Knowing You

Chapter Seven - FRIENDSHIP

Empty bottles lined in the bar where the remaining customer sat and consumed whatever drink she liked. She reaches for the last bottle containing vodka and swiftly finishes the alcohol. She had the bottle on her lips, upside-down, and she kept waiting for the last drop to fall when the bartender reminded her of the time. Disappointed, she left a generous sum of cash beside the empty vodka bottle and went away telling the bartender in an almost incoherent voice to keep the change. She could hardly walk straight but she refused any help offered by the bar personnel. Carlyn just let her feet lead her while her eyes drooped and her steps grew heavier until they gave in and she fell to her knees. Then she felt a repulsive vomit thrusting on her throat. She could not get on her feet so she bent forward and just let the fluid gush out. It was a relief that came with a blackout.

Carlyn had to gather enough strength to open her eyes and to recognize her surroundings. She was lying on a familiar soft sofa bed. She could smell perfume and cosmetics around. This was no strange place at all. She knew she was in the dressing room of the theatre. The pain in her head struck right away and she moaned in pain. Someone came in just in time to bring a glass of water and a pain killer. She quickly swallowed the tablet and drank the water. She says thank you to the stranger and drops back to sleep. She did not care who it was as long as her pain is relieved. By the time she gained consciousness she was alone. She could still remember the taste of bile but it was more tolerable now. What was more torturing is her aching head. She pressed her temple with the palm of her hand as she sat up. She gathered her things and got to her feet. She went to the theatre hall and saw two actors rehearsing on the stage. She stopped to watch as they delivered a few lines in a song of a familiar musical piece. One actor, Lucio, noticed the spectator and greeted her.

“Good morning Carlyn! Finally you’re up. I believe you’ve met our new member, Thomas.”

“It’s just Tom. Please don’t call me by that name. I totally hate it.” He interrupts. “And Lucio, I don’t think she remembers me at all because I had to drag her to the dressing room last night.”

Out of her clouded hung-over mind, she could not even find the nice words to greet her savior.

“Wait, it was you?” asked Carlyn. “You took me here last night all the way from the bar? Why did you even bother? I mean, I don’t think we’ve met before.”

Tom is offended. “Bingo! And thank you for at least acknowledging that since I had to babysit you afterwards. And if you’d care to ask, I had to do it all on my own.”

Carlyn smiled in amusement, “Well, I never asked for your help and if I did, I don’t remember doing it. Thank you for dragging me here anyway.”

“Time-out guys.” said Lucio. “We don’t want to ruin this wonderful morning. How about we take a short break and have breakfast at the café. Just to loosen up things.”

Nobody raised any protest. Carlyn just finished prepping up in the comfort room when the order of three pancakes, eggs and coffee were brought to their table. Everyone was silent. Lucio knew he had to break the ice so he asked the newcomer.

“So Tom, how is your first week in the company?”

“Great actually! Everybody is very warm and helpful except for some ungrateful few. Everything else is just awesome.” He replied sarcastically.

Carlyn wouldn’t back down so she said, “Lucio, is the new recruit deaf? ‘Cause I do remember saying thank you just a while ago.”

“Hey, hey, you guys. That is enough. We only need a hot breakfast not a hot argument. Could we please keep it down?” Lucio interrupted.

They were silent for a while. Carlyn realized she was in the position as a senior to at least cut the newbie some slack. She takes a sip of coffee and turns her attention to Tom, who is sitting across the table.

She clears her throat and gently places the cup of coffee on the table, “Tom, right?”

Tom raised his gaze upon hearing this from Carlyn. He also realized he needed to hear what she has to say.

“I don’t have any intentions of being mean to you. When I said thank you, it was true. I could have ended up somewhere else if it weren’t for you. It’s just that I don’t know why you would consider helping a drunk stranger on the road. I…I don’t feel like I deserved it.”

She pauses and continues, “That is what I was trying to say. I just couldn’t find the right words. It must be the vodka. I’m very sorry.”

They gave a little laughter. A smile drew on Tom’s face and he reaches a hand on top of Carlyn’s. Carlyn lifts up her gaze at Tom and they gave each other a reassuring look. Lucio couldn’t help but be enthralled by this display of spark of a new friendship.

“Enough with the drama guys. Tony is waiting for us at the theatre for the practice and Carlyn, he told me that he has a special role for you so you better join us. That is after you take a shower.”

Carlyn smells her shoulders, wrinkles her forehead and says, “Do I really smell that bad?”

“YEAH!” exclaimed the two and they all burst into laughter before finally leaving the table and leaving their angst behind.

Tom and Carlyn protested to Lucio’s interruption but they all knew that they could never resist Tony Carr. Lucio on the other hand is greatly honored to have successfully brought Tom and Carlyn together and to create a friendship that will last for more years beyond his own remaining time.

Indeed, the following days grew busier than ever. Tony had Carlyn on a busy schedule to prevent her from frequenting the bar. Lucio and Carlyn made Tom’s debut easier and enjoyable during rehearsals. However, as the days drew nearer to the opening night, everyone noticed Lucio’s frequent absence. They all trusted his prowess in delivering a quality performance but they couldn’t help but get worried. Finally, Tony asked Carlyn and Tom to personally talk to Lucio and they did.

In the final day of rehearsals, Lucio finally showed up but he was a different man. He talked less and he wasn’t as flamboyant as before. He always put on a smile but Tony, Carlyn, and Tom could see through the façade. They knew he was faking it. They could no longer let it pass and so they dragged him to the basement for a serious talk and there, he spilled it all.

“I have AIDS…” Lucio confessed.

Tom and Carlyn were devasted. AIDS is never a good news especially when it’s discovered late. They had a lot of questions to ask Lucio but he knew better and spoke before they had a chance to say anything.

“Guys, please don’t tell anyone about this, especially Tony. I don’t want him to get bothered by this and I don’t want to ruin everyone’s mood for the opening night. I know you’re wondering how long I’ve had it. It’s been two years now. I’ve had a series of seizures lately that’s why I had to stay at the hospital for treatment. I’ve been better lately but my doctor told me it’s just for now. She did not want me to come for the rehearsals anymore but I just can’t leave you hanging and wondering what I’m doing or where I am. I know you would have wanted to come by and visit me in the hospital but I knew the entire company…”

Carlyn’s tears are starting to fall while Tom was stone silent. Both of them are all ears to Lucio as he continues.

“I don’t know when or who I got it from. I’m pretty sure both of you are aware of my wild years back then. It’s just not worth remembering anymore. I’m tired of recounting my horrible past and I just want to look forward to tomorrow. I want this last performance to be amazing. I won’t fail everyone and I’ll give my very best. For what its worth, it’s my last grand performance and you guys are gonna help me achieve that. In fact, you guys have already done so much for me. Just watching both of you work and grow in this craft is an honor for me. Carlyn, I met Tom and I knew right away you will both have this bond. The friendship we have is all that I can give to you and I thought if I’m gone who will be there for you? Tony is not always there to look after you because he has to look after the entire family. Then I met Tom and he was an answered prayer. I thought at first this will turn out to be a pair of misfits and it will be problematic. Eventually, that was exactly the case the first time you met but see? Friendship works like magic and I wasn’t wrong. For the last days of my life I had a family. A family of misfit friends. I can finally have peace of mind. But I must remind you, you still have a long way to go before you can fully know each other. But I’m confident that it will be bearable for both of you and you’ll always have each other’s back. You could even find more friends to add in your circle. So, no worries…Hakuna matata!!” said Lucio, jokingly.

Tom and Carlyn rushed to Lucio and wrapped their arms around him. Lucio felt like a father comforting his crying children. His tears are in his eyes while he reminds them to keep everything they’ve heard inside the basement to stay in that basement. It was a secret that could only stay hidden while Lucio is still around.

Hours passed and the three sealed their mouths from ever mentioning the sad fact. Tony was clueless yet he continues to be suspicious. He knew it was not a time to bother his actors when they are preparing for the night’s performance. But he knew something was not right. He could see through their actions that after rehearsals, the acting did not stop. He is deeply saddened but hopeful that all will be well after the show and he respected their silence.

Then the evening of the show finally came. Patrons lined the red stair-like seats and more are coming to fill in the vacant ones. The actors, the crew and the equipment are ready for their grand presentation. Every actor has a costume and every prop is in place. In just a few more minutes, came the curtain call.

As the curtain slid to the sides, the blinding spotlight shone through along with the roaring applause of the crowd welcoming the first set of thespians of the opening scene of “West Side Story”. Lucio as Tony masterfully delivered his lines and gracefully sang the duets with his Maria along with all the other cast members as well. Tears came running down the eyes of some of the members of the audience who could not help but be sad as they watch the dying Tony in the last scene. The silent sobs were replaced with a howling applause and standing ovation when the curtains finally dropped. What the audience failed to see as the curtains covered the stage was Lucio falling unconscious to the stage floor. Worried cries followed and Lucio was rushed to the hospital.

What was the blinding light of the stage is now the white fluorescent light of the hospital room. For a month, Lucio enjoyed this light and he looked at the faces of his friends and smiled. A smile he rehearsed perfectly to wear once he finally departed. And it was so that after a month of struggle, Lucio finally laid to rest. The pain of his departure was felt by everyone but for Tony, Carlyn and Tom, the pain is so much worse.

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Just as senses are optimized at the absence of one, just as hearing improves in the absence of sight, Tom and Carlyn’s friendship have grown stronger after Lucio have gone.

Tom used to live with his father whom he considers as a “ghost in the house”. Since his mother’s death, his father has become colder towards him. It’s as though his father died with his mother and he was left an orphan. This brought questions to Tom. It was never clear to him why and soon he gave up on knowing. He packed his things and moved to Carlyn’s place. He thought his father would come after him and make him stay but he never came. With their past behind them, Tom and Carlyn built themselves up and became a family to each other. A bond bound to be tested and strengthened by time.