III-Tipsy

Day 2

JOHN

Even though it's my second day in Italy, I still don't feel like leaving my hotel room. Also, I don't feel like taking a tour; this is challenging for me because I travel alone and struggle to follow directions. Indeed, I have trouble following directions, and as a result, I often get lost, especially in crowded places.

I was sitting peacefully on the hotel room balcony as mid morning approached and I could see the surrounding area's towering trees and expansive lake. I can see a coven and a wharf near the lake far away. In deck boats, I also see people sailing. The lake is also filled with ducks, geese, and swans.

This type of scenery gives me peace of mind. I sipped my gin and then lit a cigarette. I've found peace, but the strange thing is that the more peaceful I feel, the sadder and lonelier I become.

I smoked while leaning against the chair I was sitting in. To be honest, I'm a little tipsy, but I'm still in control; I just need more of this so I can't think about anything else. When I heard my phone chime, I looked at it right away. I received an Instagram notification that someone had commented on my recent post. I quickly checked the notification coming from the famous artist that  Hanz and I had met once at a conference.

When I read Mr. Dafreya's comment about how this place inspired his masterpiece, which went viral during an art exhibition he held in New York City, I kept thinking, "How about I write a book inspired by this place too and also what I'm going through right now?" I smiled as I reached for my small note book and began writing ideas.

I glanced down when I heard a rapid splash of water from below. As I saw that it was Evan, I quickly felt warm because his upper body was exposed and he was only wearing trunk shorts. Guess what? He is drenched! I'm not sure why, but when he rose from the spring pool, everything in my eyesight seemed to instantly slow down. I'm not sure, but the fourth story is a long way from the pool, yet I can still see his body clearly.

I was keeping a close check on him when all of a sudden, he looked up in my way, and we made eye contact. Even though I turned my head right away to look in another direction, I couldn't help but take a glance at him.

Is that guy physically appealing to me? I shook my head to get rid of the thought and decided to continue my business. I can't stop thinking about what I saw, though, no matter what I do. I weakly threw the pen I was holding at the table and screwed up my hair, muttering to myself, "Damn it, I'm so fucked up."

EVAN

I feel like someone is watching me as I make my way out of the spring pool and up the hill. I looked around, but no one was staring at me. I tried to look up, and just in time, John was staring at me. He was sitting on the balcony in broad daylight just now when I had a full view of his face. In addition to having red cheeks, his entire face was visible when it was exposed to sunshine.

He gave me a brief moment of his full attention before abruptly averting it. I noticed him sneaking eyes at me a few times, which I find amusing. The fact that he was glancing at my biceps and chest while I was seated next to him on the plane made it clear that he was drawn to my figure. Thinking about how his gayness really stands out when he stares at me made me grin. He said he was married to a man with the same last name as mine, which confirmed my suspicions that he was who he claimed to be. I'm not speculating about his identity because that would be entirely inappropriate; I just know. The thought that we were mistaken for a married couple makes me laugh.

I took the towel, laid it across my back, and sat down with a gin. I resumed reading after opening my book to the section marked by the bookmark. Since I used to be a nerd in high school, my interest in literature is the reason I only had a small group of friends. I still recall how oddly dressed I was back then; even my clothing was outdated, so my classmates would constantly make fun of me. I love my grandfather's clothes, so perhaps that's why I'm into vintage classical stuff. Also, I grew up with my grandparents.

And to be honest, I thought John looked kind of vintage-mixed modern in those pants and a short-sleeved suit, so I was like, "damn, he looks great." I was astounded by him; he just looks so good that when I first saw him, I assumed he was a socialite or a model. But in the room with us, he was different; the quiet one almost didn't want to speak. I last heard him speak when we complained to the front desk and hotel manager; after that, I didn't hear anything else.

I stood up immediately after finishing the two chapters of the book I was reading. I felt cold, so I put on my t-shirt and returned to my room with John to rinse and dress. While I'm on my way, guests and staff members greet me, and I only respond with a wave and a smile. I'm attempting to be polite; I'm friendly and approachable, which is why many people never hesitate to greet me.

John was sitting on the balcony when I entered the room, writing something in his small notepad. Even though he is only wearing his pajamas, I can see him extending his body. He stretched his body toward the sun, his eyes closed, and his arms were outstretched. I look at every part of his physique with scanner-like eyes. His physique is slim but not skinny; in addition, he has abs and a few muscles, much like the body of a lady who workouts.

I shook my head to clear my mind, then went into the bathroom and rinsed my body. I couldn't stop thinking as I soaked in warm water. Am I physically attracted to John? I won't deny that I am bisexual; I've already come out several times, and I've slept with a few guys before, but none of them made me feel this way. I'm not easily turned on by just looking at someone's body, especially since John and I just met and barely talk to each other. I was rinsing myself when I heard a loud thud outside the bathroom, so I turned off the shower and called out John's name.

"John! Is there something wrong there?" I yelled so he could hear me, but no one responded.

"John?" I called him once more, but no one answered. I was concerned, so I grabbed a towel and dashed out of the bathroom to see what had happened. When I came out of the bathroom, however, I was surprised to see John lying on the floor, struggling to stand. He tries but fails to reach for the chair to help himself up. So I rushed over to him and assisted him in standing. He's drunk.

He smells like Gin mixed with cigarettes, and even though I too drink alcohol, I have always disliked that smell, so while I was supporting him, I almost winced.

I set his bed and forced him to lie down right away, but to my astonishment, he grabbed me by the back of my neck and pulled my face up to his. In other words, my body was partially on top of his, and our lips were inch away. Was he trying to kiss me or was he going to tell me something? I was waiting for something to happen as I gulped but his hold on my neck suddenly loosened, and went unconscious.

I was going to stand up when I noticed that he was sleeping and that his eyes were swollen and that new tears were still streaming down them. He didn't say anything or open his eyes as I gently caressed his face and wiped the tears away. It looks like he is too wasted to respond. I straightened up and gave him a frown.

He was silent and appeared to be going through something; he had been drinking since last night. He may have had a falling-out with his husband, which would explain why he came here by himself and why he's acting this way. I looked at his gentle face and whispered, "Rest well because I will take you somewhere tomorrow." Perhaps a tour would cheer him up because he was depressed and lonely. I quickly changed into my clothes and sat down on my bed to watch TV.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow and I am hoping that it will at least ease his pain and anguish. I haven't assisted someone like him in a long time. Although our beds were only a few meters apart, I turned to face him. He was completely asleep, the redness of drunkenness on his face.

He appears to be drowsy because he appears to be a tired child who has been playing all day. But there was one thing that drew my attention: he wasn't wearing a ring or anything else that indicated he was married or in a relationship. He appears to be going through a difficult time.