Vladimir sighed. He was already tired of talking, of waking at night, but most of all of the picture that opened up to him.
In these years he told himself many times that everything was left in the past, that Vasily had resigned himself to his fate, was satisfied with own life, happy with his wife, was raising a son, was advancing in the career, his creative and sporting achievements were also growing. Well, everyone was young, everyone fell in love and made mistakes. It was and it passed. Such an amorous, windy, poetic character is not created for suffering.
Now everything turned out to be wrong. A man sat in front of him was as straight as a string, strong as a compressed spring, and predatory as a panther, ready to leap. That blow, it turns out, changed him completely, became a turning point in his fate, and a completely different personality was formed. Yes, Katya's love and a successful family life softened the pain, but the feeling of loss remained. Now, looking into the eyes of his old friend, Vladimir clearly saw: he would never reconcile. He has different character.
So this is what attracts me to you so much. It turns out that we are similar not only in appearance.
Vladimir, who followed the changes in Vasily's career and considered it quite successful, did not know how many good offers Vasily refused just because then he would have to leave Zelenograd. And he couldn't do it. This city, it seemed to him, is just as true as himself, keeps the memory of her - even in its name, this first ringing letter "z" is like Marina's cheerful and sonorous laughter.
Vladimir is right: the situation has developed in an advantageous way precisely thanks to him, Vasily, otherwise he would not have seen Marina as his own ears. Vasily later realized what kind of character she was: the more efforts you put in to achieve her, the more decisively she defends herself. In order to achieve her, one must not love her at all as a man loves. For example, Pasha or Serey - with them she was always open and trusting, willingly giving own company and affection, which is simply unthinkable for other relationships. But those fools always looked at her as an alien and did not even think about getting this miracle for personal use.
If only he understood this from the very beginning! And he was running after her, setting up traps, and when it seemed to him that very soon he would achieve his goal, she easily jumped from him into someone else's "friendly" arms!
This sly Vladimir! "Your destiny"! He was ready and did not give himself away with a single muscle, only looked after her like a stupid calf when she did not see, but otherwise he behaved as it should - with Spartan restraint.
But sometimes, when the pain of separation became especially acute, or just like now, when he saw his opponent face to face, Vasily thought: well, so what, that half life is behind? So what about wives and children? The game has not been played yet, only postponed. And the result may still be different.
- Let's play chess?
Vladimir looked at him, as if he had emerged from under the water, smiled disarmingly (the hop had already evaporated):
- Well, unless you carry them with you in your pocket.
- Hmmm, - Vasily looked around. Three o'clock in the morning, a strange little village, a hotel room in an empty hotel closed for renovation. Hmmm, there is no chess, but he felt the will to win. This time he was stronger.
They talked a little more, finished their tea, remembering mutual friends and the carefree time of their youth, sharing plans, Vasily even sang a couple of new songs, beating rhythm on the table with his hands. They sat almost until dawn and fell asleep on the bed, covered with one blanket.
the end of the chapter
"From Eternal Point of View"