Maria and David had been together for three years. They lived in a small apartment in the city center. Maria worked as a graphic designer at a marketing company. David was a software engineer who often worked late. Their relationship had always been strong and loving. However, things started to change when a new colleague joined Maria's team. His name was Lucas, and he was very charming and funny. Maria mentioned Lucas often when she came home from work. 'Lucas told the funniest joke today,' she would say with a smile. At first, David did not think much about it. He was happy that Maria enjoyed her job and had good colleagues. But as the weeks passed, David started to notice some changes. Maria would check her phone more often and smile at messages. She started staying late at work more frequently. One evening, David asked her who she was texting. 'It is just Lucas,' Maria replied casually. 'We are discussing a project we are working on together.' David nodded, but a small feeling of unease started growing inside him. He tried to ignore it, telling himself he was being silly. Maria had never given him any reason to doubt her. A few weeks later, Maria announced that the team was going out for dinner. 'Lucas organized it to celebrate finishing our big project,' she explained. David felt a knot forming in his stomach. 'Will you be late?' he asked, trying to sound casual. 'I am not sure. It depends on how the evening goes,' Maria said. That night, David could not sleep. He kept checking his phone, waiting for Maria to come home. When she finally arrived around midnight, David pretended to be asleep. The next morning, he woke up feeling tired and anxious. He decided to look at Maria's phone while she was in the shower. He knew it was wrong, but he could not help himself. He scrolled through her messages with Lucas. The messages were friendly but nothing more than professional. David felt ashamed of himself for invading her privacy. But the relief he felt was quickly replaced by more jealousy. What if they deleted the real messages? This thought haunted David throughout the day. He could not concentrate on his work. His colleagues noticed that something was wrong. 'Are you okay, David?' his friend Tom asked during lunch. David sighed and decided to tell Tom about his feelings. 'I think Maria might be interested in someone else,' David admitted. Tom listened carefully and then shook his head. 'David, it sounds like you are being jealous without any real reason.' 'Has Maria ever done anything to make you suspicious?' David thought about it and realized the answer was no. 'You need to trust Maria,' Tom continued. 'Jealousy can destroy even the strongest relationships.' That evening, David came home with a bouquet of flowers. Maria was surprised and happy to see them. 'What is the occasion?' she asked with a big smile. David took a deep breath and sat down next to her. 'I need to tell you something,' he began. 'I have been feeling jealous about Lucas.' Maria looked at him with a mixture of surprise and concern. 'But David, Lucas is just a colleague,' she said softly. 'We work together on projects, nothing more.' David nodded, feeling embarrassed about his feelings. 'I know. I am sorry for not trusting you,' he said. Maria took his hand and squeezed it gently. 'I appreciate you telling me how you feel,' she said. 'But you have to understand that you are the only one I love.' David felt a wave of relief wash over him. 'I was so worried that I was losing you,' he admitted. Maria smiled and kissed him on the cheek. 'You will never lose me, David. I am here with you.' They talked for hours that night about their relationship. David shared his insecurities and fears. Maria listened patiently and understood where he was coming from. She also admitted that she had not realized how her behavior affected him. 'I will try to be more aware of how I communicate,' she promised. In the following weeks, things between them improved significantly. David learned to control his jealous thoughts. When he felt jealous, he would talk to Maria instead of keeping it inside. Maria also made more effort to include David in her social plans. She introduced him to Lucas at a company event. David realized that Lucas was actually a nice guy. They even became friends and would sometimes play video games together. Looking back, David felt embarrassed about how he had acted. He had allowed his insecurities to create problems that did not exist. He learned an important lesson about trust and communication. Jealousy is a natural emotion, but it should not control your actions. A year later, David and Maria celebrated their fourth anniversary. Their relationship was stronger than ever before. They had both grown as individuals and as a couple. David realized that the key to a healthy relationship is open communication. Instead of hiding his feelings, he should share them with his partner. Trust is built over time through honesty and understanding. Maria was grateful that David had been brave enough to talk about his feelings. Many people keep their jealousy hidden until it destroys the relationship. They both learned that vulnerability is not a weakness. It is actually a sign of strength to admit when you are struggling. David and Maria's story shows that jealousy does not have to ruin a relationship. If you address the problem early and communicate openly, you can overcome it. The experience made David more emotionally mature. He understood himself better and became a better partner. Maria was proud of the progress they had made together. Their love had been tested, but it had come out stronger. Sometimes challenges can bring people closer together. David and Maria were living proof of that.
English Story (B1)Feeling Jealous
This B1 English story is designed for intermediate learners. Click any word for instant translation and build your vocabulary as you read.
aboutStory
David starts feeling jealous when his girlfriend Maria frequently talks about her charming colleague Lucas. His jealousy grows until he invades her privacy by checking her phone. After a conversation with a friend, David realizes he needs to be honest with Maria. They have an open discussion about trust and communication, which strengthens their relationship and helps David overcome his insecurities.
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
Why did David start feeling jealous?
2
What did David do that he knew was wrong?
3
What advice did Tom give David?
4
What happened between David and Lucas after Maria introduced them?
Vocabulary
40 words from this story
