The story of John and V
Right after John got married, he was very fortunate to be offered a job by an international company as the Head for the Malaysian office. Although it would be a start-up company, John realized it was a great opportunity for him as he probably wasn’t qualified for the job. He was determined to make the most out of it. John spent more time entertaining clients then at home with the wife. It didn’t take long for John to produce results. John even managed to close accounts that his boss had given up on. Small unknown company up against the giants of the industry. It’s amazing what entertainment can do to influence the decision process. Soon his income was in the five figures bracket and the company granted him benefits including a BMW as company car. John achieved all this before turning 30.
~
John’s mother in-law had always told his wife to be careful of her husband’s activities. She often warns the wife, "You never know how strong your husband will be when a ‘goldfish’ offers herself up to him. One day he might meet someone who is younger and who he feels is better than you. With the money he is earning and the car he is driving, he is bound to attract some unwanted attention. When that happens, which cat don’t eat fish."
~
 |
Because of John’s commitment to his work, he didn’t sign up while some of his colleagues continued to attend on a weekly basis. Although he no longer joined in, he would still bump into V before she started her sessions. And because he always stayed back to work, he would often leave around the same time as V. Most of the time, they would just greet each other with a smile or some small talk.
Months passed before some of the guys in John’s company gathered enough guts to ask V out for coffee at the nearby Coffee Bean. Friendship developed between the guys and V. They bought her coffee often. John would sometimes have coffee with them as well. Over time, the guys became closer with V and her friends, and even went clubbing together. They became regular clubbers at a place called Viva Dance Club at the Eastin hotel. John would join them whenever he could.
Because of the entertaining that John did, he had corporate accounts with a few nightspots in town. Most of the time, he would buy a few bottles of alcohol for entertaining clients. This made John a popular customer with some of the clubs’ management including Viva. They always gave him the VIP seats in the house whenever he came down. So when John went clubbing with his colleagues, he would pay for the bottles of whisky under the company’s expenses and would get the best seats in the club. This impressed V and her friends.
 |
As they grew closer, V would call him during the day. He would sometimes leave the office in the afternoons to go spend time with her. They would meet up at some cafe and just chat. Although John was enjoying V’s company, he was mindful that he was a married man. However, he felt there was nothing wrong with being friends with a young woman. He felt as long as he was not having an affair, as long as he was not sleeping with her, there was nothing wrong with their friendship. He was not doing anything wrong. But still he didn’t want to be too open about it for fear that his wife would find out and misunderstandings would occur.
V, on the other hand, had a different view of their friendship. V comes from a poor family living in Johore. They were not always poor. Her father had his own business. Due to the financial crisis some time back, her father lost a lot of money in shares and ended up losing everything. Her father passed away not long after that. Her mother who had no savings of her own, now works at a small restaurant to earn as much as she can to keep the family afloat. V has two younger siblings; a brother who works at a bakery and a younger sister who is still in school. V left home for KL in the hopes of earning a better living. Her dream is to open up her own dance studio. She would love to teach ballet to young children as she herself was a student before her father passed away.
But her immediate hope is to be able to earn enough to enable her youngest sister to further her studies. She hopes to give her youngest sister the chance she and her brother never received. She also hopes that perhaps she would meet a ‘kao san’, someone who would take care of her and her family’s needs. V saw such a person in John. He could definitely take care of her. For the moment, she didn’t mind that he was married.
John had only seen V as just another pretty face. But now he realized that everyone had a story behind them. He was intrigued by her hopes and dreams, by her story.
As the months passed, their friendship grew stronger. John felt they had many things in common. Both enjoyed art and loved to attend art exhibitions together. They often spent time together at the National Art Gallery. Something John’s wife would never do. Both were active in sports. They played tennis together. Something John’s wife would also never do. They swam together and went to the gym together. The thought did cross John’s mind that if only he wasn’t already married, perhaps then….
John felt a connection with V. He also felt he should appreciate her companionship by buying gifts for her. If they were out together and V saw something that she wish she could have, John felt he should buy it for her, if it was not too lavish. He surprised her with gifts. He genuinely felt she was a good person inside and wanted her to have things that she couldn’t afford. He made sure that V was aware he wasn’t expecting any sexual favours in return. He didn’t want to be seen as a dirty older man trying to sleep with a much younger woman. Although to be honest, he thought about it in his mind.
John did tell her that he was enjoying her company and wanted to continue to do so. He bought her designer handbags, clothing, a branded watch for her 23rd birthday and even IKEA furniture! But of course he also knew that was one of the reasons why V was spending time with him. But he didn’t mind. He enjoyed her company and he could afford those gifts. And she was enjoying the benefits of being with such a man.
~
John’s dedication to his work was paying off. With each year, the company’s turnover was increasing and he more than achieved his revenue targets. The company moved to a more high profile location, the Petronas Twin Towers. The company rewarded all staff with a 3 months bonus and John got his own room in an office over looking the KL skyline. John also took charge of Singapore’s operations. He would travel frequently down south.
John brought his wife up to his office to show and to share his accomplishments with her. His wife felt uncomfortable of the height. She felt dizzy looking out of the windows. It didn’t take long for her to leave his office. She never went up again. Nor did she comment on his office but only said that John had caused her to be dizzy by bringing her up.
Once while John was having dinner with V, she commented that the view must be really something up there in his office. John brought her up immediately after dinner. V was blown away by the breathtaking night view of KL’s skyline. She was thrilled like a 10 year old. She put her head against the window and beamed, "It’s so beautiful. It feels like I’m floating in the sky." It brought a smile and a warm feeling to John’s heart. He went into his room and brought out two glasses and a bottle of red wine that he had intended to celebrate with his wife. Instead, John was now sharing it with V. They sat at the lobby, close to each other, sharing the moment together.
V would have many more trips up to John’s office.
~
Because of John’s new responsibilities, he made frequent trips down to Singapore. He preferred to drive down instead of catching a flight especially when he had to spend some considerable amount of time in Singapore. Sometimes V would plan it that she would go back to JB the same time as John’s trip down south. She could save some travelling expenses by hitching a ride with him whenever he drove. He would drop her off at her mother’s house and continue on to Singapore. Sometimes V would make trips across to be with John; having dinners together, clubbing and most often shopping.
However, John was not very keen on V coming over. With the limited time he had to spend in Singapore, he wanted to work on the accounts. He had meetings to attend and as much presentations to conduct. He also wanted to entertain clients. And entertaining clients meant he would probably have his arms around a karaoke girl, doing whatever it takes to ‘influence’ the decision process. The last thing he needs is to have his mobile phone ringing all the time, to have to deal with the banal requests of his young ‘friend’.
 |
Suddenly his arrangement with V doesn’t feel so warm and fuzzy anymore. He doesn’t feel obliged to buy her anything. He didn’t feel like he owed V anything for her companionship. He felt V was forgetting the fact that he was a married man. They did not have a future together. There were no such words like marriage or kids in their arrangement. He gave V a piece of his mind before dropping her off at her mother’s.
The next day, V called John and said she wanted to take their relationship to the next level. She offered herself up to him. She offered to spend the night with him at his hotel room. She didn’t mind that he was married and was willing to be his mistress. John rejected her. He had to entertain a big client. He made up an excuse and lied to her that he would be having someone else in his hotel room that night. There was no need for V to be there. He wasn’t going to be alone that night anyway. John wanted to make a statement that if it was sex he wanted, he could easily get it. He didn’t need it from V.
~
 |
Second reason is that one of John’s closest colleagues, who is also a friend, had spoken to John about his relationship with V. He felt John was playing with fire and would get burned soon if he did not put an end to it. John was their leader in their office, someone they looked up to and respected. V was changing the way they looked at John. Let’s not forget it was the single guys in the company that befriended V in the first place. The women in their company always regarded John as a proud father and a family man. But now the women are starting to talk and question about John’s friendship with V. Some are saying John had already slept with V. News travelled fast and get distorted just as fast as well. The last thing John needs for his wife to hear during her pregnancy is that her husband had slept with a young ‘goldfish’. His friend’s advice was making John come to his senses.
And lastly, V was starting to strongly insert herself into John’s life. She was starting to be more demanding. To the extent of dictating how he spent his money on her. He didn’t mind buying her gifts out of his own free will but when the giving is demanded from him, he didn’t like it. Talk about a future together, about marriage and kids had also ticked John off. He was annoyed that their little arrangement had strings attached to it now. He had just wanted to enjoy V’s company without any commitments. Perhaps John was in denial. There can never be such arrangements.
~
A few months later, after running around, after a few heated discussions and advice from her friends, V stopped seeing John. John told V that she was still very young and would eventually find her ’someone’ to have a marriage and kids with. It should be a genuine feeling in both hearts. She was a much better person to be someone’s wife than to be someone’s mistress. Besides, she was never attracted to him in the first place. She was attracted to being with him and to the things that he could provide her. He would never be happy with her if that’s the only thing she wanted from him.
V left KL for Singapore where she eventually married a businessman in his 40s who owns a jewellery store. V is now divorced.
ps : The characters and events depicted in this story are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. :P
Part 2 : John and V meet again.
Part 3 : The truth about V.
Part 4 : John falls for V.
So r u John??? Or u want to be like him??? Sometime when a lady get too ‘demanding’ that is the time when she show her true self! A clever guy should started to ‘reject’ her!Especially if he is married! Have a nice day! Don’t u agree with me?
Reply : I’m not so lucky to be John.
Hmmm… I think if he is married, he should reject her even b4 she gets too demanding.
Comment by Horny Ang Moh — 21 December 2007 @ 4:35 pm
**chup**
First commentor…nice story…Lucky all John lost was money..John still has a little pride that saved him..He disliked being ordered to buy gifts!
Anyway u too have a great weekend…
Reply : Sorry lar… u too late. :P
Comment by pookyma — 21 December 2007 @ 4:37 pm
Cibai AngMoh…earlier than me 2 minutes!
Haha
Reply : Hahahahaha… :P
Comment by pookyma — 21 December 2007 @ 4:38 pm
Interesting story… you sure it’s purely fictional? :P Lawl.
Reply : Why? Do you know a John and a V? ;)
Comment by rinnah — 21 December 2007 @ 9:23 pm
Hmm..If I am john, sure I ‘tiap’ V leow lor.. lepas tu baru cerita !!!!!
Reply : Hahahah.. too bad u’re not John! :P
Comment by Alan Tan — 22 December 2007 @ 12:00 am
I like this story hope u are not John heheh.
that’s one of the reason ..I will not bring my hubby back to malaysia or els will be end up like john wife hahah.
I am not as young and slim like those pretty gurl in malaysia , also now a day those miss china also share the goldfish world too … how we malaysian house wife can fight those young and pretty ler , only pray our men will be honest to us and be fairthfull to us too .
thank for sharing a lovely story I really enjoy reading it.
have a lovely weekend
Reply : I think if a man is unfaithful, he will be unfaithful anywhere. But I can understand what u r saying, it’s better to keep him out of temptation’s way then let him try to overcome it.
Glad u enjoyed the post. But I think u will not enjoy the next one.
Comment by pearly — 22 December 2007 @ 1:19 am
interesting story, i really do wonder how you come up with them…and whether its based on ppl you actually know.
and i really do wonder if there is such a thing as staying faithful to one another anymore. i really hope there is.
anyway…happy weekend and merry christmas!
Reply : Whether it’s based on anyone is a secret….. :P
Of course there is such a thing as staying faithful to someone. It’s just that society tends to focus on the unfaithful ones. When someone is unfaithful, wah! so kan chiong wan to find out more. But there are so many faithful couples and we dun realize bcoz there’s nothing to talk about, to gossip about them being faithful to one another.
Comment by lingzie — 22 December 2007 @ 1:49 am
I’d consider John as a good man. Rare species too, I’d say. Very rare… :)
V was too naive. But then again, she did what she did prolly because of her background, how life was hard for her and her family… kesian also…
Oh well…
So… does V have sexy long legs?? :P
Merriest Christmas!
Reply : That happened a long time ago, today John could be a different person.
Yes, V did what she had to do for her family. That’s one reason why John wanted her to have the things she couldn’t afford.
Hahahahahha… sexy long legs ah? Dunno wor. ;)
Comment by angel — 22 December 2007 @ 4:53 am
Is it a coincidence! Sound familiar, anyway if it a stiry you can write script edi :p
Reply : Sounds familiar??? Why u know a John or a V?
Can ah? Can write script ah? U know any movie producers or not? :)
Comment by Rachel — 22 December 2007 @ 10:19 am
er… you john ah? no right cos yr wife not preggy??!! sigh, young cikus like v like to have the excitement and turtle fish spending $$ on them… wat to do? got turtle fish lidat wor.
eh adrian, i hope you are not john ah… you just drank pepsi and now you dont turn into john ah… pls…
Reply : Hallo. That story happened a long time ago not now la. Yeah, there really are women out there who want a better life, by being with someone like John. So u better put a leash on ur hubby’s neck oh! Kakakakaka. :P
Don’t turn into John? How to turn into John? Hahahaha.
Comment by Oscar's Mommy — 22 December 2007 @ 12:28 pm
I forgot to make a comment on Viva Dance Club… I used to go there last time… I might hv crossed path with John… and V… hmmmmmmm… ;)
So, tell us how has John changed…?
Reply : Eh, I also regular there last time. Maybe I got pinch ur buttock before? Kakakakakakakkaa!! Just Joking. :P
Comment by angel — 22 December 2007 @ 12:59 pm
Ohhhh!!! So you are the infamous Butt Pincher!
Reply : Hahahaha! Why u kena b4 issit?
Comment by angel — 23 December 2007 @ 2:01 am
Yea, wat happened to john next? happy fayer of 1 daugther and 1 son?…. wait…. why sounds a bit like u geh?
Reply : Allo! Dun simply make assumptions leh. :P
I telling story only. ;)
Comment by littlepolaris — 23 December 2007 @ 7:22 am
Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21834162@N02/2126378377/
Reply : Thanks bro! Wishing u and ur family a merry, merry christmas!
Comment by bengbeng — 23 December 2007 @ 8:40 am
Looking at it from John’s point of view, I can understand that he is a good and responsible man. We all enjoy the attention we get from the opposite sex. Some might say we are stupid because the girl is using us. Don’t they think we would have known already? We just don’t mind because we enjoy her company and her reactions when we shower her with gifts and surprises.
In the case of John’s wife, I can understand why John is more fond of V than his own wife. For one, his wife is pretty dull. I mean, bringing her up to his office and getting such a reaction? It’s such a put off! Some girls might say, “Because I am sick of heights!”. The point here is that you can say it a lot better in many other ways and there is no need for the blames on John for causing her to be dizzy. On the contrary, V’s reaction is more pleasant and flattering.
We do need an ego boost sometimes and we can do without a put down, if not many. From John’s point of story, I can see that he is still a responsible man despite his platonic friendship with V.
From John’s wife’s point of view, this would be a big no no. There is no need for much explanation. We all know why. Even if you told her the truth, she would feel insecure and doubt your explanation. In conclusion, it is still best to avoid platonic friendship when you’re married. It’s hard to believe one’s explanation no matter how true, especially from your other half when you are already attached. Just my 2 cents.
Reply : Wow man! I really like your comment, especially how serious you took this post. :D
U r rite about enjoying attention from the opposite sex. Male or female, married or single, we do enjoy it.
In the case of John’s wife blaming him for feeling dizzy. I feel this could be bcoz that they have been married for so long that they take each other for granted. When u have been with someone for too long, u sometimes forget that they do need a ego boost (as u put it).
And ur 2 cents actually is worth more. Like RM389.99 cents. :P
Comment by Alvin — 23 December 2007 @ 1:04 pm
Read ur latest post already, but decided to comment here la.
I preggie now…so, that means what? I’m trying to keep a tight leash on my Mr.T, ah? WEKEKEKEKEKEKEEKEK….
Sigh..infidelity… what else to say? thinking abt it is nice lor…doing it, has its’ consequences…may be good, may be bad.
Reply : Mr. T is the one who should keep a tight leash on u. Kakakakaa! :P
Comment by mott — 24 December 2007 @ 8:02 am
what a classic…
it’s a case of nobody’s fault and everybody’s fault…
nevertheless, all these things are a reality in life, which we should all be mindful of. john, v and the wife all have got roles to play and they all failed miserably…
to each its own… let me read the second instalation… hehe….
Reply : Hahaha… go, go read now. :D
Comment by zewt — 24 December 2007 @ 1:24 pm
You are right in that when a couple is married for a long time, they tend to take things for granted. I always believe that marriage takes more work than courtship. Many people put so much effort in organising their wedding and honeymoon, but expect to cruise along during the marriage, which is a totally wrong assumption I feel.
About the boosting ego, I believe it works both ways. A husband feels good when his wife assuages his ego. A wife feels loved when her husband makes the effort to romance her.
In John’s case, perhaps the wife feels after so many years of marriage, there should be more to show for. Success came early for John, and his wife must have been felt good in front of the relatives. So when John gave it all up to start his own business, it was like going being downgraded. John apparently does not go with the wife when she goes out with her relatives, so perhaps he is not aware of the embarrassing ‘questions’ (I use the term loosely here..) she is subjected to regarding her husband work status. She does appear to be a person who wants face and frankly, I would feel awkward turning up at my family gatherings alone with just the kids all the time.
It takes 2 to clap hands, and a marriage does not fall apart just because of the shortcomings of one partner. Has John put in as much effort in trying to salvage his marriage instead of looking for the easy way out and finding another partner?
If I were a mistress/GF, it is so easy for me to make my man feel good. There is no household to take care of, there are no children or relatives to worry about - all I have to do is make myself beautiful and available. Why would any man not be attracted??
It’s like this - if you cook at home, you have to buy the raw food; clean, cut and cook them before you can finally get to eat it. After that, you have to wash the dishes summore. A long and tedious process. If you eat out, you just look at an attractive menu, order what you like, and it comes within minutes. After eating, you just pay and cabut, no need to clean up. Which is more attractive, I ask you? You understand what I am trying to say?
If John really wants to salvage his marriage, he should try being in his wife’s shoes. Forget about changing the wife’s TL attitude first. See where she is coming from and why she has changed so much. If John’s wife writes blogs, we would probably be cussing her husband for his faults instead! There is always a different perspective in everything, don’t you agree?
See, you say my comments always welcomed mah. So I mai comment lor. I think Adrian prolly dem sked of my cheong hei-ness ‘redy and wishes he asked me to shaddup instead!! :D
————————————————————————
Reply : Hahahahaha… u ah… John and Adrian are different people u know. :P
But anyway, you make very good points. Points I’m aware of even if u didn’t bring it up. In my own case, of course, I have my faults as well. My wife will be able to point them out.
I do attend her family gatherings but not the everyday, go over to chat sessions lah. And most of the time, she’ll leave the kids with me. When I attend those get togethers, I blend in well with the relatives.
But how do you explain when she doesn’t attend get togethers on my side of the family? Not even my mom’s birthday? Didn’t visit my dad when he was hospitalized twice for stroke. Didn’t even allow my kids to go see their grandfather! When I brought them to visit him, we ended up having a major argument.
And during CNY, she spents less than one hour at my mom’s place but we spend the whole half day at her gparents place?
We have a maid (but not for the past month) who takes care of the cooking & household chores while she goes to make herself beautiful at the salons. So u see, it’s not that she’s an unattractive silai. She earns well enough to pamper herself.
I have tried to put myself in her shoes but my feet are too big. :P Hahaha… but seriously, she’s really unreasonable . Even her own parents have not spoken to her in more than 2 years because they are in a fued with her but that’s another story for another day.
Btw, ur comments are always welcome. :)
Comment by kat — 27 December 2007 @ 8:00 am
If it were me, there are only 2 reasons why I will not attend my hubs’s family gatherings:
1. I don’t give a sh*t about how my hubs feels and just do as I please
2. His family are bloodsuckers and suck my hubs dry of money
Actually I am very sympathetic to your plight. But because I am a Libran, I try to see both sides of the tale.. :P
Has your wife ever told you why she behaves the way she does to your family??
Reply : My family are just simple folks. They didn’t even have Astro until beginning of this year.
Not really. She gives stupid reasons like, “I just don’t like it” or “What for go. Home cook food. Not eat at restaurant. Sure nothing to eat wan.” blablabla.
Comment by kat — 27 December 2007 @ 9:37 pm
I suppose she is like what you say.. just plain possessive?? Don’t want you to share your good fortune with your family??
Something really wrong here lah. You two are heading in different directions, not flying together. Looks like the inevitable will be the inevitable… just a matter when… :(
Reply : Yeah, I asked for divorce once. We stayed together but……
Comment by kat — 27 December 2007 @ 11:48 pm