Day 23 – Arguing

"Mariku, could you please help me?" Malik was in the kitchen, preparing dinner, while his boyfriend lazed around on the couch and watched TV.

"With what?"

"Cutting the onions."

"Don't feel like it."

"You want something to eat or not?"

"I could order a pizza." Mariku shrugged. Malik angrily slammed the knife into the countertop. It fell clattering to the ground. He went to the living room.

"You know, every now and then you could help me. It won't hurt you," he snapped.

Mariku rolled his eyes. "I've worked all day, now I want my peace."

"Oh, and I don't?"

"You have enough time, Mister part-time job." Malik pressed his lips together. "Now make me something to eat."

"Mariku, I'm really fed up! Who do you think I am? Your slave? I wash, clean, tidy up after you. Every evening I cook you something for dinner, set breakfast every morning and make sure that you have something to eat for lunch when you're at work. Have you ever helped me? No! Have I ever heard a word of thanks? No! Everything you do when you get home is bum around on the couch or you're going to the gym. And when we're fucking, it's over in ten minutes."

Mariku had now risen. "It's more than ten minutes."

Malik made a derogatory sound. "In past times maybe. Today it's not more than in-out and good night. We no longer do stuff together. On the weekends you go out with your friends rather than to do something with me, and then you come home dead drunk and sleep all Sunday!"

"Be glad that I do come home," hissed Mariku and crossed his arms over his chest.

Malik took a moment to handle this sentence. "What do you mean?" His voice trembled, and a knot formed in his chest. Suddenly, he had the creeping horrors. Had Mariku cheated on him? He didn't know what happened when he was out with his friends. He had always trusted him, but this trust just crumbled. Mariku gave him a cocky grin. "Answer me!"

"I don't feel like talking to you any longer." Mariku grabbed his jacket. "You're acting like a hysterical woman, I can do without that."

"Mariku, you answer me right now!" Malik obstructed Mariku, but Mariku simply shove him aside. "If you walk through that door..."

"What?" Mariku asked provocative.

"Then I never ever want to see you again." The door closed behind Mariku, and Malik was left alone.