Clack, clack.
The turning of a key could be heard. The door opened, and a serious Jake apeared.
-What the hell are you doing here without a word?
-I'm happy to see you too, Jake. 'Want a beer?
Michael was sitting on the sofa of his father's living room, with quite a few empty bottles on the coffe table.
Jake did not have a good face, he was serious, almost angry.
-I knew my little cousin was a lover of many women but since when did you become an alcoholic?
-Since I met someone.
-Someone? Who? Another love of your life? It is a woman or a man? You know I would love you the same, doesn't matter what your preferences are.
-It is a woman. And I feel that maybe, she is the love of my life.
-Ok. So, why are you alone in here, without telling anybody anything and drinking away whatever you were thinking? You should have just talked to me.
-I'm scared of f#cking things up, as I always do. This time, I'm really scared.
-Hey Mike, hold your horses for a bit. It's not your fault that you were always attracting some freaking crazy girlfriends. Or maybe yes, it was your fault. But I don't think you will solve anything by being like this. Maybe you should just sleep in and think again tomorrow.
-What if I hurt her, just like Dana?
Jake stopped moving. Dana's accident had been a pretty deep scar in his cousin's heart for many many years. And he had seen him suffering.
It wasn't easy for him to overcome those scars, and even though he taught him how to be distracted with other women, he knew, his cousin was only wearing a mask. A mask of a playboy to protect his heart.
So, it wasn't really surprising that his relationships didn't last long or had troubles. Because his heart wasn't in there. It wasn't in any of those relationships. Only a mask covering the void that was his palpitant organ.
Jake stood in front of Michael and took his almost empty bottle.
-Give me that, I think you have drunk enough for today. And what happened to Dana...you know it wasn't really your fault to begin with.
-Jake, give me the bottle. This is not enough. I still can think. I want to forget it all. She really feels very special to me.
-Did you tell her? Did you tell her anything about how special you think she is?
-I couldn't say anything. So I just ran away.
-Mike, if you really think she is that special to you, you should go for her. If you stay here, nothing will happen. So, would you be fine if she ever finds someone else?
-No.
-Then there's your answer. So what about...
Jake was going to continue persuading his cousin but, Michael had just fallen asleep.
'That's why the great Michael Landson can't drink a lot. It would be dangerous for him to fall asleep between strangers'.
Jake shook his head while thinking of this secret of his cousin. And then, he decided to put him on the sofa and put a blanket over him.
'If I left my little cousin freeze to death, I couldn't survive the ire of my mother'---Jake shook his head again--. Sometimes I really wonder if Michael is her real son and I was adopted'.
Well, he and Michael were and stil were very close, many took them more as brothers than as cousins.
Jake sat in a near tall armchair, he couldn't leave his cousin alone in that condition. And he believed his cousin wouldn't want his family to know the state he was in right now.
'Ahh, I really should win the best caretaker prize this year'.
And so, Jake too fell asleep.
The next morning, Michael had a great headache, caused by the alcohol he drank the day before.
'Arg, just how many beers did I drink yesterday?'
The house's door opened with a bump and Jake appeared with a bag and hot tea. He had a glowing smile.
-Good morning my princess, have you woken up yet?
Michael took a cushion from the sofa and he threw it at Jake's face. But Jake smiling face was even more sparkling.
-I see you are good and up. I brought the breakfast for us.
-Jake, your smile is giving me goosebumps right now.
-Mike, I can't believe what you just said to your older cousin. You are breaking my heaart.
Jake was half telling, half singing, making the scene more bizarre. Michael half wanted to kill him, half wanted him to just go away. He knew he gave him a good spectacle last night. He shouldn't drink ever again. He shouldn't have called Jake half drunk. Those are the dangers of alcohol. It was all the alcohol's fault.
-So, do you want to talk about her. About your special person this time.
Jake smile dissappeared, and a serious expression, almost never seen in him changed the ambiance completely.
-Let's have breakfast first, I think I need to tell you a lot of things.
And so, the two cousins started sharing time and talking...for the next two weeks in secret from the rest of the family.