw off home. In the final class, we became inseparable friends. Mom liked Mark, but she feared that I would not get into him completely. "Daughter, he only treats you like a friend, not as a favorite girl. Be careful, "she often said. I assured my mother that everything was under control, and she secretly hoped that one day Mark would fall in love with me.
And then we'll go to university together and get married in a couple of years. The problems began when Mark did not pass the entrance exams to the faculty of foreign philology. His father almost ate. I tried to support a friend.
- Do not worry. In a year you will try again, and you will definitely get it, "Mark urged. But it was all in vain.
"Mash, I need to find some work urgently." My father did not drive me out of the house when he learned the results of the exams. He said that he does not intend to support me for a year, "he said angrily. Mark tried to get himself somewhere, but they did not hurry to take young and green to work. And then it dawned upon him ...
"Auntie Alla called yesterday. She lives in London, married to an Englishman. I'm her favorite nephew, "he said rather. - In short, she suggested that I move to her for a short while ... She said she would pay for good language courses. And, perhaps, even attach a part-time job to her husband's firm, "Mark went on, not hiding his joy. I felt that now I would cry. - And what have you decided? - asked about fear, still hoping for his refusal.
- Masha, well, you have questions! Of course, I'll go. Can you imagine how I can pull up an English? This is not often the case. Well, aunt, well done! And what am I supposed to do here?
- Yeah, really nothing ... True, I'm staying here, but it's not important, - I said with tears and resentment.
- So, just do not need to roar! In three months I'll be back. It's not long at all.
"Yeah, not for long ..." I repeated, wiping the smeared makeup.
A month later Mark received a visa, booked tickets and invited several close friends to a farewell party. In his mood, I realized that he was looking forward to tomorrow - the date of departure. Unlike me ... It still did not fly away, but I was already terribly bored.
After the farewell party we went to the airport. I stood on the sidelines, forcing myself not to cry. Finally announced the flight of Mark. He kissed me and went to pass passport control. Rising on the escalator, he waved to me. Somehow too much fun ... First, Mark called almost every day, and we chatted for an hour. Then the calls became rare and short. I'm very homespun, I abandoned my studies. It's good that there was a friend of Kostya who helped out in the examinations, shared notes and supported me in everything.
"What would I do without you," I sighed, gratefully looking into his eyes. But Kostik only smiled indulgently ...
Three months have finally ended. Mark was about to return. But a few days before his arrival he called:
"Masha, I stay in England for another six months," he shouted happily to the receiver.
- There is an opportunity to learn business English for free. Can you imagine ?!
I did not ask about anything. I was terribly hurt and hurt. But still waited, hoping that Mark would come at least for Christmas holidays. Kostya tried to entertain me, pulled me to the skating rink, to the cinema, did everything possible so that I would not think about Mark. In March, Mark returned. I arrived without a call to my home with a bouquet of yellow tulips right from the airport. It seemed some strange, puzzled. I did not want to sit at home, and we went to the cafe. I looked at him, waiting for some confessions, and ...
- Mashun, I do not want to deceive you ... In general, I'm not going to return to Ukraine. Now he came to see my mother, because she missed you very much.
"But I could come to you from time to time, and after my studies I could move permanently," I began.
- Stop! Firstly, it will be difficult for you to open a visa. And secondly ... What does it mean for good? In my opinion, I did not promise you anything. We're just friends, right? He asked, looking straight at me.
I nodded in silence. I was disgusted and ashamed. "Oh, and the fool! I dreamed - now get it, "- she scolded herself mentally. I got up and left the cafe without saying goodbye. I hoped that Mark would catch up, start apologizing. But this did not happen ... At home, I waited a long time for him to call. In vain - the phone treacherously silent. The next day my mother secretly called Kostya. He immediately came, quietly listened to me and began to console me.
"Do not worry," he said, stroking my head. "You will forget him ..."
- I will not forget. I will never forget. Kostya, I love him so much ... "she whispered through tears, hiding herself in his shoulder. A few days later I found out that Mark had left. I was even more upset. When he was in the city, he expected that he would call, that we would meet and discuss everything. But when he left, I lost hope.
I did not want to leave the house , abandoned my studies, started quarrels with my mother. At that time Kostya became irreplaceable. He fussed with me, as with a small child, tolerated all my whims.
"Mash, calm down, after all." I also found a problem - Mark left. Is there light on a wedge on it? Kostya was right. For a while I was holding myself, but any song on the radio about unhappy love or the sight of a couple in love was driving me crazy.
Fortunately, time heals. Therefore, in four months I came to life. But for a little while ... Mark again came to visit his parents. My friends told me about this. And the next day I came across him on the street. She wanted to pretend that she had not noticed, but he blocked my way: "Mashun! It's good to see you! "He said with a smile.
- Me too, - squeezed out with difficulty, and the most literally popped heart.
- Listen, today I have a party. Come, eh? I'll leave soon, so I'd like to see all the old acquaintances ... "Old acquaintances ..." I thought angrily. "So that's what you think of me!"
"All right, I'll come," she said aloud, and decided to show that I did not dry it at all ... Alas, I drank too much and unexpectedly found myself in his bed after the party. In the morning I woke up with remorse. While Mark was asleep, quickly gathered and fled home. I knew that for him today's night was just sex. But for me ... Again, the previous feelings, hopes. I naively believed that he would understand that he still loved me. And somewhere in the depths of my soul I even hoped that I would become pregnant, and then he would have to marry me ... But Mark flew away without even calling me ... Kostya, I did not admit that I had slept with Mark, only talked about the party and about their experiences.
- I should not go there ...
"I should not," my good guardian angel agreed. "But I did it differently." And in this there is nothing terrible. Do not worry ... Will you drink some wine?
After the second glass, I stopped talking about Mark. After the third, I believed that I could still be happy.
"You're so kind to me ..." she whispered, looking Kostya in the eyes. - You are so good. Why do not you have a girlfriend?
- And you do not guess? - he answered softly, and then suddenly kissed me ... That night we spent together. In the morning, Kostik started apologizing to me.
"Look, Masha, this will not happen again. I just lost my head ...
I listened, looking out the window. I thought that all this time I was tormented by memories of Mark, and next to me was someone who really appreciated me, and maybe loved me.
"Shut up, please," I said, and then she kissed him.
We began to meet. Kostya was very happy, I like too. Although I did not think about him day and night, I did not miss her. I was just fine with him. Our relations did not resemble those that once connected me to Mark. There was no magic, charm ... I felt like my friend Bones, as before. I just now slept with him ...
Two months after our first night, it turned out that I was pregnant. Kostya went mad with happiness, and I ... from uncertainty. After all, it could be Mark's child ... You can be stunned! I did not have time to look back, as I became the wife of Kostya. We moved to a small apartment, which my husband inherited from my grandmother. I failed my studies, because the whole pregnancy was very unwell. Then Anya was born, and I no longer wanted to learn. I was sitting at home with a baby girl, became a full-time wife and mother. I remember that on my wedding day I was worried that I would be unhappy. Then I stopped thinking about it ...
"Mother, mother," cried Anna, interrupting my memories. "Let's go home already, the snowflakes are over," my daughter laughed me in a moment.
I took her hand and we headed home. And in the courtyard I was waiting for a surprise: it seemed that in the parking lot near the car is Mark. Although it was four years ago, I could not make a mistake. She picked up the baby and flew into the house with a bullet. "Well, you must! As soon as I thought about him, my thoughts materialized. " Anechka sat down next to the TV to watch cartoons, and I started to prepare dinner, but could not concentrate, everything fell from my hands. When Kostik returned from work, a little calmed down: "You think, Mark came. What did I do? "After dinner, I sat down in front of the TV, while Anechka and Kostya were looking at the book. And then someone rang the doorbell.
- Will you open it? My husband asked me.
"Of course," she nodded with a smile. "Perhaps Aunt Rita came again." It's boring for the old lady, so I went to the seagull. Has opened and heart has left in heels. In front of me was Mark. Irritated, but somehow tired and exhausted.
- Hello ... I did not expect?
"Of course not," she answered quietly. - What are you planning to do?
- I decided to check it out. Can?
I looked back at the parted door. Anya climbed onto Kostya, and they rushed about the room, bursting with laughter.
"You can not," she answered coldly. "Marc, you better leave right away!"
- To leave? - leaning his shoulder against the wall, he sighed deeply. - Mother said that you have a husband ...
"Yes," I said calmly.
- And you have a daughter ...
- Well, there is. So, what is next?
"Listen ... Is this my child?" He blurted out suddenly. "Only be honest!" I was just taken aback. I did not have time to reply, because Kostya looked out into the hallway. My land is gone from under my feet.
- Do not be silly! Hissed Mark, trying to shield him with himself. "Get out and do not come again!" Do not ever come, do you hear? Not waiting for a reply, she slammed the door in front of him. After standing, returned to the room. I think Kostya heard the conversation, because he was clearly excited. I was also nervous.
"Masha, why did he come here?" The husband asked in a trembling voice.
"I do not know, Kostya. I do not know ... In the evening we went to sleep in silence. I could not sleep at midnight.
Lying, looking at the ceiling , not to wake Kostya. In the morning my husband was angry. Tried to talk to him, but he waved it off.
- What happened to you? She asked at last.
"Do you still ask?" - Kostya was indignant. "After all, I see how worried you are!" Maybe you still love him? It was enough for him to come once, and you do not sleep at night ...
"Kostya, what are you saying?"
"Why was he wondering if he was his daughter?" He has reason to think that this is his child?
"Anna is your daughter," she said firmly. "I was convinced of this when she was born." The same eyes, nose, blood type ... Do you think I'd be deceiving you for so many years? He did not answer. I bit my lip: his silence hurt me ... Then Kostya went to work. And all day I could not calm down. In the evening, Anna warmly dressed and went out to meet her husband. I thought that he would be pleased ... We walked a little and went to a stop. About five minutes later, a new sports car pulled up near us. Out of it came Mark. He came up to us and greeted me.
- Hello, Masha! How are you?
- Well! She answered irritably.
- True? He grumbled incredulously.
- True. And you have? - I asked, although in fact I did not care.
- Well, more or less ... With women a little unlucky, and so all is okay.
Anya stood between us , staring with interest at Mark. And according to the law of meanness at that moment Kostya came out of the bus. How did he look at us! I wanted to say something, call him, but did not have time. He turned around, caught up with the bus ... The driver opened the door, and my husband left.
"We already need to go," I blurted out, and pulled Anya's hand with all her might.
"Mash, wait, please ..." Mark tried to block the way.
"We have nothing to talk with you about," I said decisively and went home. I hoped that Kostya would change his mind and return. But he did not return. And did not answer my calls. I did not know what to do.
- Where is Dad? - asked sleepy Anya. I lied that he had to stay at work, and only then did she fall asleep. After two hours of calling to the mobile, my husband finally got a call.
- Kostik, where are you? She asked nervously.
"I'm with my brother." And what? What did you want?
"What's this?" Dear, we are waiting for you. Why do not you go home?
"Do I have a house?" Maybe all these years you loved only him? Kostya asked surprisingly calmly.
"What are you talking about?" This is some kind of nonsense!
- I saw how you look at him ...
"Kostya, do not invent stupid things!"
- Masha, we live with you for four years. During all this time, have you ever said that you love me? At least once?
I fell silent. Kostya is right ... I never told him tender words, I did not know how to show my feelings. Especially after I got burned with Mark.
Suddenly, my heart ached.
"Masha, before calling me home, think ..." he paused, "figure out who you want to see next to you." You know that I love you very much ... Therefore, I want you to be happy. There was a hoot of late. I dripped myself valerian and a few minutes later fell asleep. In the morning I knew exactly what my decision should be.
I called my husband, and he immediately answered.
- Kostya, come home, I miss you. Dear, I just realized how much I love you! I'm sorry I never told you about that. I'm sorry, "she said and burst into tears.
Kostya listened in silence. But it seemed to me that he also cried. At last I was able to say the words that I had to say a long time ago ... I realized how much Kostya loved me - truly, sacrificially. And what I was feeling for Mark was just a hobby, a mirage that I invented myself and believed in ...
On the 31st I sat in the kitchen near the window and watched the snowfall. It was beautiful outside the window, but I was unbearably sad and lonely. "Today is the New Year, but there is no Bones. How I was unfair to him, how he offended ... "On the snow-covered street, hung with packages of gifts, rare passers-by rushed home. One of them seemed familiar to me. Looked ... It's Kostik! The husband was returning home, holding a Christmas tree. Jumping up from the stool, I rushed headlong to the door, for a second descended the stairs, opened the door of the entrance. "I knew that you would come," she whispered, laughing and crying. - Happy new year darling..."