Knowing You

Chapter Two - THE LONG NIGHT

Just when the three are about to come up with a decent plan of events, an unwelcome intruder came crashing through the door. It was Robert. His eyelids were heavy and he smelled of tequila. He was drunk. Some careless people must have informed him where Louis was.

“There you are…” he tipsily rants. “I’ve been looking all over for you!”

The conversation abruptly stops and Louis had to catch Robert on his arms when the drunken lad lost his balance and started falling down.

“Tony, I’m very sorry about this.” He apologizes as he struggles to help Robert get to his feet.

“Good heavens! Is that Robert?! Please go ahead and excuse yourself Louis. Bring him home. He could hardly even stand on his own.”

Carlyn helped Louis yank Robert’s arm around Louis’ broad shoulders.

“I’m so sorry Carlyn.” he whispers.

“It’s okay.” and she sends them off.

She returned to the room but Tony was about to leave. He says he needed to be home early because of his promise to his beloved wife, Lilia, and that they could talk some other time, at their most convenient. Carlyn could not protest. Tony is old and could no longer stay up for the rest of the night like he used to. He leaves a calling card on Carlyn’s hand and takes his leave.

Louis manages to find a decent lot in the basement car park of the apartment building and half drags Robert to the elevator. He manages to open the apartment door and brings Robert to his couch. He takes a basin of water and starts to carefully bathe the intoxicated young man with a soft sponge. Robert Grey is ten years younger than Louis who is already at his early 30’s. Robert’s chest jerks and he bends over to the side of the couch to throw off the foul bile liquid.

“Just great!” Louis exclaims in disgust.

He cleans the mess and attempts to change Robert’s shirt drenched in sweat. As he was doing so, Robert gains enough consciousness to lift and wrap his limp arms around Louis’ who starts to get annoyed. Louis warns him to lie down again but Robert does not listen. Instead he babbles incoherent words, interrupting Louis. Louis’ nerve got him to push Robert back down on his back. The drunken man coughs off and groans in pain with his hand on his chest. But it was just for a second and he was asleep again. It seems that Louis’ elbow have hit Robert’s chest with force. He drops Robert’s shirt and flees to his car and drives back to the Hawaiian Night Club.

He rushes to the room where he thought Carlyn and Tony were left to continue the conversation but they were no longer there. Then, he hears Carlyn not far from behind him.

“I knew you’d come back. Tony left right after you took off.”

“Was he upset?” he asked in a worried tone.

“No, he just needed to rest early. He is not getting any younger, you know. ” Louis breathes of relief.

“Relax. It isn’t you he would be disappointed about. Here, have a drink.” she hands him a shot of clear beverage.

They take their conversation to the bar with fewer shots and more talks.

“So I noticed a while ago…you and Robert.”

“WERE…It was over since last week.”

He interrupts to stress that such relationship has just become a thing of the past.

“I see…the kid got too attached. That’s the difficult part when you start the commitment thing, strings attached!”

“Sounds like it isn’t just me who’s got attachment issues. And you don’t seem surprised at all.”

“Of what? You and Robert?” She takes one shot and continues, “I gotta say if it weren’t after the drama just a while ago I wouldn’t have believed the rumors.”

“Not quite the flaunty gay you’d expect?”

“Nope. Don’t get me wrong! I’ve met a lot of gay men who look head to toe gorgeous and are not afraid to admit.”

“I wasn’t hiding anything either.”

“I know. It’s just that I find you quite…serious.”

Louis laughs. “I get that a lot. So, Miss Stanley, what have you got under your sleeves?”

“Hmm…a lot!”

Then Suzie comes out from the dancing crowd. She takes Carly’s hand and kisses it.

“Suzie! You’re drunk!”

“Come dance with me Carly. You just left and...and...never came back. Why would you do that Carly? Come...come dance.” Suzie said, groggily.

Louis smiles at this familiar sight and turns his attention to his glass.

“Louis, by the way, this is Suzie, Suzie this is Louis.”

Suzie takes a look at the man sitting next to her girlfriend. Louis offers a friendly hand and a hello but Suzie just glares at him and resumes begging Carlyn.

“You better bring her home Carlyn.” said Louis.

“I don’t want to go home!” objects Suzie.

Carlyn sees Tom dancing with a couple of guys and calls him over. Tom drags himself towards them.

“Tom, will you please drive Suzie home? Please? I still need to speak with Louis. It’s something very important.”

“What now?! I’m going to babysit your girlfriend?!” he protested.

“Tom, please stop being such a prima donna. I can’t leave right now and she’s very wasted. I’ll take this as a very big favor. Pretty please?” begged Carlyn.

“Its fine actually…Carlyn you can take Suzie home. Don’t worry about me.” said Louis.

“No…Tom…I can call your father right now. I swear!”

“Fine!! I’m taking your girlfriend home! And please…stop using my father against me.”

Tom half-drags Suzie out of the club while she whined and refused to walk away.

“Bye Suzie!” Carlyn blows a kiss to her.

“You didn’t have to stay you know. You could have taken her home yourself.”

“I don’t want to look after a drunken brat.”

“Guess I wasn’t the only one with that sort of problem. And I need not ask you…we are in the same team. Cheers…to not hiding in the closet!”

Carlyn laughs and raises her glass in agreement.

Louis was like an open book with his story of Robert Grey whom he met the past year. They had six months of on and off relationship because Louis couldn’t handle Robert’s immature breakdowns. Every time he breaks up with him, it’s always Robert who begs him to stay. A couple of times did they have the same issues over and over again and Louis just had enough of all the pointless arguments. Louis is not the type who would linger around just because of s****l satisfaction since that was mostly what Robert could offer in the relationship. Louis had ideals and he wanted a serious commitment. Though he ended the relationship a week before, Robert was confident enough to pester him around because he has done it a couple of times before and during those times, he eventually won over Louis. But this time, Louis said, was different. With the company gone, Louis is firmer and is now ready to take on a heavy responsibility if that is what it will take to rebuild a company. He vows to offer his efforts for his craft and himself.

That was just the beginning of the night. Everyone danced while they exchanged stories, sharing experiences of performing on the stage. They both realize they have a great deal of commitment to their craft though less to the people they sleep with. They both have great respect for Tony and agreed to find a way to turn his plans to reality. The night was filled with a not so trivial conversation but they still had more to go if they want to delve deeper to what are hidden in each other’s sleeve.