Story might be a little fragmented. After all, it happened more than 5 years ago and I recently just returned from an overseas tour of duty. It took me a long while to decide whether I wanted to continue or not. But here it is…
******
I took the cheque. I went to the A&E. Nothing was broken, just bruised. I was asked if I needed to make a police report but I declined.
I left the hospital feeling devastated. While there was really nothing much in actual fact to look forward to from the entire affair, I actually felt that Ann and I might have worked out somehow. Of course, this was before I discovered her marital status.
I wandered around the estate near my place, deciding not to go home. I grabbed a couple of beers from the 7-11 and settled on a bench in the middle of nowhere.
As I dug through my pockets for my cigarettes, the cheque fell out. Five thousand dollars. It wasn’t exactly a lot of money. But neither was it a small sum. It probably was only slightly more than all the cash that Ann had spent on me over the past few months.
I folded the cheque and put it in my wallet. I lit a stick and took a long drag.
I didn’t know what came over me next, but I took out the name card and dialled the number. It was answered within a few rings.
“What the fuck do you want?”
I didn’t know what to say.
“I’m truly sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
“Fuck you. Fuck off. I don’t give a fuck about you. Take the cash and leave us alone.”
“I-”
He hung up.
I must have wandered around for ages, unopened beer still in the plastic bag. I could see the sun rising as I finally headed home.
Eventually I did cash the cheque.
The days turned to weeks, then months. After nearly a year, I felt that I had moved on from that episode.
At that point of time, I was still single, still stayed in camp on weekdays, still went out drinking with my camp mates occasionally.
By some strange coincidence, pure dumb luck or karma deciding to screw with me, a new camp mate in my department decided to have celebratory drinks for his promotion at the exact same damn pub where I first met Ann. I tried to politely decline but eventually relented and showed up at the appointed place and time that Friday night.
After one drink too many, as usual, I stumbled outside for a smoke and found myself sitting at that exact same spot.
Many shapely pairs of legs walked past, I half expected one of them to stop, and ask for a lighter.
Thankfully, none did. I finished my stick and headed back inside.
Towards closing, we all headed out again. My luckier colleagues somehow managed to pull some girls and were all heading off in various directions. I settled back down at the same spot for a smoke. My new colleague sat down beside me.
“You look sad.”
I looked at him.
“Why do you say that?”
He shrugged.
“You’ve been quite all evening. You aren’t normally this quiet in camp.”
I wondered how much I could confide in this new guy. After all, I hadn’t spoken much to anyone about this before.
“Let’s just say this place brings back memories for me.”
“Good or bad?”
I pondered for a while.
“Both I guess.”
“Well, my girlfriend works at the pub. I’ll be here a lot on weekends. You’re welcome to join me.”
I was surprised.
“Your girlfriend?”
He nodded.
“The new bartender.”
“It didn’t look like she knew you.”
“Well yeah. She’s working. We agreed I won’t disturb her.”
“So why will you be here often?”
“I guess I’m concerned. You saw how easy our guys picked up girls right?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m not saying I don’t trust her, I’m just worried she might get into a situation she can’t handle.”
“That’s why there’s bouncers.”
“They won’t send her home and make sure she’s safe.”
I guess I had to agree with him.
Over the next few months, I found myself heading over pretty often. Perhaps it was the good memories that were pulling me back. Or perhaps I couldn’t help but take advantage of the discounts off liquor. But being around friends helped, and slowly our group grew larger as the rest of our camp mates decided to join us more regularly.
One Friday night, the group of us were having drinks again.
“Hey, you’re Mark right?”
The bartender girlfriend came up to us.
“Yeah?”
She passed me an envelope. I was surprised.
“Who’s this from?”
“No idea. A lady dropped it off a couple of days ago. Asked me to pass it to you the next time you’re here. Her description of you was rather accurate.”
“A lady? What did she look like?”
She pondered for a while.
“She didn’t seem like your type. Probably older than you. I didn’t open the envelope anyway, in case you’re wondering.”
I had no idea why but my heart sort of skipped a beat.
I opened the envelope and peered in. There was a letter within. Part of me wanted to read it there and then but the other part told me I should probably wait. I folded the letter and placed it in my jeans pocket.
“Aren’t you going to read it?”
“Nah. Probably later. We’re here to relax and drink.”
We all raised our glasses.
“Cheers!”
Dear Mark,
How have you been? It’s been awhile. I hope you’re doing fine.
I guess by now you’ve already found out about me. I never wished for you to find out that way.
The time I spent with you was like a breath of fresh air to me. Never in my life have I felt so alive.
I got married young. It was an unplanned pregnancy. Through the years he has always treated me fairly. Took care of me and the kids. He is a good husband and father.
Everything I did was by my own decisions and I have to face the consequences. Believe me when I say you were the only person I let this close to me. All I wanted was the companionship and intimacy that was lost in my marriage after all those years.
To be honest I never had the intention of seeing anyone. I went to the pub to unwind. The guys who tried to pick me up only had one thing on their minds. Somehow you were different. I knew you wanted to sleep with me. But you never forced me into doing anything I didn’t want to, and you never gave up. You are a nice guy and perhaps we could have had something real under different circumstances.
You made me happy in more ways that you’ll ever know.
I’m in the midst of settling my private affairs now. Perhaps if you’d like, we could have a drink one of these days.
I’ll contact you again when the time is right.
Ann.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bloggert
This happened 8-years after Poly, so he would have been around 27-years old at that time. Ann was 10-years older at that time - meaning that she was 37-years old and got married at 22-years old. That’s all about right.
The affair seemed to play out within about a year and the letter was received a year after that. So, by the time the letter was received - she would be 39-years old. It’s good that she still remembered Mark.
The story transpired 5-years ago so Ann should now be 44-years old. I guess in 6-years time she will be menopausal so that by then it is unlikely that anything should happen. It is unlikely that she would abandon her 3-kids although the youngest would be 21-years old by now. Probably in 4-years, all the kids would be grown up and she would be free to leave her husband if that is still on the cards and the love for Mark is still there, and if Mark is still into her.
By then, Mark would be 39-years old and probably married with his own career and family. All things considered, I don’t think there will be a realistic future to this. A meet-up perhaps, but sadly this is a romance that will not see a happy ending. Many things change with time.
Great story. I feel the pain.
Actually… Mark is 37 this year…. And I’m genuinely surprised there’s still some readership.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bloggert
This happened 8-years after Poly, so he would have been around 27-years old at that time. Ann was 10-years older at that time - meaning that she was 37-years old and got married at 22-years old. That’s all about right.
The affair seemed to play out within about a year and the letter was received a year after that. So, by the time the letter was received - she would be 39-years old. It’s good that she still remembered Mark.
The story transpired 5-years ago so Ann should now be 44-years old. I guess in 6-years time she will be menopausal so that by then it is unlikely that anything should happen. It is unlikely that she would abandon her 3-kids although the youngest would be 21-years old by now. Probably in 4-years, all the kids would be grown up and she would be free to leave her husband if that is still on the cards and the love for Mark is still there, and if Mark is still into her.
By then, Mark would be 39-years old and probably married with his own career and family. All things considered, I don’t think there will be a realistic future to this. A meet-up perhaps, but sadly this is a romance that will not see a happy ending. Many things change with time.
Great story. I feel the pain.
Actually… Mark is 37 this year…. And I’m genuinely surprised there’s still some readership.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
xnarsilx
Hi Mark, I could relate to your story as I’ve been through similar situation myself. Got into a relationship with a married colleague with kids. The entire relationship was like fireworks. When it happened, things got heated up real quick, lots of excitement with the sex, but before you even realised, the whole show is over.
I tried to pen down my story in this forum but I dont think I finish writing it.
Anyway, good job in continuing the story after so long, I wonder is there one last passionate sex.
Well… Ann did say she would contact me when the time is right. And I was an overseas posting for most of the past 5 years pre-Covid.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
xnarsilx
Hi Mark, I could relate to your story as I’ve been through similar situation myself. Got into a relationship with a married colleague with kids. The entire relationship was like fireworks. When it happened, things got heated up real quick, lots of excitement with the sex, but before you even realised, the whole show is over.
I tried to pen down my story in this forum but I dont think I finish writing it.
Anyway, good job in continuing the story after so long, I wonder is there one last passionate sex.
Well… Ann did say she would contact me when the time is right. And I was an overseas posting for most of the past 5 years pre-Covid.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
newyorker88
Good write up. Can relate in real life. I know a family friend fell for a older woman n left his wife n daughter. No news of him up to now. More than 20 years ago. Up to now, nothing. Daughter grown up n wife never remarried.
Sometimes, is it real love? But in such, there will one side that have tragic story.
I would prefer to think it’s neither real love not tragic story on my end.
As I was on an overseas posting the past couple of years, I left my local SIM card back home. I doubt Ann had my email as I never gave it to her. Even so, I rarely checked my personal email.
As I had not much personal commitments back home, I never took my home leave, preferring instead to travel around the local towns, trying to see if there were any local chicks worth any effort. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much where I was and my 5 years overseas passed without much incident.
For those who are curious, I never left the Army at the end of my 10 year contract. I was one of the lucky, or unlucky few, who were offered a last minute cross-over to the enhanced scheme, so technically, I have a job till I retire.
To be honest, Ann was pushed to the back of my mind these past few years. I somehow managed to get promoted despite average performances, hence the overseas posting which I gladly accepted. Two years turned to three, then four, then five. I honestly thought I could have stayed there longer. I mean, who wouldn’t appreciate the extra cash?
When I returned, everything changed. I was posted to a new unit, had new superiors, a new environment. Not that I wasn’t adaptable, but somehow I didn’t feel as motivated as I should have been.
I submitted my application for an early release barely a couple of months later. Unsurprisingly, it was accepted.
I reconnected with my old buddies from my previous unit to catch up before I left the Army for good.
The then-new guy apparently was still with his bartender girlfriend (now wife) and we arranged to meet at that same club where she was now a manager.
It never occurred to me how I would react to the familiarity of the place.
I was outside smoking at the same pavement, wonder if I would see the same pair of legs. Granted, so much time had passed that those pair of legs might not have been as shapely as they should be. But so many shapely legs passed me by that I soon forgot about it.
Conversations that night didn’t go to my time overseas, or why I decided to leave my “iron rice bowl” of a job.
Just as we were about to leave, the girlfriend came up to me.
“Hey, did you reconnect with that lady who left the letter?”
I was honestly was not expecting that.
“Not really. Why?”
“Oh. Just that I’ve seen her a couple more times over the past few years. She just sits at the bar checking out the army guys.”
I didn’t know how to react to that statement. Did it mean Ann was looking for me? Or was she merely just looking for a new toy boy?
“I see.”
“But she stopped coming around a year ago? Maybe this isn’t her scene anymore. She looked way too old and out of place in here.”
I wondered how I would play this out. Would I somehow text Ann to see how she was doing? Or would I just let it go and perhaps try to have a normal relationship with a normal person.
I went home that day conflicted.
After a shower I lay on the bed and randomly scrolled through my phone book.
I stopped at Ann’s contact and re-read our WhatsApp texts.
I smiled a little, but felt a somewhat unfamiliar ache in my chest.
I pondered over it for a bit before typing a message.
“Hi, how have you been?”
As I was on an overseas posting the past couple of years, I left my local SIM card back home. I doubt Ann had my email as I never gave it to her. Even so, I rarely checked my personal email.
As I had not much personal commitments back home, I never took my home leave, preferring instead to travel around the local towns, trying to see if there were any local chicks worth any effort. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much where I was and my 5 years overseas passed without much incident.
For those who are curious, I never left the Army at the end of my 10 year contract. I was one of the lucky, or unlucky few, who were offered a last minute cross-over to the enhanced scheme, so technically, I have a job till I retire.
To be honest, Ann was pushed to the back of my mind these past few years. I somehow managed to get promoted despite average performances, hence the overseas posting which I gladly accepted. Two years turned to three, then four, then five. I honestly thought I could have stayed there longer. I mean, who wouldn’t appreciate the extra cash?
When I returned, everything changed. I was posted to a new unit, had new superiors, a new environment. Not that I wasn’t adaptable, but somehow I didn’t feel as motivated as I should have been.
I submitted my application for an early release barely a couple of months later. Unsurprisingly, it was accepted.
I reconnected with my old buddies from my previous unit to catch up before I left the Army for good.
The then-new guy apparently was still with his bartender girlfriend (now wife) and we arranged to meet at that same club where she was now a manager.
It never occurred to me how I would react to the familiarity of the place.
I was outside smoking at the same pavement, wonder if I would see the same pair of legs. Granted, so much time had passed that those pair of legs might not have been as shapely as they should be. But so many shapely legs passed me by that I soon forgot about it.
Conversations that night didn’t go to my time overseas, or why I decided to leave my “iron rice bowl” of a job.
Just as we were about to leave, the girlfriend came up to me.
“Hey, did you reconnect with that lady who left the letter?”
I was honestly was not expecting that.
“Not really. Why?”
“Oh. Just that I’ve seen her a couple more times over the past few years. She just sits at the bar checking out the army guys.”
I didn’t know how to react to that statement. Did it mean Ann was looking for me? Or was she merely just looking for a new toy boy?
“I see.”
“But she stopped coming around a year ago? Maybe this isn’t her scene anymore. She looked way too old and out of place in here.”
I wondered how I would play this out. Would I somehow text Ann to see how she was doing? Or would I just let it go and perhaps try to have a normal relationship with a normal person.
I went home that day conflicted.
After a shower I lay on the bed and randomly scrolled through my phone book.
I stopped at Ann’s contact and re-read our WhatsApp texts.
I smiled a little, but felt a somewhat unfamiliar ache in my chest.
I pondered over it for a bit before typing a message.
“Hi, how have you been?”
Quote:
Originally Posted by
newyorker88
TS, lost track of time. So u look for her again after 5 years. That’s how long ago? Now is 2021
I came back to Singapore mid of 2019.