“Seven years ago, I met my 29-year-old boyfriend. I was 21-years-old at the time. I still believe it was love at first sight, even though he had another date on the first night we met and I visited his place with my then-boyfriend.
My sister dated his friend, and on our way home that night, my sister’s boyfriend asked me what I thought about his friend. The naive, 21-year-old me jokingly replied that I was in love with the chubby one. Word must have gotten out because shortly after that, he started pursuing me. Within less than a week or two, we went on a date, and my then-boyfriend and the idea of him was out of the window.
I was madly in love with ‘the chubby one.’ He was an extremely smooth talker and knew what to say and when to say it. I enjoyed his company because he was more mature than my ex-boyfriend. We could talk about anything and everything. He was an experienced kisser, and it was not long before he seduced me into sleeping with him.
I was gone, hook, line and sinker, madly in love. I was still studying at the time, and since he was self-employed, I would bunk classes to spend some days with him during the week. On weekends, I would sleep over. I enjoyed the fact that my new ‘boyfriend’ was older and working. I enjoyed playing house, making food, cleaning here and snooping there.
One Saturday morning, while he went to see a client, I found myself cleaning and snooping in his cupboard. I wanted to give him a call and tell him that he forgot his wallet at home, but next to his wallet was his green, barcoded identity document. I excitedly opened the ID to take a look at his face and man, was he handsome.
Before I could close his ID, something caught my attention. His identity number started with 721129 (meaning he was born on 29 November 1972), which would make him 38 years of age. Why would he own a fake ID if he is already of age? How is this possible? Perhaps he is a criminal with more than one identification document or passport? I frankly searched the rest of the cupboard for answers, but found none. Until, eventually, I had a light bulb moment, my loving boyfriend of two months lied. My loving boyfriend is 38-years-old.
I was furious. I felt betrayed. I desperately phoned my best friend to inform her that I am, in fact, sleeping with a much older man. We were in the experimenting phase, and somehow my friend found this hilarious. I had no idea how I was going to tell my parents that my new ‘boyfriend’ was seventeen years older than me. My world came tumbling down.
I kept my cool and waited him out. He returned as charming as ever. Only when he thanked me for cleaning his cupboard did he realize that I might know the truth. I showed him the ID, tears in my eyes, I asked him why. He looked flabbergasted and said he could explain. I said that I did not want an explanation, but deep down I just wanted him to tell me that he was really 29-years-old and the ID I found was a bad joke.
Instead, he told me that he was 38 years old. He explained that he had liked me ever since he had met me, and he knew that if I knew his real age, I would never considered being with him. I really did like him from the beginning as well, so it wasn’t all that hard for me to believe this. I told him I would not be able to trust him again, but we can remain friends. He started crying (I know, I made a 38-year-old man cry), and he begged me to reconsider.
I left extremely sad and told my parents, sister, and friends about the incident. Most of them could not believe it, since he appeared so young of heart and his genes were clearly counting in his favor. He looked better than 29 years of age. Two days later, he phoned me again, asking me out on an ice-cream date. Reluctantly, I said yes…best decision ever.
We spent the night talking and I remembered why I was in love with him. We clicked in a way that I did not click with anyone else, I was comfortable and myself around him. I forgave him for that BIG FAT LIE, and I made him promise to never lie to me again.
Seven years later, I completed my studies, got a job, and our first baby is on her way…
Guess what?
He has not lied to me since.”
