20 Rafał Meets New Friends

“I?” blinked Rafał and that was just adorable. “I am one hundred percent natural.”

“But you're learning the technique? What did Urbański say about your progress?”

“He say I learn fast and make a lot of progress, but I'm not so sure.”

There was a lot of sincere uncertainty in his response, which was pretty sweet considering how internationally popular Brylski was. On the other hand, it was a perfect proof of his self-criticism. After all, one role well-played doesn't make an actor. A good actor can be called someone who faces various acting challenges and is good at everyone. It seemed that Rafał had just such ambitions. It was impressive.

“You know, Urbański has not been on the stage for half a century only because nobody can get rid of him” noticed Damian smiling at Brylski in a friendly way. “I think you really should trust his judgment and have more confidence. I believe in your talent.”

Rafał blushed strangely shyly and lowered his eyes. Not even knowing he was doing it, Damian bit his lip lightly.

“Thank you” Brylski replied. “I'll try to believe in myself more.”

***

The dinner they had ordered was brought to them, and they eagerly began to eat.

Rafał's company, regardless of whether they talked about lighter or more serious topics, was very pleasant for Damian. So they ate talking, and sometimes exchanged a joke. Dinner passed so quickly that they hadn't even noticed when it was time to pay the bill.

“Since this dinner is my thanks, let me pay for you” Rafał announced and Damian saw no contraindications.

“Man, I am full!” Radosz said with surprise when they left the restaurant. The food was so-so, but it came in smoothly.

He might and even wanted to add that it was because of the nice company, but he remembered his earlier joke about payment with a body and thought it might sound a little strange.

“Time also passed somehow quickly” noticed Rafał.

“To you too?” Damian asked in surprise.

“Of course! Is there anything strange about that? I really enjoyed talking to you.”

Damian's heart leapt happily. It was a bit strange feeling, because so far Radosz has not had similar experiences. Rafał's company was something surprisingly pleasantly stimulating for him.

“You are tired and you will lie down, or do you really feel that you are not sleeping now?” Brylski asked, feeling as if he wanted to go conquer the world with Rafał at that moment.

“I want to go for a walk. What, would you like to explore the city?”

"Maybe the not whole city," replied Damian, under the growing influence of excitement, “but a few streets, why not?”

“Great, then ...”

At that moment the phone rang in Radosz's pocket. Damian checked who was calling.

“Sorry, but I have to pick it up. I also need to return to my room for a while. Give me literally ten minutes...”

“Okay, I'll wait in the hall or wait outside. Do not rush.”

Rafał smiled brightly at him and his eyes, green like spring grass, shone like two stars.

“I will be back as soon as possible” Damian promised, not even understanding why he was so anxious to go with Brylski on this walk. He knew, however, that he had to deal with this conversation as soon as possible. He answered immediately and called the elevator. He looked back and saw that Rafał, with his hands in his trouser pockets, was examining the tacky paintings on the reception wall.

***

Rafał wandered around the hotel hall a bit, but decided that it was a bit too hot and stuffy here. Looking through the glass in the front door, he noticed that a slightly stronger wind had blew outside, which would surely give a wonderful cooling effect from this horrible heat.

He glanced back at the elevator, but Damian had disappeared there less than five minutes ago, and if it was an important conversation, it would be no less than ten. If in the meantime, Radosz has to provide any data over the phone, find them in his documents - at least a quarter of an hour. A stuffy hall or a breath of wind tempting with its freshness? Rafał did not have to think long.

In fact, the air outside turned out to be surprisingly invigorating and the radiant Rafał took it deep into his lungs. Even the leaves rustled loudly as if enjoying the change in weather. It was getting a little darker now, but that was because the sun was already low and the long shadow of the hotel building was falling to the ground. The coming evening was going to be beautiful. Perfect even for a nice walk.

That's good, thought Rafał, who regained his energy after a quite tasty dinner in good company. Well, he had even more of it in him than in recent times, because he liked Damian Radosz and even felt a great desire to discover him as a human being.

Rafał remembered, of course, Anita's warnings not to get too familiar with a guy who, after all, was paying him. But Radosz paid Rafał for a specific job, which he was doing in full, so if there was no conflict between them on the level of business, why would he be like that on a private level?

Besides, even if there is a conflict at work, adults should be able to separate business and personal matters.

It's not like Rafał gained his role through the bed. He just met an interesting man who saved his life. They talk, laugh and hanging together. What is wrong with that?

Damian could say whatever he wanted, but for Rafał the fact that someone rushed to his rescue without hesitation was very important. The more Rafał thought about it, the stronger his heart was beating.

When he passed out on the roof and fell limp to the ground, he could really kill himself. If Damian had not been there, no one would have noticed in time that something had happened and Brylski would have crashed to the ground. Maybe he would not have died, but he could have become a cripple, and he himself did not know which of these fates was worse.

But he didn't, because Damian was there and saved him. Now Rafał could breathe thanks to it, walk thanks to it and smile thanks to him. For Rafał, Damian was a hero. Savior. Is it any wonder that he also wanted him to be his friend?

Of course you have to be careful with people. Not everyone has good intentions. But not all are bad either. Rafał just always wanted to see that the glass is half full.

He looked back towards the elevator, which he could still see from this point, and, not seeing Damian, decided to walk a little bit. The weather just didn't let him stand still like a scarecrow.

Rafał slowly descended the short steps and walked away a few steps, when suddenly, out of nowhere, three overgrown teenagers in tracksuits with one stripe too much on the hem of the pants appeared around him.

"Hey, dude, borrow for a beer," one of them said.

The boy looked like someone who does not know what to do with his life, but he certainly knows where to buy beer and scarves with the colors of football clubs, although Rafał did not recognize these colors. It had to be a local team.

He also looked like someone who had experience in all kinds of brawls.

Rafał Brylski found himself in a potentially uninteresting situation.

Brylski knew very well what such a loan was. Occasionally there were situations where some bum, or quite decent looking citizen, suffered from a shortage of a few zlotys to buy some mood-enhancing agent. Since the need was urgent, there was no time to look for any way of earning money, and there was usually no cash at home either. Therefore, all that was left was a polite request someone for support…