MR. BAD GUY (ENGLISH VERSION)

THE GREAT PRETENDER

Enzo had taken two years to introduce Tarek to his parents. When he was in United Kingdom had the healthy habit of having lunch or tea with them on Thursdays. Despite leading a radically alternative style of living to his traditional family's standards, he had also a strong traditional sense of life. And those rutinary habits were essential to have his feet on the ground and remember the people who really love him and look after him.

His mother Darya and his father Amir were a charming couple who lived in a detached house in Richmond, south London. Enzo had wanted to buy them a bigger and more comfortable house but they refused it stubbornly. Their needs were few, they didn't need more space. They were simple people with normal habits and an absolute lack of pretensions. For them Enzo was still their thin and rebel child and despite his huge fame nothing had changed.

Tarek lived that first incursion with his "parents in-law" like an acid test and took for granted that Enzo was paving the way to introduce him to his parents in more or less formal way. But that was far from the reality.

The visit was not pleasant anymore for him from the moment Enzo introduced him to them. Instead of introduce him like the man of his life, he just said he was his gardener. And Tarek couldn't hide his disappointment. He felt diminished, perfectly useless in his life. Tarek felt his own face was flushed by the indignation. Enzo must notice too because he rushed to add he was a real good friend. But Tarek had already that slap in the face and his only attempt was hiding the big pain in his heart.

Neither Darya's excellent food or the trip with Amir through their small but cosy garden, couldn't make amends.

- What the hell is happening to you? -Enzo asked him again coming through his home door.

- Nothing -Tarek answered him not looking at him.

- I'm not gonna ask you to get a fifth nothing -he blurted out leaving the tupper of cheese biscuits that his mother always baked for him.

- You might get it even so -Tarek said this time challenging with arms akimbo.

- Really?

- Do you know your problem, Enzo? You are not an ordinary man, you are Enzo Efseryan; the great movie actor in charge of a lot of people and usually you act like this. Just exactly like today with your parents, talking about how good it is your gardener at roses.

- I didn't lie. You work for me.

- You've really made your point. For your parents I am the gardener.

- Oh, don't be so fussy.

- It was my first visit and I thought you would be honest with them at last.

- You thought, you thought. Do me a favour and don't think so much. It's enough information for them. You've seen them. My parents are very conservative and their religion demonized the homosexuality. Do you think they need to know?

- Well I do. I think they should know that their son is in a relationship with another man since more than a year and don't cherish hopes about you find some day a clon of Pauline.

- Why are you saying this?

- Oh, come on. Your mother wants grandchildren. She wants a good girl for his Enzo and she wants her now. They can't go on with that absurd idea of you as a straight single man. Can't you see?

- You can't see anything. I introduced them as a good friend apart from gardener.

- Do I have to be grateful? Do you think that opened their eyes definitely?

Enzo made a disdainful gesture taking one biscuit and starting to nibble it.

- You have so many good friends that they would cross London from north to south. Is that what I am for you?