Episode 16

After leaving the club, Calvin stopped and looked seriously at Hector, as if searching for an explanation.

"What was that? I just didn't want him to think you were heartbroken over him, even though you are. He doesn't need to know," Hector replied, trying to justify himself.

"Future boyfriend? Where did you get that nonsense?" Calvin questioned, still looking annoyed.

"It was the first thing that popped into my head. You may not have liked it, but the look on his face was priceless. Look, do you really want him to think you're depressed because of him? You need to show him that you can move on quickly. What's up, man? This isn't the Calvin I know. Even if you're upset and hurt, don't show sadness to that guy," Hector advised, trying to cheer his friend up.

Calvin thought it was easier said than done, especially since he couldn't hide his expression when he looked at Frank.

"That guy is kinda cute. Maybe he'll be grateful that you helped him and decide to compensate you? He could buy you dinner, and then things will happen."

"The guy has the biggest straight vibe. He even pushed away a guy who seemed to be hitting on him. This isn't a gay club, so I don't think I'm going to bump into a gay doctor who wants to go out with me. And, to tell you the truth, I'm not even in the mood to date anyone," Calvin vented, expressing his lack of interest in new relationships.

"How do you know he's a doctor?" Hector asked curiously.

"He looks familiar. When I asked if we knew each other, he said he was a doctor and might have treated me."

"And you think that's possible?" Hector tried to look at the doctor's face.

"I don't think so, but I've been drinking, and he's even worse. There's no point in trying to find out now. Come on, I'll see if I can get him a cab."

Calvin walked away and went near the sidewalk, asking Hector to hail a cab. While his friend tried to find an available ride, Calvin did his best to keep Dereck awake.

"Hey, wake up. You need to tell the cab driver your address."

Dereck mumbled and moved away from Calvin a little, indicating that he could stand on his own.

"Do you think you can get home by yourself?" Calvin asked, still worried about him.

"I can. I'll be fine, and thank you."

Dereck thanked him once again, even though his speech was not very clear, and walked towards the car that had stopped to pick him up. As soon as he got in, Calvin went to the driver, handed him some extra money, and asked him to drop him off in front of his house.

The car started to pull away, and an unsettling feeling washed over Calvin. He couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

"Still worried about the guy?" Hector asked, standing next to him.

"I can't explain it, but the feeling that I know this guy hasn't gone away. And I don't know if he's going to be okay," Calvin explained, looking in the direction of the receding car.

"Then why didn't you go with him? You could have done what I said back there," Hector teased.

Calvin glared at his friend with an expression that suggested he was about to squeeze his neck.

"Are you aware that that guy could have called the cops thinking I was doing something wrong with him? We don't even know if he has anyone waiting for him at home, a family member or something. How am I going to get there with him?"

Hector raised his hands in surrender.

"What are we going to do now? Neither of us is fit to drive."

"We can leave the bikes in a garage down the street and do the same, get a cab, and go."

Hector agreed and suggested, "My house is further away, so I'll sleep at your place tonight, that way I can keep you company and you won't be so sad."

"As if I didn't know that this concern of yours is just for convenience," Calvin retorted, seeing his friend feign offense at what he said.

The two smiled and headed towards their bikes, ready to go to the parking lot. They got a cab right after, going to Calvin's house. All the way there, he couldn't stop thinking not about Frank, but about the man who had rested against his chest.

Meanwhile, Dereck arrived home. His stomach was still upset, and he went straight to the bathroom. As soon as he entered, he took off only his cell phone and wallet and got into the tub, turning on the shower right after.

"There was something in that drink," Dereck said, still feeling everything spinning.

The man who tried to pick him up offered him a drink, and he accepted. But after just a few sips, he felt very hot and started to feel dizzy. When he went to the bathroom, the man pulled him into a corner and tried to grope him.

"I can't believe I fell for that." Dereck was talking to himself.

As he was showering, Teddy, his cat, entered the bathroom and started meowing. Dereck looked at him, standing there, watching him.

"I'm never listening to your advice again. Look at the situation I'm in now," he grumbled, addressing the cat as if he could understand.

The cat ran out of the bathroom, and Dereck ended up smiling. While in the tub, trying to recover, he also thought about the man who helped him at the club.

"Damn, I don't even remember his face. I could have gotten his number to thank him later."

After spending a few minutes under the water, he got out, took off his wet clothes, dried himself, and put on only a pair of pajama shorts, throwing himself on the bed afterward. He was grateful that he didn't have to work the next day, as he already imagined he would wake up with a hangover, not only from the alcohol but also from the drug he had ingested.

Dereck fell asleep quickly, due to his condition, but Calvin couldn't sleep. He took a shower, and while Hector was sprawled on the couch, he was on the balcony, thinking about what he was going to do. He drank a beer and remembered the joke in the locker room, the looks and smiles, wondering if it wouldn't be better to leave that fire station.

Calvin chose that station because his father worked there, so it had a special and sentimental meaning. It would be difficult to leave that place. The three-day suspension he would face would be used to ponder what to do next. He needed to reflect on whether he could handle the possible teasing and challenges at the station, or whether it would be inevitable to give up his dream of working in the same place where his father served.

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