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- Mary* dated Michael* for a while and he soon proposed.
- At this point, she realised he wasn't right for her and later hooked her up with her sister, Cindy*.
- Cindy and Michael dated reluctantly, but their romance was genuine and led to Michael proposing to Cindy.
- The two are now engaged and watching them together has made Mary realise she is still in love with him. Here's their story as told to Candice Hebershon.
"In horror, Michael bent down on one knee and fumbled in his pocket. Oh god! I thought. Was he seriously about to propose?
Before I could do or say anything, he produced a little black box with a sparkly diamond ring inside it.
"Mary, will you...," he asked.
"Wait! What?" I stammered, interrupting him.
We'd only been dating for a few weeks. I liked him. He was a sweet guy but also a bit clingy.
I'd met him on my way to work. He was the bus driver!
We'd flirted for a while, and eventually he asked me out. Our first date went really well and within a few days we were sleeping together.
He was funny and kind, but did I want to marry him? I had no idea!
Still on one knee, his smile slipped away and he looked crushed as I shook my head.
"I'm sorry, it's not you," I said, softly.
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To make matters worse, we were in a crowded restaurant on a Saturday night.
I felt guilty for not saying yes, but I was also cross he put me in that awkward position.
We wound up having a big argument about it and split up. I met my sister Cindy for a drink a few days afterward.
"That's a shame you broke up - I liked Michael," she said. She looked down, mournfully into her wine glass. "You should date him!" I said. She frowned and shook her head.
"I could never do that," she said, but I insisted. It made perfect sense. Cindy was shy and lacking in confidence. She was three years older than me but hardly ever went on dates.
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The more I thought about it, the more I knew Cindy should be with Michael. He was a lovely guy and quite forward, which was the perfect yang to Cindy's shy and retiring yin.
It took a lot of persuading on both sides, but I eventually played matchmaker, and the two of them went on a date.
The next morning she called me breathlessly. "You were right! He's amazing," she said.
I felt really pleased. A couple of weeks went by, and Cindy asked to meet me. As soon as I arrived at the cafe, she thrust her left hand out in front of me. On her ring finger, a diamond sparkled. The same one Michael had used to propose to me! But this time, he had got the answer he was after. "I'm pleased for you, but it's very soon," I said cautiously.
But she was floating on clouds. "When you know, you know," she said dreamily.
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They held engagement drinks a couple of weeks later, and I went along.
When I saw the way he looked at her, taking a strand of her hair and placing it behind her ear, I felt my stomach flip.
He used to do that to me! Cindy beamed back at him happily.
In horror, I realised I was jealous. I still had feelings for him!
The wedding is in a couple of months and I have to watch them giddily prepare for the big day and pretend to be excited for them.
I regret breaking up with him, and I regret setting them up, but it's too late now.
What is your love story? Tell us about it here.
Credit: aremedia.com.au/magazinefeatures.co.za
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