Chapter 140 - A Scene Like From An American Movie

Even now, at a distance from the congregation, wearing a black cloak and under a black umbrella, Dominik Śliwiński could fall victim to one of them. However, he had to come to the funeral.

There was no rational explanation for this. I guess despite everything Werner had done to him, he felt somewhat responsible for his death. He knew how ridiculous it was to think that way, but he couldn't help it. Every life is precious and maybe Maciej could also be saved.

Dominik sighed silently. Werner left him with quite a mess as he left. The actor did not understand why he did so? Did he want revenge for rejection and broken heart ...?

Broken heart, how sad it is. But that's not how you should fight for love. Not with deception and compulsion, but with warmth and closeness.

The priest was already finishing the service. The coffin was lowered into the grave. Suddenly there was a commotion. Śliwiński looked more closely, concerned. He heard the words "old gentleman" and "this is his grandfather." Has something happened to Mr. Werner?

"Before you all go, I'd like to say a few words," Dominik recognized the voice. It belonged to the late director's grandfather. "My grandson was not a happy man. Like everyone else, he had his problems and made many mistakes and bad deeds. Now God will hold him accountable for them, and I hope he will judge him on his intentions, not his actions. Unfortunately, my grandson, even leaving this world, made a shameful act. I'm not talking about his death, but about the inheritance he left behind. About his farewell letter. Maciej ... he was in fact in love with Mr. Dominik, but the two never had anything in common except my grandson's delusions."

The old man paused for breath. Talking about his own grandson of such words was difficult for him, but it seemed the old man must have done it for himself and perhaps for his grandson.

"Therefore, from this point," he continued "I would like to apologize publicly to Mr. Śliwiński for the slander my grandson directed against him. I apologize for all the unpleasantness associated with these slanders and thank you, Mr. Śliwiński for not wanting to speak ill of the deceased, despite the obvious lies, although you had the full right of an innocent to do so. All of you who came to say goodbye to my grandson, thank you for remembering him. You who came here for a sensation, write the truth for once. Although Maciej barely admits to his crimes, he gave a false testimony against Mr. Śliwiński. What was true in his eyes existed only in his imagination."

People whispered. The movement was clear. Dominik, however, stood still.

It's so sad. How terribly sad that the elderly gentleman had to confess his grandson's guilt at the funeral of his last descendant. Publicly admit this shame. It should not be like that. The old man didn't deserve it. However, he showed great bravery in making such a confession. The actor felt grateful to him.

"I thought you would be here," Dominik twitched, surprised to hear the English language behind his back.

"And I wasn't expecting you," he replied quickly, rubbing his wet eyes.

"I came because I thought you shouldn't be alone right now."

"Yes?" He smiled faintly. "Why?"

"Because if the media caught you, they would eat you alive."

"I guess it wouldn't be that bad. Thank you for worrying about me."

"I had to. Now that you've agreed to star in a movie with me, you're too precious to lose you. Who is this old gentleman who just spoke?"

"This is Maciej Werner's grandfather."

"Did he say something interesting?"

"Only that his grandson included in the letter only slander about me."

"Oh! Really?"

Scarlett looked at the desolate burial site. Only the gravediggers, old Werner, and four other people, perhaps the deceased's extended family, remained there. Dominik looked that way too, and met his gaze. The old man seemed to recognize him as he bowed down toward him. The actor returned the courtesy.

Then he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"It's cold," the actress said, "although I have gloves."

Her touch was strange. Not that pleasant or not. Dominik was simply not used to being touched by anyone other than Andrzej or Marek. It was different on the set, then the physical contacts were not between him and the other person, but between the characters they played. He did not want to be touched by Scarlett, even with layers of clothing separating them, but he could not deny the warmth to a cold woman, accustomed to warmer climates.

"How long will you stay here?" She asked.

He did not answer. It is true that he planned to stay until the gravediggers began to put flowers on the grave, but he would do so being alone. Now, knowing Scarlett had come here for him, he didn't want to unnecessarily bother her any more. 

"We can actually go" Dominik replied.

"Okay," she said, still cuddled against his shoulder. They started towards the gate.

Dominik did not tell anyone that he was going to the funeral. When Andrzej brought up this topic, he honestly replied that he did not know if he would go for him. All the time he was undecided as to whether he should be. During his lifetime, Maciej Werner did very unpleasant things to him. Their memory hurt less after Andrzej had helped him with his love and tenderness, but they still tormented him. He had nightmares. They were not as frequent as they used to be, no less unpleasant. Only now Dominik was not afraid to use his lover's help and cuddled up to him until a good sleep overwhelmed him. It was unfair towards Andrzej to use him in such a way, but without him Śliwiński felt that he could fall apart. It was still too early for him to walk on the upheavals of recent months on his own.

"Was he important to you?" The actress asked him softly. "You look very touched by his death."

"He ... He was pretending to be my friend," Dominik confessed. "He helped me once and I was grateful to him, but then it turned out that he expected something from me that I couldn't give him and suddenly he lost his mind."

"You rejected him?"

"Yes. I don't know what was in his head. He built a world out of his delusions around me without asking me for my opinion, and then he was surprised and touched that I didn't want to agree to his fantasies."

"I'm sorry."

"Me too."

They walked slowly, in the rain, splashing puddles under their feet.

"Don't come home yet," she said. "Let's take a walk."

"Aren't you cold?"

"I'll warm up as I go. I'd like to talk to you. About myself."

It surprised him.

"Okay."

They had already gone out into the street. Both of them, dressed in black coats and under a dark umbrella, did not attract attention on this gray, wet, late autumn day. Dominik wondered what the actress wants to talk to him about? Probably not the movie, he thought. He had already agreed to play it, it was true, but he had no head to think about it now.

"You are a strange man, Dominik," she said.

Śliwiński laughed a little nervously.

"I thought we were going to talk about you."

"We will," she confirmed. "When I'm with you, I feel so safe that I want to entrust all my secrets to you. I know you won't betray them. You don't even have to provide about it. I just know. So…"

Dominik felt her grip tighter. How strange it was, he thought that someone was seeking support from him. That he, so weak, can help someone.

"I don't have the best reputation," she said. "I don't even deserve better. I entered show business through the bed and since then... You can guess... Newspapers and tabloids write about my great loves and romances, but I... I wasn't looking for love. Never. I don't have time for it, actually I never believed in it. I just need sex. Lots of sex. It's easier that way. That's why… I envy you, Dominik."

"You envy me?"

"Since I met you, you and Andrzej, I envy you. And him. You are both ... You are such that I would like to sneak in between you and feel at least a little bit of what you have in together."

The actor did not understand. Could these be some shortcomings in his knowledge of the English language? Scarlett was talking so strangely that he didn't know how to react to it.

"That's why you're weird," she laughed nervously now. "When a person gets to know you in person, he has the impression that all his fanciful ideas about you are a great understatement. When you look at a human, it's like ... totally..."

He still didn't understand, but he felt very embarrassed. The actress stopped and stopped him. The rain pounded on the umbrella. Dominik turned his head towards her. They were of equal height, so when she looked up from her lowered gaze, their eyes were on the same level. They were huge, shiny, and cavernous black.

"I shouldn't be doing this," Scarlett said. "We're supposed to play together and I really hope to work together successfully, but if I don't do it here and now, I won't be able to think of anything else."

Do what?, he thought confused.

"Because…"

The kiss was sudden. So sudden that in surprise he released the umbrella he was holding. He could feel the softness of her lips against him, her hot breath seeping into his mouth and her tongue looking for his own...