Liocha, I have great news! Did you read my message? — she exclaimed joyfully as she entered the apartment.
— Lioch, where are you?! — she called out, worried.
A raspy cough answered from the bathroom.
— Lioch, what’s wrong? — Maria threw the door wide open.
— Yes, I got it… I’ve completely relapsed, — muttered Alexei, wiping sweat from his forehead and clutching his stomach as he came out.
— Too bad, I found last-minute deals for a weekend in Thailand… — she said regretfully.
— We’ll see depending on how you feel, — grumbled her husband, slumping onto the couch.
Maria stayed by his side all evening: bringing him tea, checking his temperature, covering him with a blanket — sometimes it started to annoy him.
— Good thing you’re on leave, — she murmured, brushing her lips against his forehead. — Rest, regain your strength…
Two days later, Alexei announced that, although feeling a little better, he still felt unwell.
— You still don’t feel better? — Maria asked, sitting next to him on the couch.
— Not really, — he moaned with a heavy sigh. — Bring me some water, your questions don’t help.
While Maria went to the kitchen, he quickly took out his phone and sent a message, then hid it before she returned.
— Did you take your temperature? — she asked, handing him a cup.
— It was 37.5, — he answered sullenly. — You’ll have to go alone…
— Alone? I can’t leave you here, — Maria was surprised.
— The tickets will be lost, — he murmured weakly. — Go, rest for two. I’ll call my mother to watch over me.
— I don’t feel good about going alone. What if you get worse? — Maria tugged gently on the blanket.
— Invite a friend or your sister. The tickets can’t be lost. You deserve this vacation, and me… I can’t do it. My salary was cut, I wasn’t expecting that.
She didn’t need much convincing — Maria agreed and started packing.
— I’ll go with Alina, she’s thrilled, — she told her husband before leaving.
— Enjoy your trip, — he replied with barely concealed joy.
Busy, Maria didn’t notice how much her “sick” husband had recovered. The next day, her sister came to pick her up, and they headed to the airport.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Alexei jumped up and grabbed his phone.
— Don’t yell! I wrote that I can’t talk right now! I sent my wife to Thailand, — he whispered. — We’re leaving for Turkey. Flight in five hours. Meet me at the airport entrance.
After hanging up, he hurriedly stuffed his things into a bag.
— Where did Maria hide my shorts?! — he grumbled, searching his closet.
An hour later, no sign remained of his symptoms.
Three hours later, he was already speeding in a taxi toward the airport, suitcase in hand.
At the entrance, a tall blonde waited for him. Seeing him, she dropped her suitcase and rushed over.
— I’ve been waiting for half an hour! — she reproached him, fixing her hair. — Why so late? Are we going to miss the plane?
— No, — he replied grimacing. He didn’t like when Milana complained.
They’d only known each other two months — Milana had arrived as an intern in his department and immediately noticed this married, well-built man. The fact that he wore a wedding ring didn’t stop her: she pursued him relentlessly, and one day Alexei gave in.
They began seeing each other secretly: Milana, five years younger, dragged him energetically into her world.
The very day Maria bought the tickets, Milana told him she’d made a “hot purchase” — just a few hours earlier. She convinced him to pay for their trip, and Alexei scratched his head trying to figure out how to get rid of his wife.
Then he had, in his opinion, a brilliant idea: fake an illness. Luckily, Maria agreed to go with her sister. Alexei thought he had everything planned.
He grabbed Milana’s suitcase, and they entered the hall, went up to the second floor, and dropped off their bags.
— So, how do you find me? — Milana breathed in a sultry voice.
— Fine, — he grumbled, noticing her usual anxiety.
— Are you sure? Look, those two guys are staring at us, — she pointed.
Alexei turned around instinctively — and dropped the suitcase.
About ten meters away stood Maria and Alina, staring at Alexei and the blonde.
— So, you’re sick, huh? — Maria said in an icy voice, then walked firmly toward him…
— Why didn’t you leave? — Alexei stammered, caught off guard.
— The flight was delayed. And you know what? Good! Otherwise, I wouldn’t have witnessed this circus, — Maria replied, piercing him with her gaze. — And this pretty lady, who is she?
— Just a friend, — muttered Alexei, paling.
— Honey, what’s going on? — Milana intervened, lifting her lips, touching up her hair. — Another with hot tickets?
— She’s my wife, — Maria cut in. — Well, my ex. Alina, our flight is called, let’s go! — she said, taking her sister’s hand and walking away resolutely.
Alexei, realizing the scale of the disaster and the futility of lying, let out a heavy sigh, grabbed his suitcase, and whispered into Milana’s ear:
— Well, I’m going home. Have fun.
He hoped that after the vacation, Maria would calm down and forgive him. But everything went differently.
As soon as she returned to the apartment, she declared:
— Pack your bags and leave. Right now.
— Wait, I can explain everything! — he tried to buy time.
— I’m not interested in your explanations, — Maria cut him off coldly. — You know, I’ve already heard a nice phrase: “Don’t let your ears believe what your eyes haven’t seen.” I’ve seen everything. End of story.
Alexei understood from her tone that it was over. A few hours later, he moved to his mother’s place, suitcase in hand. A month later, the divorce was finalized.