A Modern Famous Love Story 2
A man and a woman sat on opposite sides of a candlelit dinner table.
“I like you,” the woman said softly, twirling the wine glass in her hand.
“I have a wife,” the man replied, fingering the ring on his hand.
“I don’t care. I just want to know your feelings. Do you like me?”
The expected answer. The man raised his head and scrutinized the woman across from him.
She was 24, young, vibrant, a perfect age.
Fair skin, a lively body, and a pair of bright, expressive eyes.
A really nice woman, but unfortunately…
“If you like me too, I don’t mind being your lover,” the woman finally added, unable to wait any longer.
“I love my wife,” the man answered firmly.
“You love her? What do you love about her? She must be old and unattractive by now. Otherwise, why have you never brought her to the company’s dinners?”
The woman wanted to continue, but when she saw the man’s cold gaze, she stopped.
Silence…
“What do you like about me?” the man asked.
“Mature, steady, manly demeanor, caring, so many things. You’re different from anyone I’ve ever met. You’re special.”
“Do you know what I was like three years ago?” the man lit a cigarette.
“I don’t know, and I don’t care, even if you were in prison.”
“Three years ago, I was just an ordinary man like the ones you see now,” the man continued, ignoring her.
“I graduated from a regular university, was unhappy with my job, drank all the time, lost my temper. I ignored girls and used them to vent my frustrations. I was even arrested once for visiting a brothel.”
“So what?” the woman asked, intrigued, wanting to know what had changed him. “Was it because of her?”
“Yes.”
“She had a way of seeing the essence of things easily. She taught me a lot, like not to worry too much about gains and losses, not to be too concerned about immediate things, and to try to be kind to people. In front of her, I was like an immature child.
Maybe the feeling I had then is similar to what you feel for me now. It was strange—my stubborn self only listened to her. I followed her advice, accepted reality, and knowing I was useless, worked hard. By the end of that year, my career had a slight improvement, and we got married.”
The man flicked the ash from his cigarette and continued.
“Those were tough days. The two of us had just one bed and very little furniture. Do you know? It took me a year after our wedding to buy her the first diamond ring. I saved for more than half a year for it. Of course, I saved the money secretly. If she knew, she wouldn’t have allowed it.
Back then, my smoking and drinking ruined my health. Every night in the dead of winter, she would make soup for me before bed. That taste, only she could make it.”
The man lost himself in his memories, forgetting the time as he talked about the past.
The woman didn’t interrupt him, just listened quietly.
When the man realized the time, it was already 10 PM.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t notice the time; it’s so late,” the man apologized with a smile.
“Now, do you understand? I can’t and won’t do anything to betray her.”
“Ah, I understand. I accept losing to someone like that,” the woman said, shaking her head with resignation. “But when I reach her age, I’ll be even better.”
“Yes, then you’ll find an even better man, right?
It’s late. The soup at home is getting cold. Let me take you home,” the man said, standing up to leave.
“No, I can go back by myself,” the woman said, waving her hand. “Go home. Don’t keep her waiting.”
The man smiled knowingly and turned to leave.
“Is she beautiful?”
“…Yes, very beautiful.”
The man disappeared into the night, leaving the woman staring at the candle, lost in thought.
The man returned home, pushed open the door, and went straight to the bedroom, turning on the bedside lamp.
He sat down along the edge of the bed.
“Darling, that’s the fourth one already. Why did you make me so good that so many people like me? If this keeps up, I might fall for someone else. Why did you make me so good and then leave me? I feel so lonely by myself.”
The man choked on his words and finally broke down in tears.
Tears dripped from his cheeks onto the photo frame in his hand. In the dim light, the old photograph was filled with the faint, gentle presence of the woman who had passed away.
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
