"Double?" Dominik's eyelids fluttered.
"The girls will feel more at ease with mutual support. Both have already agreed. They would be disappointed if none of this came out."
"I still don't think it's for me" the young actor announced but hesitantly.
"It's just a new interesting experience and an opportunity to meet nice people" Andrzej assured. "Besides, we already agreed that you should show up with an accompanying person at this charity party. For you this meeting will be a way to get to know Marta, for me it will be an opportunity to get to know Ewelina better."
Andrzej knew Dominik would give in. The actor stubbornly and firmly claimed that he was absolutely not interested in any women, but allowed himself to be persuaded to go to a party with Nowicki's friend.
"All right," Ś;iwiński finally resigned. "Except ..." He blushed to his ears.
"First we will go to the theater or cinema, then to a restaurant and finally we will take the girls to their apartment along a picturesque route. I have everything planned" Andrzej reassured him.
Almost everything. He already had the general outline, but he will still have to work on the details.
"I don't know why I let you talk me into it" Śliwiński shook his head resignedly.
"Because you are a good friend."
Andrzej patted him on the back. He felt really great. Dominik agreed faster than he could have expected. Nowicki knew that he did it mainly for him, but he did not feel guilty about it. He was absolutely, completely convinced that both of them would do well in this situation. Marta was just perfect for Dominik.
"I guess there is no need to postpone this meeting. How about this weekend?"
"This wee..." Dominik's voice stopped in mid-sentence.
"Something's wrong?"
"No, nothing like that," the actor smiled. "I don't mind this weekend."
"Great, I'm calling the girls."
***
Andrzej cleaned the lens of his camera and looked through the camera at Śliwiński's salon. He tried a few zooms and how the interior looks in the morning light. He spent a long time on everything. From today it will be his hunting ground.
He took the first photos for the new album of Dominik at the zoo, quite surreptitiously from his cell phone. They were not masterpieces, but they looked nice in a folder on his computer and their naturalness made them more charming. However, they were a bit lonely and Andrzej finally decided to get down to work and prepare a beautiful collection of photographs for Dominik.
He wasn't sure how the actor would react to the camera in his hand. It is true that his profession required performances in front of the camera and photo shoots, but they were part of the work where he did not show his real self, but a created character. How will he relate to the fact that he can be caught at any moment by the watchful eye of the lens? Will he still behave naturally or will he start playing? Will he try to escape from him or will he treat him as if he doesn't exist? There was no way they could know it until they tried.
I'll take him by surprise for a start, he decided.
He knew the actor was in the kitchen, because he hadn't shown up yet since he'd gotten in ten minutes ago to wash the dishes. Nowicki crossed the threshold and the first thing he did was a photo.
"Are you crazy?!" Dominik was upset hearing the sound of the shutter operating.. "You want me to have a heart attack?"
"Don't overdo it, it's just a camera."
"But you showed up with it so suddenly ... Don't scare me like that anymore!"
"No, it's rather you expect me to walk around with it more from now on," he pointed to his camera. "I promised you photos and I'm going to take some."
"Don't be kidding, even when I eat yogurt?"
"What's wrong with that? Smile please!"
Dominik smiled in fact, completely uncomfortable, with a hint of amusement, ostentatiously putting a teaspoon of yogurt in his mouth, in which you could see pieces of strawberries. Whether he was doing it on purpose or not, he was so sexy at the moment that it seemed indecent.
What the hell is in this guy? Andrzej swallowed.
"Want some?" Śliwiński suggested, holding out a mug in his direction.
Nowicki took one more photo.
"Actually, I feel like it."
"Get yourself one from the fridge. I brought a new portion today."
"Have you been shopping? When?"
"In the morning, while you were still sleeping."
Andrzej's hand hung on the refrigerator door. He was so surprised he couldn't make his voice heard.
Dominik put another teaspoon of yogurt in his mouth. He looked pleased with himself.
"And how was it?" Nowicki asked when he finally regained the ability to speak.
"I guess… normal. I mean ... just like everyone else does the shopping. Several children were pointing their fingers at me, one old lady would not let me leave the store ..."
"No, it's not normal," muttered Andrzej.
"Fortunately, the saleswoman was the same as always and saved me from this lady. She stated that she needs to help regular customers."
Sitting down opposite Dominik Nowicki smiled proudly. He really felt as if he had witnessed his younger brother break through his restraints. Maybe it was not the climb of Mont Everest, but for Śliwiński even the Mount Kosciuszko was too steep so far.
"It really wasn't a big deal," Dominik blushed and looked down.
"These little steps should also make you happy. I am" Andrzej assured very pleased.
The more so recently, the actor was unable to get out of bed.
"Do you think we could still go somewhere with Paulina and Martynka?" Dominik asked timidly. "I had a really good time then ..."
"Why are you asking me? You have Paulina's number."
"I know but…"
"On Wednesday Martynka started school, but I will give my hand cut in bet that meeting you will be more important to her than any study."
"Exactly, I don't want to disturb her learning."
"School is five days a week. Weekends are still free."
Dominik raised his eyes glittering with a smile.
"Right. Will you stop photographing me?"
"No way! The lens loves you. If you want to know, I'm going to follow you with camera all the time."
"Not that I am not used to taking pictures of me," he sighed. "Only this time they won't be out of hiding, I hope."
"From hiding - no, but by surprise ... Better beware, because you don't know the day or the hour. Who knows, maybe I'll sell your photos in shorts for a tabloid."
"You will not do this ..."
"I don't know, I would get good money for them. Or not," Andrzej had a better idea. "I'll post an ad on the internet and sell it to some horny fan who will put it at the center of her altar!"
"This is not funny."
"No?" Nowicki took another photo of Dominik.
"If you don't stop, I'll take your camera!"
"I want to see you try."
"Give ... me ... this ..." Dominik leaned across the table. Andrzej avoided his hand at the last moment and jumped up from his chair.
"Ho ho!" He exclaimed, amused, running to the living room. "Someone is showing claws."
"You are horrible!" Dominik chased after him.
"Not at all! I'm just doing my job!" Andrzej separated himself from Śliwiński with a sofa.
"The nasty paparazzi!"
"Ha, not so much" he laughed again by a hair, avoiding Dominik's hand "I'm doing this on your request."
"Then you should listen to me!"
"Not if you change your mind every few minutes."
"I change my mind?" The actor paused. "When?"
"You wanted to have natural photos, photos that capture the moments of your life. So I'm going to catch these moments."
"I've got you" Dominik took advantage of Nowicki's moment of inattention and grabbed his camera. Andrzej, trying to dodge at the last moment, lost his balance and dragged Dominik with him.
The actor fell straight at him.
For a few heartbeats their faces were so close Andrzej lost his vision. The situation was strangely familiar. Then it had a rather unexpected end.…"