— I just don’t understand what you do for a living – Nina grumbled as they, wrapped in a gray, fluffy blanket, watched a series on an old laptop.
— I told you – I’m a sysadmin – the young man smiled.
— For me, a sysadmin is someone who fixes printers in offices – Nina persisted.
— No, printers aren’t my thing, but if there’s a problem with the internet, then yes, that’s my area. Shall we watch the series? – he laughed, trying to dodge a direct answer.
— Yes, let’s! Wait! Do you fix computers?
— That’s it, chatterbox, watch out! – Andrei reached for her and began to tickle her, but accidentally knocked over a mug on the armrest. Tea spilled right onto the laptop on the floor…
— Andrei, you’re a programmer! How will you manage without a computer now? – Nina got upset and scared, seemingly more than Andrei himself – he took it all quite calmly.
— It’s nothing… – the guy casually waved his hand – I’ll think of something tomorrow. Only, I’m not a programmer. I’m a sysadmin.
— Alright, let it be so – she dismissed it. — But can you live without a computer? – asked Nina – do you want me to give you my laptop for now?
— You know, you’re right! Not about giving me the laptop, but about – come move in with me, along with it!
— I might agree, but I have a condition – we’ll pay the rent equally. I don’t want you to spend all your salary on housing.
Nina saw that the rental apartment needed repairs, that Andrei drove an old foreign car, but all that was unimportant to her.
That same evening, the young couple moved the girl’s belongings into Andrei’s apartment.
Nina felt good with him, only it always seemed like the guy was hiding something and was afraid to admit something. No, there was nothing obvious, but his particular attitude towards money. Middle-class people don’t behave like that, they are more cautious.
That evening, Andrei came home cheerful with some flat box in his hands. Looking at the label, Nina exclaimed:
— MacBook! Andrei, what! It costs as much as a car!
Andrei brushed it off:
— Nonsense, Nina! No expenses. Remember, I told you I wanted to participate in a contest? – the girl shook her head no. – Didn’t tell you? Must have forgotten. There was this online company running a “Sysadmin of the Year” contest, I submitted an entry. Answered the questions, pretty basic ones at that, and forgot about it. Then today a call: “Come pick up your prize.” So it’s all free.
Another time Nina noticed in Andrei’s hands instead of his old «Samsung» a new, expensive phone.
— Andrei, where did this come from? – she asked worriedly.
And again, Andrei’s careless gesture:
— Nonsense, Nina, smashed my old one today, so bought the first one I came across.
— And «the first one you came across» couldn’t have been cheaper? Andrei, I know, it’s a very expensive phone.
— Nina, why are you nagging? How expensive is it, only twenty thousand. But it has everything, it’s so convenient, look – and Andrei excitedly started telling the girl about his new purchase.
Nina herself, who never bought phones above so-called budget models, listened to him absently and thought:
— Still, something’s not right here. We don’t have the money for such expensive purchases. Andrei hasn’t told me something.
Several days later, Nina, admiring the sunset, stood on the balcony when a luxury car drove into the yard. An impressive woman of a certain age was driving, the reflection of the sunset sun obscured who was sitting next to her. The car stopped near their entrance, through the glare on the glass, Nina saw how the silhouette of the passenger quickly pecked the cheek of the woman driving and out of the car came… Andrei. And everything suddenly fell into place. So that’s where the expensive purchases, that’s where the carefree attitude towards money came from.
Nina had heard before that it happens when a wealthy older woman keeps a young favorite. It flatters her vanity, and possibly — not only her vanity. Such ladies seem to take a young man under their wing, look after him, give expensive gifts, give money for expenses… Nina felt weak. Her Andrei, with this old woman? She didn’t care that she looked good, nowadays anything can be bought with money, but this woman was clearly over fifty! The girl was about to tell Andrei that it was all over between them right from the threshold, but she stopped. First, she needed to question the guy himself, gather information. What if it’s not what she thought.
— Andrei, hello — Nina greeted the guy in the hallway — how are you? How was your day?
— Thanks, baby, I’m fine — the guy hugged the girl, but she pulled away — and how are you?
— Was fine. Until I saw some woman drop you off.
— Oh, that? That’s Alla Sergeyevna — a regular client. I was working at her company today, so she gave me a lift.
A client? And you kiss all your clients on the cheek?
Andrei looked stunned at the girl for a few seconds and then burst into laughter:
— So that’s what you’re talking about? Are you jealous? Nina, that’s Alla Sergeyevna! She’s like a second mother to me!
The girl felt relieved, and she hugged her boyfriend, but the worm of doubt still tormented her soul. And suddenly Nina remembered. In the courtyard of the house where she used to live, a group of men always gathered. They played chess, told stories — a typical neighborhood company. And there was a man in this company nicknamed Vasya-Reference. Rumors were that for a small fee he could dig up any information.
Why not — she decided and the very next morning cautiously approached the group of men.
— Vasily? — Nina politely addressed the guy of indeterminate age.
What Vasily am I to you? I’ve always been Vasya for everyone. Speak, what do you need.
— Vasya, can we step aside? I have a matter for you — stepping aside, the girl briefly laid out her request to Vasily. — Can you help? — she asked hopefully.
Vasya watched Andrei for almost a week, convinced that he was doing everything unnoticed and professionally, but that evening, Andrei suddenly approached him and invited him to a nearby cafe.
— Vasya, we need to talk — Andrei addressed the man, causing him to flinch.
But how did you…
— Vasya, why are you acting like a child? You’ve been following me all week and think I haven’t noticed? Did Nina ask you to follow me?
— Can I not answer that question?
— You can. Anyway, there’s no one else. Let’s sit down and talk, man to man.
At the cafe over very tasty shashlik, Andrei told Vasily everything, after which he asked:
— Vasya, have we agreed?
— Of course, Andrei!
— Well, then we’ll see you at seven in the restaurant. Don’t be late!
Nina was surprised when, hearing the doorbell and opening the door, she saw Vasily standing on the threshold.
— Nin… I came to say… I couldn’t gather any information about Andrei. Here’s the advance. I’m returning it. — with these words the man handed her several thousand-ruble bills.
— But how did you find me — she asked in surprise — I didn’t give the address.
So I couldn’t find out anything about Andrei, but about you — easy — Vasily threw out, approaching the elevator.
— «That’s it! Definitely, Alla Sergeyevna bought Vasya! Couldn’t find out, right! Yes, he didn’t even try — they caught him and bought him outright! And Andrei’s a traitor! That’s it! I’m leaving! Not a minute will I stay here!» — with these thoughts, the girl began packing her things.
Andrei appeared unexpectedly — absorbed in her bitter thoughts, the girl didn’t hear the squeaky entrance door, she didn’t see how Andrei entered the room, only his voice brought her out of her reverie:
— Packing up? That’s great, you got it right — we’re moving tomorrow, but now’s not the time for that. Get dressed, we’re going to a restaurant.
— That’s where I’ll tell you everything, that’s where I’ll make a scene! — the girl thought vengefully, but aloud she asked — What’s the occasion?
— Nina, I’m asking you, don’t ask about anything, you’ll find out everything soon, but for now, be patient.
At the restaurant, they were awaited by a table where Alla Sergeyevna was already sitting in the company of some man. Andrei led Nina to them:
— Mom, Dad, meet, this is my Nina.
Mom? Dad? — the girl couldn’t recover from her astonishment
— Nin, just sit down. You’ll have to listen for a long time — Andrei began to tell the girl that he really does work in his company, just not as a master. Several years ago, he and his mom opened this firm together and business unexpectedly took off. The business was constantly expanding and incomes were growing. At that time, a circle of admirers, greedy for his money, began to form around Andrei. But he himself wanted to be with a girl who needed him, not his estate. And then the guy came up with this test — to pretend to be poor and see his chosen one’s behavior. Nina passed this test. — Now that you know everything, I want to ask for your hand — the guy finished his speech on one knee.
At that moment, the doors flung open and another person walked into the hall
— So, can we congratulate the young couple yet? Bitter? — Vasya-Reference’s cheerful voice rang out.
A month later they filed an application at the registry office, in three they got married, and a year later their wonderful baby Sonya was born…
