A Christian Romance II

Chapter 31 - After party

(the song above inspired this chapter, I strongly recommend :-))

It was customary for Ferdinand and Michael to get together for a chill after a celebration of any kind, and the Smith's birthday party ended at 9 p.m., earlier than what Ferdinand was accustomed to. Guests seemed tired, but they were certainly sober as there were no alcoholic drinks available.

'Let loose' had been Ferdinand's definition of party, and in a society that requires acting in many guidelines and roles, it felt good to leave the confines of those standards and roles to dive into whatever emotions and urges the human existence led. Most of the times, ending in situations of unsafety of as many orders as one can think of.

Ferdinand recognized that the consequences of that mindset were dangerous and even deadly; he considered himself lucky that nothing too bad had happened to him and that he could deal with the consequences later, but not everyone could share the same consideration. Therefore, it felt good to be rational and in self-control, after that party, mostly because he didn't feel the need to let loose.

Michael had prepared two mugs of chamomile tea, without consulting with Ferdinand first, and brought them to the high table in his kitchen.

"Chamomile tea?" Ferdinand scoffed.

"An acquired taste." Michael replied.

Ferdinand nodded knowingly. "Are you a changed man!" He joked. "I've had chamomile tea at the end of the party."

Michael carefully sipped from his hot mug. "How was it?" He asked. "The party, I mean."

"It was different." He replied.

"Different?" Michael looked at him sideways.

"But good!" He added. "You know, we're used to a different definition of party, but it's good to come back home sober, only needing a rest."

Michael looked at Ferdinand amused at his observation. "Looks like someone is not gonna miss hangovers nor not knowing where their underpants had gone to." He laughed, recalling one specific episode that Ferdinand had had even before he had met Corinne - not worth detailing.

"I just hope I didn't get anyone pregnant that night." Ferdinand recalled the incident Michael mentioned.

"Or contracted HIV." Michael reminded. "Or any other STD."

Michael was very cautious about one nightstands and sleeping around mostly because of the sexual transmitted diseases, but also unwanted pregnancies. His sexual intercourses were always in a relationship context. That one nightstand some two years back was the only exception.

"Don't remind me!" Ferdinand felt ashamed of that episode. "Such a fright! I took tests for HIV, and all the known sexual diseases."

Michael felt an urge to laugh at Ferdinand. "Good that you got all the tests negative."

Ferdinand could remember the relief of testing negative to any STDs on the course of that episode. "And tested again to make sure they didn't get anything wrong." He was in distress with that memory, thankful that he had moved on from that life. "I don't wanna go back."

Michael was much calmer than Ferdinand on what party was concerned. He was never a big fan of the nightlife, to begin with. He preferred to get tipsy in a more domestic and safe environment. That approach pleased his father very much for he wanted to keep a clean reputation of himself and of his family.

"Now that you're gonna be single, how will you have safe sex?"

"You know what? I haven't craved for that lately!" Ferdinand revealed, shrugging off the question.