For a moment Nowicki stood not understanding. What is Śliwiński talking about? He was looking at the man lying on his stomach, who in turn was looking at the place where yesterday he has been knocked to the floor and brutally pinned to it. It was probably then that he realized how much evil and cruelty there was in someone whom he trusted so far.
'My dark side, huh,' the photographer thought. Perhaps in the context of these events, the blackmail he had committed and the work of being a hyena did not look too bad?
Getting down to breakfast, Andrzej sighed.
It's not that he chose to be a paparazzi because he loved it. He loved taking pictures because there was something romantic and magical about it, as if he was keeping beauty and time in place, making them immortal. Some events were worth keeping forever. Peeping and chatting for someone for something sensational to happen had nothing to do with the noble profession of a photographer. Andrzej had to admit, however, that although he despised this task so much, at that moment he was extremely grateful for it. To think what would have happened to Dominik if Nowicki had not been around ...
Andrzej could not forget these events. He still felt a rush of adrenaline and anger at the mere mention of them. If he thinks and feels this way, the young actor must experience everything much more. Although he still hardly knew him at all, he knew one thing - Śliwiński did not deserve to be treated like that. Nobody deserved it. Well, maybe Marczak.
The aroma of fresh waffles and boiled milk filled the kitchen and probably the living room. Dominik appeared in the door niche as soon as Andrzej poured milk over his coffee. The actor stood on the wall for a moment and looked at the man bustling about the kitchen, then blushed abruptly and looked down. He slowly walked over to the kitchen table and sat down. He was avoiding eye contact again, as if afraid to look someone in the eye.
Suddenly Nowicki felt like a disruptive intruder.
"You showed up very quickly yesterday," Dominik said softly. He looked at his hands on the table. The bruise on his right wrist glistened with ointment that had apparently not yet fully absorbed.
There was no point in lying or hiding anything. Śliwiński already knew who took these compromising photos.
"I was there," Andrzej pointed to the neighboring house, which at this angle seemed to be completely hidden by young thujas. Śliwiński looked up at him, but he probably did not think that one could see anything through the bushes. "The upper window" explained Nowicki.
"Did you take pictures like he ..."
Andrzej looked at the actor for a moment feeling ashamed. It really was a reflex that the photographer didn't even register. Only later did he realize that yes, he had a camera in his hand and used it.
"Yes," he admitted.
"I want to buy these photos from you."
This declaration surprised Andrzej.
"It's your job to take and sell photos," the actor continued. "I want to buy back these photos, just like the other ones. I'll give you a hundred thousand."
Andrzej felt strange, as if he had just been hit with something heavy in the head and chest.
Hundred thousand? Hundred thousand?
"No," he said firmly.
"Not enough?" Dominik suddenly lost control of himself. He lifted his flushed face to him and stared at the photographer with desperately shining eyes. "Then tell me how much?"
"Nothing, damn it!" He exploded. "Such photos ... Such photos are not sold! I may be a paparazzi, but I have my honor!"
Śliwiński looked at him silently, surprised. His lips were slightly parted. They began to tremble.
"I'm sorry that I shouted" Andrzej's tone was calmer. He was ashamed that he had taken advantage of the actor. But he still felt angry.
Dominik hid his face in his hands. He was trembling gently, as if fighting tears.
"How long have you been watching me?" His voice was barely audible.
"Several days.���
"Sorry for what I said. I'm a little nervous now."
"That is understandable."
"Marek has always been for me ... He has never ... What happened yesterday was the first time" Dominik regained his energy and looked at Andrzej in the eyes with undisguised passion. "He never, never tried to force me to do anything. It was only once so I don't want him in any trouble. Marek certainly regrets it ..."
"For sure," Andrzej said sarcastically. He wasn't going to be harsh, but he couldn't help but say the words. Dominik was just lying to himself.
The actor fell silent.
'I hurt him again,' Nowicki thought with shame. Hurting Śliwiński was like taking out a kitten - child's play, and at the same time mean and low. Is this boy really not getting enough suffering?
"You don't know him," the actor replied emphatically. "Marek was with me always, from the beginning. It was he who got me into acting. He took me through all these years in the cinema. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have starred in any movie and wouldn't have what I have now ..."
… Ie bruises all over the body?
"You love him."
Dominik nodded.
"He's the only man I've ever loved. I know what they say about gays that they only have sex in their heads, but me and Marek are really something more. My feelings for him are really sincere ..."
"I know" admitted Andrzej. This time his voice was warm and soft. "Sorry, it shows."
Śliwiński blushed and smiled. Just for a moment. His face looked suddenly depressed. The emotions raging in him were now a terrible mess.
"But if he had loved me, he wouldn't have raised his hand to me." That's what you think, right?"
"Yes."
"I always wanted to believe that he loves me too. Naive, isn't it? He told me that, he assured me. All his betrayals ... I forgave him because I wanted to believe. Just. But those were lies. All the time ... God! I was just stupid."
'Am I just seeing his heart breaking?
Andrzej sat across from him at a small kitchen table. He should probably tell Dominik to forget about Marczak, but it wasn't that easy. What the hell was he supposed to do at a time like this?
"The coffee is getting cold," Andrzej said softly. "Waffles too. It would be a pity if they went to waste, because I worked a little on them. Besides, my grandmother always said she had bad thoughts on an empty stomach. So what, breakfast?"
"Breakfast," Śliwiński agreed.
They ate without further scenes, although Andrzej could not stop surreptitiously watching Dominik. At first he did it out of sheer concern to respond to any sign of physical pain, but after a while he did it just for the pleasure of his eyes.
There was something graceful about Dominik's movements, including holding a cup or waffle. Seeing him so closely in natural daylight, Andrzej could not believe that any man could have such long eyelashes. The shadow cast by them on the cheeks made a very charming impression, and Andrzej was ashamed to find that he was beginning to think of this face as attractive. Dominik was undoubtedly a man, but in this light he looked hotter than many women.
Śliwiński did not notice his perhaps too intense gazes or pretended not to notice them. He was acting naturally, or at least as much as circumstances allowed him.
"Your waffles are very tasty," he said. "Honestly speaking, I did not think that you would know how to prepare them."
"I can do it. My friend's daughter loves waffles, so I learned how to make them."
"Oh!"
"We know each other from high school," added Andrzej quickly, feeling the need to clear up a misunderstanding that might have arisen. "We have always been good buddies, so since she is a single mother, I sometimes help her with various things."
"She must be having a hard time."
"She works hard, it's true. She runs a family restaurant. They serve really good homemade dinners there. You should go there sometime. It's nothing fancy, but the atmosphere is very nice."
Dominik replied with a polite smile, but left the idea without comment. Given the recent events, it was hardly surprising. He tried to be polite, but Andrzej felt more and more an intruder. The terrible evening and the night that could bring the most demons is over and now Śliwiński should regain his right to privacy.
The breakfast was over and Nowicki took a packet of medication on the table.
"It's a strong remedy, so be careful, take only one a day. I have tried it and I know it works great with the ointment. Well, I will go now."
Dominik looked at him as he got up. His eyes were wide, intense, and unusually blue.
"One more time thank you for everything."
"You're welcome. And you take care of yourself, okay?"
In response, the actor nodded.
There was nothing else to do here. Andrzej could not devote his entire life to protecting Śliwiński. The boy had to face certain issues on his own and find courage in himself.
Or at least let him think he is alone. Anyway, Andrzej did not give up his task of being his paparazzi.