25 A Perfect Duo - Idiot and Impertinent

Andrzej was so furious that he wanted to curse. How can you be so stupid and so blind as to not see when you're being abused? Sure, Marczak used the most beautiful words and the sweetest apologies to soften Dominik's heart. After all, he committed a criminal act on him that he could go to jail for, and after his release from prison no self-respecting actor would like to cooperate with him. Marczak would be out of the industry sooner than he would say his name. His career would be over.

Of course, Dominik would not go through it without harm either. However, he would be seen as a victim, so part of the audience would stay with him out of sympathy and pity. After all, he was just a kid when it all started, and it is the adults' responsibility to look after minors. It would all depend on how the media directs such a scandalous story, but it could be settled.

By the way, it's interesting where Dominik's parents and teachers were when Marczak took the boy under his not-so-protective wings. Did any of them even think for a moment how dangerous it could be for such a young man to enter show business under the guidance of a complete stranger?

Probably not. They had seen the opportunity that their lovely son could become rich and famous, and suddenly their poor gray life would take on color. They probably sold it themselves for a handful of Polish zlotys.

Dominik hardly talks about his parents, he did not visit them, he did not call them. He also did not receive any phone calls. He was totally entangled by Marczak and isolated from everyone. He was used by him, but maybe in a way he wanted to be used himself.

It was even more irritating and even sadder.

Damn!

On the way home, to his own home, Andrzej felt his rage dissipate. His conscience began to seize him again. Shouting at Dominik was so easy! The boy hardly defended himself. When he finally stood up to him, he trembled with excitement. It was so easy to imagine grabbing his hand and shaking him until it finally hit his empty head like a moron. Only, going so far, Andrzej would have acted like Marczak. In fact, what he did in verbally harassing him was only a little different from the manager's behavior.

'And yet Dominik had me for a friend. He believed me, trusted me, and I trusted him ...'

No! The friend supports, but when he sees that a friend is making a mistake, he does not stand idle and silent, but expresses his opinion. That's friendship, not to let your buddy make stupid mistakes. If Dominik is blind, you have to open his eyes. Even brutally.

It didn't change the fact that hurting him was mean. But it is probably better that he hear a few words of bitter truth now than he should fall into despair later.

After leaving the train, Andrzej decided that he would not go home. He was too nervous and wanted to talk to someone. On the way, he began to feel overwhelmed by doubts as to whether he had the right to intervene in Śliwiński's life after all? But he couldn't stand idly by and watch the boy being used on all fronts.

Paulina will surely know how to behave in such a situation. They have known each other for years, so she will best judge both his intentions and the effects of his interference. After all, she knew people better than he did.

It was past four, so traffic was pretty heavy. But he never had to worry about the seat, especially since he sat in the corner by the bar.

"What can I get you?" Asked one of the waitresses who had already recognized him as a regular visitor. "The usual?"

"Just water. Is the boss here?"

"She's out for a few minutes. Surely nothing stronger? You look like you need to shoot yourself."

"No, I'll wait for your boss. But thanks."

Well, if someone can see that he needs a drink, that's all wrong. Andrzej sighed with resignation. Why do he even bothers with this idiot? If he is fine as he is, why am Andrzej is trying to make him aware of it? Do he really have to care about some orphan like actor? Who is Niwicki, Mother Teresa of Calcutta?

Two images flashed before his eyes with the pace of lightning - the beautiful, inspired face in the photo in a moment of ecstasy and the same face contorted with terror when a body that had previously offered him pleasure gave him suffering.

"Shit," he muttered to himself, and ruffled his hair in a habit he hadn't used in quite a few years.

"Uuuuu, it's bad" he heard Paulina's really concerned voice above him. "What's up? Do you want to talk?"

"I do not want to disturb you…"

She waved her hand casually.

"Which is more important, work or friends? Come."

She led him to her little back room, which at least seemed to be private. Andrzej knew that they would not be eavesdropped here after all. More than one serious conversation of theirs has taken place here, and has yet to be echoed in rumors.

Paulina really was amazing. Although he knew that her father's health was not improving at all and that the woman had more and more responsibilities, she always found time for him. She was a real dear friend.

"I should thank you for the ad," she smiled. "The photo does not show the full name of the restaurant, but I have half as many visits to the website. People start calling with reservations."

"You should thank Śliwiński" he said resignedly.

"I'd like to. When are you bringing him back? Maybe he would agree to a photo that I can put on my website?"

"You'll have to ask him about it," he muttered without enthusiasm.

"Okay, what's going on?"

"This guy is an idiot! Total, absolute idiot! He's just…" He ran out of words.

"… Idiot. What did he do?"

Andrzej was silent for a moment, not knowing where to start. For Paulina to fully understand the complexity of the situation, she had to know everything, but Nowicki could not reveal everything to her. Finally, he promised Dominik that his secrets would be safe. He could not so breach that trust, even if he confided the secret to someone he was sure he would not reveal to anyone.

How could he explain the complexity of the situation to her without revealing details?

"It's complicated. Simply put, he allows himself to be manipulated by people who benefit from him, and he doesn't want to see it. He thinks what they're doing is for his own good."

"Are you sure it is not so?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I myself..." he interrupted. He almost would have confessed to blackmailing Śliwiński. Admittedly, he had done it very briefly and had rectified his misdemeanor, but the fact remained. Anyway, what does it matter now? "Because I used him myself," he admitted. "He's the perfect target. He's gullible, naive, and so easy to dodge that it's downright boring."

"You told him about it."

"Yeah ... Except that this blind man cannot understand that he is being used!"

"And you're impertinent."

"What? And where did you get this from?" Nowicki was irritated.

"Why are you pissed off, you know you are. Didn't it occur to you that he knows how naive he is too, or at least guesses? However, one thing is to know and another to hear it!"

"If he knows how naive he is, and yet…" Andrzej shook his head.

"You're an idiot too. I only talked to him for a few minutes, but I know he is a very nice and sensitive man. And this cut on his lip - I'm not stupid, I know where these marks come from."