"I want you out of the house," Donatella said.
They stood in the kitchen. Doppio stood near the fridge, wanting to get water, and Donatella kept an eye on him. Trish, only a six-year-old, peeped out of the doorway. Doppio looked at her and noticed her eyes started to water.
"Are you guys fighting again?" she questioned.
Donatella glared at him. Look at what you did! She forced a smile and turned to her child. "No, baby, head back to bed."
"But I want to try the candy daddy brought home!"
"Candy?" Donatella's eyes widened, no longer smiling. She looked at Doppio.
He was confused. "But I didn't bring candy home!"
Trish brought out her dad's suitcase and opened it, revealing a bunch of drugs in plastic bags. There were all types of them, but little Trish was interested in the fentanyl.
"This one looks pretty," she commented.
"Oh my god, sweetie!" Donatella rushed to pick up her child. Trish dropped the suitcase, spilling the drugs on the floor. "Don't touch that! Don't ever touch that!"
Trish started crying. "Why?"
Doppio didn't understand. How did those drugs get in his suitcase? "I don't know how those got in there!"
"I don't care about your excuses!" she yelled. "First, you get a job someone on the phone offered you. Next, you get a tattoo. Then when you get home, and I try to ask about your day, you're quiet as if you're not there!" She looked at the drugs. "Are you a drug dealer? That would explain the load of cash you bring home."
Doppio tried to remember everything, but he couldn't. "No! I swear, I'm not!"
"I don't believe you. Get out, now!"
"Please, let me just figure out what's going on!"
"I said now!" She pushed him to the living room and then to the door.
Trish's crying got louder. "No, I don't want dad to leave! Mama, don't!"
"Please, let me stay for tonight!" Doppio pleaded.
"Get out! Now! Get out!" She hit him with her free arm.
Afraid, he opened the door. Donatella shoved him out with a painful kick, knocking him to the ground. The neighbors gathered around to witness the commotion, but none approached the fighting couple. Unsure of what to do, tears started to form in his eyes. When he thought Donatella had nothing to say or do, she opened the door and threw his wallet at him.
"Expect a divorce!" she yelled before slamming the door.
"Bitch!" he snapped.
There was no response except for Trish's loud crying.
Doppio stood up and wandered the city, thinking why the suitcase the boss gave him had drugs inside. He searched his pockets for a cell phone and didn't have one. Strange, it always felt like he carried one. Did he even know the boss' number? Maybe the number was on his arm. He rolled up his sleeves, checked the tattoos, and sighed. He didn't want a tattoo, so why was he inked?
Doppio sighed. He might as well drink his sorrows away and see how that feels. He's never had a drop of alcohol, and drinking wouldn't help him, but he had nothing to lose.
Nearby was a gay bar. Although Doppio married a woman, men did interest him. He doubted he'll find the perfect match in one night, but it wouldn't hurt to get to know others.
Inside, people crowded the bar. There were people, young and old. Everyone seemed happy and was talking to people except for one guy. He had a black t-shirt and blue jeans, and his hair was long and white. There was an empty seat next to him.
Doppio walked up to him, but he didn't notice him yet. He wanted to speak but was too shy to say anything. "Uh, um," he said.
The stranger must've heard him because he turned around. "Yeah?"
Doppio's eyes focused on the floor. He had to be blushing hard right now. "I—um—"
"You can sit down with me," the stranger said. "You seem like you're a year younger than me. Is this your first time here?"
Curious about what the stranger looked like, he sat and faced him. His eyes were unique, enamoring Doppio. He had never seen anyone with black sclerae and red irises, and his lips were black.
"Y-yeah."
"Did you recently turn 18?" the stranger asked.
"I'm not 18," he answered. "I'm 24."
"Oh," the stranger said, sounding surprised despite looking stoic. "I haven't introduced myself. I'm Risotto Nero, and you are?"
"Vinegar Doppio. Just call me Doppio."
"Alright, Doppio, since you're 24, and this is your first time here, what are you doing here? To get a drink, right? Or are you looking for something more?"
"Well, I got into a fight with someone, so I came to drink here."
"Oh, what was the fight about?"
"Well, it's complicated. Let me think." He tried to remember how those drugs got into his suitcase. "Ugh, my head!" He placed a palm to his head.
"Hey, bartender, a glass of water for my friend here?" Risotto shouted. The bartender placed a glass of water near Doppio. "Drink up."
He took a sip. "Thanks."
Risotto smiled. "No problem. Maybe you should stay away from alcohol if you have a headache."
"You're right." Doppio gulped his water. "Just wondering, does alcohol make you…seem as if you're not there?"
"Zoning out? I don't know. I don't drink alcohol that much. I only drink it occasionally, but I never get wasted. Anyways, I've been here for a while. I need to go. Hopefully, we'll meet again."
Risotto got out of his seat and quickly walked out of the bar. Before Doppio could chase after him, he had another headache.
Doppio awoke in a fancy hotel room. Before he could question how he got here, his phone started ringing.
"Turururu!"
He picked up a box of tissues.
"Boss, is that you? We need to talk," he said.
"I'm aware that you're currently homeless," his boss replied. "But I've already taken care of that. You'll be sleeping in the best hotel rooms money can buy. Take care, my adorable Doppio."
The boss hung up, and he received a headache.
"I should find that bar again," he said before leaving the room.
It was dark out, and the streets were wet, but Doppio found the bar. Risotto sat at the bar in a different spot. He noticed him, smiled, and waved. Next to him was a couple making out. One was blond, and the other had black hair. Risotto tapped the shoulder of the black-haired guy, and they moved, giving Doppio a seat. Once he sat down, they looked at him.
"Who's your friend?" the blond asked Risotto.
"This is Vinegar Doppio. He prefers it if you call him Doppio. Doppio, this is Sorbet and Gelato. The one sitting next to you is Sorbet."
"Ah, hello!" Doppio said shyly.
"Oh, he's cute," Gelato commented. "I can see why you like him."
"You've been talking about me?"
"Yeah," the Risotto answered, "you're interesting. By the way, I've been searching for you for three days. Where have you been?"
Three days? Doppio thought. "I've been working."
"What's your job?" Gelato asked.
"Uh, waste management consultant," he lied.
"Really?" Sorbet questioned.
"You don't look like the type," Gelato commented.
"Come on, you guys," Risotto said. "Don't judge people by their appearance. I don't know much about your job, Doppio, but I'm a tattoo artist. No, I didn't want to be one, but people said I look unprofessional for a 'respectable' job."
"I've been telling you to cut your hair shorter," Sorbet responded. "And don't use black lipstick."
"Doppio, do you have any tattoos?" Risotto asked, ignoring Sorbet. The black-haired man frowned slightly.
"I do, but I don't remember when I got it." Doppio rolled up his sleeves.
"Wow, I wasn't expecting tattoos," Sorbet commented.
"That reminds me. Risotto, can you tattoo Sorbet's name on my chest?" Gelato asked.
"Sure, but you got to pay. I don't tattoo for free," he answered.
"Damn it, Sorbet?"
The black-haired man sighed. "Fine. I might as well get a tattoo myself. Anyways, we should go. It's getting late."
Sorbet and Gelato left.
"Forgive Gelato. He gossips a lot," Risotto said. "I noticed you looked surprised when I told you I've been looking for you. Did anything happen?"
"No," Doppio lied. "What about you? What did you do that night?"
Risotto was oddly quiet. "Wondering what I should do with my life."
"Yeah, I wonder that too."
"Do you have your life planned out?"
"I never did."
"Truly? Did you ever want to be something when you were little? I wanted to be a soccer player."
"What stopped you?"
"My cousin died."
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry."
"Well, what about you?"
"When I met my ex-wife—we aren't divorced yet—I wanted to be a sailor. That changed when—when something happened." Doppio tried to concentrate on the memory, but then he felt light-headed and fainted.
Doppio awoke in somebody's bedroom. It was dark, but he could still see. Dark clothing lay on the floor, band posters were all over the wall, and the room smelled of cigarettes.
"Hello?" Doppio nervously uttered.
Nobody answered.
Curious about where he was, Doppio got out of bed and started wandering. He was in an apartment with two bathrooms, the bedroom he was just in, another bedroom, a kitchen, and a living room. The other bedroom was beyond a mess and smelled funny, and somebody left dirty dishes on the filthy kitchen counter, but at least there weren't any roaches yet.
He could leave, but he felt like he shouldn't. Waiting, Doppio sat on the blanket-covered couch and watched TV. Nothing entertaining was on. However, a VHS and some movies were below the TV, but he shouldn't touch them, afraid to upset the owners if they returned. He tried to relax, but someone unlocked the door, causing him to jump a little.
Risotto opened the door and looked at him. "Doppio, you're awake! What happened last night? Oh, and I just came back from work. How long have you been up?" He sat down on the couch with him. "Also, sorry about the mess. I live with my roommate, Formaggio. He's very messy."
"I think I'm suffering from memory loss. Every time I try to remember, I get a headache. Did I do anything?"
"No, you just passed out. Does this happen frequently?"
"That passing out part? No, I don't think so. The memory loss? Yes."
"Does your ex-wife know about your memory loss?"
"No, and I don't want to explain it to her. She won't listen to me anyways."
"Why not?"
Doppio sighed. "You won't be mad if I told you a lie, right?"
"I won't be mad, but I'm guessing you lied about your job. Yeah, I figured that."
"This is going to sound strange, but I don't know what my job is. My boss calls me to the docks, something happens, and then I don't know. The day I met you at the bar was when my daughter found drugs in my suitcase. I swear! I don't know how that got there, but my wife kicked me out!"
"Wait, wait. How old are you again?"
"24. You're not concerned about the drugs?"
"Wow, I didn't expect you to have a kid. And no, not really, but your boss sounds shady."
"It's strange. I don't remember having sex with my wife, and I don't know who my boss is. Should he ever call, I will tell him I quit."
"Hold on. About your ex-wife, if this woman did anything to you—"
"No, no! Don't! I'm done with her, anyways." Doppio placed his head on Risotto's shoulder. "I feel like it's better this way."
Risotto noticed his hands were closer to Doppio's. He held his hand.
"Have you ever been with anyone?" Doppio asked.
"No, not really. I've kissed a couple of guys, but the kisses never meant anything. Do you remember the first time you kissed your wife?"
"I don't remember the first kiss, but I remember kissing her." And I don't feel anything from her.
Risotto leaned in, going in for a kiss. Doppio closed his eyes and let him kiss him. It was a short but sweet kiss.
"Can I have another?" he asked.
Risotto smiled and obliged. The kiss was longer, and they held each other tightly.
Doppio withdrew. His heart raced, and he felt warm. He never had this feeling when he was with Donatella. "This feeling…I've never felt this before."
Risotto grabbed the blanket and wrapped themselves around it. "And how does it feel?"
He snuggled against him. "This feels great. I feel whole. I love you."
"I love you too." Risotto kissed his forehead and then his lips again. "Hey, do you want to watch a movie? I bet you were bored waiting for me. A foreigner told me to watch Never Cry Wolf. I thought it would be a boring documentary, but I liked it.
"Yeah! Anything to spend more time with you."
Risotto got up from the couch and inserted the VHS tape. He sat down again, cuddling with his new boyfriend. "Hmm, that reminds me. I forgot to ask what your favorite animal was."
"I like frogs."
"And I like snakes."
The movie came on.