Animal Planet
Shocked, Diano let out an involuntary scream. He realized his mistake immediately and shut up. But the damage had been done. The girl flicked on the light switch.
“Who are you?” She pointed a finger at him. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Diano felt embarrassed. The only piece of towel that existed in the washroom was next to the washbasin behind the girl. It was a hand towel but at least it would have helped cover the most important area.
“Who are you?” He managed back.
But the girl had opened the door and gone to the bedroom by then.
“What the fuck? Who the fuck are you? Oliver, what the fuck is going on?” She shouted.
“Oh shit.” Diano heard Norman say. Who was Oliver? Diano had wanted to stay back but his curiosity got the better of him and he peeped into the bedroom.
“Diano!” It was Summer’s voice.
Diano was shocked to see her topless. Norman was zipping up his trousers. It was easy to guess what they had been up to.
“Shit. What the fuck are you doing here?” The girl screamed.
“Priscilla,” said Norman. “Look. I can explain.”
“Shut up, you creep. I come back on our anniversary and this is the shit you give me?!” The girl called Priscilla was angry.
“What are you doing here?” Diano asked Summer.
“Why are you dressed like that?” Summer asked back in return as she hurriedly pulled on her tee shirt.
“Norman?” Diano looked at Norman.
“Norman?” Summer asked. “Oliver? Oliver is Norman?”
“Shit.” The ugliness of the whole thing struck Diano.
“Diano, I’m sorry.” Oliver looked down at the floor.
“Don’t!” Diano went over to the wardrobe and pulled down his stuff. “Don’t you dare talk to me again.”
“Who the fuck are these people?” Priscilla asked Oliver.
“They…” said Oliver. “They’re friends.”
“Friends?! One is half-naked and in bed with you. The other is dressed in lingerie and hiding in the washroom. Some fine friends you have!”
Diano felt hurt. His anger gave way to sadness. Friends? That’s all he was? A friend? What the hell had he gotten himself into? He looked at Norman’s face. He looked embarrassed. That’s it. Just embarrassed. That’s what Diano was to him — an embarrassment. He took his stuff and went into the living room.
“Diano, wait.” Norman called. No, Oliver called. Oliver. Norman. How did it matter?
“Wait? Wait for what?” Priscilla shouted.
“He’s Oliver’s boyfriend.” Summer shouted at her. “Come on, tell her, Oliver. Or should I call you Norman?”
Oliver didn’t say a word.
“Boyfriend? What the fuck? You’re gay?!” Priscilla looked shocked.
“No! I’m not.”
“Then what’s the gay guy doing here? I’d thought you’re a nice guy. I picked today to come back to you. But you’ve become a beast. As if this whore were not enough, you’re fucking that gay bastard too! Yuck! I wanna throw up!”
“Shut Up!” Oliver screamed at her. “And get out. Just get out!”
Diano had changed and was putting on his shoes when Priscilla stormed into the living room. Before Diano could react, she kicked at him. Her shoe caught the side of Diano’s face. The impact made his teeth cut into the inside of his cheek. He tasted blood. The kick had jarred him and he couldn’t focus. His ears were ringing. Before he could dodge or protect himself, Priscilla rained a few quick blows on his neck and back.
“Take that, asshole!” She caught hold of Diano’s hair and pulled at it like a mad woman.
Diano’s had tears in his eyes. No amount of twisting or hitting could release him from the bitch’s hold. He screamed. Oliver came out of the bedroom and shouted at Priscilla to stop. She did not.
Summer slapped Priscilla’s face. She must have used all her strength because Priscilla released the grip on Diano’s hair and sank back onto the sofa.
“Shit. Did I kill her?” asked Summer.
Oliver ran to the kitchen to get some water for Priscilla who was groaning.
Summer picked up her bag and went to the door. She held it open for Diano, who walked groggily out of the apartment. Summer slammed the door shut from outside as Diano pressed the lift button.
He looked at his reflection in the mirror on the corridor wall. He was a mess. He took out a tissue and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
The lift arrived and they rode down in silence. When they were at street level and alone, Summer tried to put a hand on Diano’s shoulder. He brushed it aside.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize Oliver was posing as Norman.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Diano was very upset.
“Really. I had no idea. I’m sorry.”
Diano said nothing. He didn’t want to talk to her. He didn’t want to talk to anybody.
Summer flagged down a cab and opened the door for him to get inside. He didn’t.
“Let’s go home, okay? We don’t need to talk about this. But, at least, let’s go home.”
“You go home. I wanna be alone.”
“You can be alone in your room. I promise, I won’t disturb you.”
“No. I wanna be alone. Please leave me alone. I don’t wanna talk to anyone. You go home.”
Summer closed the door and the cab took off.
Diano watched the taillights go into the distance and disappear round the corner. He turned back to look at Norman’s estate. Oliver’s estate. He had to get used to the real world. The real person. Norman was a dream. Oliver was the reality. And the reality sucked.
Oliver wasn’t only dating several girls at the same time but also sleeping with them. Okay, he could handle that but Summer? Summer! How could Oliver do that to him? Why had he lied to him?
And Summer? Did she really have no idea like she said? How was that possible? And this Priscilla was his girlfriend? Well, it didn’t matter. He was a free man now. Freedom. Yes. He collapsed on the pavement and cried.
Why did it always happen to him? Why? He needed to talk to someone but he didn’t want to talk to anybody. He needed to stop crying but he could not. How could Oliver do this to him? And Summer turned up at his home to have sex with him. It was revolting.
He needed somebody to take care of him. Somebody he could trust. Mom? No. She’d be alarmed. He needed somebody stronger. Somebody who could pull him out in one shape. And then he knew who it was.
He took out his cell phone and dialed.
“Brian? Hi. This is Diano.”
“Oh, hi! Is everything okay? You sound so…”
“Where are you?”
“I’m in Mong Kok. What’s up?”
“Can I spend the night at your place?”
“Sure, bro. You’re always welcome. Where are you now?”
“Tai Kok Tsui.”
“Do you want me to pick you up?”
“If you don’t mind, yes.”
“Alright. Give me your exact location and I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
“I’ll be at the taxi stand in front of Olympic City 2.”
“Cool. See you soon.”
