MR. BAD GUY (ENGLISH VERSION)

HANG ON IN THERE

When Tarek made that drastic decision he made it with all his common sense. He loved his job and the independence it brought him. Independence which someone like him needed more being with someone like Enzo, an absorbing force of nature. It wasn't easy make that choice but he pondered it over as he used to do. With serenity and being practical. He never imagined he would have to choose between his job and his boyfriend but reached that critic point of no returning, the choice was painfully easy. The HIV virus had appeared to step up and pointing out what was the most important in life. And of course he had clear that Enzo was the most important and nobody in the fucking universe would stop him from taking care of him as he deserved.

He knew that would include risks for him. As Enzo said "his fucking independence" had defined a great deal of his life course. Leaving his job and being "a parasite" although it was with the job of his dreams as gardener, it wasn't in his plans. It could go against them. He could end up reproach him. Enzo and he were complementary, very different each other and therefore, perfect one for the other but their relationship had been passionate and on-off. There had been cold war and steaming hot make ups. Reproaches, insults, explosives fightings to later on becoming a volcanic reconciliations, commited, full of subtleties and no conventional love but honest and truly one.

Tarek was walking a path never before travelled but deep down he knew he made the right choice. Enzo wasn't going to be an ordinary sick man and his two diseases weren't a joke. He couldn't do anything but getting involved absolutely and he could only do it leaving his job and devoting wholly to him. It didn't matter if they killed themselves in the process.

John had turned them, once the tests were made, to some of the world's smartest people in HIV and HCV. Enzo, of course, would have the best available doctors to his complex diseases. After the numerous tests that confirmed repeatedly his HIV infection, the next important decision to make was which treatment would be the first to carry out. John told them that they couldn't start the two treatments at once. First it was key the HIV treatment because his number of cd4 cells were less than 500 by cubic millimeter. HIV infection had proved to be stable. He had to undergo hepatitis A and C testing, a complete blood count and blood clotting studies, liver enzymes analysis, function of the thyroid gland tests, serum iron analysis and liver antibodies analysis. The culminating moment of the string of analysis was the liver biopsy in which they must collect a piece of liver tissue.

- Another biopsy -Enzo was lamenting.

- It's just capital to have an idea of the state of your liver and act accordingly. When there is coinfection as your case it's something necessary and advisable before deciding when will the treatment start.

- Is it painful? Is he going to suffer? -Tarek wanted to know with worried face.

- They will insert a needle between the ribs to reach the liver. It's not complicated. I'm sure you'll have some discomforts when the effect of drugs pass. You will take paracetamol with codeine.

- Do I have to do it again?

- Yes, within two or three years. Enzo, let's not jump the gun.

- Sure, I might not be here within two or three years.

- Shut up -Tarek scolded him hitting with his elbow.

- John, you will do the biopsy, won't you?

- Don't you worry, if I can't do it, will do it some qualified doctor. Everything will be fine.

- I wish you'd do it.

- It's not a serious operation. It's a very common practice...

- It is fucking common for you. Not every day someone insert a needle between your ribs. What if they perforate another organ?