Andrzej woke up in the afternoon in the same place where he fell asleep. He felt uncomfortable and his joints were numb, but at least he slept off his late night.
Next to him was a telephone with one single number encoded in its memory. His display showed information about three missed messages. Yawning, he started reading them. They were all from Dominik.
'The meeting was long but it ended well. Will you come over for lunch? I will tell you everything. I'm waiting at one o'clock.'
Time of news - nine ten. The next one was posted five minutes past one:
'I understand you don't have time. Drop in when you have a moment.'
The third was sent a few minutes ago and the sound of it probably woke him up for good.
'Now I am worried. Let me know that everything is fine.'
"All right, huh?" Andrzej muttered to himself rubbing sleepy eyes.
He looked out the window. Dominik was sitting on the couch reading a book. Or he pretended to be reading. He looked distressed. Andrzej was angry with him that he slept with Marczak again, but it was not his business. The two were seven years together. It's not that easy to sever ties that have lasted so long. In some ways, they were like an old married couple who got so close that they forgave each other basically everything.
Anyway, Dominik loved Marczak. Whether he was seduced and used by him over the years or not, his love was sincere. True love will forgive everything, as the words of the old pre-war song said: "Betrayal, and a lie, and sin."[1] It may have been naive and stupid, but reason had no tools against the heart.
Anyway, maybe Marczak really regretted his act? Maybe he also loved Dominik in his own way and only realized it when he was about to lose him? It wouldn't be weird. Śliwiński was a really good and kind man and only a fool would reject his feelings. After all, there are probably not so many gays in Poland to be very picky, and Dominik would be the dream of each of them. Marczak would be stupid not to try to stop him.
Anyway, in the morning the actor seemed very happy. If he was affected that way by coming to terms with his lover, that might be a good thing. After all, he himself knows what is best for him.
Probably.
Andrzej sighed and wrote an apologetic text explaining that he was sleeping off his late night. Seconds after it was sended, Dominik lifted something from his lap and smiled. Surprised, Nowicki blinked his eyes. Śliwiński had a phone from him so close to him? Was he… really worried?
He felt something strange in his heart. After all, he and Dominik hardly knew each other. They ate three breakfasts and one lunch together. They spent one night under the same roof. They talked several times and that's it. Andrzej was worried about him because he saw his fragility. He would be concerned about any victim of violence he knows. He felt responsible for him because he was strong enough to help him. But why was Dominik worried about him?
His phone buzzed.
"I am waiting. Drop in when you want. "
Nowicki was surprised that his heart beat faster. Is that what it feel like when you know someone is waiting for you?
"I'll be there in fifteen minutes."
He might have been in fifteen seconds, but he had to shower. He spent almost a day and a half wearing these clothes, which was painfully noticeable in such heat.
Washing away sweat and sleep, Andrzej thought it was nice to know that someone was waiting for him and worried as much as he was about that person. Since his parents passed away eight years ago, only Paulina and Martynka have shown him these feelings. Maybe that's why he proposed to Paulina. Being for someone and with someone, showing them concern and knowing that they are mutual was not something every day. Not for him. And apparently not for Dominik. People don't have to know each other all their lives to be able to trust themselves.
Refreshed, he took his camera bag with him. He thought that Śliwiński looks cute when he is happy and whatever the reason for this happiness is, it is worth taking advantage of this moment. He will immortalize it for himself, so that over the years and experiences he would remember that he could be happy even for a moment.
No, always. Dominik should always be happy. He shouldn't let anyone take that feeling away. So if Marczak gives them to him ... Maybe Andrzej really made a mistake about this man and those events were just a single outburst of desperation?
"Andrzej, I was so worried" Nowicki stopped at such an unexpected greeting at the very door. He didn't even have time to raise his hand to the bell when he saw Dominik in front of him.
The actor smiled radiantly. His eyes were jewels reflecting the light of a thousand suns. It was inconceivable that such a beautiful creature should walk on earth. No wonder that fans from all over the country and from abroad wanted any news about this beautiful man. It is a pity that at the expense of his privacy.
"Sorry," Nowicki greeted hesitantly.
"It's fine. I'm glad you're okay. Come in. Are you hungry?"
"Actually ... like a wolf."
Dominik laughed.
"That's good. I heat up the stew. It should be ready soon."
"Have you ever thought about starting a restaurant?"
"No. I have no business skills. Anyway, it is difficult for me to imagine what I will be doing in a week, let alone a few years."
"Don't you think so far ahead?"
"No, what for? I never planned on becoming an actor and see how I ended" he laughed.
"You didn't want to be an actor? So who?"
"I don't know," he admitted. "I don't think anyone special. I went to gastronomic school because it's a good profession."
"You don't seem pragmatic to me. More like a dreamer."
"My only dream is to be happy. No matter what I do or how I earn my living. I don't know if it makes me a practical person or a dreamer ..."
"You look happy today," Nowicki noted. "Did something good happen yesterday?"
"It shows?" He blushed. Is it really possible to talk about happiness with such timidity?
Andrzej smiled at him. Dominik wanted to share his joy with someone so much that it was leaking out of him like a colander. Although he was sure what he would hear and did not support this turn of events, Nowicki had neither the right nor the heart to criticize Dominik and his choices. If he considered himself his friend, he should support him in them.
"Tell me," he asked. Śliwiński's eyes glowed with joy.
Dominik really wanted to say something, but he paused and seemed to be ashamed.
"I saw Marek yesterday ..." He announced turning off the gas. For some reason he avoided Andrzej's eyesight. "I know that what he tried to do to me then was wrong, but ..."
"But you love him."
The actor sighed, nodding his head.
When I saw him, he was tired and pale. He begged for my forgiveness and explained that he couldn't bear the thought of breaking up, so he went mad. He really loves me…" He looked at Andrzej from above the steaming plate.
'Maybe yes or maybe not. But you want to believe it' thought Andrzej.
"You made up" he said aloud.
"Yes" Dominik admitted timidly.
"That's good."
Surprise was clearly visible in Śliwiński's face.
"Do you really think so? I thought you didn't think well of him."
"Because it is so. I do not think about him well" Nowicki sat down at the table while the host put a plate in front of him. "He should go to jail for what he did to you. But apparently there is no escape from love."
[1] The song is called „Miłość ci wszystko wybaczy".