THE TURN IV - A clash

It was 11 at night, Guillermo was lying in his room reading a book and Leandro was in the kitchen when they heard someone trying to open the door. They couldn't succeed because they had locked it. Leandro quickly ran to the door thinking someone was trying to break in, opened it, and was stunned to see it was Adara.

• Adara: “Hello Leandro, how are you?”

• Leandro: “Fine, but… what are you doing here?”

• Adara (entering the living room without waiting for an invitation): “Well, that man just kicked me out of his house and I thought of you.”

• Leandro: “What?”

• Adara (smiling slightly): “Yes, I’m sure you want to take me back and have me in your house again.”

Guillermo came out of his room furious like a wild animal.

• Guillermo: “What the hell do you think you are!”

• Adara (ignoring Guillermo and addressing Leandro): “And who is this?”

• Guillermo: “I’m Leandro’s partner; I already knew how much of a bitch you were, but now I see you’re even worse. How the hell do you think you can just come back like this? What do you think you’re doing? Look, if when you left you had told Leandro you fell in love with someone else, fine… but to humiliate him, to tell him he wasn’t a man, that he never made you feel anything, at the precise moment you tell him you were cheating on him with another guy and that you were leaving, is extraordinarily cruel. You’re such a bitch, and you’re leaving right now, but right now. Unless you want me to drag you out of here by your hair… and another thing, trying to use the key without even knocking is utterly shameless… but you can keep that key because tomorrow I’ll call to change the lock combination… and don’t you dare come near us, especially Leandro. The best thing you can do is, if you see him or us on the street, cross to the other side, you daughter of a bitch.”

• Adara (looking at Leandro): “Aren’t you going to say anything?”

• Leandro: “No, I have nothing to say; he’s right.”

• Adara: “Fags.”

• Guillermo: “If you’re thinking about telling people, go ahead; I don’t care, we don’t care if everyone knows. Besides, I’m sure they already do… oh, and one more thing, Leandro is now enjoying more than he ever did with you… but of course, you don’t give a damn about anyone else’s enjoyment but your own… now get out.”

Adara left, slamming the door behind her. Guillermo looked at Leandro, who had dropped onto the sofa, and noticed the sad expression on his face. He sat down next to him and put his arm over his shoulders.

• Guillermo: “What’s wrong, Lea? Did that bother you a lot?”

• Leandro: “No, well… a bit… it just brought back those times… I feel a little sad for myself, for not having handled it better. It wasn’t just what she said when she left that day; it was also when she came back to pick up her things, then the divorce, the things she said in front of the lawyers, the little smirk on her lawyer’s face… and then it was a stroke of luck that you came to me, that you pulled me out of that situation, from being closed up like an oyster, from the almost hermit I had become… and I loved how you acted, defending me fiercely, I’m very lucky to have you.”

• Guillermo: “I couldn’t have acted any other way. I was very angry; I couldn’t believe such boldness, not only that she came back, but even used the key without knocking… that’s a witch… and it was really a lucky break for you that she left; being with her can’t be good for anyone.”

• Leandro: “I want to tell you something… having her here made me think about how she used to mock my penis and how that hurt me; yet when you say I have a small one or that it’s a clitoris, I like it… and that’s because words come with a tone, an intention. When she said it, it was to humiliate me, and when you say it, it’s because I know you like the way it is… it excites you, and you pass that on to me.”

• Guillermo: “You’ve put it very well; it’s not what is said, but how and why it’s said.”

• Leandro: “But I insist, thank you for how you acted, from the bottom of my heart.”

• Guillermo (kissing him): “Lea, you don’t have to thank me; now let’s go to bed; I’m going to sleep with you tonight.”

They went to Leandro’s room. Guillermo made the bed, helped him lie down, covered him with the duvet, then turned around on the bed and lay down on his side, hugging him from behind, caressing him. Leandro felt comfortable, protected, and soon fell asleep. Guillermo lay there on his side, watching him sleep for a while. His mind wandered, speculating whether Leandro needed him more or if he needed Leandro more. He came to no conclusion. Then he thought that fortunately, they had each other, and that’s when he fell asleep peacefully and deeply.

END OF THE SERIES