Episode 14

Valentim

It had been two weeks since my trip with Pietro. After we arrived, each of us went our separate ways without speaking. I tried calling him a few times, but it always went to voicemail. I tried talking to him at work, and he always seemed to be avoiding me. I was getting angry with his game, so I decided to confront him.

He was always the last one to leave the warehouse, so I waited for him in the parking lot. As soon as he appeared, I walked slowly up behind him.

Valentim: Get in my car.

Pietro: No.

Valentim: It's not a request, it's an order.

Pietro: I'm not on the clock.

Valentim: Please, Pietro, get in the car. I want to talk to you.

Pietro: We can talk here.

Valentim: No, it's about that matter.

Pietro: That was a mistake, it will never happen again. I'm seeing someone else, and unlike you, he doesn't treat me like an escort.

Valentim: I never did that to you. Please, get in the car, let's talk.

Pietro: Just talk?

Valentim: Okay, just talk.

He goes with me to my car. I open the door for him to get in and then go around to the driver's seat. I start the car, and after a while, he asks:

Pietro: Where are we going?

Valentim: My penthouse.

Pietro: No, I'm not going.

Valentim: We're just going to talk, I'm not going to do anything.

Pietro: I'll give you 10 minutes, Valentim, 10 minutes and that's it.

Valentim: Okay.

It doesn't take long to get to my penthouse. The rest of the way was silent. He gets in the elevator with a serious face, and he looked so handsome all serious. The elevator door opens, and he's the first one out. As soon as we get to the penthouse living room, he sits down and starts talking:

Pietro: Go ahead and talk, time's ticking.

Valentim: Want a drink?

Pietro: I'm not getting drunk for you to take advantage of me.

Valentim: I don't want to get you drunk, I'm just offering you a drink to calm down.

Pietro: Then I'll have some wine.

I leave the room and get him a glass of wine, and for me, a shot of whiskey. I hand him the glass and sit down in front of him.

Pietro: Now you can talk.

Valentim: Why don't you answer my calls?

Pietro: I don't want to.

Valentim: But hadn't we agreed that whenever we were going to be together I would call you?

Pietro: You treated me like I was a prostitute, like I would be available to you at your beck and call.

Valentim: Of course not.

Pietro: Of course you did, Valentim. You just want some fun on the down low, without anyone knowing, and who's always ready for you whenever you want, but excuse me, let me inform you that this person is not me.

Valentim: You misunderstood.

Pietro: I understood correctly. Iago is right, I deserve better.

Valentim: Like him? He's not the man for you.

Pietro: And who would be?

Valentim: Me.

Pietro: For God's sake, Valentim, you're not the man for anyone! You're a brute, insensitive, grumpy... I'm not going to be with someone who treats me like a prostitute.

I don't know what was happening to me, but I didn't want Pietro to leave. I liked his company, I wanted him around, so without thinking I ended up saying too much...

Valentim: Then let's try to have a relationship.

Pietro: Seriously?

Valentim: But no one can know, it'll be something between the two of us.

Pietro: I understand.

Valentim: So? Shall we try?

Pietro: We need to set some ground rules.

Valentim: Okay.

Pietro: Where are we going to see each other?

Valentim: Here.

Pietro: No, I'm not coming to your slaughterhouse after you've used me and thrown me away.

Valentim: I can't go around holding hands with you like we're a couple.

Pietro: Even so, and I won't be available to you every weekend. I have a life, and I like to go out with my friends.

Valentim: I have things to do on the weekend too. When we're not together, we'll be two strangers.

Pietro: Okay.

Valentim: No showing anything in front of people.

Pietro: I know how to be discreet.

Valentim: Okay.

Pietro: I'm going to go now, it's been much longer than 10 minutes.

Valentim: Stay here tonight.

Pietro: No, I'm going to a bar with some friends.

Valentim: Just friends?

Pietro: Good night, Valentim.

He gets up and leaves before I can think of an answer. I watch the door close and I keep thinking about who these friends of Pietro's are. Could it be that he's already involved with someone?

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