Chapter 74 - Underestimating The Problem Is Usually Not Good Idea

Dominik Śliwiński, sitting in the waiting room of the doctor's office, looked completely calm. He leafed through the brochure about the necessity to undergo periodic medical examinations with a slight interest, which in no way indicated that he attached importance to what he was reading. Like most people in the waiting rooms, he read the flyers only to pass the time.

"Mr. Śliwiński, the doctor will see you now" the young receptionist informed him with a smile.

She was pretty and kind, and when she addressed him, she blushed intimidated. Dominik smiled at her. He couldn't help feeling that she got the job primarily because of her good looks. He didn't think she was incompetent or stupid, but private clinics often took into account the candidate's presence when hiring support staff, and she had a really favorable appearance. A pretty face and shapely body rarely made it difficult to get a job. Śliwiński knew something about this, after all, for several years he was at the forefront of the rankings for the most beautiful and sexiest public figures.

Dominik Śliwiński was twenty-four years old and had been acting regularly in blockbuster movies for the past seven years. With his debut, where he played a rebellious teenager, an escapee from a pathological home, who in the big world falls into trouble and ends tragically, he won the recognition of critics and the delight of the audience. Despite the fact that his role was secondary, many decided that he overshadowed the star of that production and was immediately offered to play the leading character. The then seventeen-year-old was undoubtedly gifted, but he completely seduced the viewers with his extraordinary beauty, which made almost every Polish girl and women in love with him, regardless of age. Contrary to popular fashion, he always wore slightly longer hair, which now fell in free hazelnut waves over his shoulders. He had a lovely face with delicate features, which, with his short stature and slender build, gave him a slightly ethereal, romantic charm. His greatest asset, however, was the purest aquamarine shining eyes.

"Thank you," he replied to the intimidated girl and stood up. He immediately turned to the taller blonde sitting on the adjoining chair, whose long bangs fell on his brown, stern eyes.

Usually those eyes looked at him with tenderness and warmth, but not now. Andrzej Nowicki was Dominik's only true friend, not to mention the only man that Śliwiński loved, although without reciprocity. For two months, Andrzej was the only person he could trust, who cared for him and helped him deal with the experiences after the violent and unpleasant separation with his former lover. During this time, Dominik developed a romantic and erotic feeling towards him. Nowicki knew it perfectly well, unfortunately he was unable to make such a breakthrough in his heart and love a man. It is true that Śliwiński managed to get him to bed twice and Andrzej turned out to be a sensitive lover aware of his partner's needs, but he was far from accepting their possible relationship.

However, this was not the reason why Nowicki looked at him severely. Dominik knew that Andrzej was very worried about his health and blamed himself for not making sure that Śliwiński visited the doctor earlier. It took a third party to call an ambulance to make them both realize that the famous actor of the younger generation is not completely healthy.

"Will you come in with me?" He asked Nowicki.

Andrzej got up without a word. Dominik felt bad about the fact that he was causing him so much trouble and concern. Nowicki had always been so caring and kind to him, and now he had to worry about Dominik's health as well. It wasn't fair.

Andrzej was not present during the examination itself. Then he was waiting in the corridor, making sure that Śliwiński did not sneak out through the back door. Now they were entering the doctor's office for a diagnosis and Dominik wanted to have his friend next to him. He knew that nothing serious was happening to him, that fainting only happened in moments of severe stress, and that he had nothing to fear. Andrzej should hear it with his own ears so that he would stop worrying so much.

They both went inside, where an old man in glasses and a white medical coat was waiting for them.

"Doctor," said Dominik.

"Mr. Śliwiński, Mr. Nowicki," the doctor looked up at Andrzej. He had no idea what the relationship had between the two, he could have guessed or suspected, but he didn't say a word about it. He was a doctor, he only cared about the patient's health, and the patient seemed to be cooperating only because the tall blond guy accompanying him had found a way to make him cooperate. "I'm not gonna beat around the bush, it's not good."

Nowicki bit his lip. Śliwiński looked at him with shame.

"It's not tragic" added the doctor "but it's not good either. If it continues like this, there is a high risk of something really serious."

The harsh words made Dominik blink in surprise.

"There is a risk?" Nowicki assured himself.

"I will not use medical jargon, you will be able to familiarize yourself with the test results. You have untreated hypotension, which can cause cerebral anemia, headaches, and fainting. It will also make it difficult for you to concentrate and, consequently, to work. I prescribed you medication to bring your blood pressure back to normal. You will also need to follow a proper diet. But that's not the main problem. You are on the verge of exhaustion."

Dominik smiled. Somehow it didn't sound scary.

"Please do not underestimate the problem," the doctor reprimanded him sternly. "Young people in pursuit of current fashions think that they will survive on green tea and sprouts alone, and they are not. Please tell me honestly, are you preparing to the role of a prisoner of a concentration camp? "

Dominik denied it.

"And you are well on your way to looking like this. You are currently too thin for your BMI, so you are already clearly underweight. That's very bad. Your body is about to start consuming itself, and since it has virtually no body fat, it will start eating muscle."

"Is this not an inherent affliction of a starving population?" Nowicki asked.

"It is," admitted the doctor, "or at least it was. Unfortunately, the problem is becoming more and more common also in richer countries and societies. It's fashion. Too emaciated models are promoted, and for more or less twenty years many girls, following an extreme diet, have driven their bodies to destruction. As you can see, not only women do it." The doctor looked hostile at Dominik. "It is customary to believe that the thinner someone is, the more beautiful they are, and no one pays attention to the price they pay for it."

Dominik wasn't sure he understood correctly. He wasn't starving himself at all. He looked at Andrzej trying to read the information on his face. He was surprised how fierce she was - as if she didn't belong to him. Nowicki leaned forward and glared at the doctor.

"Doctor, what is allowed and what is not allowed?"

"It is important that you take your medication regularly, have as little stress as possible, plenty of rest and eat well. Sorry to say, but in this case, I recommend animal fats and red meat. No more healthy diets, Mr. Śliwiński."

"Dominik doesn't use diets, he just hasn't had any appetite recently. Could the lack of it be due to an illness?"

The doctor looked more closely at the patient.

"Maybe," he admitted, "but I'd rather suspect the opposite. Did the loss of appetite happen gradually or suddenly? Did something breakthrough happen?" The doctor looked at one then the other.

"Yes" admitted Andrzej in a businesslike, cold tone that chilled Dominik's blood in his veins. "There was such an incident."

"So it could be psychological," said the doctor. "Temporarily I will prescribe something for you to increase your appetite, but I would suggest seeing a psychologist. These types of problems should not be solved pharmacologically. There are really good and discreet specialists working in our clinic."

Śliwiński was completely against it. He will never, absolutely never agree to meet some charlatan who, after five or six years of reading smart books by smart people, thinks he has the right to penetrate his mind and heart. Never ...

"Make an appointment."

Dominik jumped up and looked at Andrzej incredulously. After all, Nowicki knew perfectly well how Dominik hates psychologists! How could he even suggest such a thing?

Andrzej did not look at the doctor, but at him. His eyesight was serious and hard.

"Do you want to die?" He asked softly. There was something strange, elusive in his voice. "Because I want you to live."

Śliwiński was speechless. The only thing he could do at that moment was to look into Andrzej's beautiful, brown eyes, in which he saw true love despite the cold - not romantic or erotic, pure love of noble devotion and friendship.