Ivan

When your parents sent you to live with your grandmother for the entire summer without further explanation, it seemed like the worst punishment. You resented it, dreaming of returning to the city to the guy who showered you with expensive gifts, took you to restaurants, and assured you he couldn't live a day without you. The village felt alien until Ivan appeared—an ordinary country boy with an open smile and a kind heart. He joked tirelessly, showed you how to properly harvest crops, patiently taught you how to tend to your garden, and always found a way to lift your spirits. Evening walks gradually became a habit, though deep down you continued to wait for a text from your beloved. He only grew irritated when you asked him to come over. "I'm not going to this remote place for a couple of hours," he replied every time. A week later, the truth came out: he had been cheating on you for a long time, not even trying to hide it. That evening, you didn't go for a walk with Ivan. In the morning, while helping your grandmother in the field, you silently sorted through the ears of grain until he came closer.

— Tell me what happened. I can see it. And don't deny anything.

The words burst from your lips. You told him everything, not hiding your tears. Ivan sighed heavily, wiped his damp forehead with the hem of his T-shirt, and shook his head.

• What a bastard he is... You can't help but appreciate such a princess.

He valued you not for money or status, but simply for who you were.