Date: Wed, 01 Mar 2006 16:48:39 +0100
From: A.K. <andrej@andrejkoymasky.com>
Subject: Gold, Incense and Myrrh 6/9 (m+m - Adult Friends)

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GOLD, INCENSE and MYRRH
by Andrej Koymasky (C) 2005
written the 21st of February, 1994
translated by the author
English text kindly revised
by Brian

-----------------------------

USUAL DISCLAIMER

"GOLD, INCENSE and MYRRH" is a gay story, with some parts containing graphic
scenes of sex between males. So, if in your land, religion, family,
opinion and so on this is not good for you, it will be better not to
read this story. But if you really want, or because YOU don't care, or
because you think you really want to read it, please be my welcomed
guest.

-----------------------------

CHAPTER 6 - Somebody around the corner

Massimo didn't realize that somebody was coming - he could neither see
nor hear anything.

It was a young man, slightly taller than him, wearing black jeans and a
light lilac color padded jacket. He had a guitar hanging at his back.
The young man heard Massimo crying. He stopped, surprised and hesitant
- he didn't know if he should turn away without making himself noticed,
to leave that stranger to his sorrow, or approach him and ask his
reason for crying.

He never saw anybody so dejectedly crying. At least no one of Massimo's
age. Sitting on a bench in a public garden in the middle of the night.
He was about to change direction, for modesty sake, when something
inside made him change his mind. He took the guitar hanging at his back
and, without going any nearer, he leaned against a tree and started to
play his guitar gently, looking towards the man. Massimo seemed not to
be aware he was no longer alone, and continued his dejected sobbing. He
slowly drew nearer, continuing to play a light sweet melody. When
Massimo heard the music he raised his eyes filled with tears and looked
at him. The young man continued to play.

"I want to die." Massimo murmured to the stranger that he barely
focused through his tears.

"It happens to everybody, at times." The other gently answered
continuing to play.

"I'm tired... so tired..."

"Yes, I understand you. At times I too feel so tired, inside me. Too
tired tostruggle, too tired to live. But..." he said but didn't finish
the sentence.

"Why?" Massimo asked.

The other didn't answer - that 'why?' was not a question for him, but
that the other asked himself. Continuing to play lightly, he sat near
Massimo, who put one of his hands over his face covering it, and tried
to dry his tears.

Then the other said, sweetly, "No, cry without worries, don't mind me.
Cry, you need it..! ."

"Who are, you?"

"One, who knows."

Massimo was still shaken, from time to time, by a strong sob. But he
stopped crying.

"What is that song?"

"Au clair de la lune."

"It's beautiful."

"I'm pleased you like it, I hoped so."

"You hoped? Are you playing it for me?"

"Often music soothes sorrow. And you should have a huge sorrow, to cry
so, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Would you like to tell me?"

"I don't know. It hurts."

"Sure, but..."

So Massimo started to tell the stranger the reason for his pain. But,
different from previous occasions, his tale was now filled with
emotion, often interrupted by his tears. He told everything, also his
desire to die, his three attempts... and the story of the three kings,
and he showed him the three gifts.

"And now, I don't know any more, if I would have the courage to try
again."

"One doesn't need courage to die. One needs more courage to live."

"Perhaps it is as you say, I don't know. But now, I am completely
alone."

"I too am completely alone. Why don't you come to my place? Possibly,
we can share our loneliness..."

"You don't even know me."

"Neither do you, I. Or rather, I now know a little about you. As you
don't have a place, you can come to my place. I was going back home. I
live nearby, alone. It is not much but... Come with me, come!"

"Doesn't it bother you, knowing I am gay?"

"No, absolutely not."

"By chance...are you gay?"

"I never asked myself that question."

"What do you mean?"

"That up to now I've had various experiences with different people."

"What do you want to take me with you for..."

"No, I was not thinking of that at all. I'm offering you a bed, but not
necessarily MY bed. I have two beds, at my place. I'm just offering you
a bed and my friendship. And anyway I don't have much more to offer.
Are you coming?"

"Yes, I'll come."

"My name is Gilberto."

"Massimo."

"Good, Massimo, bring your bicycle and come, then."

Gilberto led Massimo to his home. He lived in a single room bed-sit, in
an Attic. In the room there were two small beds, and in one corner
there was a sink and a small stove. There was a common toilet shared
with the other bed-sits in the corridor, but there was no bath or
shower. In the room, besides the beds there was a table with three odd
chairs, an old wardrobe, a stereo on a shelf surrounded by records and
CDs, and a small heater. The walls were plain just a few very colorful
posters on them made it a little less drab.

"I sold almost everything, all that remains is what you see." Gilberto
said as they entered, with an almost apologizing smile. Then he added,
"You can sleep there. That one is my bed, Do you want me to switch on
the heater?"

"No, thank you, I don't need it."

"Do you have enough blankets?"

"I think so. It's not very cold."

"Would you like to hit the sack now?"

"As you like."

"Well, first I will heat some milk. Before going to bed I usually drink
a mug of warm milk. Do you want some? Or do you prefer coffee or tea? I
regret I don't have sprits or beer."

"No, thank you. Warm milk will be just fine."

"I don't even have a TV for you to watch. I sold it. May I put on some
music? What kind do you like?"

"What ever you like." Massimo said sitting at the table.

Gilberto put on a CD, then switched on the gas and put the milk on to
warm. While they were drinking it, they talked, Gilberto did most of
the talking.

Gilberto Marelli was twenty-six years old. The son of a teacher of
classic Greek. But from his childhood he showed more interest in modern
music than classical subjects, so when he was eighteen, he left his
parents' house and went to live by himself.

He found a job almost immediately as assistant to a professional DJ in
a Night club. When he was nineteen he had his first sexual experience.
It happened with a young couple. He met the wife one night at the
disco. She proposed a threesome as her husband also liked boys. He
enjoyed this first experience very much. He continued in that
relationship for about three years.

But then he fell in love with a girl, and left the couple. He went to
live with her. While they were together, he found his first job as a DJ
in a new night club on the outskirts of town. There was a bartender who
liked him. He was a really handsome young man and Gilberto liked him
very much, but he was in love with his girl, therefore refused the
bartender's advances. Gilberto was a faithful guy. One night, the night
club was raided by the police who found drugs on the premises,
therefore the night club was shut for three months. Gilbert that night
went back home earlier than usual - he was clean, so was released
without charge. When he arrived home, he found the door locked from
inside. He rang several times before she answered. He saw there was
another man with his woman. Gilberto didn't make a fuss. He talked with
her, tried to understand. He would even forgive her, but she decided to
leave him - she evidently preferred the other man.

Thus he was single. When he resumed his job, he started to court the
bartender, and they became lovers. The young man moved to his place. He
loved making love with that young man. But their relationship lasted
only two years. When Gilberto was twenty-five, the bartender left him
for another man, a guy of Milano upper class, loaded with money. After
that, besides a few one night stands he was alone. Eight months later
the disco where he worked had been burnt down by the racket, and had to
close. So Gilberto lost his job. He survived thanks to some savings he
had, then by selling objects he had at home, and also earned some money
playing his guitar on the streets or in the underground stations. That
night Gilberto was going back home after he played in an underground
station.

Massimo was still immersed in his sorrow that was deafly pulsating
inside him, but he listened to Gilberto with pleasure. The young man
had freshness, a way of talking and to reasoning that was at once
simple and deep, and he felt fascinated.

They went to bed and Gilberto switched off the light.

After a while, Massimo asked in a whisper, "Are you sleeping?"

"No, not yet."

"Do you feel like talking some more?"

"Yes, sure."

"I... why did you offer me a bed?"

"I told you - possibly two lonely soles could comfort each other... and
then... I don't know, but I feel I like you."

"You don't know me."

"You already said that. We will get to know each other, little by
little. And as long as both of us feel like it, we can share this
room."

"If you get fed up with me, you'll tell me, won't you?"

"Of course."

"I don't want to give you problems... with my sadness."

"It will pass, sooner or later, don't worry."

"It may not."

"Being two, everything becomes easier." Gilberto said.

Massimo felt the warmth contained in these words and in the other's
attitude and was grateful. He recalled the three he met at the year's
start, before Gilberto. All three of them, his three kings, gave him
something, besides the real gifts he was keeping in his pocket. But he
felt that Gilberto was giving him something more.

"Gilberto?"

"Yes."

"Thank you."

"For what."

"For existing." Massimo answered almost ashamed of his words.

Gilberto didn't answer at once, but after a short silence, said, "That
is something we should all say to each other! But we are seldom aware
we should. And even more seldom do we dare saying it."

"Dare?"

"Yes, because thanking another for existing, means admitting that one
needs the other in order to recognize his own existence."

"I... yes, it's possibly I really need you to accept my own existence."

"Do you mean..."

"I'm not so sure I want to die, now."

"That is a first step."

"A first one?"

"Yes. The next being the desire to live."

"I see." Massimo thoughtfully answered.

"A step at a time." Gilberto said gently, then added, "And we both need
some sleep."

But Massimo was not able to fall asleep. He finally was able to think,
without feeling that confusion inside his head that had accompanied him
for so many days. Rather, he could think with lucid clarity. The sorrow
for Diego's loss didn't abandon him, but it was no longer clouding his
mind. And he again cried, silently, almost sweetly - the sweetness that
five years of Diego's love gave him. And he felt that Diego was alive
inside him, just because he was part of him, and no one and nothing
could take away from him that presence, not even Diego's death. He
cried for a long while, but without despair. He was feeling pain, of
course, but now it was a quiet pain. He fell asleep in this way, crying
with a kind of serene acceptance to the loss of his beloved Diego,
still hearing in the gentle sound of Gilberto's guitar there in the
garden, that was like a caress.

He woke up, hearing slight noises. He opened his eyes - Gilberto was
fixing their breakfast.

"Ciao." Massimo said.

"Ciao, well awakened, my friend." Gilberto said with a smile.

"How do you manage to wash yourself?" the boy asked, leaving the bed.

"Face and teeth here in the sink. Then in the afternoon they open the
public baths, and if you feel like it, we can go there."

"I... I have no more money..."

"Oh, don't worry. The owner is a friend of mine, he always lets me have
a free shower. Would you like to shower with me?"

"Together?"

"Well, I didn't mean... but if you want, together."

"But wouldn't he think it odd?"

"Who, he? No, he is gay, and he would not care at all."

"You and he..."

"No, well just once. We are just friends, now. I go to take a shower
every two days, so I was thinking of going today."

"Alright."

When it was time, Gilberto told him, "You can change your clothes, if
you like. Do you have any others?"

"I have nothing!

"You can use my clothes, for the moment. They should fit you. There in
the wardrobe. Later we can wash the ones you are wearing."

"Thank you."

With the changes in a sack, they went to the public baths. When they
entered, the owner greeted Gilberto.

"Hey, Gil, on time like always!"

"Hi Marco. Can you give us a box, for me and my friend?"

"Wow, did you get a new boyfriend? Handsome! Showering together, how
tender! Then go to number 7. It's larger than the others. You'll be
comfortable."

"He is just a friend, Marco, you think such thoughts of all people just
because of what you'd do." Gilberto merrily answered taking the key and
the soap sachets.

"No, I'm not thinking like that. But, two handsome boys like you,
together naked, under the water... Well, see you later, boys. Take your
time..."

They entered the box. They started to undress, and they looked at each
other without false modesty.

"You have a really great body, Massimo."

"You too."

They started to wash themselves. At times they brushed against each
other, not on purpose, without malice. They rinsed, dried themselves,
dressed. Massimo, in Gilberto's underwear and clothes experienced a
pleasurable sensation, like his new friend was caressing him. They were
slightly too big for him, but not too much. They left the cubicle and
went back to the counter to return the key.

"What, you are already out? So you really just washed! What a shame!"
the owner said.

Gilberto giggled, without answering.

On their way back home, Massimo asked, "You really like my body?"

"What? Yes, sure, you are really well built."

"But you didn't try anything?"

"Well, one can't simply jump on another just because he likes him, can
one? But you didn't try anything either?"

"But I liked looking at you a lot."

"The same here. Massimo, listen, if between us something starts, it
will come naturally."

"I... I am possibly not yet ready."

"Sure, I understand. There is no hurry. What will be, will be."

"Besides, I like you."

"I like what I know of you. And I'm not talking only about your body."

"Do you really want me to stay at your place?"

"Sure."

"I have to look for a job, I think."

"Didn't you work in a big electric supplies store? You can try again
there, can't you?"

"No, I'll meet my old friends. I... I'm possibly being silly, but I
don't feel like meeting them again, at least for now. I could not stand
their sympathy."

"As you like."

"I'll look for something different. I hope to succeed."

"It is not easy at the moment. I've been looking for eight months
without any luck. Anyway, as long as there is life, there is hope,
right?"

"Yes..."

"And anyway we will manage."

"I don't want to become a burden on you; it's not as if you have much
spare money either."

"That's true, but it suffices. Don't worry, for the moment. One way or
another, we will manage. For my part, being part of a couple I feel
stronger."

So they started their life together. During the day they went around
looking for a job, and three times a day Gilberto went to the
underground stations to play his guitar and gather some coins. Every
two days they went to Marco's to take a shower together. Late in the
evening, in the dark, they chatted for a long while. These long chats
with Gilberto in the darkness, were important to Massimo - they helped
him to gradually put his life in order. He could feel Gilberto's
warmth. His caring, his gentleness, and was grateful to him. Gilberto
was giving him so much, without asking for anything in exchange.
Massimo felt he had to give something back to his friend. But what? His
affection, at least. Gilberto put on some music and was washing the
floor. Meanwhile Massimo was washing their laundry in the sink. He
stopped for a moment to look at Gilberto bent over scrubbing the floor.
He looked at his long strong neck, its nape, the wide shoulders. Drying
his hands he went over to his friend.

Gilberto looked up from the floor with a smile and asked. "What's up?"

"Come." Massimo simply said, looking him straight in the eyes.

Gilberto understood. He slowly stood up and took Massimo in his arms.

"I think... I think I'm growing terribly fond of you." Massimo said
leaning his head on his friend's shoulder.

"The same here. I feel good near you." Gilberto answered softly,
caressing the nape of his neck.

Massimo raised his face towards his friend, who bent his head until
their lips met, opened in a long, intimate deep kiss.

"Would you take me in your bed?"

"Are you really sure?" Gilberto gently asked.

"I am. Don't you want me?"

"Sure I want you? Can't you feel it?"

"Yes, I can. And I too want you."

"Good. Then come..."

Intertwined, they moved to Gilberto's bed. The young man started to
unbutton Massimo's clothes. He followed suit at once. They were both
shuddering and, as they unveiled the friend's body, caressed and felt
each other, seized by a growing desire, until they were both naked.

"I like you so much, Massimo."

"I like you too, you are so beautiful. I want to make you happy."

"The same here, Massimo. Come, on top of me."

Massimo laid his naked body on that of his friend, lining up chest to
chest, belly to belly, legs to legs and arms to arms. They again
kissed.

"I desire you, Gil."

"Then, take me."

"Yes, but later you too will take me, won't you?"

"Sure. My god, Massimo, you look even more beautiful than ever. I'm
really longing to feel you inside me, to be inside you."

"Gil, I think I love you, possibly, a little..."

"Shush! We will talk about that later, with a clear mind. Now we are
both too aroused."

"I don't want just to have a fuck."

"Neither I, Max. Neither I. But, one step at a time. For the moment,
let's just make love. Don't think too much, relax. Take me." Gilberto
said with a gentle, encouraging smile.

These words, murmured in a voice hoarse with passion, aroused the young
man terribly, he would do his best to give pleasure to his friend. He
offered himself with a sweet smile. Massimo sank inside him with a
sensation of grateful pleasure. Then started to move inside him,
feeling he was accepted, welcomed, and he closed his eyes to better
savor these sensations, while Gilberto brushed his nipples and caressed
all his body. When Massimo felt near to his orgasm, he became still.

"What's up?" Gilberto sweetly asked.

"I don't want to cum yet. Now you take me, but don't cum either, I
don't want this to end too soon."

"The same here." His friend answered with a luminous smile.

They swapped their positions and Massimo prepared himself to welcome
his friend inside himself. He felt Gilberto push, conquering him little
by little.

"Oh, Gil, yes..." Massimo encouraged him, happily relaxing and
answering his friend's thrusts.

While Gilberto was taking him, he was looking down at him with dreamy
eyes, "God, how beautiful you are, Max. I like you - you are virile
even now when you are giving yourself to me. I like you heaps, you
know?"

"You really like me?"

"Don't you feel how much?"

"Yes... Do you like taking me?"

"I like everything about you."

"Everything?"

"Everything."

They continued making love, swapping their roles tirelessly, more and
more excited, until Gilberto, with a long intense trembling, came
inside his friend. Massimo held him tightly against himself, caressing
him passionately. Then relaxed, "Go on, Max. Cum inside me, now,
please." Gilberto whispered offering himself to his friend.

Massimo entered him again, with intense pleasure, and started to make
love with him again. And finally he too came, deeply embedded in his
friend. Then they remained intertwined, relaxing.

"Did you like it?"

"Oh yes! And you, Gil?"

"So very much. And I like YOU so very much. I'm happy I met you, and to
have you here, now."

"I... what I told you earlier... I would like to talk about it."

"Yes?"

"I am possibly in love with you, at least a little. But, honestly, I am
still in love with Diego."

"And you will possibly be in love with him forever, that's natural."

"Doesn't that annoy you?"

"Should it? He is part of you. I cannot, and I surely don't want to
take his place."

"One can be in love with two people?"

"Yes, sure."

"So, then, perhaps..."

"Don't worry about putting a label on everything. Do you feel well with
me?"

"Yes."

"And do you want to stay with me?"

"If you want me... yes."

"That's enough, then. I would be happy if you remained here with me, if
I could be your boy... and you mine."

After that afternoon the two friends joined their beds and started to
sleep together, and continued making love. They fitted together better
and better. They had a very hard life, they barely had money to buy
food. Yet they were happy, they felt rich in each other. At times
Massimo found some little jobs so he could bring home some money.
Gilberto continued to earn something playing his guitar downtown. So
they managed, being careful, to pay the rent and to buy food. Massimo
continued to wear Gilberto's clothes, as they didn't have enough money
to even buy second hand ones. But they were serene. And as the months
elapsed, they were more and more in harmony and united, fit wonderfully
together. Also their poor condition was not much of a burden. They
managed to have their small amusements, like when Gilberto went to the
public garden to play his guitar for the children playing there, who
crowded around him. Massimo looked at him, saw he was serene, and was
happy with him. Or when Massimo took him on his bicycle to the stream
out of town where, in the warm summer days, they bathed.

Winter came again and Christmas was nearing. Massimo desired to make a
beautiful Christmas present to Gilberto, but he didn't know what to do.
He knew what he would have liked to give to his friend - a beautiful
case for his beloved guitar, and a choice of scores of the latest
songs. The problem was how to pay for these presents. He couldn't use
the little money they put in the bank.

"After all," he told himself, "it is not a big sacrifice; moreover, he
deserves it. It is true that it is Diego's present, but it is nothing
but an object - Diego is anyway inside my heart. And I also have the
silver ring that Diego gave me. Right? What do you think, my Diego? I
don't think you would get mad at me, would you? You know that it is a
sacrifice, for me..."

So, two days before Christmas, Massimo went to sell his bicycle. He
earned a little less than he hoped, but enough money to buy a gift for
Gilberto. He went back home feeling happy - It will make a nice
surprise for Gil. He hid the big parcel on top of the wardrobe and
checked it was not visible, then waited for Christmas Eve night, the
time to give the gifts.

They gathered some branches discarded by the sellers of Christmas
trees, and with them they managed to build a kind of Christmas tree.
Then they decorated it with pieces of colored paper clipped from old
magazines - the result was good.

Massimo also wanted to have a Nativity Crib, and above all the three
kings' little statues, because now he understood that they, after all,
helped him to overcome his despair and thus to find Gilberto. So he
contented himself putting under the tree the little gold box, open,
showing the small incense cone and the myrrh grains - they represented
Rasim, Rocco and Roger. He never thought about that before, but all the
three names started with an R! as in Rex, King in Latin.

And finally the Christmas Eve night came. Gilbert decided this night he
would not go out to play his guitar, as he wanted to spend it with
Massimo. They had supper. It was not different from every day supper,
it was poor and essential as usual, but Gilberto managed to find a
candle that they lit in the center of the table.

After the supper, Gilberto at a certain point said. "Max, I have a
surprise for you."

"A surprise? What?"

"A Christmas present."

"Really? Where is it?"

"Under our bed. I didn't know where to hide it so that you didn't find
it before the right time. Go on, take it."

"Oh, good. And then, you look for the Christmas present I bought for
you."

"You too? Where did you hide it?"

"On top of the wardrobe." Massimo merrily answered.

The two young men left the table, Massimo crept under the bed, and
Gilberto climbed on a chair. Soon each had a parcel in their hands.

"It's huge, this present for me!" Gilberto said putting it on the
table. As the guitar case was in a box, he couldn't yet fathom what his
present was.

"Mine too is big!" Massimo exclaimed putting his present on a chair.

"Guess what it is?" Gilberto said with a sly smile.

"And you try to guess yours!" Massimo answered, stopping his friend who
had started to open his present.

They started to ask each other questions, laughing at the strange
answers they received. The first to guess what the present was for him
was Massimo, and when he did, he remained with his mouth agape and for
a while was unable to utter a single word.

"What's up? Don't you like it.. Max? As I knew how much your bicycle
means to you, I thought it was the right present... Moreover, with the
front basket and the rear bags, when we go out of town for a picnic, we
can comfortably carry a lot of things with us.! Open it, go on. I
bought all them green, like your bicycle."

"Gil, it's really a beautiful present. You are so dear!" Massimo said
asking himself how he could tell Gil that he didn't have a bicycle any
more.

"But you don't seem happy..."

"No, on the contrary! But they must have been very expensive... how did
you manage to buy them?"

"Well... I'll tell you later. But I have still to guess my present."

He guessed quite soon, and when Massimo confirmed he was right,
Gilberto burst in laughter.

"Well? My present makes you laugh?"

"No, it is just that... that... well, now don't get mad at me, but...
well... I sold my guitar to buy your present."

"Eeehhh? Whaaat? Oh my god, you too?"

"What do you mean, I too? Don't you perhaps mean that... You mean that
you sold... Nooo! But why? It was the most precious thing you had! Why
did you do such a thing? You shouldn't have!"

"And you then? You too cared a lot for it. Oh, Gil! What can we do,
now? You have the case and the scores. But you no longer have your
guitar, and I have the bags and the basket. But no longer my
bicycle..."

"But why did you sell your bicycle?"

"Because I thought that you are more important than my bicycle. Because
I love you, Gil!"

"I too love you, Max. I love you more than ever. The case you gave me
has a lot more value than the guitar I had, because it is the symbol of
your love. I love you Max, as I never before loved anyone."

"I... I love you very much. I cannot say more than I loved Diego, but
not less, this is certain, And I think I am ready now to really be your
lover, to be totally yours."

Gilberto understood at once what Massimo meant with these words,
because he remembered what his friend told him when he was talking
about his relationship with Diego. And this, together with the big
sacrifice that he made to be able to buy him his present, moved him
deeply.

"Max, oh Max!" he murmured opening his arms as an inviting gesture.

Massimo took shelter in them and they held each other tightly,
passionately kissing. They caressed each other for a long while,
undressing each other without hurry, each savoring the growing
excitation of the other like a precious gift. And when finally they rid
the other of all his clothes, they lay on the bed that saw them make
love so many times, but on which that night they would celebrate the
start of a more intimate union, more complete than ever. They were not
in a hurry, they proceeded with calm and assurance towards that magic
moment.

When he felt that it was near happening, Gilberto asked with extreme
gentleness, "Are you sure, Max?"

"Sure. I want it with all of myself."

"To me, it will be all right even if..."

"Shush! Gil, I am thirsty for you!"

"And I for you, Max, my beloved Max."

They never before drank each other seed, because Massimo explained to
his friend the special meaning that the act had in his relation with
Diego. And Gilberto always respected the special love that Massimo had
for Diego. And Gilberto now understood that, with this act, Massimo was
really putting him at the same level as his great lover.

They united with dedication, each of then tense to give to the other
the utmost pleasure, each of them foretasting the other would at last
get to know. Their excitations were mutually strengthening in a
crescendo of delightful sensations in a generous contest to give to the
other the best of himself. And finally they drank of each other,
feeling overjoyed as they never were before, grateful to the other for
the gift he was receiving. And at last they embraced and lay down,
feeling totally intoxicated.

"Thank you, Max, my Love!"

"Thank you, my Gil."

"You are delicious, do you know?"

"You too are, my Love."

"But... I want to make love again."

"I do also. We have all night, all for us." Massimo answered and they
slowly started again making love with unchained desire.

When at last they abandoned themselves to sleep, without knowing it,
they both were thinking more or less the same thing - "I am the richest
person in the world, rich because of his love!"

Their poverty really was not a burden to them. They continued to look
for a job, to manage a living best they could, but with a serenity that
nothing could scratch. Not even the tens of negative answers they got
each time they asked for a job. They continued to try in different
places, to answer all the ads, but it seemed that there was not a job
for either of them. And yet, they were ready to do anything. But they
didn't lose courage, even if Gilberto was without a job for almost two
years and Massimo for one. As Gilberto sold his guitar, they now had
even less money than before.

But finally it seemed that things were going slightly better. Marco,
the owner of the public bath, offered Gilberto a part time job,
illegally, to clean the baths in the morning before opening time. It is
not that he paid so much, but the two boys could breath a little. After
much hesitation Massimo also tried his former working place, but he was
received rather coldly - they hadn't forgiven him for disappearing
without a word. Anyway his old place was now taken by another,
therefore there was no place for him.

Massimo did some odd jobs, like putting flyers in the mail boxes, or
distributing the new telephone books. In short, both together managed,
even if with much care and no little sacrifices, to make ends meet.
Massimo became really skilled at darning their clothes, as it was out
of their budget to buy new ones. And one month when money was even less
than usual, Gilberto decided to sell his stereo and the heater. And yet
the two youths were still serene, and found the strength in their
mutual love.

At times Massimo tried to compare his love for Diego with that for
Gilberto. Honestly, he couldn't decide which one was stronger. They
simply were his two great loves. They were different and yet each of
them had and gave him all he could need, and even more. Diego and
Gilberto were different both physically and in their characters. Their
ways of making love were different. But he could not choose between
them.

Gilberto didn't take Diego's place in his heart. And never tried to.
And Massimo was grateful to him for that. Gilberto simply accepted that
his place in Massimo's heart was near the memory of Diego, and he
didn't feel jealous. Not only because Diego was dead - he knew how
much, for Massimo, Diego was really alive inside him. But Gilberto
really loved Massimo as he was, therefore also with his unchanged love
for Diego.

One day, while they were talking about Diego, Gilbert exclaimed, "I
would have loved to have met him. I think I could fall in love with him
or rather, through your words I feel as if I knew him and could have
loved him."

Massimo looked at him with a happy expression and said in a whisper, "I
think that he too would have fallen in love with you, if he met you. I
think you would have been a beautiful couple."

"Don't you think we could have loved each other even in triplicate."

"No, because we all, all three of us, are extremely faithful guys,
therefore the two who started to love each other, would never have
accepted a third one with them. They would not even have thought of
that. Don't you agree?"

"Yes, I think you are right, Max. But anyway, he is now with us, isn't
he?"

"Yes, and if a life exists beyond life, I think that he is now loving
you, for the love you are giving me, and that he is protecting us."

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CONTINUES IN CHAPTER 7

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In my home page I've put some of my
stories. If someone wants to read them, the URL is

http://andrejkoymasky.com

If you want to send me feed-back, please e-mail at

andrej@andrejkoymasky.com

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