After 2 weeks, the conversation about what happened did not come up, but Yukio and I became very close on this basis. They began to write off and see each other often. I think we both liked it, and I was very glad to find a new friend in such a strange city. It's easier for me to be in pairs knowing that Yukio will be there. However, with the rest of the subjects that are not included in his program and those that go at a completely different time with another group, I also did not remain without attention. I was able to meet a couple of girls my age, which was an incredible success for me overall.

 Aaron would sometimes come to the college at the end of classes, and we would drive somewhere together. Most often, it's true to the center of our city, since he lived nearby, but the place didn't matter to me at all, the main thing was what was with him.

 We were also supposed to meet after class today, but he didn't say where we were going. The math class ended and I said goodbye to Lin and hurried to Aaron. Feelings overwhelmed me when I thought about him and meetings with him. Sometimes I didn't know where to put myself. To be honest, I have no idea what I found in him, and the question is like "why do you love him?" which Lin asked me the other day is quite difficult for me. I can't hide the fact that I really like his appearance. Those brown eyes that I want to drown in and lips that I'm constantly drawn to touch with my own. The cheekbones that I so often outline with my fingers and hands. God, those perfect hands with thin and long fingers. Sometimes I can't believe that such a handsome man is attracted to me.

However, if we talk about his character, then I am lost. Yes, Aaron is really sweet, kind and has a sense of humor, he is never boring. Wherever we are and whatever we do, I always have fun with him. Maybe that's why I'm reaching out to him, because without him there's not so much happiness and laughter in my life. Sometimes I wonder where he got so many stupid ideas and jokes, how they can even appear in the head of a healthy person. But nevertheless, he is perfect.

 In these thoughts, I walked from the college to the car and when I saw him, I immediately broke into a radiant smile.

 – Aaron! – I immediately opened the car with my keys before I even got to it.

 – And hello to you – the guy smiled, moved to meet me and hugged me, as he always did. Then he gallantly opened the car door for me, and I immediately climbed in.

 – How was your day? I was at work, so I didn't see your messages, I'm sorry.

 A slightly guilty smile appeared on my face and I answered it with a pout.

 – And I thought you'd forgotten about me!

 We both laughed, and I started the car.

– I have an offer to go to the shopping center near which I live. You haven't seen him yet, have you? It's huge, you'll love it!

 The guy was full of enthusiasm, so I couldn't refuse him. I held out my phone so that he entered the address into the navigator and as soon as I saw the ready route, we went for a walk.

 Fortunately, the journey took quite a bit of time, so I didn't have to put up with his music for very long. I like Aaron, but our tastes in music are radically different. He likes rap, remixes and something incomprehensible that I can't relate to any genre. Just like in the Russian fairy tale "the queen gave birth to a son or daughter in the night." Because of such differences in tastes, I decided that we would connect to the music in the car in turn.

 – See that building over there? We should go to him

 He pointed to a large, no, just a huge shopping mall and I was very surprised. It had 3 or maybe all 4 floors. Some part of it was made of glass, some was glowing. I didn't see a huge parking lot next to it, where as many people as could fit into it could put their cars.

  I started to ask, but the guy immediately understood what my question was going to be about.

 – Under the shopping center itself, we need to stop here.

I have never seen such huge shops in my city. I can't say that my city is much smaller, but we haven't built anything like this yet. I'm more than sure that we had places with underground parking, but I just wasn't there. And since I got behind the wheel recently, it didn't make much sense to pay attention to them while you were a pedestrian.

We left the car at level B and since the parking lot was enormous, I decided to take a picture of the number of the parking space where I left it. There was an elevator leading up, and as soon as we got to the first floor, I gaped. Everything was so bright, a lot of shops with completely different specifics. Fresh flowers were growing next to all the benches and escalators, which were clearly being looked after. 

"I wonder how much they pay the gardener who constantly waters this many trees and bushes inside the shopping center?"

The higher we went, the more I shone. Aaron took my hand and led me, showing me the whole complex and not letting us get lost.

 There was such a variety on the food court that I involuntarily opened my mouth again.

 – Come on, close it, the fly will fly in – The guy himself smiled slyly, as if he had something in mind

 "Are you up to something?" What kind of insidious grin is that?

 He just hugged me and led me to the table, and he went to order our food. Aaron was already used to the fact that I was always hungry after school and, if at the very beginning of our communication he constantly asked if I would have something, now he already knew that this question was devoid of any meaning.

The guy came back to me with a tray filled with food. There was a pleasant feeling inside that he remembered what I liked about food in places like this. I picked up the French fries, turned them over in my hands and looked at him.

 – You still haven't answered my question – the guy looked at me in silence for 15 seconds in response, but after that he just exhaled and spread his hands

 – Yes, it's just that at that moment I remembered the wish that I lost to you in an argument. I was glad you forgot about him yourself. But now, I have to tell you and reluctantly remind you. I don't know what you can wish for, that's why it's scary.

That's it... And really, I completely forgot. Looking at him, a thought matured in my head. We were arguing for a wish that couldn't be denied. These were the terms of the dispute, so if I told him that, in fact, he would only refuse if I was completely disgusted with him. Otherwise, he will accept it not as a wish, but as a simple offer.

 My hands involuntarily began to tremble and my breathing became short. I took a sip of orange juice and looked up at the guy who had sunk so deeply into my soul. His gaze expressed intense curiosity, nothing more.

– So you're just afraid? I let out a nervous laugh and folded my hands on the table.

 – Well, considering that it could be something crazy, then yes, I'm a little afraid.

 I reached across the table and put my hand on his wrists, looking into his dark brown eyes. Tears were starting to come, but I didn't give them a chance to move further down my cheeks and said those cherished words that made my heart ache, expecting rejection:

– Then here is my wish! How about we start dating?

 Aaron seemed to stop breathing for a while and I saw the devils begin to dance in his eyes. His hand squeezed mine, but he was silent. We both didn't say a word and didn't move for a while. My heart continued to contract, and I took his silence and actions as a refusal. A cruel and painful rejection. I pulled my hand free and turned my face slightly to the side so that all my emotions could not be read.

 Aaron decided to continue eating lunch as if nothing had happened. Deciding to follow his example, I let go a little. However, the nerves were still stretched like strings. I felt a huge lump in my throat, but I tried to make all my actions ordinary and easy.

 "Be calm, Vanessa. Nothing happened. A simple boy, nothing more"

As soon as I finished my meal and got up from the table full of imaginary determination to leave, Aaron got up with me. His gaze seemed to have changed a little. I started to walk away slowly and was ready to say goodbye for today to go home and tell Lin everything, but the guy suddenly grabbed my wrist as soon as he noticed that I was moving away. He managed to say his words before I did.

– Come on! The insolent eyes looked me up and down, waiting for a reaction.

 Then I felt as if not a stone had fallen from my shoulders, but a whole mountain. A huge one that weighed on me all the time that Aaron was silent. The hand that was squeezing my fragile heart to the point of pain released it. I exhaled, still not believing what I had heard.

 – Repeat it...

 I looked up at him with eyes full of tears and squeezed the hand that held me in place and wouldn't let me leave.

 – I want you to be my girlfriend.

 The guy said it so confidently that it took my already almost out of breath. I hugged him sharply, but in such a way that he could not see my face and the tears that flowed down my cheeks.

***

I thought that day was the hardest for me. That's how the story of our relationship began. It was so easy and free with him, so good that I began to completely forget about myself and lose myself in this guy. Aaron tried to see me more often and take me somewhere. As our relationship progressed, he introduced me to his friends. All my fears about the relationship were slowly dissolving, and I felt really happy.

 "Are you sure you still want to meet my family?"

 Aaron talked a lot about his relationship with his father and stepmother, that his own mother suffers from alcoholism and lives in another area and that he has two wonderful younger sisters. Listening to all the stories, I understood his feelings about the family and did not want to hurt them, but getting to know my parents always meant serious intentions for me. Sometimes I didn't even understand why Aaron reacted so much to my requests, because of hatred or something much more serious was hiding there. Of course, I pushed away all the obsessions and convinced myself that the guy really loves me, and therefore does not want me to see all this. However, one day his father invited me to them. That's why we had to bring up the topic so unpleasant for the person I love again.

 – Yes, baby, I'm sure. One hundred percent. If something happens, we'll leave right away. Ok?

 I tried to influence Aaron as gently as possible so as not to put pressure on him, and he nodded silently.

 – Immediately, no questions asked!

 – It will be done – I smiled gently and started the car.

The house in which he lived with his family did not match at all with the shopping center that stood three minutes away. It was quite old, there were only five floors in it. We needed the last one.

 – This balcony is ours – the guy pointed with his hand at the only adequate-looking balcony of all that were nearby.

 A light, short man of about 45 years old met us at the door. He smiled kindly at me, and I exhaled, expecting a calm acquaintance without any incident.

 – Nessa, right? I'm Wilman, the father of this idiot – the man laughed and patted Aaron on the head – Come on in, don't feel like a stranger here, Vanessa.

We went further into the apartment and my ideas about it were shattered. I expected to see something old in need of repair, but it was very bright and cozy here, although there seemed to be not enough space for everyone living here.

 – Would you like some tea? Irina is at work today, so I will be the first to meet your chosen one, Aro. I hope you don't mind.

 Aro?

 –Whatever you say," he snapped and went into another room, leaving me alone with his father in the kitchen.

 – Oh, he's still like a kid.

 Wilman covered his face with his hands, but literally after a couple of seconds he switched to me.

 – Well, how about tea?

 – Why not? I smiled radiantly and let go of the alarm.

 We sat and talked, and even laughed at times. Wilman did not look at all like that terrible father from Aaron's stories, and at times it seemed to me that all this kindness was just a mask. However, the longer we talked, I realized that Aaron probably just had his own vision of the situation and perhaps the rest of that childhood resentment.

After some time of our sweet conversation, the guy decided to join us and the first thing he did as soon as he entered the kitchen was to cast a worried glance at me. But I couldn't make out what he was so concerned about, the fact that I understood everything or the fact that he left me here alone to be eaten by the "tiger".

 – Well, how are you doing here? "What is it?" he asked and nervously pulled a chair up to the table, joining us.

 "Aro, why didn't you tell me so much about her?"

 – What's the difference, Dad? Nessie, we have to go, do you remember about the business for the evening?

 I looked at him questioningly, but his face betrayed despair, which was so easy to read that I decided to play along.

 – Oh! And we really have to go, otherwise we may be late, and I still have to go home to pack.

 – How? Already? The man's voice was slightly annoyed

 – Yes, Mr. Wilman, I'm sorry. I didn't expect our meeting to last long.

 – Nothing, I understand everything. I hope you'll come back to us, Inessa.

 – But I am...

 – Her name is Vanessa.

 Aaron's voice was like steel, cutting through the whole atmosphere that I had so diligently maintained. His shoulders were shaking slightly with anger, and I hurried, pulling the guy out of the apartment by the hand.

 – Have a nice day, Mr. Wilman!

The fresh air calmed Aaron down, and he looked at me guiltily. My hand unconsciously reached for his face. The guy just pulled me to him and kissed me, as if trying to get rid of all the bad thoughts. I can't blame him for that, but family is a personal matter for everyone. How can I tell him that I think all the stories about what a terrible father he has are complete nonsense and that in fact he is a wonderful person? Of course not, I'm more than sure I don't know much, since I wasn't present at all these moments.

Immediately after this event, Aaron suggested that I move in together and since I couldn't just shove him into the apartment where I lived with Lin, I decided to talk to him first. Of course, the guy agreed to wait for his opinion, but unexpectedly for me, Lin was even happy and said that he could finally rent an apartment where he would arrange a full-fledged workshop, because at home I did not allow him to place his mannequins all over the room.

 – You just have no idea what kind of order I received! So I will leave in 2-3 days, I will need to cancel everything on time. You can do whatever you want with this apartment, Nessie. Just promise me you'll be careful.

 – I swear to you!

 The guy hugged me and left for the upcoming lecture, and I remained standing, still not believing in what was happening. Happiness and fear of the unknown completely engulfed me, without any residue.

A week after Aaron proposed to live together, he finally crossed the threshold of my apartment with his bags. We hugged tightly, believing in the bright future that we imagined. We stepped into this abyss together called living together and I was sure that we would succeed. I believed with all my heart that everything would be exactly as I imagined.

***

– Ness, I'm sorry, I was fired from my job...

 Aaron looked at me with deep regret, but I only smiled faintly and stroked his face.

 – Don't worry, I'm sure you'll find a new one, even better

I seemed to inspire Aaron with my words about the new job. It seemed like I was able to support him the way I needed to. However, after a week of searching and eternal interviews, the guy fell into depression. He didn't leave the house at all and seemed to have stopped searching, although he reassured me that everything was fine and he was about to get settled.

 We didn't have any serious problems for a couple of months. However, Wilman wrote to me later:

 "Hello)

 Aaron doesn't get in touch, he borrowed money from me, and now I haven't heard from him. Is he all right?"

The shock didn't let go of me for a while, I couldn't say a word, I just handed the guy a phone with a message. Misunderstanding, anger, guilt, resentment and rage alternated on his face. As if he didn't know that all actions have consequences. After this message, I practically stopped showing up at school, and only slept at home. My studies slipped at the moment. The landlady started calling me, as the deadline for a new payment had come, and we were in debt to his parents. A very large part of my life was suddenly taken up by work. Every guest in the cafe started to piss me off incredibly. At home, a negative atmosphere began to emerge between us. I put more and more pressure on the guy to find a permanent, stable job, but for some reason he chose places where they promised to pay after the shift and periodically cheated.

Fear moved me on, made me work and not feel tired. College was exhausting me to the end, squeezing out all the juices. I showed up at school for about half a week, but I slept in many pairs, unable to be in my right mind. At times, I intentionally did not go away from work on weekends so that I could have a rest. Aaron and I found it hard to communicate. We just didn't hear each other. In college, I just laughed that I was deliberately skipping everything that I wasn't interested in, but in many subjects I didn't understand anything at all. I couldn't catch up with my classmates in the program, because I didn't have the moral strength to study at home.

So my dream of becoming an actress slowly faded away. I destroyed it myself, with my own hands, which I used to deliver orders to guests in the cafe. With which she hugged this man and with which she signed her own death sentence.

The further it went, the worse the relationship became, but suddenly there was hope – Aaron got a job, and my parents invited me to stay at home for two weeks.

 We talked and decided that agreeing to travel would be a good decision.

 I worked all week inspired and looking forward to a trip to my family.

Fortunately at home, everything went smoothly, as if there were no conflicts, and it was like I rebooted. Inspired by happiness, I returned home to my beloved young man, but it was as if something had changed in him too. This did not leave me alone in any way, so I, overstepping my principles about trust in relationships, decided to read his correspondence.

 Looking back, I realize that it was a stupid decision on my part, but when I found out what was going on here those two weeks that we called on video, texted and said that we love each other, my already fragile heart cracked. My hands involuntarily began to shake, my strength completely left my body, and I fell to the floor, to the sound of quietly dripping tears on the tile.

 I was cheated on...