Pavel grew up as a reserved boy. The problem was that he was short. In kindergarten, everyone in his group was taller, even the girls. He didn’t befriend anyone. He always played alone. When his toys were taken away, he suffered in silence. He never complained at home.
In school, everything repeated itself. There, he was the shortest in class too. His classmates teased him, calling him «shorty.» He got tired of it and asked his parents to enroll him in a sports section.
Several years later, Pavel was unrecognizable. He had grown taller and built muscles. By the ninth grade, girls were offering him friendship. Remembering past grievances and mocking laughter directed at him, the boy didn’t want to befriend anyone.
In college, he relaxed. His sociability helped him attract the attention of girls. He befriended Alyona. She was from out of town and rented an apartment. At first, he walked her to her entrance. And when she invited him over, he did not refuse.
Pavel and Alyona began a close relationship. But he was not satisfied with just that.
«Let’s get married,» he suddenly proposed to Alyona.
«Pasha, you have everything ahead of you. There will be girls, and not just one. With your looks and physique, you don’t even need to conquer. I even know who in our course is in love with you. Date each of them, and then choose.»
«I don’t understand, is this all pretend with you?»
«I have a fiancé at home. He’s the most handsome in our area, and he’s wealthy. He sends me money so I don’t have to live in a dorm. I will marry him.»
«And what am I to you?» the guy didn’t understand.
«I just want to, Pasha. With Vadim, we meet once every six months during vacations. But with you, we spend every night together.»
Pavel got out of bed and started packing his things. His first disappointment in life was named Alyona.
«Are you offended? Good, it’s better you learned the truth. I’ll invite another guy over, and here’s a lesson for you. Never rush to trust girls. Feel her out.»
The distraught young man returned home.
«Son, so no wedding?» his mother greeted him with a suitcase in the hallway.
«It fell through.» He took out a box with a ring from his pocket and handed it to his mother.
«Not needed, my son? Then I’ll wear it myself. It’s beautiful and expensive. I’m waiting for you in the kitchen. Today my pies turned out well. Tea will calm you. I’ll brew it with mint,» and his mother went to the kitchen.
At the institute, Pavel avoided making eye contact with Alyona. And she behaved as if nothing had happened. After class, she whispered something to Konstantin, and they left the auditorium together.
Alyona quickly found a naive replacement for Pavel, leaving a bitter taste in the young man’s soul. The impression that he got burned by accidentally touching something forbidden, or someone else’s.
A few days later, Tamara approached Pavel.
«I have a birthday on Saturday. Maybe you’ll join?»
«Send me the address and time, and I’ll come,» Pavel smiled, but inwardly thought that he swallowed another hook. But this time he wouldn’t be so reckless. He would definitely weigh everything carefully.
The boy wasn’t wrong. After the celebration, Tamara asked Pavel to stay.
«You kiss so tenderly, Pavlik. I think we can make it work. Don’t rush to leave. I’ll see the guests off, and you can teach me how to kiss.»
«Tom, have you really never been with anyone before?» he asked beforehand.
«I won’t lie, I have, but it didn’t last long.»
Pavel stayed, and not just for that night. He understood that he didn’t love Tamara, but he enjoyed spending time with her.
«Let’s live together, Pavlik. Move in with me. Grandma now permanently lives at the dacha. My parents have their own apartment. It’s lonely by myself.»
The perfect moment to propose making their relationship official, but, taught by bitter experience, the boy didn’t rush.
Pavel’s mother fell ill. When she informed him, he came and decided to stay for a few days.
«Your father constantly stays late at the institute. He teaches evening classes. But sometimes he smells of women’s perfume,» Pavel noticed that this upset his mother.
«I’ll stop by the institute and find out everything. Mom, don’t get ahead of yourself. There’s such strong perfume that it envelops from a distance. The students aren’t just boys.»
Pavel was sure that his father was faithful to his mother, but he was mistaken. Knowing his father’s schedule, he went to the institute at the end of classes. He waited outside. When his father came out, he followed him. He stayed far enough away in the subway to remain unnoticed. To his surprise, his father got off at their station. It seemed he would be home on time today. But no. From the station, his father went in a different direction and entered the yard of a five-story residential building. After entering a code on the intercom, he disappeared into the entrance. Pavel wanted to follow him, but thought better of it. His father was probably already in someone’s apartment.
The next day, Pavel waited at the entrance a bit earlier, but around the same time, with a briefcase in hand. When a woman came out, he held the door and entered.
He stopped between floors. From a window, he could see the entrance to the building. He waited for his father and watched from the stairs. His father climbed up and Pavel followed. Finally, they reached the apartment. A young woman answered the door and invited the father inside. Pavel memorized her face.
Now, the main task for the young man was to discourage his father from «cheating,» and it was for the sake of his mother, who had a weak heart.
The plan succeeded. Pavel met this young woman in a supermarket. He pretended to accidentally bump into her bag at the exit. When her groceries spilled on the floor, he helped her pick them up, and they left together.
«It’s heavy. Allow me to help carry it to your apartment. I live in this area and can show my ID.»
«You are so charming. I believe you. If you have time, I won’t refuse the help.»
At the door of Marina’s apartment—that was the young woman’s name—Pavel suggested meeting her in the park in the evening. She agreed easily. Pleased with his luck, the young man called Tamara and told her he wouldn’t be coming over soon, explaining that he was busy with more important matters.
Pavel met with Marina every evening. He hoped his father would now be coming home on time. He decided to check and that evening parted with Marina earlier than usual, claiming he needed to take medicine to his mother.
«Mom, is Dad still teaching evening classes?»
«Yes, my son. Why do you ask?»
«Just wondering. He still comes home late.»
«And they increased his salary.»
Pavel didn’t understand. For two weeks he and Marina had been walking until late. When he returned home, he saw his father’s shoes, but his house slippers were not in the hallway. That meant he was home and already asleep.
When Marina kissed him on the cheek, he couldn’t resist and kissed her back. He understood that she was his father’s girlfriend. But some inexplicable force drew the boy to Marina. But why was his father still staying out late?
A new plan formed, and Pavel proposed to Marina.
«I’ve fallen for you like a boy. Let’s live together at my apartment?»
«Together? Pasha, you’re getting ahead of yourself. People live together after marriage, before that they just date, like us. I really like you, but think about it. First together, then a baby comes. What will we be to it? Unmarried parents? I’ve never been with a man before. But the first will be my husband.»
«Then I’ll introduce you to my parents. And then you introduce me to yours. Agreed?»
«I’d be glad to. I only have a mom and a little brother in school.»
That fateful moment arrived. Pavel warned his parents to expect guests in the evening and to prepare the table. He would bring his fiancée.
Back in the apartment during the introduction, Pavel glanced between Marina and his father. He noticed that they looked at each other in shock. His father’s forehead broke out in sweat, and Marina blushed.
«Do you know each other?» the young man couldn’t hold back.
«Sorry son, but I need to talk to you. Lena, Marina will help you in the kitchen, and we’ll be back shortly,» and he led his son to the stairwell.
«Dad, aren’t you ashamed? Marina could be your daughter, and you didn’t even spare Mom. Stop all this and come back to the family.»
«It’s not like that, son. Marina has nothing to do with it. I’m involved with her mother, and it’s gone very far. She’s my classmate. When she buried her husband, I comforted her so much that she got pregnant from me. Our son with her is seven years old. I couldn’t just stand by. I go to them and spend time with Andryushka. I’m his father.»
«And you’re sleeping with two women at once?» Pavel was angry.
Not without it, son. Ira is as much my wife as your mother is. I can’t leave her for my family. Your mother’s heart wouldn’t take it. Ira understands this and doesn’t insist. Leave everything as it is for our mother’s sake. You love her, don’t you? And she loves me a lot. And Ira has been in love with me since school. I didn’t know about her feelings back then and married your mother because she was expecting you. In retaliation, Ira married Oleg. He is Marina’s father.
«If Marina and I get married, mom will find out the truth. How will you hide a son from her?»
«I don’t know. And do you love Marina?»
«Yes, Dad, very much. But now I don’t know how to cut this knot?»
«Then marry without a wedding. Our mom can meet Ira, but she doesn’t necessarily need to meet Andryushka. And he looks so much like me.»
After the feast, Pavel went to see Marina off. He was eager to discuss this situation with her.
«Marina, Dad explained everything to me and is asking the impossible of me. What should we do?»
«I could never have imagined that you are Andrey Vasilyevich’s son. But I love you. It would be right for us to part ways, and I don’t want that,» Marina cried.
«I love you too. Soon we’ll finish our exams at the institute, and you at the college. We’ll register our marriage during the holidays and go on a honeymoon. That will be our wedding. And tomorrow we’ll submit our application to the registry office.»
«Where will we live?»
«Naturally, at my place.»
«And will Andrey Vasilyevich still visit my mom?»
«Let him. We’ll pity our mothers if they’re happy with this man.»
«Let’s not interfere,» and Marina leaned into her boyfriend.
Pavel had one unfinished matter, and he showed up at Tamara’s apartment. He was very nervous. They met in classes, but he had said he needed to be at home for his mother. No matter how much he delayed, a clear explanation was due. He didn’t want to lie, but the truth was frightening. Suddenly, he had fallen in love with Marina.
Tamara met Pavel very calmly. He thought she had been sleeping before. He noticed how she wrapped a robe around herself coming out of the bedroom.
«Forgive me, but your place is already taken. I’m not alone. Your suitcase is under the coat rack,» and she pointed with her hand.
Pavel dropped a set of keys on the dresser and left the apartment with his belongings. A light breeze cooled his face, but he felt warmth in his heart.
The resolution of this story occurred about six years later.
Pavel and Marina were raising two children, a son and a daughter. Little Natasha tried to climb out of the crib but fell onto the carpet. Pavel’s mother got very scared and screamed. The whole family ran to the noise. Marina called emergency services. But they couldn’t save the woman. She died without ever knowing about her husband’s double life.
Irina was present at the funeral. In her heart, she asked for forgiveness for what had happened many years ago.
After the funeral, Pavel’s father moved in with Irina. It was sad, but now they would together raise Andryushka, who was already big, but now he had both a mom and a dad by his side.
