19

Darek cooked something similar to an Italian dish for a late lunch.

— The smell is super as always! You was good in that even when you was kid. But that's what I don't understand...—Cornelius tried to pull a piece off the pan, but Darek generously whipped him with a spoon, in fact barely by touching.

— It's a kind of tomato stew with cheese, chili pepper, basil and duck meat. I was unlucky in terms of the duck, it's a store-bought one. And there they handed over a check for repairs, which you need to fill it out and send it to them.—Dariusz pointed to the table.

— Aah, I see. Damn it! And you have a hot spoon...—Cornelius shook his right hand.— It's going to hurt now... Is Vasilevsky really so ancient that he sends checks?—

— I don't know... He looks like a hundred and ten or a hundred and twenty...—Darek deftly took out the plates in one stack.— After lunch, you will need to go to the club, because I will be busy a few hours, and... Lukasz? Yes, it seems to be Lukasz... He said you need to come there.—

Ryan went out into the kitchen, leaning heavily on the stick.

— Ryan, don't strain your legs!—I said.— It might get worse!—

— You make it sound like I'm a little kid now...—Ryan sat down at the table, bracing himself against the countertop.—I have the power, then I don't... My body wants to walk...—

Darek arranged the plates as if he were shuffling cards.

— You're very clever, Darek. Have you tried to work as a magician?—Ryan asked Dariusz.

— And what is it - a magician?—Darek asked in surprise.

— Do you know what a magician is? Hmm, what planet are you from, man?—Ryan inhaled the smell of the dish on the plate.— It smells great! If it tastes the same...

Dariusz, where did you learn to cook like that?—

— I don't know about the planet... We are all aliens in this world! As for my culinary skills, it's all my mom. I used to help her a lot when I was a kid...— Darek deeply sighed.— I want to become a child again...—

He clutched a wooden spoon in his hand. His knuckles turned white.

— Darek...—Cornelius whispered, coming up and putting his hand on his younger brother's shoulder.

Darek exhaled convulsively.

His eyes darkened. Usually they were the same blue as my mother's, but now they have become a dark dark gray, the color of soot.

— I was there, Corey. And it will gnaw at me until I find something that will fill it...— He said.

He was sitting at dinner so pale and sad.

Cornelius asked me to stay with Kirby and Ryan before he left for work.

— It is necessary that the protection be uniform, and Ryan and Kirby should not be left alone...— he said in my ear in a whisper.

— I see... All right, Cornelius, I'll take care of my own.—I said.—But be on your guard, too... I'm always afraid that something might happen... Nothing is ever easy with us...—I said.

— I know...— Cornelius waved at me, running away to the car.

— How much I love you...—I said after the car was leaving.

Cornelius and I never kiss before parting, because any kiss on the doorstep of the house can be the last...

And I don't want these miracles entwining us to suddenly end...

— I've never seen you like this.— when I went home, I didn't even see Ryan standing in the hallway.—You just look deeply in love. How old is your love?—

He asked.

— We've been in love since my university days. Maybe it's stupid to say this, but we fell in love from the first moment we looked into each other's eyes... His brother, Dariusz, was lost for many years, but was found not so long ago. Darek is weird, but he's a good guy. Darek is weird, but he's a good guy. Darek... Well, Cornelius too, life has been pretty battered. There was a lot in their way...—I took Ryan's arm.— Come on, old man, let's watch TV together. I have three days off in a row...—

***

Ryan had a lot of comedy CDs in his stuff.

Of course, it's clear that in his situation, the pastime is monotonous, but ...

As it seems to me personally, we can't review so much in a lifetime!

— Are you having fun?—Kirby came out into the living room.

— Come to us, my dear.— I hugged my younger brother with one arm.— You seem to have cheered up a little.—

— Yes, it makes me feel a little more cheerful in your stupid company... What a... Ha ha, cartoon. I wanted to ask, what kind of cartoon are you watching?—Kirby said.

He smiled for the first time in that time.

— Sit down with us. It's an Addams family cartoon, and then maybe we'll watch Minions.—Ryan said.

— It would be nice...—Kirby smiled, and I ruffled his hair.

Kirby's hair no longer curls into those lovely curls, and lack of sleep mixed with depression ruined my brother's pretty face.

— Kirby, you need to fix your face... Shall we go to the beauty salon tomorrow?—I asked.—We've been better when everything was good...—

Suddenly I got a text message from Cornelius. No one can fake his text messages, so I trust his messages.

"Very strong problems. If I come too early (or better, do it without it), ask for the password to the diary. The answer should be "Sapphire es nine".

A lot of replicants began to appear on the streets..."

I shuddered and rather closed the SMS so that Ryan wouldn't accidentally see it.

Replicants... What kind of replicants are these?

— You were worried... Is your beloved busy at work?—Ryan asked.

— No, it's okay...—I sighed.— I hope so...—

***

Two more cartoons and when it was about half of the second cartoon, there was a knock on the door, completely ignoring the bell.

— Ed, Eddie! I have a little problem...— someone said through the crack of the window on the door.

— Dariusz?—I barely recognized the voice.

— Yes, I think I've lost my house keys...—

An unpleasant thought crept into my soul.

Even by the sound of his voice alone, I felt that it wasn't Darek at all!