– Tomorrow we’re invited to a restaurant, – Lisa’s eyes sparkled with joyful anticipation. – My parents are eager to meet you. Do you have a suit?
– I’ll find one if I need to, – replied Nikita, vaguely recalling his graduation. – Is it really necessary? To be honest, I’m not fond of all this formality.
– I don’t know, – the girl shrugged. – Maybe it’s okay, but my dad usually always wears a suit, it’s his job.
“Who would doubt it?” – thought Nikita and sighed. But there was no choice, you can’t ruin the first impression, he’d have to match. He already feared that his well-off father wouldn’t approve of his daughter’s choice; after all, they really came from different social backgrounds.
His patience ran out while tying his tie. The online tutorials didn’t help, so he went for help: – Dad, help me!
– No, I don’t wear that kind of thing, – his father answered. – And let me tell you this: a man who can wear that should at least learn how to tie it, otherwise, why bother? You’re already nervous. And in a tie, you’ll feel out of place.
– Maybe I should just skip it? – Nikita cheered up.
– I’ve been telling you this from the start – don’t stress about it. Turn around, let me see you.
Nikita obediently turned.
– How do I look?
– You’ve outgrown the suit, – his father honestly said. – You look like you’ve been shot. Try swinging your arms, does the jacket feel tight?
– What should I do? I don’t have another one.
– Well, if you don’t, just wear a nicer shirt – that’s enough. Are you going to meet your girl’s parents, or are you already taking her to the registry office?
– Well, her parents… I doubt they’ll like me.
– Why’s that?
– I think they expect someone well-off, with a house and an expensive car. They have a two-story cottage…
Nikita’s doubts were understandable. After school, the guy went into the army, only enrolled in university afterward. And at this age, even a year makes a difference. While Nikita was finishing his studies while working part-time, his peers had already graduated and started making decent money.
However, among his classmates, Nikita not only looked good, but he also behaved much more maturely. It was no surprise that the most beautiful girl in his course noticed him.
– Listen, let me tell you from experience – even though you’re still a student, Lisa’s father is definitely no fool, he’ll see what’s necessary in you, believe me.
After thinking for a moment, his father smiled and continued:
– First impressions can be made in many ways. You should know how I met your grandfather.
– Come on, come on, – Nikita lit up. – You never told me this before.
– It was too early for you to know back then, but now it’s the right time. It was in ‘92. It was early May, the lilacs were in full bloom, you couldn’t believe it. At that time, your mother and I had been seeing each other for over a year. And one Saturday, she calls me and teasingly says that her parents went to the dacha, so the apartment is completely ours…
– Dad, – Nikita blushed slightly.
– Oh come on, you know you weren’t found in a cabbage patch, right? So, I took out my modest savings and started thinking about how to arrange a romantic evening. Fortunately, a friend worked at a flower shop and made me a gorgeous bouquet. I left her place and realized that with such beauty, there’s no way I’m getting on a bus, it’s too cramped. I needed to catch a ride. Taxis weren’t too great back then. I caught a car, told the driver the address of the store – thought I’d grab a bottle of wine too. I’m riding, and the mood… well, you know!
His father paused, smiling at his memories.
– The driver looked at me and asked, “What are you so happy about?” So I told him everything straight out. I said it’s spring, love, and my girl’s parents happened to leave the city. He smiled and said he used to be young too, and understood everything. Then we reached the store, and I told him I’d run in for wine and another item, then we’d head to this address. But his face changed…
Nikita laughed out loud:
– Was that your dad?
– Spot on! He immediately said: “You can skip the other item because your Natasha’s father forgot something at home and came back.” He also suggested I get some brandy instead of wine. We had a great time, Pетрович is a great guy, you know him.
Meanwhile, Nikita took off the tight jacket, changed his pants, and put on his favorite shirt.
– Alright, dad, thanks for the pep talk, I’m off.
– Be yourself! Good luck!
Half an hour later, the young man walked through the door of a fairly expensive restaurant. Well, apparently, Lisa’s father wanted to remind him of his modest income. Approaching the table, Nikita smiled at his beloved, greeted her mother, and froze in confusion, extending his hand to her father.
… Six months ago, he met a former classmate who persuaded him to visit a bar to reminisce about their school days. Honestly, Nikita had never liked this slippery character, but he still gave in.
A couple of hours later, the classmate went to the bathroom and never came back. Nikita waited, half an hour passed, and then, feeling disappointed, he paid for both and headed to the exit.
– What, were you planning to snatch a phone and sneak out quietly? – a two-meter man with a very serious look greeted him at the door. A strong punch to the stomach followed the question. Nikita lost his breath from the surprise but quickly recovered; after all, they taught him worse in the army. He immediately found himself beside the opponent and landed several quick blows. It’s hard to say how this confrontation would have ended, but a police patrol arrived just then.
At the station, Nikita found out that his slippery classmate had not only ditched him but had also quietly taken the man’s phone from the table on his way out.
After sorting things out, the man immediately apologized and even paid the fine for both of them:
– Get rid of friends like that, kid, they won’t do you any good.
And now, the very man who owned the unfortunate phone was sitting next to Lisa and extending his hand to Nikita for a handshake. Dmitriy Sergeyevich – that was his name – greeted him calmly, showing no sign that he had seen the groom before.
– Nikita, want to step out for a smoke? – he suggested about half an hour later.
The young man agreed, even though he didn’t smoke.
– Served? – Dmitriy Sergeyevich asked briefly once they were outside.
– Yes, sir, airborne.
– The next generation is growing, – the man chuckled. – And you’re a good guy, fought with a man twice your size, didn’t flinch… Means you won’t let my Lisa down.
After a moment’s thought, he added:
– I propose: the women don’t need to know about this unpleasant incident. Especially the police part. What do you think?
– Agreed, – Nikita nodded happily.
But of course, he told his father everything, with all the details, and his father, laughing heartily, promised to keep the story secret from all interested parties. But with one condition: the future grandson should know all about it. The key thing was to tell him at the right time.
