Episode 2

"Vomiting again?" Chris gently patted Alonzo on the back as he emerged from the bathroom. His mouth tasted bitter, and his appearance left much to be desired. He hated getting sick, even though he felt no other discomfort besides the constant dizziness and difficulty keeping food down.

"Damn, this is incredibly frustrating," Alonzo grumbled as he rinsed his mouth and dried his lips. Looking up, he met his friend's worried gaze.

"We're going to the doctor now. We can't wait until we get to Los Angeles. We still have a month here for business," Chris stated firmly.

"I don't want to go," Alonzo replied reluctantly. He wasn't a fan of hospitals; they brought back too many bad memories, and he hated them with all his soul.

"It's not a suggestion," Chris retorted in an authoritative tone, grabbing his hand and practically dragging him towards the car.

Despite his reluctance, Alonzo knew, deep down, that something wasn't right. He had always enjoyed good health, and it was rare for him to get sick. Not even exposing himself to extreme situations, like cold or rain, affected him. Now, with the growing fear in his chest, his mind began to wander. What if that person he had sex with had infected him with something? Guilt washed over him for drinking so much and for giving himself to a stranger without thinking about the consequences.

"By the way, after the consultation, could you do me a favor? I need you to go to an appointment to show the mansion to a client. It's important, but I have another unavoidable commitment," Chris commented as he started the engine.

"Okay, just send me the client's information," Alonzo replied, looking out the window.

Chris nodded and drove in silence, leaving Alonzo lost in thought. As he watched the tall buildings and the passersby walking immersed in their own lives, his mind transported him to happier memories. At a traffic light, he saw two young students laughing while sharing an ice cream, which reminded him of him and Elio in their younger years.

He never imagined that he would suffer so much for his friend. Much less did he think that he would fall in love with him. Life, without a doubt, was full of surprises. Now Elio was married, and he had remained in second place, as always. With Elio, he had shared a large part of his life, building unforgettable memories, and deep down, he wondered if, had he been braver, he would have won his love. Perhaps in another world, he would be the one to take his arm and call him "husband" with tenderness.

"We're here," Chris's voice abruptly brought him back to his harsh reality.

Alonzo unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car, taking a deep breath before crossing the hospital doors. That place gave him the creeps, not only because of the smell of disinfectant but because of the painful memories it evoked from his adolescence. The fear of needles and physical pain had always accompanied him.

"Come on, I'll be with you the whole time," Chris said, giving him a comforting squeeze on the shoulder. Alonzo offered a weak smile and followed his friend towards the reception.

After exchanging a few words with the receptionist, Chris returned.

"The doctor is waiting for us."

They walked through the impeccably white corridors, climbed the stairs, and continued along another long, almost empty hallway. Alonzo's nerves increased with each step. His hands trembled, and cold sweat ran down his back. He hated hospitals, and even more so the memories they brought back.

"It's here," Chris announced, stopping in front of a door. Seeing his friend's anxious face, he gently squeezed his shoulder again in support.

Alonzo nodded and knocked on the door a couple of times. Upon hearing the "come in" from inside, he nervously turned the knob and entered. A middle-aged man, dressed in a white coat and a stethoscope hanging from his neck, greeted them.

"Good morning, Alonzo. I'm Dr. Piras, but you can call me Dario," the doctor said with a friendly smile as he extended his hand. Alonzo shook it, and together with Chris, they sat down in front of the desk. "Christian told me that you haven't been feeling well lately."

"I've had constant dizziness, nausea, and a lot of fatigue," Alonzo began to explain, feeling his nerves slowly fade. "I've always enjoyed good health, and I get checkups every six months, so I don't understand what's happening to my body."

The doctor nodded, taking notes.

"How long have you been feeling like this?"

"About a month and a half, more or less."

"Have you had a fever or headaches?"

"No, none of that," Alonzo shook his head.

"Does your stomach hurt? Or have you noticed any changes in your appetite?"

"My appetite has improved, but some things that I used to like now seem repulsive to me. Also, it seems like my sense of smell has become much more sensitive," he added, with a grimace of discomfort.

The doctor took careful note.

"We'll rule out a possible infection, but we'll need to do some blood tests," the doctor informed as he took a blood pressure monitor to measure Alonzo's pressure.

"Is there no other way?" Alonzo asked in a trembling voice, revealing his fear of needles.

"It's the most accurate way to get results. Don't worry, it will be quick and practically painless."

Alonzo wasn't particularly comforted by those words, but he nodded reluctantly.

"Your blood pressure is normal," the doctor said, setting aside the blood pressure monitor. "Wait here, I'll go get what we need for the blood draw."

As soon as the doctor left, Alonzo got up from his seat, determined to flee. But Chris, with a firm look full of warnings, forced him to sit down again.

"Don't even think about it. You're staying," Chris said sternly.

Resigned, Alonzo remained seated, cursing internally. He hated doctor's visits for reasons like this.

Dario returned not only with the necessary instruments for the blood draw but also accompanied by a nurse. Alonzo felt a pang of discomfort as he realized that someone else would witness his obvious fear. He hated feeling vulnerable in front of others, and even less when panic overwhelmed him.

When the doctor asked for his arm to proceed with the extraction, his immediate instinct was to get up and run out of that place. However, something stronger—perhaps Christian's firm hand on his shoulder or the simple fact of knowing that he needed answers—kept him in his place.

As he had feared, the pain he felt when he was pricked was almost unbearable. Alonzo clenched his teeth tightly as his eyes filled with tears that he refused to let fall. The redness in his gaze betrayed the intensity of his effort to contain them, but he refused to succumb to weeping.

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