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I hate people… more precisely, crowds of people… on Wenceslas Square… especially at Christmas.
Everyone’s milling around so much that you can barely spot the one person you actually need right now.
I’ve been waiting here for half an hour, and in that time probably half of Prague has walked past me. Even some random homeless guy asked me for money, but sorry, I only have a card — and I’m not giving that to you, not even for a kidney.
“Sorry I’m late, but the metro wasn’t running again,” a petite girl came running up to me, wrapped in about ten layers of clothing, making her look like a walking ball.
“Finally, I’ve been waiting here forever,” I said, and she immediately hugged me instead of greeting me.
“Forever? Are four minutes forever to you?” Jitka said sarcastically, pulling away. “Hans, you know you’re sometimes really impatient.”
“Me? Never.”
I’ve known Jitka for years… I don’t even know how many anymore, I stopped counting. We don’t see each other that often now because we each go to a different university, she studies law, I study economics, but we went through all of elementary school and high school together.
She’s almost like my younger sister, just a few days younger than me, even though I don’t actually have any siblings… or parents, really. Just my uncle Hanuš, who forgets things like my birthday, because his favorite activities are drinking, sleeping, or staring at the TV.
“How about Starbucks?” Jitka asked. “It’s freezing out here and I don’t want to die of cold.”
“Three people have already frozen to death, you’ll be next,” I joked, then added, “but yeah, we can go.”
“Two large gingerbread lattes to go for Hans!” the barista shouted across the café, trying to be heard over the unbearable noise.
Like a gentleman, I handed Jitka her coffee, took mine, and we sat down at an empty table.
“So…” Jitka began, “how is my favorite gay friend doing?”
Did she really have to poke at it every time? It was enough that I’d admitted it to myself a few months ago…she had to take advantage of it every chance she got. Sometimes I honestly feel like strangling her.
“Oh come on, are you going to keep making fun of it forever? I can’t help that I like guys,” I said, taking a sip of my still-hot coffee.
“Maybe… I just want to know how you’re doing. Have you found someone yet?”
That’s when it hit me, that’s what she’d wanted to ask all along. She could’ve just said it. Typical woman.
Still, I think she already suspects something, otherwise she wouldn’t ask, right?
I started getting nervous. “Well… it depends—”
“YOU HAVE SOMEONE AND I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT? Hans Capone, how long have we known each other and I know NOTHING?” She was so loud people started turning to look at us.
“Jituš, if you let me finish, you’d know that I don’t have anyone, but—”
“But?”
“Well… how do I say this…” It’s actually so simple to say, but since my best friend is Jitka, I knew I was in for at least an hour-long interrogation. “I like someone.”
One minute of silence.
Two minutes.
“Wait, what?” I honestly didn’t expect that reaction.
“Do you want me to repeat it?” I asked carefully, sipping my coffee again.
“No, you don’t have to. But who’s the lucky gay man?” And there it was — the interrogation.
“He’s a classmate, his name’s Henry. One of the few people I actually talk to there,” I explained. “I don’t even know if he’s gay or not. As far as I know, he has a girlfriend… but she studies somewhere else.” I mumbled the end, feeling a bit disappointed.
“Have you ever heard of the term bisexuality?” Jitka asked sarcastically. I shot her a murderous look, no idea why.
“But he doesn’t seem interested in guys. He looks like a typical straight man.”
“Do you have a photo? Let’s see if you at least have some taste,” she said, getting more and more curious, so I decided to do something I hadn’t planned.
“Tonight there’s a Christmas party at another student’s place, John, and most of our year will be there, and—”
“When? Where? I want to see your catch.”
“HE’S NOT MY CATCH!” I snapped, raising my voice. I didn’t mean it badly, it just slipped out. I immediately started apologizing.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap.”
“It’s okay, Hansi, it’s partly my fault. So… can I come?”
“Yeah.”
For once in her life, Jitka was on time.
“Holy shit, a world record,” I joked when I saw her walking up to the meeting spot.
“Ha ha, very funny,” she said ironically, “but I have to admit, this place looks modern.” She pointed to the building where the party was happening. I just hoped someone would be there — especially Henry.
“John comes from a rich family, but he’s nice.”
“A rich guy who’s nice? Is that even possible?”
“He’s living proof. Come on.”
Knock knock.
The door opened immediately and Theresa appeared, another student from my year.
“Oh hey, Hansi! I didn’t expect to see you here,” she said and immediately hugged me.
I like touch…actually, I love it, but not when it’s too sudden and not from someone I don’t fully trust. Theresa’s nice and all, but still.
“I didn’t expect to come either,” I said nervously when she pulled away. “And this is Jitka, my childhood friend.”
“Come in,” she said, inviting us inside, and we accepted.
I expected worse, loud music, harsh lights, tons of people. But no, it was just right. I honestly didn’t expect that.
“So… where’s your knight in shining armor?” Jitka asked.
“He’s no knight. He’s Henry, the blacksmith’s son,” I said, trying to stay calm. “And I don’t see him anywhere yet.”
Is he even here? We never actually talked about whether he was coming.
“Jitu—” Where did she go? She’d vanished… classic. So I decided to look around the apartment and hopefully run into someone… preferably Henry.
I never would’ve guessed this apartment belonged to my second-nicest friend from school. I recognized a few faces, exchanged greetings, and kept going.
And then…Henry.
As I walked through the kitchen with a view of the balcony, I suddenly stopped.
There he was. Finally.
But he was talking to someone.
I moved closer and discreetly recognized Samuel, an older-year student. I stood there for a moment, quietly observing their conversation, even though I had no idea what they were talking about. And honestly, it was none of my business.
I watched Henry’s gentle movements, like he floated like a feather. I wanted to hug him right then and there and tell him everything. That I’d liked him from the very first moment I saw him. I know it sounds like a cliché from some romantic movie, but it’s true. And that I love him — probably more than I’m capable of loving anyone.
Samuel pulled me out of my thoughts.
“Hansi, I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Me neither,” I replied, glancing at Henry.
“Same here,” Henry said. His voice was pleasant. I could listen to it for hours.
“But my brother talked me into coming, right?” Henry joked, nudging Samuel.
Wait… brother?
“Are you brothers?”
“Stepbrothers, but yeah,” Henry answered. “We have different parents. My mom got together with his dad when Sam was four and she was pregnant with me. My biological father never really cared…all I know is that he’s supposedly some rich guy, but I’ve never met him.”
“I didn’t know that,” I said, feeling oddly relieved.
“Still, he’s my annoying little brother, Hal,” Samuel teased. The nickname was cute, and the first time I’d heard anyone call Henry that.
“Hey Hansi, have you seen John? He ran off somewhere again,” Samuel asked casually.
“Not yet,” I answered honestly.
“Alright, I’ll go look for him…I need to sort something out with him,” Samuel said and walked back into the kitchen.
Now it was just me and Henry. Sam was on the terrace.
Stay calm. Just calm.
“Does Samuel know John well? I didn’t expect him to hang out with younger students,” I said, stepping closer to Henry, who was leaning against the railing, looking out at snowy, nighttime Prague.
“Of course, when they share a bed,” Henry laughed. “I’m almost afraid they share a toothbrush too.”
It took me a moment to process that.
“Wait… are you saying they’re together?”
“Yeah, for half a year now. Honestly, I wouldn’t have expected it,” Henry said. “But it works really well.”
I didn’t expect that from Samuel, but at least I learned something important about Henry: he’s totally fine with gay people. Good sign.
“I’m happy for them,” I said. “And what about you and your girlfriend? How’s that going?” I asked casually.
“Bianca? We’re on a break,” Henry said, smiling at me. He has a beautiful smile.
“I’m sorry.”
“No need. It’s not the end of the world. Life goes on,” he replied. I wish I had his optimism. “And you? Do you have someone?”
I knew he’d ask.
“Right now? No, I don’t,” I said. It sounded like a lie, because I wanted Henry…I didn’t want to kiss anyone else, wake up next to anyone else, or hold anyone else when one of us was sad.
“Hans?”
“Yes, Henry?”
“Can I try something?” I was a little scared of what he meant.
“…Sure.”
He stepped closer, slowly closing the distance between us. He placed his warm hands on my cheeks.
And before I could react…HE KISSED ME.
HENRY KISSED ME.
I froze completely. My body shut down. But HE KISSED ME. This had to be a dream, a beautiful one.
His lips were soft, but before I could fully process it, he pulled away.
“—Sorry… I should go,” Henry said nervously and started to leave.
This was my only chance. When Henry was almost off the terrace, I ran after him, stopped him, held his face and kissed him.
He kissed me back immediately.
So Henry isn’t straight after all.
The kiss slowly turned into gentle, lingering kisses. I pulled him closer.
I think I was the happiest man alive.
After a while we had to pull apart — we were running out of air.
“That… was something,” I managed to say.
“Same,” Henry smiled.
“I…I thought you were straight.”
“Well, you know bisexuality exists, right?” Henry laughed.
“I TOLD YOU!” a voice shouted. We turned — still holding each other, toward the kitchen door.
“Jituš? I thought you ran off?”
“No! And Mr. Capon here kept something from me, huh? He spends all afternoon talking about Henry, I go to the bathroom for a moment, and now they’re kissing?”
“You talked about me, Hansi?” Henry asked, laughing even more.
“Yeah… honestly? I’ve wanted to kiss you since the first day of school.”
“The first day? I just helped you find the classroom,” Henry reminded me.
“Doesn’t matter,” I admitted.
“This is way too sweet for me,” Jitka said. “I’m leaving… but you, Henry! If you hurt him, you’ll regret it.” She threatened jokingly and walked away.
And there we were again.
“So… what now?” I asked nervously.
“Now? Nothing,” Henry said, hugging me again and kissing me on the cheek