My German Lover, Part 24, chapter 1

Now that things were getting back to normal on Avenue Foch, with François getting used his new life in Paris, Will and Paul were breathing easier...

François and Ludwig had developed the good habit of "helping" one another with their "needs"... and their agreement in the sex department was working just fine, thank you!

After a few weeks in college, François had begun making new friends, and finally, life seemed to be good for him!

But now that he was going to college in Paris, he didn't have much time left to visit with his friend Jacques, back at the village...

Of course, he was writing letters to him... but Jacques had problems to write, and so his letters to François were scarce...

As time flew, François realized his last letters to his lover had remained unanswered.

One weekend, and as they were all staying at Bagatelle, François went to see Jacques, too make sure he wasn't sick or something...

Jacques was important to François, since he had been his first lover... and it was to protect him that François had stood up and fought with Foucarde, so that Jacques could flee... Of course, François, being alone against five other guys, had finally lost the fight and had been severely beaten...

But Jacques had been able to flee unscratched and in that sense, François had won!

So yes, Jacques was important to François, and he was disappointed by the rather cold reception he got from him, when he went to see him that weekend...

"Hey! What's wrong with you pal? Why didn't you answer my last letters? Didn't you receive them?"

"...Yeah, I did... sorry if I didn't answer you...", Jacques answered

"...You didn't have time?"

"No, it's not that..."

"Then what?"

"(...) I was doing some thinking..."

"About what?", François asked...

"Well... with you in Paris, studying there... and me here... working on my dad's farm..."

"Yeah?"

"Well... Can't you see?"

"See what?"

"I mean... you're studying... and I'm sure you're gonna succeed... And I'm happy for you, really... In your last letter, you said you'd like to become a doctor, and that would be nice... but then... reading that got me thinking..."

"I don't understand..."

"See... I'm sure that before we know it... you'll become a doctor..."

"Hey pal... it's not for tomorrow! Do you know how long it's gonna take before I become a doctor?"

"Whatever... But you see, sooner or later, you'll become a doctor, and I'll still be a farm boy: The same farm boy you see now, who even has problems writing his own name... and tell me François: Once a doctor, do you think you'll come back to the village, to live the miserable life we live here? I don't think so! You're gonna stay in Paris..."

"...And so what?"

"That's the point! Do you see me living in Paris? I love nature... the woods... I like to go hunting and fishing... In Paris, I would die! So, don't you see... the gap between you and me keeps getting bigger and bigger with every passing day..."

"Are you telling me it's over between us? Is that what you're telling me?", François asked his lover, with tears in his eyes...

"...I sure wish things would... could be different... But let's face it François: Our relation is a dead end one!"

"(...) It hurts, hearing you say that..."

"I know... And it hurts having to say it, but let's not lie to ourselves... and let's be honest..."

"...Is it because you're seeing someone else?"

Jacques looked at his friend, and with a very sad smile on his face, he answered:

"Are you crazy? Remember: We're in a small village here... who esle is gay? Can you tell me?"

"No... I can't..."

"And it's not tomorrow that I'll find someone like you François: You're just perfect! I wish things could be different... but there's nothing I can do... But I sure wish you the best! I'm happy for you..."

"Thanks... and maybe we can stay friends...", François asked...

"Sure... But François, please: Go on with your life..."

"I'll try... and I sure hope some day, you'll find someone... you're a great guy, you know... And you too, have the right to be happy..."

"I suppose so..."

Later that day, François went back to Bagatelle, and sat down with Will and Paul...

He told them what Jacques had said to him, and that it was over between the two of them...

"...I'm very sorry to hear that", Paul said to his young friend... "But you know François, I think Jacques is right... can you feature him, living in Paris?"

"I guess not!", François sadly answered... "It's just that life isn't fair"!

"...I know... Sometimes, it is not... But look at it the other way: Jacques has set you free! Now, you can look around you with new eyes and maybe... you'll see someone you had not noticed before because you were too involved with Jacques! Someone who's there, waiting for you..."

"I sure hope you're right Paul..."

"I know I'm right!", Paul answered, with a sincere smile...

When Ludwig came back from the greenhouse, Will and Paul told him the whole story...

So he went to see François, and when he found him, he sat down with him and, looking at his best friend, he said:

"I heard what happened... and I'm sorry for you François... but I'm sure you'll get over it..."

"Yeah, sure...", François answered, with a sad smile...

Was Ludwig really sorry? Well, he felt bad about the fact his best friend was hurting. Sure. But he didn't feel bad about the fact Jacques had broken with François. After all, to Ludwig, Jacques was a distant figure... and he had never given much thought about him...

In fact, Ludwig was most satisfied with his "arrangements" with François: He was his wanking partner... They were having fun... so, the hell with the rest. Of course, to Ludwig, those "arrangements" were only temporary... and would last until the day he would meet a nice girl, and would start going out with her...

And of course, it never occured to Ludwig that those "arrangements" could eventually be terminated not by him, but by François, should he meet a nice guy and starts going out with him... No, that thought never occured to him. Never.

Still...