My German Lover, Part 24 chapter 2

Ludwig didn't know what to say and... started blushing...

Philippe burst out laughing, and said:

"You're just like François!"

"Huh?"

"...You're blushing..."

Ludwig just shrugged his shoulders... but had to admit Philippe had his undivided attention...

"...What do you mean by that?", he asked Philippe...

"...You're damn adorable, when you're blushing like that..."

"Hey pal... Don't try that with me... It won't work! I'm not gay, you know..."

"I know Ludwig... François told me. That's the reason why I want to talk to you... You see... You are his best friend, and I know he loves you dearly..."

"...Not the way you think..."

"I know I know... Please Ludwig... can we get the hell out of here, go some place... and have a talk... just you and me? Please? I beg you..."

Ludwig looked at his watch... then looked back at Philippe and said:

"...Okay... But I don't have too much time..."

"No problem, man...", Philippe answered, with a broad smile on his face... "I'll take whatever time you want to give me..."

"That's not much!", Ludwig answered, obviously annoyed...

"Fine!"

They walked out of the school and after a while, Philippe said:

"Why don't we sit over there on that bench and have a talk..."

"Fine. But your time is running out...", Ludwig answered.

"Thanks!" Philippe answered...

Both of them sat on a bench-park... then, Philippe turned to look at Ludwig and said:

"Look Ludwig... I know you don't like me. Why? I don't know! As I said, I know François is your best friend... No no... please... let me finish, please..."

"(...)"

"...And as I said... François told me you're not gay, cause I asked him... I know you've been jerking-off together from time to time, and it's O.K. with me... I have no problem with that... But as you said... You're not in love with him... How could you be? You're not gay. And that's okay too. (...) Ludwig, look... I'm not trying to take your best friend away from you... It's just that... I love him! Not the way you do... I'm really in love with him, and I know he loves me... What's wrong with that?"

"...I'm not blind, you know..."

"Can I ask you something, Ludwig?"

"(...)"

"I understand that, up until the moment I met François... you had him all to yourself... or almost... I can understand how you feel now... really... You think you're gonna lose him as a friend, don't you? But that isn't so Ludwig! François loves you, just like a brother! You will never lose him! Now, I'm sure that, one day, you're gonna fall in love with a nice girl... and you will want to be with her, and that's normal... but what will happen to François when, suddenly, you spend less and less time with him, cause you're in love with that girl? He and I are different Ludwig... I know. But that doesn't mean we don't have the right to have our own life... to be happy too. We have that right! Just as much as you do. (...) One day, you'll get married with that nice girl... you'll have children with her... and you won't have much time to spend with François. That's normal. But how do you think he will feel when that happens? If by then he doesn't have a life of his own... he'll feel neglected! And he's gonna feel bad!"

Ludwig didn't answer. He had never thought about that...

"...Look Ludwig... Instead of losing François as a friend, you could gain another friend! Why don't you look at it that way, huh? We could have lots of fun, the three of us... really..."

Ludwig turned to look at Philippe and after a while, he said to him:

"...Anything else you wanted to tell me? (...) Cause your time is up, pal..."

"No... That's all I wanted to tell you... but Ludwig... I know François feels miserable... and I love him so much that, if it can help... I'll stop seeing him, so you don't feel threaten anymore and stop acting the way you do with him: That way at least, you will stop making him feel mesirable..."

Again, Ludwig didn't answer. He slowly rose from the bench-park... then walked away without saying a single word...

"Shit!", Philippe angrily said to himself... "What a fool I am... to think I could manage the situation..."

After a few minutes, he slowly rose from the bench and walked away, with tears in his eyes...

That night, Ludwig skipped supper and went to bed early...

Later, François silently walked into their bedroom and made his way to his bed.

He undressed and silently went to bed.

"...I'm not sleeping!", Ludwig said to him...

"Oh... Sorry... I didn't want to wake you up..."

"Didn't you hear me? (...) I wasn't sleeping... I was waiting for you!"

"...Oh?... What for?"