07-12-2025, 02:56 PM
The 'X-Fun' was crowded, as always, and Jenny had already left. 'There are too many weirdos around,' she had said. As she usually did when she just didn't feel like doing anything. He wanted to stay a bit longer, waiting for his friend Martin. Shortly after Jenny left, he felt his phone vibrate.
'Jenny,' was what immediately came to his mind. But when he retreated to a quiet corner with his phone, he saw that Martin had called. He had finally remembered they had a date, but unfortunately, his place was full of people and he couldn't leave.
Ben cursed. He sometimes hated his friend for it, but really, it was his own fault that he always relied on Martin. After all, they had known each other since early childhood and were simply the best of friends.
He stood there undecided, looking at his watch. Jenny had apparently just arrived at their shared apartment. She probably wouldn't be happy if he called her now to pick him up. And to be honest, he didn't feel like going home yet. So he decided to spend some more time here.
After all, the store offered everything your heart could desire. The large 'X-Fun' building housed various discotheques, an arcade, and a cinema complex.
He threw himself onto the crowded dance floor of his favorite disco and danced until he couldn't anymore. Then he went to the bar and ordered a lemon water before he even turned to the waitress.
“Would you like some ice with that?” asked the bartender.
He looked at him and lost himself in the other man's blue eyes.
“Would you like ice cream with that?” he repeated the question.
Ben blinked briefly, and the bartender grinned. He nodded slightly in response, and the waitress turned away and fetched the ordered water.
Ben swallowed. 'What the hell was that?' He couldn't explain why he was almost lost in the other man's eyes. Then the other man was standing in front of him again and handing him the requested water.
“If you want more lemon, just let me know.”
He winked at him and turned to the rest of the customers.
Ben was totally perplexed. He had been staring at a man. Okay, the guy was really good-looking, but... he was still male.
With his water, he walked over to the stairs leading to the gallery and sat down. It took him a moment to clear his head. His gaze wandered back to the bar. The bartender was currently surrounded by several girls, all of whom were adoring him. Ben lowered his gaze. He took a deep breath. He didn't understand what was happening to him. When he had finished his glass, he simply put it down on the stairs and left the club, taking a taxi home.
The following weekend
The week was finally over. Jenny had another headache, which she often used as a reason not to do anything, and she didn't want to go to 'X-Fun'. But Ben wanted to go all the more. After all, Martin had definitely agreed to go this time. He was also supposed to pick him up, which he did. At 10 p.m. sharp, Martin showed up at their door. The two young men drove to 'X-Fun' together. Martin, as soon as he saw the posters in the entrance area, wanted to see the latest action film, and since his girlfriend refused to watch anything action-packed anyway, Ben had to do the trick. So it made sense for them both to be here. Martin grinned when Ben told him, not entirely seriously, that he felt used as his movie companion.
At 1:00 a.m., the movie ended, and they left the cinema. After a short walk, they finally reached the dance floor of Ben's favorite disco. Like every weekend, it was a riot. Ben's gaze inevitably slid to the bar, but he couldn't spot the waitress with the blue eyes.
He continued dancing and then suddenly spotted Martin. His friend Martin was standing there with a blonde, trying to smother her with his tongue. Ben was surprised, as he had always thought Martin and Mel, his action-movie-despising girlfriend, were the perfect couple.
Then his best friend suddenly stood next to him.
“I’m going,” he called over the loud music.
Ben wanted to say something, but he preferred to hold back.
In the distance, he saw Martin disappear with the blonde. Once again, he was alone. Once again, his gaze wandered toward the bar, but he still had no luck.
Why was he hoping the other guy was there? Was it... longing? Ben shook his head and went back to the dance floor. He loved to completely exhaust himself there.
He danced until the early hours of the morning, then he went home.
One Week later
Bored, he sat in the X-Fun cinema again. This time, however, in female company. What had Jenny and Tina chosen again? The two friends were sitting next to each other, both close to tears. He discreetly yawned behind his hand.
When the movie finally ended, Tina didn't feel like doing anything else and grumbled until Jenny offered to take her home.
When she saw Ben's face, which spoke volumes that he wasn't yet thinking about leaving the nightclub, she simply said, "You can stay and take a taxi later."
He nodded and the two young women left after he had accompanied them to the exit and said goodbye.
He then finally went to the dance floor and danced for a while before moving to the bar. He was just about to express his wish when a glass of water with a few lemon slices and some ice was placed in front of him. He looked up in surprise.
The bartender with the blue eyes grinned at him.
“That was right, wasn’t it?” he asked over the music.
Ben nodded and looked at him. The other man had long black hair tied in a braid at the nape of his neck. He wore black lace-up leather jeans and a black mesh top that accentuated his six-pack. On his left side, he wore an earring, a scorpion.
“My name is David,” the waitress introduced herself and held out her hand.
Ben grabbed her. It was like a static discharge.
"My name is Benjamin. My friends call me Ben," he said loudly enough for the other man to hear him over the music.
They looked at each other, neither willing to let go of the other's hand. Then someone stepped up next to Ben.
“David, make me two beers and a mix, like always,” ordered the stranger.
David pulled his hand back and adjusted the drinks. Ben couldn't bring himself to look at the man who had just ordered. So David was known. Apparently, he introduced himself to everyone who came here often.
The waitress placed the drinks in front of the other man and charged the amount on the minimum consumption card. Ben sensed the stranger staring at him, but didn't raise his head.
“Are you okay?” David asked when the other man had left with the drinks.
Ben looked up at the black-haired man and smiled shyly.
"Are you staying longer? I'll be finished with my shift in about an hour," he called out as the bar slowly became a little busier.
Ben briefly sought eye contact and nodded again.
So David continued with his work, and Ben stayed at the bar for a while until the black-haired man was once again besieged by a herd of girls. So Ben got up and walked over to the stairs leading to the gallery and the catwalk.
Why did he feel so uneasy? After all, David was a man, and the others were women. Was he jealous that David had so many girls to choose from?
He looked at the bar again and realized David was gone. Damn, where had the other guy gone? Had he seen where he'd gone? Ben cursed himself for not telling the bartender that he'd be waiting for him here by the stairs.
He stood up, looked around, and after a while, saw him. David, and a few girls with him. Another pang deep inside him. Then David turned his gaze toward him and walked straight toward him, the girls still in tow.
“…but dance together,” Ben heard one of them say.
“Sorry, I have a date,” David replied.
The girls watched the black-haired man approach. David held out his hand to Ben.
“Everything okay?” he asked again, looking at the blonde.
Ben nodded. The group of young women had now dispersed again.
“Let’s go up.”
“But… the area is closed today,” he replied immediately.
The upper area was often only open for events. And that wasn't the case today.
“You forget that I’m part of the staff,” said the black-haired man cheerfully.
Ben smiled and followed David as he passed the barrier, led him up the stairs, and they reached the gallery. Ben looked around. He had never been up here before, as it was usually so crowded during events that he preferred to stay downstairs.
Up here stood a curved bar, and a floor-to-ceiling railing separated this gallery from the space below and the entrances to the catwalk, which led over the dance floor, to prevent anyone from jumping off the railing. He followed David, who led him to the railing door that closed off the walkway above the dance floor, where the GoGo dancers showed off their skills during events.
“Do you want to dance?” the black-haired man asked him, looking downstairs.
Ben looked at him in surprise. They had just left the dance floor area and come up here. He would have liked to have a look around a bit more. But instead of leaving the gallery, David opened one of the screen doors, grabbed him by the arm, and pulled the blonde behind him onto the catwalk.
“Or don’t you want to?” he asked him.
But Ben nodded. He wasn't really the type to be the center of attention, but up here he was alone with David. And David was just starting to move to the melody.
Slowly, Ben did the same, closing his eyes and moving to the music. Up here, he felt considerably freer than down below. When he opened his eyes again, he realized that a spotlight was shining on him and David. Below them, the crowd cheered. Ben faltered a little.
“Just keep going, they love it down there,” David called to him, and he did.
At some point, he felt someone grab his arm. Surprised, Ben opened his eyes.
"Come on, let's stop. We're about to close for the day. Curfew," he explained.
The music had faded, and the blonde was exhausted. David locked the door to the catwalk again and brought him up to the bar.
“Water?” the black-haired man asked him.
Ben nodded. Yes, that was what he needed right now.
David pulled him behind the counter.
"There should be ice over there," he told him, and Ben opened the cupboard door. He found what he was looking for. David held out two filled glasses.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have a lemon.”
“It’ll be fine,” he said, throwing some ice into both glasses.
As the blonde was about to pay, David shook his head. "Hey, I invited you," he grinned.
Ben just nodded again. The other man left him speechless.
“Hey, what are you doing up here?” a voice suddenly came from the stairs.
One of the bouncers came to the counter and finally stopped when he recognized David.
"Oh, it's you, David. Are you showing a friend the disco?"
David nodded. "We just danced a little, and now we need some refreshment."
“Should we wait until…” asked the security man.
David looked at Ben and shook his head.
“No, I’ll let him out.”
Ben looked at him.
Downstairs, the DJ asked the last guests to head for the exit. The security guard took one last look up here and then went back down the stairs.
“Aren’t you going to get in trouble with your boss?” Ben asked.
“No, he’s quite nice once you get to know him better,” said David with a conspiratorial expression.
Ben looked at him questioningly and couldn't make sense of it.
“What?” he finally asked, sounding more irritated than he had intended.
“You really don’t know?” David asked, surprised.
“What don’t I know?” the blonde asked.
David looked at him doubtfully again.
“I thought that’s why…” he began the sentence, but didn’t finish it.
“Why what?” Ben asked him, now truly disturbed.
Downstairs, the music and lights were turned off. Only the emergency lights remained on. David sat on the sideboard, looked at the floor, and thought. Then he looked back at Ben.
“I own this place,” he finally confessed quietly.
“What???” Ben asked, surprised.
"A gift from my dad. He was actually hoping I'd ruin X-Fun, but I'm kind of attached to my store," David said.
“He told you…?” Ben still looked at him in disbelief.
David nodded at him. "Actually, my old man wanted to build a shopping center here. However, one of the conditions attached to the purchase of the land was that it couldn't be leveled as long as 'X-Fun' was running. And since my dad thought I'd ruin it anyway, he signed it over to me."
Now Ben was truly speechless.
David looked at him silently and smiled.
“I really didn’t know,” Ben breathed.
“Yes, I realize that now,” said David with a grin.
Finally, Ben leaned against one of the sideboards and looked at David. The other guy was so... damn attractive. He couldn't explain it to himself.
Suddenly the black-haired man stood right in front of him and said, “You look like you’re about to fall asleep.”
Yes, he was really tired. It was time for him to go home.
"Do you want to... sleep here?" David suddenly asked. "Over there, in the private area, my apartment is also part of it."
Ben looked at him. They'd only known each other by name for three or four hours, and he was already inviting him to stay overnight, or rather, to stay overnight. Okay, maybe it really would be better if he didn't drive anymore.
Apparently his answer had taken a while to arrive, because David looked at him questioningly.
Ben nodded.
10 Hours later
He woke up and tried to orient himself. Where was he?
“Good morning,” the blonde heard a familiar voice.
His gaze fell to the side. He was lying on a wide bed positioned in the middle of the back wall. Opposite him, against the wall, was a sofa on which David lay.
“You’re just as sleepy as I am,” David said again.
"Yes, the night was exhausting. I've never danced this long before," he replied.
David smiled. "Could have been worse."
Ben studied his counterpart, still wondering why David had offered him the bed. However, he hadn't been in a position to discuss it much longer that morning.
A goods Month later
Once again, Ben had stayed overnight at David's. He found it much more pleasant than driving home, and David didn't seem to mind. Jenny hadn't been in the mood to go out with him lately anyway, or she'd rather hang out with Tina and the other women, so he was traveling alone.
They were lying, as always, one on the bed and one on the couch, looking at each other. Suddenly, Ben noticed David stroking himself. Startled, he looked away.
“Does it bother you?” David asked quietly.
“I…” Ben couldn’t make a sound.
“I… like you,” the black-haired man explained.
Now Ben looked at him again. That was a joke, right? But David didn't look like he was joking.
“Is it bad?” David’s voice again.
“No,” came the blonde’s pitiful reply
They both looked into each other's eyes. David looked as if he expected the other to jump up and run. But Ben had no intention of doing that. They remained silent for a few minutes.
“I’m going to take a shower,” said David, got up and disappeared into the bathroom.
Ben alternated between hot and cold. Did the other guy like him? Did that mean David was... gay? David didn't look it. And what? After all, he liked David too. And the more they were together, dancing on the catwalk or just chatting, the stronger his desire became to touch him.
While he was still thinking, the black-haired man reappeared in the room, a towel around his waist. Drops of water stood on his bare skin. He smiled at him. Ben couldn't help himself; he returned the smile.
“That towel suits you,” whispered Ben, surprised at himself.
David stood next to the bed.
“It probably wouldn’t look bad on you either,” said David, unable to suppress a grin.
“You don’t mind if I storm your bathroom?” Ben asked timidly.
Until now, he'd always showered when he got home. But today, he didn't want to go home. So, after David's approval, he got up and walked toward the bathroom door.
“Ben,” David called after him.
As he turned around, a towel landed in his face.
Approximately one half Hou later
With the towel around his waist, he re-entered the bedroom. Surprised, he looked at the bed. David was sitting there, a tray of hearty breakfast beside him.
“Would you like breakfast?” he asked with a grin.
Ben nodded.
“Then come,” said David, patting the empty space in the bed.
Ben looked at him, finally nodded, and sat down in bed next to David. David lifted the tray between them.
Their breakfast lasted almost an hour. They kept looking at each other, occasionally touching hands as they reached for the jam or the coffee pot.
Ben became nervous. Whenever they touched, he felt a tingling sensation throughout his body, and the desire to touch the other grew within him. To really touch.
David looked at him again with that adorable smile.
“What are you thinking about?” the black-haired man suddenly asked, almost in a whisper.
Ben looked at him, caught.
“That you’re beautiful,” Ben replied.
“Do you want something else to eat?” David asked incoherently.
When Ben said no, he placed the tray on the floor next to him. There was no longer any obstacle between them.
“David… me,” Ben began, stammering.
“You have a girlfriend,” David whispered, as Ben had already told him a lot about her.
Ben nodded and replied, “But… that’s not what I mean.”
David looked at him. Trembling slightly, Ben reached out and touched his cheek. The black-haired man closed his eyes for a moment and didn't move.
“David,” said Ben.
He looked up at him. "Ben, don't say anything... Please." His voice sounded pitiful. He'd put everything on the line. "This isn't good," the black-haired man continued, "not good at all. I've... been trying to prevent this since the first night you were here. Since I first saw you on the dance floor."
Ben looked at him in surprise.
“You will go to her and… stay there,” his counterpart continued to whisper.
They still hadn't managed to take their eyes off each other.
"Probably... not," said Ben, still captivated by the blue eyes.
Actually, if he was honest with himself... he longed for him. More than for Jenny. ... He wanted him, not her. He was becoming more and more certain of that.
“Please don’t do it,” David begged as Ben gently stroked his cheek down his arm.
Ben reached up to David's hand and let his fingers slide between the other's.
“But I want it,” he whispered.
David lowered his gaze and began to tell his story: "Three years ago, I lost my heart to a guy with an ex-girlfriend. He noticed that I liked him and started courting me. And I, the idiot in love, tried to pull the strings for him. It started with a birthday party I threw for him at 'X-Fun', where he showed up with almost 100 people, a movie event I organized just for us, and then he showed up with some friends. He raved to me about how much he wanted to spend some time alone with me, but whenever there was an opportunity, he had to leave, or unfortunately, he had a few friends with him. He never stayed overnight here, let alone so much as hugged me."
David's voice reflected the pain that clung to these memories.
"Well, a friendly hug every now and then. I was so dazzled. All he wanted was my money. And I didn't get it. When we were in town, he kept suddenly saying, *Oh, I'd love something like that*. I thought I'd make him happy and bought it."
David swallowed hard: "And then I caught him with his ex-girlfriend. The two of them were in the back of the 'Chill-Out' disco, making out on a couch. I was still on duty up front, and there was no danger of me seeing them there. It was just that we'd run out of vodka, and I quickly went over to get a bottle from 'Chill.' The two of them were never apart, and it was all a lie. Of course, they immediately told me, laughed at me, and I never heard from him again."
Ben couldn't help himself, but put an arm around David's shoulders and hugged him. Strengthened by this gesture, he continued speaking.
"And then, a few weeks ago, this guy showed up at my bar. Believe me, all the alarm bells went off immediately. I found you totally attractive and great, but a little later I saw you walking to the movies arm in arm with a girl. Believe me, I was actually going to break off contact, but then you were back at my bar that evening. The whole thing was supposed to be a test. I wanted to find out if you knew who I was and that you probably only responded to me because of that."
“Did I pass?” Ben asked meekly.
"Passed. With honors. You just saw me as a friend. The last few weekends have been torture for me. You were so close and I wasn't allowed to touch you."
“And I took advantage of you by accepting the overnight stay service,” Ben said thoughtfully.
"Hey, I dared you to do this. But this morning, as we walked into the apartment, I swore to myself that I would finally tell you the truth. I was totally in love with you after the first night you spent here."
Ben looked at him and hugged him again.
“Don’t hurt me,” David demanded quietly, “I can’t survive this.”
Ben looked at him and nodded. He didn't want to hurt David. He wanted to be with him, to be with him; he'd become increasingly clear about that lately. And now, as he touched him, it was as if Jenny were miles away.
David closed his eyes and leaned his head toward Ben, and Ben met his. Their lips met in a shy kiss. Their lips touched again and again, ever so gently. Ben had also closed his eyes and surrendered to the kiss. This was intense, stronger than anything he'd ever experienced before. Not even with Jenny.
They separated from each other.
"Ben," David breathed, snuggling up to him. His voice was full of longing. David then put an arm around the blond.
The following Tag
Jenny still looked at him in disbelief.
“Because I fell in love.”
“I thought you loved me,” she said, tears in her eyes.
They had actually grown apart over the past few weeks. She had withdrawn from him. She hadn't answered his texts, let him go alone, or refused when he wanted to do something with her. But now she seemed to want things differently again.
"That's what I thought, Jenny. And that's how it's been all along. But now... My heart doesn't belong to you anymore," he confessed.
"Where did you meet her? Do I know her?" she asked, staring at him in disbelief.
"We met at X-Fun," he said. "But I thought the whole time that I belonged to you. I didn't want to believe it."
"So you were always with her, even when you supposedly stayed overnight with an acquaintance? It was all a lie?"
“No, it was…”
“So she was there too.”
"No, …"
Again she interrupted him. "She was probably even there when I was with you at 'X-Fun' and..." Tears ran angrily down Jenny's cheeks.
He turned around, unable to bear her tears, and looked out the window. Down below was his car, and inside was the person who caused this. 'David,' it was as if he could draw strength from the thought alone.
Suddenly she stood next to him and followed his gaze.
"Is she in? Why didn't she come along so she could see what she was destroying?"
Jenny left him standing at the window and left the apartment. He followed and stopped her in the stairwell.
“What are you planning?”
“I’ll tell her what I think,” the young woman snapped.
„Jenny!“
But she had already left the stairwell and run to the car. Arriving there, she threw open the door and froze. Her eyes rested on David, who looked at her in surprise. Ben came over, and the black-haired man got out.
“What…” Jenny began.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you all along.”
"You mean…"
Ben nodded. David looked at him, stepped over, and tentatively put an arm around the blond, who leaned gratefully against him.
"I... fell in love with him. And," he looked at David, "and he fell in love with me."
The three of them were sitting in the apartment. He had brought Jenny upstairs, and David had come with her. She sat across from them, glaring at them both.
“You… leave me… for a man?”
"We've been growing further and further apart lately. But I've been getting closer and closer to him," Ben explained.
He was glad David was sitting next to him. He felt the other man's leg pressing against his.
“How long has this been going on?” she asked suspiciously.
“Since this weekend,” Ben confessed.
“Have you already…?” she began her question.
"No," Ben interrupted immediately. Yesterday morning, when they had breakfast together in bed, nothing had happened. Except that he had lost his heart and they had kissed passionately over and over again.
The following weekend
He lay snuggled against the warm body next to him.
Last weekend had ended quite chaotically. Jenny had finally kicked them out and told him to stay where he was. She would keep the apartment to herself and he should pick up whatever he still wanted as soon as possible. She was just too hurt.
And so this weekend he had picked up his things from their shared apartment and, after leaving his apartment key on the kitchen table since Jenny wasn't home, drove to David's, where he'd been staying for the past few days. The boxes were now in a storage room at the nightclub. He had bought the furniture together with Jenny, and for his sake, she should keep it. If so, he wanted to start completely over.
“What are you thinking about?”
“How this is going to continue,” Ben replied.
“You’re welcome to stay here,” David replied, “but don’t expect me to sleep on the couch again.”
He smiled at him.
“No, it feels much better this way anyway.”
David kissed him tenderly and gently stroked his belly.
Epilogue:
Ben had gotten up early that morning. On his way home from the bakery, he greeted the neighbors warmly. They had gotten used to the sight of the young couple by now. After the nightclub complex proved unstoppable, David's father had begun to build a housing project in the area. On the edge of the project, surrounded by a generous plot of land, was the 'X-Fun' development.
He quietly unlocked the apartment door and prepared breakfast. The first time, it had been David who had prepared breakfast, and ever since, the black-haired man had remembered their anniversary this way. They had been a couple for eight years now, and this year Ben wanted to surprise his sweetheart.
He quickly stepped into the shower and finally came to David's bed with a towel around his waist and the tray in his hand. David blinked sleepily at him.
He smiled at him.
"Wait a minute," said David sleepily, slipping out of bed and disappearing into the bathroom. Less than ten minutes later, he was standing there, also with a towel around his waist. Drops of water glistened on his body.
“That towel suits you,” Ben whispered.
“You too,” David replied, climbing into bed with him.
Yes, it all began that night. And only one thing had changed since breakfast the first time. The tray was not between them, but over each of their legs.
“Eight years,” David noted.
“And I still don’t regret it,” Ben replied.
End
'Jenny,' was what immediately came to his mind. But when he retreated to a quiet corner with his phone, he saw that Martin had called. He had finally remembered they had a date, but unfortunately, his place was full of people and he couldn't leave.
Ben cursed. He sometimes hated his friend for it, but really, it was his own fault that he always relied on Martin. After all, they had known each other since early childhood and were simply the best of friends.
He stood there undecided, looking at his watch. Jenny had apparently just arrived at their shared apartment. She probably wouldn't be happy if he called her now to pick him up. And to be honest, he didn't feel like going home yet. So he decided to spend some more time here.
After all, the store offered everything your heart could desire. The large 'X-Fun' building housed various discotheques, an arcade, and a cinema complex.
He threw himself onto the crowded dance floor of his favorite disco and danced until he couldn't anymore. Then he went to the bar and ordered a lemon water before he even turned to the waitress.
“Would you like some ice with that?” asked the bartender.
He looked at him and lost himself in the other man's blue eyes.
“Would you like ice cream with that?” he repeated the question.
Ben blinked briefly, and the bartender grinned. He nodded slightly in response, and the waitress turned away and fetched the ordered water.
Ben swallowed. 'What the hell was that?' He couldn't explain why he was almost lost in the other man's eyes. Then the other man was standing in front of him again and handing him the requested water.
“If you want more lemon, just let me know.”
He winked at him and turned to the rest of the customers.
Ben was totally perplexed. He had been staring at a man. Okay, the guy was really good-looking, but... he was still male.
With his water, he walked over to the stairs leading to the gallery and sat down. It took him a moment to clear his head. His gaze wandered back to the bar. The bartender was currently surrounded by several girls, all of whom were adoring him. Ben lowered his gaze. He took a deep breath. He didn't understand what was happening to him. When he had finished his glass, he simply put it down on the stairs and left the club, taking a taxi home.
The following weekend
The week was finally over. Jenny had another headache, which she often used as a reason not to do anything, and she didn't want to go to 'X-Fun'. But Ben wanted to go all the more. After all, Martin had definitely agreed to go this time. He was also supposed to pick him up, which he did. At 10 p.m. sharp, Martin showed up at their door. The two young men drove to 'X-Fun' together. Martin, as soon as he saw the posters in the entrance area, wanted to see the latest action film, and since his girlfriend refused to watch anything action-packed anyway, Ben had to do the trick. So it made sense for them both to be here. Martin grinned when Ben told him, not entirely seriously, that he felt used as his movie companion.
At 1:00 a.m., the movie ended, and they left the cinema. After a short walk, they finally reached the dance floor of Ben's favorite disco. Like every weekend, it was a riot. Ben's gaze inevitably slid to the bar, but he couldn't spot the waitress with the blue eyes.
He continued dancing and then suddenly spotted Martin. His friend Martin was standing there with a blonde, trying to smother her with his tongue. Ben was surprised, as he had always thought Martin and Mel, his action-movie-despising girlfriend, were the perfect couple.
Then his best friend suddenly stood next to him.
“I’m going,” he called over the loud music.
Ben wanted to say something, but he preferred to hold back.
In the distance, he saw Martin disappear with the blonde. Once again, he was alone. Once again, his gaze wandered toward the bar, but he still had no luck.
Why was he hoping the other guy was there? Was it... longing? Ben shook his head and went back to the dance floor. He loved to completely exhaust himself there.
He danced until the early hours of the morning, then he went home.
One Week later
Bored, he sat in the X-Fun cinema again. This time, however, in female company. What had Jenny and Tina chosen again? The two friends were sitting next to each other, both close to tears. He discreetly yawned behind his hand.
When the movie finally ended, Tina didn't feel like doing anything else and grumbled until Jenny offered to take her home.
When she saw Ben's face, which spoke volumes that he wasn't yet thinking about leaving the nightclub, she simply said, "You can stay and take a taxi later."
He nodded and the two young women left after he had accompanied them to the exit and said goodbye.
He then finally went to the dance floor and danced for a while before moving to the bar. He was just about to express his wish when a glass of water with a few lemon slices and some ice was placed in front of him. He looked up in surprise.
The bartender with the blue eyes grinned at him.
“That was right, wasn’t it?” he asked over the music.
Ben nodded and looked at him. The other man had long black hair tied in a braid at the nape of his neck. He wore black lace-up leather jeans and a black mesh top that accentuated his six-pack. On his left side, he wore an earring, a scorpion.
“My name is David,” the waitress introduced herself and held out her hand.
Ben grabbed her. It was like a static discharge.
"My name is Benjamin. My friends call me Ben," he said loudly enough for the other man to hear him over the music.
They looked at each other, neither willing to let go of the other's hand. Then someone stepped up next to Ben.
“David, make me two beers and a mix, like always,” ordered the stranger.
David pulled his hand back and adjusted the drinks. Ben couldn't bring himself to look at the man who had just ordered. So David was known. Apparently, he introduced himself to everyone who came here often.
The waitress placed the drinks in front of the other man and charged the amount on the minimum consumption card. Ben sensed the stranger staring at him, but didn't raise his head.
“Are you okay?” David asked when the other man had left with the drinks.
Ben looked up at the black-haired man and smiled shyly.
"Are you staying longer? I'll be finished with my shift in about an hour," he called out as the bar slowly became a little busier.
Ben briefly sought eye contact and nodded again.
So David continued with his work, and Ben stayed at the bar for a while until the black-haired man was once again besieged by a herd of girls. So Ben got up and walked over to the stairs leading to the gallery and the catwalk.
Why did he feel so uneasy? After all, David was a man, and the others were women. Was he jealous that David had so many girls to choose from?
He looked at the bar again and realized David was gone. Damn, where had the other guy gone? Had he seen where he'd gone? Ben cursed himself for not telling the bartender that he'd be waiting for him here by the stairs.
He stood up, looked around, and after a while, saw him. David, and a few girls with him. Another pang deep inside him. Then David turned his gaze toward him and walked straight toward him, the girls still in tow.
“…but dance together,” Ben heard one of them say.
“Sorry, I have a date,” David replied.
The girls watched the black-haired man approach. David held out his hand to Ben.
“Everything okay?” he asked again, looking at the blonde.
Ben nodded. The group of young women had now dispersed again.
“Let’s go up.”
“But… the area is closed today,” he replied immediately.
The upper area was often only open for events. And that wasn't the case today.
“You forget that I’m part of the staff,” said the black-haired man cheerfully.
Ben smiled and followed David as he passed the barrier, led him up the stairs, and they reached the gallery. Ben looked around. He had never been up here before, as it was usually so crowded during events that he preferred to stay downstairs.
Up here stood a curved bar, and a floor-to-ceiling railing separated this gallery from the space below and the entrances to the catwalk, which led over the dance floor, to prevent anyone from jumping off the railing. He followed David, who led him to the railing door that closed off the walkway above the dance floor, where the GoGo dancers showed off their skills during events.
“Do you want to dance?” the black-haired man asked him, looking downstairs.
Ben looked at him in surprise. They had just left the dance floor area and come up here. He would have liked to have a look around a bit more. But instead of leaving the gallery, David opened one of the screen doors, grabbed him by the arm, and pulled the blonde behind him onto the catwalk.
“Or don’t you want to?” he asked him.
But Ben nodded. He wasn't really the type to be the center of attention, but up here he was alone with David. And David was just starting to move to the melody.
Slowly, Ben did the same, closing his eyes and moving to the music. Up here, he felt considerably freer than down below. When he opened his eyes again, he realized that a spotlight was shining on him and David. Below them, the crowd cheered. Ben faltered a little.
“Just keep going, they love it down there,” David called to him, and he did.
At some point, he felt someone grab his arm. Surprised, Ben opened his eyes.
"Come on, let's stop. We're about to close for the day. Curfew," he explained.
The music had faded, and the blonde was exhausted. David locked the door to the catwalk again and brought him up to the bar.
“Water?” the black-haired man asked him.
Ben nodded. Yes, that was what he needed right now.
David pulled him behind the counter.
"There should be ice over there," he told him, and Ben opened the cupboard door. He found what he was looking for. David held out two filled glasses.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have a lemon.”
“It’ll be fine,” he said, throwing some ice into both glasses.
As the blonde was about to pay, David shook his head. "Hey, I invited you," he grinned.
Ben just nodded again. The other man left him speechless.
“Hey, what are you doing up here?” a voice suddenly came from the stairs.
One of the bouncers came to the counter and finally stopped when he recognized David.
"Oh, it's you, David. Are you showing a friend the disco?"
David nodded. "We just danced a little, and now we need some refreshment."
“Should we wait until…” asked the security man.
David looked at Ben and shook his head.
“No, I’ll let him out.”
Ben looked at him.
Downstairs, the DJ asked the last guests to head for the exit. The security guard took one last look up here and then went back down the stairs.
“Aren’t you going to get in trouble with your boss?” Ben asked.
“No, he’s quite nice once you get to know him better,” said David with a conspiratorial expression.
Ben looked at him questioningly and couldn't make sense of it.
“What?” he finally asked, sounding more irritated than he had intended.
“You really don’t know?” David asked, surprised.
“What don’t I know?” the blonde asked.
David looked at him doubtfully again.
“I thought that’s why…” he began the sentence, but didn’t finish it.
“Why what?” Ben asked him, now truly disturbed.
Downstairs, the music and lights were turned off. Only the emergency lights remained on. David sat on the sideboard, looked at the floor, and thought. Then he looked back at Ben.
“I own this place,” he finally confessed quietly.
“What???” Ben asked, surprised.
"A gift from my dad. He was actually hoping I'd ruin X-Fun, but I'm kind of attached to my store," David said.
“He told you…?” Ben still looked at him in disbelief.
David nodded at him. "Actually, my old man wanted to build a shopping center here. However, one of the conditions attached to the purchase of the land was that it couldn't be leveled as long as 'X-Fun' was running. And since my dad thought I'd ruin it anyway, he signed it over to me."
Now Ben was truly speechless.
David looked at him silently and smiled.
“I really didn’t know,” Ben breathed.
“Yes, I realize that now,” said David with a grin.
Finally, Ben leaned against one of the sideboards and looked at David. The other guy was so... damn attractive. He couldn't explain it to himself.
Suddenly the black-haired man stood right in front of him and said, “You look like you’re about to fall asleep.”
Yes, he was really tired. It was time for him to go home.
"Do you want to... sleep here?" David suddenly asked. "Over there, in the private area, my apartment is also part of it."
Ben looked at him. They'd only known each other by name for three or four hours, and he was already inviting him to stay overnight, or rather, to stay overnight. Okay, maybe it really would be better if he didn't drive anymore.
Apparently his answer had taken a while to arrive, because David looked at him questioningly.
Ben nodded.
10 Hours later
He woke up and tried to orient himself. Where was he?
“Good morning,” the blonde heard a familiar voice.
His gaze fell to the side. He was lying on a wide bed positioned in the middle of the back wall. Opposite him, against the wall, was a sofa on which David lay.
“You’re just as sleepy as I am,” David said again.
"Yes, the night was exhausting. I've never danced this long before," he replied.
David smiled. "Could have been worse."
Ben studied his counterpart, still wondering why David had offered him the bed. However, he hadn't been in a position to discuss it much longer that morning.
A goods Month later
Once again, Ben had stayed overnight at David's. He found it much more pleasant than driving home, and David didn't seem to mind. Jenny hadn't been in the mood to go out with him lately anyway, or she'd rather hang out with Tina and the other women, so he was traveling alone.
They were lying, as always, one on the bed and one on the couch, looking at each other. Suddenly, Ben noticed David stroking himself. Startled, he looked away.
“Does it bother you?” David asked quietly.
“I…” Ben couldn’t make a sound.
“I… like you,” the black-haired man explained.
Now Ben looked at him again. That was a joke, right? But David didn't look like he was joking.
“Is it bad?” David’s voice again.
“No,” came the blonde’s pitiful reply
They both looked into each other's eyes. David looked as if he expected the other to jump up and run. But Ben had no intention of doing that. They remained silent for a few minutes.
“I’m going to take a shower,” said David, got up and disappeared into the bathroom.
Ben alternated between hot and cold. Did the other guy like him? Did that mean David was... gay? David didn't look it. And what? After all, he liked David too. And the more they were together, dancing on the catwalk or just chatting, the stronger his desire became to touch him.
While he was still thinking, the black-haired man reappeared in the room, a towel around his waist. Drops of water stood on his bare skin. He smiled at him. Ben couldn't help himself; he returned the smile.
“That towel suits you,” whispered Ben, surprised at himself.
David stood next to the bed.
“It probably wouldn’t look bad on you either,” said David, unable to suppress a grin.
“You don’t mind if I storm your bathroom?” Ben asked timidly.
Until now, he'd always showered when he got home. But today, he didn't want to go home. So, after David's approval, he got up and walked toward the bathroom door.
“Ben,” David called after him.
As he turned around, a towel landed in his face.
Approximately one half Hou later
With the towel around his waist, he re-entered the bedroom. Surprised, he looked at the bed. David was sitting there, a tray of hearty breakfast beside him.
“Would you like breakfast?” he asked with a grin.
Ben nodded.
“Then come,” said David, patting the empty space in the bed.
Ben looked at him, finally nodded, and sat down in bed next to David. David lifted the tray between them.
Their breakfast lasted almost an hour. They kept looking at each other, occasionally touching hands as they reached for the jam or the coffee pot.
Ben became nervous. Whenever they touched, he felt a tingling sensation throughout his body, and the desire to touch the other grew within him. To really touch.
David looked at him again with that adorable smile.
“What are you thinking about?” the black-haired man suddenly asked, almost in a whisper.
Ben looked at him, caught.
“That you’re beautiful,” Ben replied.
“Do you want something else to eat?” David asked incoherently.
When Ben said no, he placed the tray on the floor next to him. There was no longer any obstacle between them.
“David… me,” Ben began, stammering.
“You have a girlfriend,” David whispered, as Ben had already told him a lot about her.
Ben nodded and replied, “But… that’s not what I mean.”
David looked at him. Trembling slightly, Ben reached out and touched his cheek. The black-haired man closed his eyes for a moment and didn't move.
“David,” said Ben.
He looked up at him. "Ben, don't say anything... Please." His voice sounded pitiful. He'd put everything on the line. "This isn't good," the black-haired man continued, "not good at all. I've... been trying to prevent this since the first night you were here. Since I first saw you on the dance floor."
Ben looked at him in surprise.
“You will go to her and… stay there,” his counterpart continued to whisper.
They still hadn't managed to take their eyes off each other.
"Probably... not," said Ben, still captivated by the blue eyes.
Actually, if he was honest with himself... he longed for him. More than for Jenny. ... He wanted him, not her. He was becoming more and more certain of that.
“Please don’t do it,” David begged as Ben gently stroked his cheek down his arm.
Ben reached up to David's hand and let his fingers slide between the other's.
“But I want it,” he whispered.
David lowered his gaze and began to tell his story: "Three years ago, I lost my heart to a guy with an ex-girlfriend. He noticed that I liked him and started courting me. And I, the idiot in love, tried to pull the strings for him. It started with a birthday party I threw for him at 'X-Fun', where he showed up with almost 100 people, a movie event I organized just for us, and then he showed up with some friends. He raved to me about how much he wanted to spend some time alone with me, but whenever there was an opportunity, he had to leave, or unfortunately, he had a few friends with him. He never stayed overnight here, let alone so much as hugged me."
David's voice reflected the pain that clung to these memories.
"Well, a friendly hug every now and then. I was so dazzled. All he wanted was my money. And I didn't get it. When we were in town, he kept suddenly saying, *Oh, I'd love something like that*. I thought I'd make him happy and bought it."
David swallowed hard: "And then I caught him with his ex-girlfriend. The two of them were in the back of the 'Chill-Out' disco, making out on a couch. I was still on duty up front, and there was no danger of me seeing them there. It was just that we'd run out of vodka, and I quickly went over to get a bottle from 'Chill.' The two of them were never apart, and it was all a lie. Of course, they immediately told me, laughed at me, and I never heard from him again."
Ben couldn't help himself, but put an arm around David's shoulders and hugged him. Strengthened by this gesture, he continued speaking.
"And then, a few weeks ago, this guy showed up at my bar. Believe me, all the alarm bells went off immediately. I found you totally attractive and great, but a little later I saw you walking to the movies arm in arm with a girl. Believe me, I was actually going to break off contact, but then you were back at my bar that evening. The whole thing was supposed to be a test. I wanted to find out if you knew who I was and that you probably only responded to me because of that."
“Did I pass?” Ben asked meekly.
"Passed. With honors. You just saw me as a friend. The last few weekends have been torture for me. You were so close and I wasn't allowed to touch you."
“And I took advantage of you by accepting the overnight stay service,” Ben said thoughtfully.
"Hey, I dared you to do this. But this morning, as we walked into the apartment, I swore to myself that I would finally tell you the truth. I was totally in love with you after the first night you spent here."
Ben looked at him and hugged him again.
“Don’t hurt me,” David demanded quietly, “I can’t survive this.”
Ben looked at him and nodded. He didn't want to hurt David. He wanted to be with him, to be with him; he'd become increasingly clear about that lately. And now, as he touched him, it was as if Jenny were miles away.
David closed his eyes and leaned his head toward Ben, and Ben met his. Their lips met in a shy kiss. Their lips touched again and again, ever so gently. Ben had also closed his eyes and surrendered to the kiss. This was intense, stronger than anything he'd ever experienced before. Not even with Jenny.
They separated from each other.
"Ben," David breathed, snuggling up to him. His voice was full of longing. David then put an arm around the blond.
The following Tag
Jenny still looked at him in disbelief.
“Because I fell in love.”
“I thought you loved me,” she said, tears in her eyes.
They had actually grown apart over the past few weeks. She had withdrawn from him. She hadn't answered his texts, let him go alone, or refused when he wanted to do something with her. But now she seemed to want things differently again.
"That's what I thought, Jenny. And that's how it's been all along. But now... My heart doesn't belong to you anymore," he confessed.
"Where did you meet her? Do I know her?" she asked, staring at him in disbelief.
"We met at X-Fun," he said. "But I thought the whole time that I belonged to you. I didn't want to believe it."
"So you were always with her, even when you supposedly stayed overnight with an acquaintance? It was all a lie?"
“No, it was…”
“So she was there too.”
"No, …"
Again she interrupted him. "She was probably even there when I was with you at 'X-Fun' and..." Tears ran angrily down Jenny's cheeks.
He turned around, unable to bear her tears, and looked out the window. Down below was his car, and inside was the person who caused this. 'David,' it was as if he could draw strength from the thought alone.
Suddenly she stood next to him and followed his gaze.
"Is she in? Why didn't she come along so she could see what she was destroying?"
Jenny left him standing at the window and left the apartment. He followed and stopped her in the stairwell.
“What are you planning?”
“I’ll tell her what I think,” the young woman snapped.
„Jenny!“
But she had already left the stairwell and run to the car. Arriving there, she threw open the door and froze. Her eyes rested on David, who looked at her in surprise. Ben came over, and the black-haired man got out.
“What…” Jenny began.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you all along.”
"You mean…"
Ben nodded. David looked at him, stepped over, and tentatively put an arm around the blond, who leaned gratefully against him.
"I... fell in love with him. And," he looked at David, "and he fell in love with me."
The three of them were sitting in the apartment. He had brought Jenny upstairs, and David had come with her. She sat across from them, glaring at them both.
“You… leave me… for a man?”
"We've been growing further and further apart lately. But I've been getting closer and closer to him," Ben explained.
He was glad David was sitting next to him. He felt the other man's leg pressing against his.
“How long has this been going on?” she asked suspiciously.
“Since this weekend,” Ben confessed.
“Have you already…?” she began her question.
"No," Ben interrupted immediately. Yesterday morning, when they had breakfast together in bed, nothing had happened. Except that he had lost his heart and they had kissed passionately over and over again.
The following weekend
He lay snuggled against the warm body next to him.
Last weekend had ended quite chaotically. Jenny had finally kicked them out and told him to stay where he was. She would keep the apartment to herself and he should pick up whatever he still wanted as soon as possible. She was just too hurt.
And so this weekend he had picked up his things from their shared apartment and, after leaving his apartment key on the kitchen table since Jenny wasn't home, drove to David's, where he'd been staying for the past few days. The boxes were now in a storage room at the nightclub. He had bought the furniture together with Jenny, and for his sake, she should keep it. If so, he wanted to start completely over.
“What are you thinking about?”
“How this is going to continue,” Ben replied.
“You’re welcome to stay here,” David replied, “but don’t expect me to sleep on the couch again.”
He smiled at him.
“No, it feels much better this way anyway.”
David kissed him tenderly and gently stroked his belly.
Epilogue:
Ben had gotten up early that morning. On his way home from the bakery, he greeted the neighbors warmly. They had gotten used to the sight of the young couple by now. After the nightclub complex proved unstoppable, David's father had begun to build a housing project in the area. On the edge of the project, surrounded by a generous plot of land, was the 'X-Fun' development.
He quietly unlocked the apartment door and prepared breakfast. The first time, it had been David who had prepared breakfast, and ever since, the black-haired man had remembered their anniversary this way. They had been a couple for eight years now, and this year Ben wanted to surprise his sweetheart.
He quickly stepped into the shower and finally came to David's bed with a towel around his waist and the tray in his hand. David blinked sleepily at him.
He smiled at him.
"Wait a minute," said David sleepily, slipping out of bed and disappearing into the bathroom. Less than ten minutes later, he was standing there, also with a towel around his waist. Drops of water glistened on his body.
“That towel suits you,” Ben whispered.
“You too,” David replied, climbing into bed with him.
Yes, it all began that night. And only one thing had changed since breakfast the first time. The tray was not between them, but over each of their legs.
“Eight years,” David noted.
“And I still don’t regret it,” Ben replied.
End