Finding You. | BRUNOL & SIMUEL

Part 21: Manuel

"Are you and Simone dating?" Pol asks. I look at Simo from across the pool. He's talking to Bruno about something. He notices me staring and smiles at me. I smile back.

"Yes," I tell Pol. I look at him. "I...erm...see—erm. You....you kiss Bruno earlier." I teasingly bump my shoulder against his. "You are dating also?"

He laughs. "No, no, no, no. No we are just friends."

I raise my eyebrows. Sure, Churro. Because that's what friends do. They kiss. "Don't lie," I tell him.

"No, no. I promise!" he says. "We are only friends."

"Really?"

"Yes, we are only friends," he says.

I look at mamma, who is dancing with her friends. I've been watching her carefully all night; worried that she might slip or something.

"How is she? Your mama?" Pol asks.

"She is okay. The baby is okay," I say. We watch as Matteo tries to invite Simo's grandmother to dance. He awkwardly tries to show her his moves. He goes on doing it for a few more seconds. We laugh. Eventually, he gets her to dance with him.

I take out my phone and show him the most recent ultrasound photo of the baby. "Wow," he says. "Big head." Wow. Amazing observation, Churro. Really scientific.

We sit quietly as we stare at everything around us. I drink from my bottle of beer. I still can't believe I'm here. I never thought I'd ever go back. It's been two days already. And yet, I'm still unable to process it all. How is this real? For the first time in my life, I'm happy. This has got to be a dream.

"What is your plan now, Pasta?" he asks. I look at him. "Are you going to your job again?" I honestly don't know how to respond. The question just scares me. It's complicated. I have an idea of what I want but there's too much going on in my brain that it's hard to tell what it really is.

I shrug. "And you? Because you...erm, you have...already—you find Bruno." That was a struggle. He weakly smiles.

"Erm...I will go home in two days," he says. I look at him, a bit surprised. That's quick. I knew he had to go home at some point. I just didn't expect it to be this soon.

"Why?" I ask.

He does a little dance of excitement. "I have a new work, Pasta," he says. "I will teach philosophy!"

What?

Pol notices my confusion. "Philosophy? Do you know that? Plato, Aristotle, Socrates." Yes, I know what philosophy is, Churro.

"You like philosophy?" I ask him.

"Yes. I study before. In university," he says. I purse my lips. I can't believe this. Why am I now just finding this out? "Why? You like philosophy also?" he asks. I nod. Suddenly, his face lights up. Like it's Christmas and he's just opened a gift. "You like it? You like philosophy?" he clarifies.

"Yes," I say. "I like it." So we're both bisexual and we both like philosophy. Is that a thing? Like do all bisexual people have an interest in philosophy?

He shakes his head in disbelief. "Wow!" I've never seen him this excited before. "Do you have a favorite philosopher?" he asks so casually; as if we're talking about Pokemon or something.

Favorite? I don't know. There's always something to learn from each one of them. It's actually a bit weird sometimes. Because the way Dante teaches; he really makes you think of the present and what's happening in your life. And as a result, there's memories attached to the lessons. I always remember specific moments in my life every time I talk about a philosopher.