Damian had to wait for Manuel to return for nearly an hour. Time enough to put his ideas in order and make some new decisions. The trip was near the end and if he wanted to take off without causing harm, from here on out he needed to be very clear about every movement the taxi driver took.
The place was packed with people and the noise level was bothersome to anyone who wasn’t involved in the festivities- as in his case. He wasn’t used to this kind of environment and it seemed strange to him to find himself at that table in the middle of the festivities as though he were on a tiny island in the middle of the Pacific, constantly threatened by climatic phenomena. At least he had gotten Arsenic off his back. The three of them in one car would have been a time bomb. He was also lucky with Diego’s issue. Arsenic seemed to accept the brief explanation he was given – unusual for him. The appearance of Manuel relieved him greatly and brought him back to reality.
“I’m like a new man my boy!” he commented, bubbling with satisfaction.”That blonde is a wildcat in bed. Calm down, there’s some for you too! I told her to send a friend. My heart is softer than you imagined my boy and if I have a good time I want the same for my friends.”
Manuel ordered another drink. Who knows how many he had already had but certainly one more than his body could take.
Another flashy blonde, overly made-up with a few extra kilos sat down at the table in the only empty chair. Manuel’s eyes lighted up like before.
“How’s it going boys? You want to buy this pretty woman a drink?” The blonde brazenly examined Damian’s body.
“What ever you want, honey.” Manuel looked michieviously at his companion. A wide smile of satisfaction showed his good mood.
“Get out of here!” shouted Damian with absolute contempt and without moving a muscle of his tense aspect. He didn’t even bother to look at her.
“Whaaa?” the blonde’s expression changed completely. Manuel shook his head as though the insult were directed at him. He didn’t at all like Damian’s abrupt changes of mood.
“I said get out of here! Are you deaf? Whores disgust me. They’re repugnant. Get the fuck out!” Shouted Damaian again. “Nobody invited you. I don’t know why the hell you sat here.”
The blonde got up from the chair indignantly, her face twisted from the insults.
“That’s a nasty little boy! He talks about whores and probably his mother is more of a slattern than all of us. This is not going to end here! And you, (indicating Manuel who wanted to sink into the floor from shame) Don’t you have anything to say? Nobody insults me like that, much less a snot-nosed kid like that! I’m calling the manager right now! He’s in deep shit this nitwit! Let’s see if he shows the same nuts with the manager as he has with a woman!”
The blonde shouted more than talked, which provoked the curiosity of everyone present. Manuel got up from his seat and took her upstairs. Nevertheless she continued her nasty comments. A few instants later, another girl, younger that the previous one, dared to sit at the table. She didn’t even wait until they calmed down.
“Don’t say anything!” she begged Damian. “Don’t start a scene because I don’t intend to get any money out of you or a drink...I am a witness and I know how you operate.”
“Look at the dead fly! Anybody would say you are here as punishment. What do you want from me?” he asked moodily. “If you witnessed it why did you come over here? Are you a masochist? I’ll pass on the whores. You disgust me.”
“I already told you I don’t want anything. I only intend to keep you company. In spite of all your insults, and no matter how much you shout, you seem too shy for this kind of place and I think you need me. Why are you so agressive with us? Nobody forces you to stay in a place like this and yet, here you are. Sitting and drinking beers.”
“And you look too much like a whore. Don’t fuck with me.” Damian was really upset. “Get out of here! Haven’t you figured out that whores disgust me? I can go into wherever I want but I always choose my own company. Nobody forces them on me and to my knowledge here nobody is obligated to join up with anybody.”
“You enjoy being offensive, Don’t you? If I disgust you, I take pity on you. You must have had a very painful childhood to develop such a bitter character. Since you won’t let old wounds heal over you are going to have a very bitter life. Why do you save up so much hate? You are so young to have such a bitter character.“
“That’s all I needed to see today. First the pigs are up my ass and now a whore wants to teach me manners. You know what I say? When you change your life then maybe you can preach to the people. In the mean time keep quiet because the words of a whore are more fake than the color of your hair. Understand pretty one? So now you know. Leave.”
“Go to hell. I just tried to be friendly so you could have a little company but I see you aren’t worth the trouble. Keep your bitter attitude, your resentment. I’m going to look for healthier people. It has been a real pleasure mister,” she said rising from the table “I hope life treats you well and you manage to expel the demon you have inside- although it looks real hard to me.”
Damian remained pensative. With his gaze fixed on the glass he whispered: “Wait, Don’t go!” Nobody could hear him. “I’m sorry! Don’t go! I’m sorry!” This time he shouted but she kept going and didn’t even look back. “I said wait!” he shouted again in desperation. The girl had already disappeared among the people that packed the bar.
On seing he had been ignored, Damian went to look for her. After making his way between the people he caught up with her just as she was going to sit on a stool at the bar. At that moment he roughly grabbed her arm resulting in a squeal of pain.
“Hey friend let go of my arm if you don’t want trouble.” She warned him quickly. One of the waiters had observed the incident and already had a hand on his shoulder.
They acted quickly to avoid altercations that might frighten off customers. In a few seconds another guard placed himself behind Damian.
“It’s nothing,” she intervened. “He just wants another drink., right friend? I’ll take care of it.”
“Are you sure?” asked the waiter.
“Yeah, yeah, false alarm. Carry on with your work.”
“Another glass of the same, please,” Damian ordered from another waiter. “I would very much like it if you would sit with me.” Damian’s face looked sincere.
“Are you sure? We’ll forget what happened so nothing happened, really. You don’t need to feel obligated. If we disgust you so much, why this change of heart?”
“I was upset and I spoke out of hand. If I ask for forgiveness and beg you to accompany me would you accept?”
“No insults?” the girl seemed pleased.
“No insults. I promise.”Damian guaranteed. “That’s not the way I am. I am civilized even if it doesn’t look that way.”
“Great, let’s have a drink!” she said smiling, happy for what had been accomplished.
“You’re very young too aren’t you?” asked Damian.
“Necessity knows no age limits, Don’t you think so?”
“I agree. I know that from personal experience, I assure you. After what happened I feel ashamed to even talk to you. I can’t even dare to say something common like ‘your face seems familiar...’
“That’s impossible. I’m sorry, I’m not even from around here.”
“I’m not from Malaga either. This is the first time I’ve been to this place. We stopped because of fatigue. “Damian sucked down his drink and ordered another from the waiter. “What are you drinking? I’m still disgusted with myself for my previous behavior.”
“You don’t need to offer me a drink or to drink so fast either. We’re used to the rude, coarse behavior of nasty drunks but I didn’t expect that out of you....Let’s forget it. I already told you I don’t intend to get a drink out of you.”
“Don’t be silly! It’s your job and you have to do it. Whiskey?”
“The waiter knows what he has to serve me but it’s really not necessary.”
The girl watched his movements curiously. He didn’t seem like a bad guy. Rough and disagreeable at first that’s all.
“With me I guarantee total boredom,” Damian warned her.”I’m not used to going to places...this special.”
“Boredom depends on the company. One doesn’t carry it inside. I can be as fun as you want as long as you play along with me.”
“I’m happy to cooperate, within my limited capacity.”
“First, though, I want to ask you a favor: Don’t ask me about my private life. I keep it separate from my profession.”
“The favor is mutual. I don’t like to talk about myself or to be asked. I suppose if we go up to a room you will get a bigger commission. Am I right? We’re late in that case.”
“No, you’re not wrong.” She said, “But it isn’t necessary either. I’ll settle for spending some time with you. I’ve learned that you aren’t an ogre and don’t eat people up.”
“Anyway my friend is going to spend all the dough he was given. Let’s take advantage of the distribution. Say yes!” Damian showed the other side of his personality. “Yes? Come on, Don’t make me beg!”
Like Manuel, he went up the stairs with the girl and both of them disappeared behind some heavy red drapes which led to the private rooms.
Aside from the sofa it was furnished with a bed with an old wool-stuffed mattress and a bright button which also served to call the cellar to ask for one of the gorillas when the supposed client was in the wrong place. A dim light showed the profile of the bodies and gave the heady effect shown in cinematic love scenes.
Without waiting for Damian to ask, the girl began to take off the scanty clothing which covered her thin body.
“What are you doing?”he asked surprised. “We haven’t talked at all.”
“The usual,” she smiled in a very attractive manner. “Don’t you want me? This is the only place where you can get a girl so easily. I promised you it would be fun.”
“Yes, yes, but there’s no rush. Let’s drink. I’d like to get to know you a little more. This way is too cold. Don’t you agree?”
Looking down Damian saw, in spite of the low light, how she blushed.
“Would it bother you if I myself took your clothes off?” She asked him whispering. “Your skin is so soft, I’m aching to caress it. Don’t you think I’m pretty?”
“No, it’s not that. First let’s have another drink!”
“It’s not worth it. They’ll charge you a fortune and I don’t want you to spend it on me. I’ll settle for you, tomorrow, far away from here, remembering this moment and making a toast in my honor.”
“Singing the same old song again?” he answered, bothered. “I already said I don’t care about the money. Besides, what better company than yours could I spend it on? There will be time to toast. Do you enjoy these moments? Excuse me. I didn’t want to say that. Well, I meant that some times it will be different.”
“It depends on the person. It’s a job, not for pleasure. But I’m confident that with you it will be different.”
“I hope so too.”
“What’s your name? We haven’t introduced ourselves yet. May I? I would love to take your clothes off and touch you.”
“Are names necessary? We said nothing about our private lives.”
“Not if you don’t want to.”She answered as though she were used to not knowing the names of her clients. “Are you afraid your girlfriend will find out?” The young woman smiled maliciously. “I understand. Don’t worry. Let’s just live for the moment.”
“I don’t have a girlfriend,”He responded dryly. “I’ve never had one and I don’t think I will ever have one.”
“You’re tensing up again,”she said as she caressed his hair. “Relax..We’re here having a good time...I already told you it doesn’t matter. Forget about everything and think just about me. As if, there were only you and me in the whole world.”
Without saying anything more she brought her lips close to Damian’s while softly sliding her hand down to unbutton his shirt.which was showing signs of soil.
He gave a brief start from lack of experience.
“Easy, I’m not a novice as a whore, and not as a lover either. Today we’re going to just enjoy each other. I want to feel you and touch your skin like it was mine. Let youself go. You have to just seize the moment and not let the magic get away. It’s ours, yours and mine and let’s enjoy it.”
“I just want to tell you something ahead of time,” Again he felt overcome by an unacustomed blush. “I don’t know if I should...I’m kind of ashamed to say.”
“You don’t have to say it, I know it’s your first time. Let me do it...remember what I told you: let yourself go with the magic. Let it surround us and soak in the feeling.”
“How did you know?” he asked, admiring her unexpected perceptiveness. “Won’t my inexperience be a problem?”
“Shhh...quiet,” she whispered into his ear. “Don’t say anything, let your imagination soar, Don’t hold back, let it loose, let it come to me...I’ll catch it.”
“You’re wonderful,” he commented, closing his eyes.
“Now relax, we’re going to have a good time. That’s great...I like that. You’re very good. Keep on.”
Damian had never felt such pleasure. He caressed her. He felt she was his. Between moaning and endless kisses, in perfect harmony, both bodies struggled to reach the pinacle, each to overpower the other. The feminine experience over the macho identity; knowledge over brutality, and pleasure and hate, united by opposing destinies a match with no holds barred where both were overcome by the only conqueror that night: love.