FIGAs

Cleeven

Hello there, can't think of any other way to...start this really. My name is Cleeven Butter, i'm an expat, i'm 23 years old, Born February of '94, and I've been living in Budapest, Hungary for the past year, but y'know, I've been thinking lately, it's about time i go back home, to Frifflington, to England where i live, i had rung up my accomplice Bob the day before and he'd sent me £2,000 from my 'Business' (I've been ferrying cocaine around Europe, North Africa and South Asia since i was 19, but my older brother Vano mainly runs it now). I can't say whether i will miss this place or not...I looked out onto the vast Danube last night, the lights beaming, and i kind of felt sad to leave, its been nice here, but i feel like home is nicer...

Present Day.

I stood at the airport, the Hungarian and Russo-European Economic Union flags outside it, the eastern bloc  is gone, but its dickhead of a son is here, but hey, this airport is good, so its not all bad, i step inside, through security we go, i feel kind of sad leaving, but there's no place like home, eh? and then, waiting in the terminal, i locked eyes with a man my age, those green eyes, no i'm not gay, I've liked girls and been with girls before, but sometimes, just sometimes i feel, y'know, whats it like on the other side? 

Shit, as soon as i know it, i'm walking up to him "Hi mate" i say, holding my hand out "my name is  Cleeven, whats yours?" I keep telling myself, I'm not gay, Just Bisexual...Bisexual...right...Maybe that's what I've been in denial of, but then he replied "my name is Victor, i am from Poland" and shook my hand, feels nice, i thought to myself, wish i could hold it forever- NO, Cleeven, you are not fucking gay! you are on the verge of dating a woman back home anyway, oh who am i kidding, i'm as straight as the borders of the "Stan" countries, and as soon as i know it, I've wriggled my way through some small talk to get his number, i walk off  "Have a safe journey!" he says, i would say something back, but...yikes.

Okay, lets leave that behind us and hop on this British airways Plane to Frifflington Sir Neil Kinsman International Airport. after a nearly 3 hour flight we land, or crash land, i suppose, i'm only flying business from now on like the old days, I'm 23 now, shouldn't i y'know, have a partner? *cough* Victor *cough* right, i think its time i throw in the towel and let my true feelings take over, I'm in love, and I'm gay and i don't care.

I'd already rented out an apartment in the middle of Frifflington, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, but a big living room, big kitchen, excellent views as well and a king sized bed, i got a taxi to drop me off. and i texted all my friends, Bob, Gabriella (who i have absolutely no interest in anymore) and of course, Victor. saying "Back in Frifflington, happy to be back home" my phone buzzes, its Gabriella, "Finally, I've missed you, wanna meet up in town at the coffee shop we always used to go" instead of writing "I like dick innit" I'm forced to put "Sure, does Saturday sound good?" to which she replies with "Yes" hmmm, this friendzone will be a tough one to put someone in, i'll feel guilty but it's better than "do you want to get together?" and then "I'm gay" so....anyway today is Wednesday, clocks ticking its 8PM, ugh, who cares i'll unpack tomorrow and hang up my stuff, tomorrow. 

Wake up the next morning, ugh, today will be boring i know it, i managed to hang up all my clothes and unpack ALL my toiletries (took about 40 hours, joking it took about 1 or 2 i lost track of time), and then my phone gets a message, Gabby, Gabriella, whatever you want to call her "I'm free how about we go to the coffee shop today?" I reply with "Sure, I've just unpacked" My god, this will be so damn awkward, i see Victor has messaged me back "Good to know you got home safely" my palms are sweating holding my phone staring at that message, i type out "Going out with one of my mates for a bit, text you later"

I put on my coat and leave for "Centr Coffee" one of those small businesses which charge extortionate prices for a bloody flapjack or cupcake. i arrive, Gabby sitting there smiling, brown hair, glasses, green eyes and freckles, this will be awkward to tell her she says "Cleeven! How have you been?" i look at her and down at the table and back up and say "Yep, Great" and then she says in a soft tone "I've missed you, Cleeven" i take a deep breath and i whisper with great pain in my heart, of course not physically, but, you know what i mean "Gabby, i was in love with you, but i met a man on the way back home and...I'm gay...Sorry if you ever had feelings for me"

She, of course, takes a moment to process the information that had just been presented towards her, and, said, unexpectedly, "Oh, Cleeven, you were just a close friend to me, nothing more nothing less, and it's fine how you feel, i support you" Well, at least she isn't abandoning me, could be worse i suppose. So for about an hour we actually managed to make conversation, about how it's been spending a year abroad, for what reason i simply do not know. Can't believe i had to spend time doing that, so boring, even talking is damn boring. I got back to my apartment, walking through Frifflington, it's amazing yet still falls short of it...how that happens i do not know.

I walk into my apartment, and Jump onto My bed to text Victor I start the Conversation with "You home yet?" met with the reply a minute later "Yes, i am in Warsaw now, how are you?" Amazing, i thought, lets continue this. "I'm alright, hey, i was thinking i should come and see you in Warsaw" He opens it, and 5 minutes later, i look at the message and can feel my eyes light up

"Sure, when are you thinking of coming?"

I say "how about i fly in next Wednesday" Over message, and he relays back with "Alright, I'll see you then, we'll meet in the Old Town centre" YES! i almost yell it at the top of my lungs, but i remembered i don't want a noise complaint. I was going to see Victor, Victor...

Flash forward. Wednesday the next week.

I'm at Frifflington Airport, my suitcase in my hand as i wheel it across the cold marble floor, i'd skip, but nah, not trying to embarrass myself here. I check in my bag, head on through security, trying to hide the smile on my face, seems creepy after all, doesn't it? walking around grinning at everyone like that...Anyways, We move on, EastAir 3391, Here i board, and Warsaw, here. I. come.

Such a peaceful flight it was, whoever said the journey is more important than the destination was on something, because the Devil made my flight last a decade, but eventually, we Landed in Warsaw, i got through Passport control and baggage Reclaim, and headed to my Rental, an apartment near Liberty Square. And as soon as i was there, texted Victor saying "I'm here" and after a back and forth for  a few minutes, i went to sleep.

The next morning, i have to say i must've thrown my clothes on rather than actually put them on, i texted Victor, and said "Setting off now" just as we'd Agreed, Centre of Old Town, meet up and have lunch and hang out, and there's a question i'm simply craving to ask him - "Are you Gay or Bisexual?"

Liberty Square, 10:20am, I saw Victor, ran up to him at the speed of light, like actually i'd never ran that fast in my life before and a "Hiya Victor!" came out of my mouth equally as quick, we chatted for a few minutes, and we were in this street, just me and him, walking together, i said "Victor, Stop, i need to ask you something" We turned to each other, eye to eye, and i took a deep breath and said "Are you Gay or Bisexual?" I wasn't expecting much, but, to my utter SHOCK, he says "I'm Gay, and I've been hiding that fact for my entire life, from my parents, from my Wife, who i see as more of a friend, and from my infant son, but he doesn't understand stuff like that yet." Wow. Dedication. 

I then proceeded to say "I think i am in love with you, Victor." to which he took my hand and said "Me too, Cle-" I interrupted him, "I'm not Cleeven, I'm Albin Coxha, call me Albin." "Okay, me too Albin" How amazing, how, wow, i don't even know how to describe it, i jumped and my heart accelerated, "Let me kiss you, Victor" "Certainly Albin" My lips met his, and that, was the best moment of my entire life, in the street without a care in the world. I opened my eyes as our faces came back apart and he said "I will have to divorce my wife, i can't hide this forever" and i almost screamed with excitement "No, Victor, you certainly can't"