Two days had passed since Mikel had left, and Kiril still hadn't shown up. Jaume decided to go looking for him at his home, during his afternoon break. He had to talk to him, they had to talk about themselves, about what they were feeling, experiencing for each other. He had to ask him to seriously consider being together, to try it.
He was checking to see that all the dining rooms were in order, ready to receive the first guests, and that the two reserved tables had their reservation cards, when somebody entered. He turned with his usual welcoming smile when he saw it was Jorge. It was the first time that one of his "colleagues" set foot in the restaurant - they knew he didn't want them to visit him at work. Jaume approached him, slightly tense.
"Sorry, Jaume, but I had to see you."
"Now? What's up?"
"Kiril. He's been beaten up."
"Bashed? Who? When? Where is he now?"
"At home, with Pablito and Carlos. He's in rather bad shape. It seems that he was beaten by a client, last night. We found him in his bed and we didn't notice anything wrong. But then, this morning, when we woke up, Pablito saw him and called us and..."
"Did you call a doctor?"
"No, not yet. Carlos asked if you can come."
"Christ, I don't know! Wait for me outside, I'll go and to talk with the owner, I'll see if he can let me off now..."
After a while, he came outside.
"Let's go, hurry up. He gave me the whole morning off. How did it happen?"
"I don't know. Kiril doesn't want to talk about it. He says that it's nothing. But he really looks bad. Perhaps it is nothing serious, but you'll be scared just looking at him. They thrashed him thoroughly..."
They almost ran, and went up to the boy's apartment. Jaume rushed to Kiril's bed. The boy, when he saw him, tried a smile and grimaced in pain. One eye was almost swollen shut and black and blue. His nose was swollen. There was a cut on his upper lip, that wasn't bleeding but was swelling. His face was a mask of pain.
"Kiril, what happened?"
"Nothing... a small overheated argument with a client, last night. Why did they call you? It was not what I wanted. I'm sorry."
Jaume turned towards Carlos: "Go immediately and call the doctor, Doctor Gutierrez in Passeig de Vilafranca number 23, I think. Hurry up!"
"I don't need a..." Kiril weakly protested.
"Quiet. Now, I need to know what has happened. And I want to know who did it, and why it happened."
"No, I don't even know his name, it's nothing. It's better to forget it..."
"Never in this world! It is at least two years since one of us has been bashed. And it should not have happened again. We have to know who he is, and make him pay for that. That type of person is dangerous for all of us. He has to know that he can't play rough, here in Sitges, because we know how to protect ourselves."
"But no... and possibly he is no longer here in Sitges... He was just a little drunk, perhaps, and..."
Jaume insisted again but wasn't able to get a word out of him. Meanwhile Carlos was back with the doctor. The man examined Kiril, then prescribed some ointments and drugs, saying that happily there was nothing broken, and that in two or three weeks the boy would recover his form, without any trace of his bad adventure.
As the doctor left, Jaume summoned the other three boys into the kitchen.
"Kiril didn't want to tell me who did it. But we have to find out. Spread the word to all our friends. If I'm not mistaken, he met the guy at the Spray. Perhaps the man still hangs around there. Tell the boys that whoever singles him out must say nothing. He just has to give him a date, and warn us as soon as possible. Agreed?"
"Yes, sure. But... we know nothing about that guy, if he is a stranger or not, tall, short, old, young... It will be difficult to find him." Jorge objected.
"No, it will be enough to talk with our clients. Ask them if they went with anyone other than us, how they liked the others... Perhaps suggesting that among us hustlers there are also people deserving a good thrashing..." Pablito answered.
Carlos retorted: "Possibly not in so obvious a way, but I think it could work. So, agreed. We pass the word among all our friends. You'll see that everybody will agree to help find him and teach him a lesson."
"But, what will we do to him, if we find him?"
"We will bash him as he did Kiril, and on top of that, we will shred all his clothes and leave him naked in the street."
"But he will report us to the police, Pablito!" Jorge objected.
Carlos answered him: "But no, silly boy! He will not see our faces. We jump on him and put a hood on his head."
"But the one dating him and bringing him to the spot, that one can be reported." Jorge objected.
Then Jaume said: "No, he will not take him to the place, but just make an appointment. Then he will arrive and "rescue" him. And we will not, of course, call each other by name. So he will not be able to identify us."
So, with the action organized, Jaume returned to Kiril.
"What were you discussing, in there? What do you want to do?" the boy asked, worriedly.
"Nothing, colt. Now be quiet and try to heal soon. I want you in good shape. You and I have to talk, soon, about serious matters."
"Serious? What about?"
"Not now. Now I'm here just to keep you company."
"But, don't you need to be at work ?"
"I'm free until this afternoon, don't worry. Is it hurting very much?"
"Rather. He was a body builder that one and..." he interrupted, then said: "No, perhaps he wasn't a body builder. He was just drunk and..."
"I don't understand why are you protecting him."
"No, it's not that I'm protecting him. Just, it doesn't matter."
"But he beat you. He put his hands on you, that bastard."
"Well, the clients pay us to put their hands on us, isn't that right?" Kiril joked.
"Right, but not in this way. Is it possible that you didn't realize that he was a dangerous type?"
"No, on the contrary, he seemed OK. But, let's change the subject, please? What did you have to tell me so important?"
"When we are alone..." Jaume whispered.
So Kiril said: "Pablito, would you please leave us alone for a while?"
"Sure, Kiril, no problem. Anyway Jaume is with you. I'll go pick up something for lunch and get your prescriptions. See you later."
"So?" Kiril asked, looking at his friend with the one eye that was still open.
"I... I am in love with you. I would like to try, you and I, to live together. As soon as you can, would you like to move to my place?"
"To your place? I have to think about that..."
"Why?"
"I don't know if it really would be a good idea. Two hustlers in love... Don't you feel it is wrong? Until now, it's just to fuck, you and I. I can't ask for anything better, but..."
"Christ! But I love you. And you love me too."
"Don't swear!"
"Sorry. But it's true what I said, yes or no?"
"I'm afraid yes, but we have to let it pass away."
"Why?"
"I don't know if I would be able to give up my clients..."
"I'll try, at least. And I think I could succeed."
"Yes, perhaps you can. But you have other work that you like."
"You too can look for a job, if you feel like it."
"But if I preferred to continue to hustle?"
"Never mind. You'll be free to continue."
"And you want me with you, all the same?"
"Of course, I'll accept you as you are. I'll demand nothing of you."
"But you would feel bad..."
"And you? Wouldn't you feel bad if I wanted to continue?"
"I think... yes. But I too would accept it. I too will not demand anything of you."
"Just... there is just one thing I'll demand from you."
"What?"
"To be always honest with each other. To always tell each other everything. Otherwise for sure problems would start. One starts to ask himself what he doesn't know, what the other thinks or does, what the other hides from him. It would be a lot worse, do you understand?"
"Sure, I agree with you. But, are you aware of what are you asking me?"
"Yes, to give you all my life."
"And, aren't you scared?"
"Yes, and a lot! But I feel it's worth it, with you. I don't want to lose you just because I'm too afraid, Kiril. I love you, and so... I can only offer you my love. And if you too would offer me your love, it could be just perfect."
"Jaume... but if you are disappointed by me?"
"And how? I don't have illusions. I decided not to have illusions. I like you as I know you, and I would like to get to know you better and better, and..."
"Jaume, I would hate for it to be me to make you suffer, one day."
"Good. Until now, you never made me suffer, on the contrary. Will you try, with me?"
"Yes... I really think yes. But now, I'm ugly, isn't it true?"
"Yes, I have to admit it. But you'll be back, even more beautiful than before. Anyway, I like you even now."
"I can't even give you a kiss, now."
"We will make up for the lost time."
"For the moment, don't tell the others yet."
"Why?"
"Because I want to be more sure about myself, about you... about us. Let's try to stay together a while before..."
"But the others will understand."
"Possibly. When can I move to your place?"
"When you want. As soon as you can stand up."
"Tonight? When you leave your work, can you come and take me?"
"All right. But why at night?"
"At least I'm not seen around with this face... Where will I sleep? In the room of mirrors?"
"What? With me, in my bedroom, no?"
"Sure, I was joking. Even if for a few days I'm afraid we will not be able to make love. How will we stand it? To stay so close and not do anything? I would like to do it even now..."
"Me too. But we will restrain ourselves. A little abstinence can be good... It will be even better, when we can at last do it, don't you think?"
"Let's say so. Even if it seems to me a bit like the tale of the fox and the unripe grapes. Do you know that you are really beautiful, Jaume?"
"Yes, you told me..."
"No, you are more beautiful than what I told you. You have two splendid eyes, and do you know why? Because I can read in them the love you feel for me..."
"You have one very beautiful eye, then, right now!" Jaume answered laughing.
"Nasty boy! That is not a compliment for someone whom you say you love?"
"Hurry up and get better, I want to kiss you!"
"Only?"
"No. Just as a start. Then, you know how it happens, one thing leads to another and... I desire you, Kiril. I'm really dying to make love with you."
"We can try. It's enough if you don't touch me on the face. The rest of the body doesn't hurt too much..."
"No, I prefer to wait."
"What a pity! Look how he stood up. He already hoped that... poor thing!"
Jaume looked at the sheet making a tent between his friend's legs, and smiled. Then he bent, and, through the sheet, he lightly kissed it. Kiril sighed and caressed Jaume's hair.
"No, that's even worse. If we have to wait, it's better for you to stay far away from me. At a safe distance."
Pablito came back and prepared lunch, while Jaume gave his medications to Kiril and rubbed the ointments into the swollen parts. Then Kiril wanted to stand up and try to eat with his friends, even if in reality he limited himself to sipping some fruit juice with a straw, and swallowing some vanilla cream.
Jaume returned to work. Then, that night, he went to get Kiril and bring him home, with all his belongings. Kiril had told his friends that he was moving in with Jaume. They immediately guessed that the two were sweet on each other, but they didn't comment.
It was already two days that Kiril was with Jaume. They succeeded in not making love even if both, especially when they were in bed together, were aroused and full of desire.
The boys hadn't yet singled out the guy who thrashed Kiril. Perhaps he really was no longer in Sitges. But not one of the boys lowered his guard. One reason for that was to avenge one of them, but the other worthy reason was to make sure that nobody dared to touch one of them in future, because they would not get away scot-free.
A letter arrived from Mario, and Jaume was really pleased. It said nothing very special, just greetings and that he hoped he could find the right person. Jaume answered with a picture postcard, he thanked him and said that perhaps he really had found his Mister Right...
On the evening of the third day, around midnight, the telephone rang. It was Benito calling from the Atlantida. He hooked a client, a body builder from Lerida, who told him he gave a blond who was playing smart with him, a good thrashing;a foreigner hustler, three days ago. Jaume didn't have any doubt - Kiril had let it slip that he was a body builder. Jaume asked Benito to find an excuse to give him a date for the next evening, at the soccer field of Aiguadolç.
"But the guy wants to fuck now, tonight."
"All right, go with him. Make him enjoy it the best you can, ask him for only a little money, make another date with him. Where does he take you to fuck, in an hotel?"
"No, he came here with his car. He wants to take me towards Garraf and do it in his car."
"Take him to Aiguadolç tonight, then. You know, the little grove behind the soccer field. There you will be quiet and fuck without problems. But do your best to persuade him to see you again tomorrow night, or, if he cannot, one of the next nights. But give him a sure date, understood? Anyway, to be certain, write down his car number plate , when he's not looking."
"I'll do my best, Jaume."
"Don't let him cotton on, please. Try to learn more about him, who he is, what he does, if he comes here often, and so on. And make sure it is he who beat up Kiril, but without telling him you know Kiril. Give him rope..."
"Sure, let me do it. It will not be difficult, he's a chatterbox."
"Call me again tonight, after he leaves you. Any time. So you can tell me if you could date him again."
"Sure. Now I've got to go, he is waiting for me. I told him I had to go to the toilet..."
Jaume hung up the receiver, satisfied. He was sure he was the guy they were looking for. He went back to the kitchen.
"Who was it?" Kiril asked.
"Benito. He needed my advice."
"Benito? A nice boy. Does he have problems?"
"Nothing really important. Let's go to bed, now."
"Yes, stallion. But when can we do something?"
"I hope soon, colt. But I don't want to risk hurting you."
"I would like to risk..."
"No. I would be too scared to hurt you, I would not even be able to do things in the proper way. Just a little more patience, OK?"
"All right... as you want. These evenings you don't go to hustle..."
"I don't feel like it. And then, with you here... it doesn't seem right..."
"You could just go in the room of mirrors..."
"Tomorrow night I'll probably go to hustle. All right?"
"All right. You must feel free, you know that."
"I feel free, don't worry. Tomorrow night I will hustle and bustle at my pleasure, be sure. I really can't resist, the idea..."
"I believe you, staying so close to me and doing nothing. I understand you, Jaume."
The young man smiled at his boyfriend. But inside himself he smiled for another reason, he already anticipated his revenge. Yes, he would really go to "hustle" - they will hustle him and tramp on him, and thrash him thoroughly, that bastard. Weather he's a body builder or not, all together they will hold him fast without problem, and then...
Kiril was already fast asleep. Jaume could hear his light breathing next to him. He stayed awake, his hand near the telephone. He had set the bell to the minimum. Around one thirty it rang.
It really just made a click and Jaume took the receiver: "Hallo?" he whispered softly.
"Jaume, it's you?"
"Yes, speak."
"It's Benito. Tomorrow night, at 11:45 at the soccer field kiosk. He has a white Seat with a red and yellow stripe from head to tail, on the top. You cannot mistake it."
"Sure he is the guy?"
"Ninety-nine percent certain. His name is Domingo."
"Thanks. You come along at midnight, so you can rescue him... That way you are in the clear."
"Yes, the boys told me. But I regret that I can't take part in the fun. Beat him for me as well, the bastard! He's full of crap, he believes he is a god on earth, the shit bag. You know, the classic body builder in love with himself. And then, he plays the macho, just a top, he says. After beating him, screw his ass, break it, do me this pleasure."
"We'll see. You, meanwhile, warn everybody, tonight and tomorrow. Gathering is at the kiosk at 11:15 p.m. tomorrow night."
"Sure, I'll pass the word. You'll see that almost all the boys will come."
They said goodbye and Jaume hung up the receiver quietly.
Kiril still slept, unaware and serene.