Note: All characters are 18 or older.
I'm Gustavo. This happened in my last year of college. After I broke up with my ex, she left the apartment at the end of last semester. It took me a while to find a new roommate. For a while, I thought I could manage by myself, but I quickly realized I couldn't keep up with the bills, even though I would only need the apartment for another year. I didn't want to bother my dad with it.
Federico was an 18 year old freshman, willing to get the apartment after I was gone. He was younger, but 3 inches taller than me. Dark-skinned, short dark hair and light brown eyes. He had a big nose; it fit quite well in his angular face and, together with his thick eyebrows, gave him a dangerous feel. His body was lean, covered by a crazy amount of hair, it almost looked like fur. A future lawyer. But he was an artist too. After moving in, he quickly filled the apartment with sketches.
At first it didn't look like we would hang out too much. But he was chill and enjoyed playing video game late at night almost every day, so we got close.
This happened a couple of weeks after he started living with me. My dad called while we played the latest FIFA. Federico was sitting beside me, shirtless, console in hand. I paused the game. Fed waited, as I talked to my dad about my days and planned some visits. He wanted to help me in any way that he could. But I was fine, working and paying things by myself, which I knew made him proud.
"How's the new roommate?"
"He's cool." Fed was right beside me, so I didn't want to talk about him.
After I hang up, Fed looked at me.
"Your voice kind of changes when you speak to your dad, did you know?"
"Does it?"
"It gets all glowy."
"He just wanted to check in on me," I said, defensively. "What?"
"You're 23."
What was that supposed to mean?
"So what?"
"The guys said your father doesn't let you have fun."
The guys were my friends first, I thought, I just introduced you to them a few weeks ago. It didn't matter. They seemed closer to Fed than I ever was. So much that they talked about me.
"It's just who I am. It has nothing to do with dad."
"Alright. Forget I said anything."
We unpaused the game. I wondered what else they talked about and ended up losing the game. We played another match, which I also lost. It was just a stupid game anyway.
We went to a new club Saturday night. I hadn't even heard of that one before. Fed got girls right in front of me, while I sat down, drinking...I made an effort. I was at the bar, getting more drinks, when my dad called. I stared at it, just stared, until the call ended and another began. The music was loud, so he would know I was somewhere late at night...He would worry that I was changing too much. I almost left the club, but remembered what Fed had said. I could lie. It was late, so I could be sleeping.
If I leave, I prove Fed right...
I was stuck.
"What is this?" Fed said, right beside me. He got my phone. "Today you're staying late, Gus."
I tried to get it back. He offered me a drink. He wouldn't let me worry about dad. Since I wasn't used to it, I got drunk quickly. Fed and the guys made fun of me because I danced with a girl, then I danced by myself. I danced under the watchful gaze of Fed. He was the one who told me I wouldn't drink anymore.
"I want to," I said.
"No."
"What, are you my daddy now?"
He gave me a look...then shook his head. I had an erection. Somehow I listened to him and had nothing more to drink. I remember vaguely getting into a cab, arriving at the apartment and being carried to my bedroom. Fed asked me if I wanted to throw up, and when I shook my head, he put the blanket over me. I held onto his arm firmly, and we started laughing. I pulled him on top. He resisted and eventually released himself. He said goodnight.
I woke up feeling strangely okay. I began to rub my head because I remembered some embarrassing things I had done.
Then my heart skipped a beat as I uttered a single word aloud.
Dad.
I looked for my phone. I remembered that Fed had gotten it Yesterday, so I went to ask him. Fed was drawing in the living room by the window. The sun made the hair on his naked chest look golden.
"Morning," he said, raising his cup of coffee. "How you feeling? Did the pills work?"
"What pills?"
"I gave you some for the hangover."
"They worked, I guess. I'm looking for my phone."
"Right here," he said. "Your dad called."
I took the phone to my room.
"Dad, it's me."
"I want you to find a new roommate," he said. I was stunned.
"Gus? Are you there? I want him gone. He's a bad influence on you...and the way he talked to me Yesterday-"
"He talked to you?"
"You gave him your phone! I was so worried!"
"Dad, I'm sorry. He's just like that, don't worry about him."
"Look for someone else..."
"Alright...I'll think about it."
When the call was over, I laid down and breathed deeply. I could feel my whole face burning.
I was going to kill Fed.
"Fed, you talked to my father?"
Fed looked up from his sketch, laying down a pen. He had the decency to look ashamed.
"I was a bit drunk. I know, It's not an excuse. Come on, man. He was calling non-stop. I was just telling him you were fine, having fun."
I stopped myself. I was about to say 'he was just checking in on me'.
"How would you feel if I started answering your phone?"
"Sorry, man. Won't happen again."
It was hard to have an argument when the other person wasn't up for it.
"Why did you stop drinking Yesterday?" I asked, catching him off guard.
"Huh?"
"Was it because of me?" Were you taking care of me?
Fed smiled, reclined in the chair and crossed his arms.
"I know when to stop."
"I must have looked stupid."
Fed shook his head. "You were great."
"Because I was drunk."
"Because you were with friends. You don't need to drink to have fun, but you also need to be there for most of the time," Fed said, fully engaged in this argument. I ran a hand over my head.
"Thanks for...the pills...and everything."
"That's what daddies are for," he said.
"Shit, you remember that?"
Fed chuckled. "Don't worry, no one else heard it." He returned his attention to the sketch.
I stood there long enough to feel awkward and went back to my bedroom.
I kept lying to my dad that I was trying to find a new roommate. It was the first time in my life I was deceiving him. He was so against Fed, there was no room for the truth, which was that I couldn't find another one. I began to not answer Dad when Fed was around, creating excuses later.
We were going out again next Saturday. I was feeling more confident about enjoying my time, even bought a new perfume. Fed couldn't stop talking about this new place with live shows every weekend. It was decided that we would go. And Saturday arrived quickly.
"Smelling good," he said, when we were ready to leave.
"It's new," I said. He held the door open for me. He left three buttons open over his blue-marine shirt, showing a bit of chest hair and his silver chain. After that, I unbuttoned at least one of mine.
I thought that time I would astound everyone with my miraculous social skills, but the night had other plans. A good chunk of it, I spent at the bar. Fed had gotten with some girl quickly enough. I didn't drink, because I didn't want to cause Fed any trouble. Dad would be proud.
He called.
Fed wasn't there this time. I took a deep breath, deciding that it would be better to leave early. If I managed to go to a silent place and lie to dad about where I was, he would back down about Fed. I searched for Fed. Last I've seen, he had been in one of the tables next to a wall. Our eyes met. I turned my head quickly, and quickly, he came over.
"It didn't work," he said.
"What?"
"The girl. She's annoying. And she's only eighteen."
I laughed. "And what are you?"
"I am... into...the elderly. What about you?"
I shrugged. Then, I handled my phone to him. "Can you keep it for now?"
"Seriously?" he said, smiling eyes getting brighter. I nodded. He kept the phone. "You don't want any drink today?" he asked, really close to my ear.
"Nah," I said back, smelling his hair. "I don't wanna ruin your night. You shouldn't have to take care of me."
Fed smiled. He placed a hand on my waist and squeezed. "Don't worry about that." Hm.
I drank. We watched the live show for a while. Fed stood behind me the whole time. The duo on the stage, two girls, sang pretty good. "They looked at you," Fed said. I pushed him away, and someone complained. But Fed was smiling. Later, we moved to a table in one of the dark corners. We lost the others. They were all thirsty, Fed told me, the frustrating kind of thirsty. He sat next to me and had to speak very closely. His arm was around me.
"Your father is calling non-stop," he told me. His breath was warm. "Very annoying."
"He's just..." I stopped.
"You're good, though. Right?" Fed asked.
"I am. Thanks to you."
His lips brushed my ear.
"I like taking care of you." The shiver he sent down my spine was intense. I got hard.