«Yul, can you imagine? Pasha and Amina are coming for the weekend!» Roma approached his girlfriend, holding his phone and smiling.
«Seriously? How long has it been since we last saw them… Five years?» She smiled. «Well, there will be something to talk about.»
«Yeah, they’ve wanted to get away for a long time. Pasha kept complaining that things in their town are only getting worse. You and I managed to break free, but they’re still stuck there like in a swamp.»
«And where will they stay?»
«Honestly, I immediately suggested they stay with us. You don’t mind, do you?» Roma squinted.
«Well, if everyone has already decided without me, then I agree. Let’s give them a city weekend. We’ll walk around, show them everything. Let them see how you can live if you try and work hard,» Yulya said. Pride for themselves and Roma was clear in her eyes. They moved, made it, settled in… and lived quite well. Though many said that simple, ordinary provincials had nothing to catch there.
The apartment was sparkling clean before the guests arrived: Yulya had cleaned thoroughly, pulled fresh bed linen out of the closet to put in the living room. The hostess even bought a blanket so the guests wouldn’t be cold. And a couple of new pillows to sleep more comfortably. She and Roma prepared for their friends’ visit as if hosting close relatives.
On Saturday morning, the intercom rang. Within a minute, Pasha and Amina were standing in the hallway. He wore a tracksuit long out of fashion in the capital; she was in ridiculous tight jeans and a tight tank top. Sullen, irritated, and scanning the corridor carefully.
«Hi! Come in, dear guests…» Roma said.
«Wow, even better than I imagined,» Pasha said, taking off his old sneakers and showing his holey socks to the world.
Amina walked deeper into the apartment, looked around silently, and asked:
«Is this rented?»
«No, it’s ours. We took it on a mortgage,» Roma replied. «Well, shall we go to the table? Tea, coffee?»
«Coffee,» Amina threw out.
«And I’d like something stronger.» Pasha tapped Roma on the shoulder.
An hour later, the atmosphere became a bit more relaxed. Friends exchanged news.
«Actually… life here is completely different,» Yulya said.
«Even the air is different. And people probably smile more,» Amina nodded.
«Why shouldn’t they smile? There’s something to live for here,» Pasha added. «But we have no salaries, no jobs. Ugh.»
Yulya placed fruit and a homemade pie she baked for the guests on the table.
«Listen, Rom,» Pasha began during dinner. «Are there any job openings at your work? I’ll take anything. I’m tired of slaving for peanuts.»
«I’ll check,» Roma nodded. «We’re just hiring new staff now. I’ll try, but I can’t promise anything, Pasha.»
«Are you ready to move? With the kids?» Yulya was surprised.
«Well…» Amina tried the pie and thought. «We would move as a family. But… you understand, two kids, the older one just started kindergarten—a good one, we fought long for a spot. And we have no money for the move.»
«If anything, Pashka could move alone for now. There’s a company apartment where two guys share a room. They don’t complain much,» Roma said.
Yulya looked at her husband. She noticed a flicker of doubt in his eyes. But then he smiled, as if brushing it off.
«I wouldn’t want to live separately,» Amina muttered. «It’s a matter of prospects and salary.»
The guests left on Monday. Pasha sent his résumé, and Roma vouched for him… and a couple of weeks later, everything happened.
Pasha got hired quickly. Roma kept his word: he talked to management, recommended him. Pasha was taken on a probation period—not the highest position but with a decent salary and growth prospects.
«Buddy, I owe you,» he said to Roma one evening, coming over with a bottle of wine. «This is my chance. At home, there were no options at all. Now we’ll live better!»
«The main thing is don’t let me down,» Roma replied and opened the bottle.
Yulya watched everything from the side. At first, everything seemed normal: Pasha visited sometimes, drank tea, shared how the new job was going. He didn’t stay overnight, getting used to a temporary shared room with colleagues.
«Pash, how is Amina? How are the kids?» Yulya asked out of routine.
«The kids are fine. I sent them money for new toys. Mom helps… But my wife isn’t too happy I left. But I’m glad. At least I can rest from her constant control,» Pasha admitted after a few drinks.
«Yeah, that’s how it is… long-distance relationships. At least you’ll miss each other,» Yulya chuckled.
Pasha left.
The next weekend he came not alone but with Amina and the kids.
«We came for the weekend,» Amina announced, as if they had agreed on everything beforehand. «We missed you! The kids haven’t seen their dad for a long time! And we haven’t seen you in ages.»
Yulya froze with surprise. Long time no see—it had been a year or two… not two weeks. Well, she couldn’t just throw them out.
«Okay… come in. I roasted a chicken,» she forced out. «Where are you staying?»
«At a hotel,» Amina sighed. «Expensive, of course. No money, but what can you do? We need to meet with my husband at least occasionally! Otherwise, he’ll forget what I look like and bring someone else home.»
«Amin, who else could I bring?!»
«Red or white?» Roma asked routinely. His hospitality had become a routine…
«Oh guys, we won’t stay long. By the way, could you watch the kids? Pasha and I need some time alone… you understand,» Amina giggled. «It’s hard to have any romance with the kids in a one-room place.»
Yulya looked at Roma, who averted his eyes and shrugged. As a man, he understood Pasha, but he wasn’t eager to sit with other people’s kids.
«We won’t be long, honestly,» Amina folded her hands near her face.
«Alright — one time we can help. Go ahead, darlings. Make a third one,» Yulya laughed. «They say they pay a lot for that… maybe you can even afford an apartment.»
Pasha and Amina laughed and left. Their kids stayed with Roma and Yulya.
Basically, nothing terrible happened. True, the young couple was more tired than usual but felt almost like heroes for not leaving their friends in trouble.
The friends rested well, and later this «one time» became regular. Amina came almost every week and each time asked to watch the kids. Not for a couple of hours — for a day, an evening, a whole Saturday.
«My husband lives in another city,» she said. «I need these meetings. Please watch them; you’re without kids for now! Practice!»
Yulya was annoyed and said on the third time that was enough.
«The kindergarten is closed. We have plans.»
«Really? Leaving?» Amina was upset, but then a great idea came to her mind. «Great. Give us the keys. We’ll live with you for a bit. A week or two. Hotels are too expensive; my husband doesn’t want to pay, says my visits cost him too much.»
«No way. We’re leaving for a day and then coming back. Where do you want us to live?!» Yulya asked.
«Well… you have two rooms. We won’t be in the way. We’re friends, almost family.»
After this conversation, Yulya nearly quarreled with Roma.
«Did you even hear what she said to me? We’re supposed to move aside so they’re comfortable!»
«Maybe she’s stressed. With kids, husband moving… maybe PMS.»
«She’s not stressed; she’s just brazen! We don’t have to take them in! I’m against it. Call Pasha and tell him his wife should stop being so pushy.»
«Listen, that’s kind of harsh.»
«And do they behave well?!»
Roma shrugged in response. But after that talk, he called Pasha, and Amina backed off a bit. Or so Yulya thought. In fact, she just changed tactics and started messaging Roma.
«Hi. Can you do me a favor? I need to check his phone… He’s not messaging anyone, right?»
Later, when Roman refused, Amina wrote again.
«Then at least go visit him. Check if there are any women’s things in his room.»
«Rom… Really! You should talk to him heart to heart. He’s distancing himself, I’m scared. I think he has someone! And he trusts you.»
At first, Roma replied briefly. Then he started ignoring her. But Amina didn’t give up. Sometimes calling, sometimes sending voice messages with tears. Sometimes long texts full of pleading emojis.
Roma didn’t tell Yulya about this. He hid the chats, deleted messages, sometimes went to another room to talk.
She sensed something was wrong. One evening, when he again went away with the phone, she approached him, looked over his shoulder — and saw a long message from Amina:
«Go to him tomorrow. I think he’s ignoring me. I’m sure he found someone. Check the phone if you can.»
Yulya flared up.
«Are you hiding something? Is she your friend now? Or have you decided to spy on Pasha?»
«I’m not spying!» Roma shook his head. «It’s just… she’s annoying. Writes, calls, complains. I thought — well, she’s the wife of a friend, maybe I should help…»
«Help? She’s using you as a runner! And you’re silent and let it happen. All because you can’t say ‘no.’ You showed her it was allowed. Now you’re paying for it! And you hide it from me like a naughty cat! Aren’t you ashamed? They have problems, but you’re to blame!»
«Sorry. I should have told you. And ended this dragging on.» Roma deleted all messages and blocked the friend’s wife’s number.
After that conversation, Amina still managed to reach Roma, and he finally told her he wouldn’t participate in her «checks» anymore. She got offended. Said Yulya was ruining him. Real friends don’t do that.
«You know, if you keep pushing, I’ll tell Pasha…»
Only after that did Amina back off.
However, Pasha learned about these messages from Yulya.
He was very upset, realizing how far things had gone. One evening he said to Roma:
«She’s been driving you crazy too, right? Sorry she’s so intrusive. I’m tired of it myself. Thought it would be easier at a distance, but no. Alright, I’ll handle it.»
Two months passed since that conversation. Both Amina and Pasha disappeared from the friends’ lives.
Roma and Yulya went back to living as before, went on vacation, visited parents.
And they met Amina in their hometown. She walked past without greeting. Later it turned out she and Pasha had broken up.
Rumor has it, Amina found someone while her husband was in Moscow… The jealous wife herself was unfaithful. That happens sometimes…
