by Jerry Cole
The form was standard protocol, until it asked how Bradley and his partner had enjoyed the stay so far. The use of the word ‘partner’ caught Bradley off guard, but only because he didn’t know if it applied to him and Sherman. Oh sure, they were together in all but name while here in Bali. But what was going to happen when they went home? Sherman lived in Sydney, Bradley lived seven hours south in Melbourne. Could they really date and do long distance? He honestly wasn’t sure.
So, Bradley chose not to think too much about it. Why bother? He was in Bali with a man he was very quickly developing feelings for. The last thing he wanted to do was waste time and energy fretting over something that right now, didn’t really matter.
Day five was another activity day, with Sherman renting a private boat to go island hoping in. The day started early, 7am, but this allowed for the two men to travel between Gili Trawangan, Nusa Lembongan, Gili Air, and Nusa Pendia. To be honest, there wasn’t a huge difference between them, with each featuring small seaside villages, gorgeous beaches and lush scenery. But it was still a fun day, spent in the arms of Sherman.
And then came day six, their final day together. Up until today, Bradley wouldn’t have been able to think of a single bad moment since arriving in Bali. Even with a gun pointed at his head, he would have struggled. So, it was fitting that their last full day together should feature the only one... and, as if it had been gathering steam this whole time, it turned out to be quite the ‘bad moment’ too.
Basically, Bradley couldn’t take it anymore. It was the early afternoon, the two were in a little beachside village called Canggu taking surfing lessons together. It was as cute an activity as the two had done since arriving on the tropical island, with there being a lot of falling into one another, helping the other to stand, laughing, grabbing, wipe-outs and more. By this time too, all pretense of this just being a little bit of fun seemed to be swept under the carpet, with Bradley and Sherman acting the couple in everything but name only.
After their lessons, the two men retired to the beach for a little break. They lay out on a couple of armchairs to catch some sun. Sherman’s eyes were closed as the warm afternoon sun rolled over him; his breathing was steady, he wore a smile on his face and he looked as content as Bradley had seen him. In that moment, for reasons that Bradley couldn’t explain, he was overcome with a sudden desire to ask the big question.
“Hey, Sherman, can I ask you —”
“I’ve been thinking.” Sherman suddenly sat up and swiveled in to face Bradley. “You should move to Sydney.”
Bradley was struck speechless. He’d been all worked up and ready to ‘have the talk’ with Sherman, and then he’d had the words taken right out of his mouth... sort of.
“Huh?” Was all Bradley had been able to say in the end.
“Think about it,” Sherman continued quickly. He was excited now. “What’s keeping you in Melbourne – like, really? Everything you have there, you can have in Sydney. Plus, it’s a bigger, better, more central city anyway. Like I don’t get why more people don’t live there... including you.”
“Well, um...” Again, Bradley wasn’t sure what to say. What Sherman was saying made sense, and in a way, it was kind of what he had been trying to get at... but only kind of. Really, it was more akin to Sherman wanting them to walk before they were even crawling. “That sounds great – it does, really,” Bradley assured him. “But I can’t just pick everything up and move to Sydney.”
“Why not?” Sherman demanded.
“My family all lives in Melbourne, for one.”
“They can visit whenever they want.”
“And my friends,” Bradley continued.
“Same goes for them.”
“And my acting classes are all in Melbourne – I've made some good contacts, finally. I don’t want to risk fucking that up.”
“Acting classes?” Sherman tilted his head and the look he fixed on Bradley was nothing but patronizing. “Come on, Brad... you can do those anywhere.”
“I can’t!” Bradley rebutted. “That’s not how acting works. Half if it is just meeting people and being in the right place at the right time. Well, I’ve finally started meeting people – like it’s taken me ages. I’ve made heaps of progress lately... I don’t want to screw it up.”
“So, let me get this straight. Because of a couple of acting classes, you don’t want to move to Sydney? Is that what you’re saying?”
“Well... no, not just them...” Bradley blinked a few times and tried to recenter. “I... I also don’t have a job in Sydney – I’d have no income. I wouldn’t know anyone —”
“I’ve got you covered for all of that.”
“Even still.”
“Even still what?”
Bradley wasn’t even sure what he was arguing against. Really, this was just an extension of the conversation he wanted to have anyway. But where he would have been content with Sherman admitting the two were perfect for one another, and maybe even agree to be ‘a couple,’ Sherman was going one step further. Bradley should have been stoked!
So why was he feeling so angry?
It was the tone, he realized. It was this expectancy that Bradley would be able to just drop everything and move and Sherman wouldn’t have to change a thing. His instant dismissal of Bradley’s life was insulting and Bradley sure as heck wasn’t going to just overlook it.
“I have a life,” Bradley started carefully. He really didn’t want to fight, but he could feel it coming. “Even if I’m not working, technically, I can’t just —”
“Technically?” Sherman blinked quickly a few times and frowned. “Is there an untechnical version of this story where you are working?”
“That’s not —”
“I’m just saying.” Sherman was sitting up straight now to face Bradley completely. He looked more like he was in a meeting, trying to persuade new clients, rather than having what should have been a rational conversation with his pseudo-boyfriend. “If you move to Sydney you can – I can take care of everything for you. I can help you find a place, get a job... I can probably make some calls and get you into some new acting classes too. Like, really, there’s no point staying in Melbourne as far as I can see. I’ve got you.”
The offer was a kind one, but it was hitting Bradley in a way he didn’t appreciate. It spoke to an attitude that Sherman had brought with him to this trip, one that Bradley had noticed peripherally throughout the week, but was now staring at him full in the face.
Sherman thought that he was better than Bradley. It was as simple as that. Ever since Bradley had admitted that he wasn’t a famous actor, that he was a poor struggling one that still lived at home with his mother and had no real aspirations to speak of, Sherman had deigned to baby him. He paid for Bradley’s flights. He paid for Bradley’s hotel. He paid for every activity, every drink, every scrap of food the two men ate. And whenever Bradley tried to pay or offer some money, Sherman waved him down and sometimes even laughed.
Up until now, Bradley had been willing to write all this off as sweet behavior, maybe even romantic? Sherman was infinitely wealthier than Bradley, and he did get a lot of deals on their day trips, and he was just being kind and generous in a way that Bradley should have appreciated...
But now it was clear. Sherman thought he was better than Bradley. That’s what this was about and his offer to treat Bradley like someone that he owned was the latest example of this. It simply would not do.
“You’ve got me?” Bradley pushed his tongue into his bottom lip as he tried to control himself. “You’ve got – just so you know, I am perfectly capable of looking after myself.”
“Huh?” Sherman blinked.
“I don’t need you to – I could have paid for my flight over here, you know? And lunch today – and this surfing lesson. I could have paid for all of it.”
“All right... I’m sure you could —”
“And just because I’m not working right now, doesn’t mean I won’t be. I will be an actor so
on. And when I am —” Bradley suddenly stood up. He was feeling hot and flushed and could feel his tongue running away with him. “I’m going for a walk.”
And so, he did. Without another word, he spun on his heel and powered off and into the sunset. It was such a silly thing to get all worked up over, but Bradley couldn’t help it. Sherman had been lording over him all week and only just now did he realize it. He wanted a relationship with Sherman, he really did, but that wouldn’t be possible if Sherman thought he was better than he was... which right now, he did.
The great irony of the whole thing too was not once was their actual relationship status even mentioned. That was all Bradley had wanted, and now, because of his little tantrum, it might be over before it even begun.
Chapter Twelve
They met up an hour later, but that’s just because it was time to head back to the hotel. Sherman hadn’t gone chasing after Bradley, because he had also known that doing so would do him no good. Actors were temperamental creatures, and that went double for Bradley. Sherman knew the best thing to do was let him calm down and then talk.
It was a good thing too, as this also gave Sherman a little time to reflect on what had just happened and how, surprisingly, it might have even been his fault.
At first, he refused to consider this for even a second. As he watched Bradley throw a tantrum and storm off down the beach, he remained where he was, speechless over what had just happened. Truly, he couldn’t believe it. Everything had been going so well. Like, ridiculously well. The entire week had been perfect beyond belief without even the hint of an argument or disagreement. Truly, it was the most perfect, drama free week of Sherman’s life.
It was because of how great this week had been that Sherman felt the courage, or better yet the overwhelming desire to propose that Bradley move to Sydney with him. A week ago, that would have been unspeakable, the very definition of moving too soon. But now, after all they had been through, it just felt right. And so, Sherman asked the big question.
It was around then that things went downhill... and fast.
Sherman figured that it was Bradley who was overreacting, which was why when he stormed off, Sherman was willing to let him. He was certain that once Bradley came back, he’d apologize and then they’d have a serious conversation about moving to Sydney. Despite what had just happened, Bradley still wanted this. Of course he did!
But once he was alone, he began to reflect over what he had said and oddly enough, he came to realize that maybe he had been just a little bit in the wrong. He had been a little presumptuous, and maybe even a tad condescending. Sure, Bradley didn’t have a lot going on in Melbourne right now, but bringing it up the way he had wasn’t the right thing to do. Not by a mile.
So, what was the right thing to do? After an hour of deep thought and having about one thousand conversations play out in his head, Sherman realized the only thing he could do was apologize. If he didn’t, he might risk losing Bradley forever and that he could not abide.
They met where their bikes were parked, in the parking lot overlooking the beach. Sherman got there first, deciding to head there and see how long it took for Bradley to turn back up. They had a dinner reservation for later that night and he really, really hoped that Bradley didn’t forget. Lucky, he came a few minutes later, looking like a puppy that had peed on the carpet and was now desperate for forgiveness.
He was only halfway across the lot when he spoke. “Sherman —”
“Don’t.” Sherman held his hand out to stop him. Then, without a word he crossed the rest of the way and pulled Bradley into a hug. Bradley saw him coming and his body relaxed as Sherman wrapped his arms around him. “I’m sorry.”
“I am.”
“No, I am,” Sherman said with a little more conviction. “I’m an asshole and I was acting like one.”
“I’m a brat, and I was acting like one.” His body vibrated a little from withheld laughter.
Sherman released Bradley, but still held him close. “I know you have a life in Melbourne, and I know that it was wrong of me to just assume you would drop everything —”
“You were just being nice,” Bradley cut him off. “Like, what the fuck is wrong with me? You asked me to move cities for you and I threw a tantrum —”
“I was a bit of a dick about it.”
“You’re always a bit of a dick though. So, I should have expected it.”
“Hey!”
“I’m kidding,” Bradley laughed. He cupped his hand under Sherman’s chin and gave his forehead a kiss. “I’m sorry. I am. And thanks for the offer – to move to Sydney, I mean.”
“Ummm... anytime?” Sherman tried for an awkward laugh.
“I want to – I do, really,” Bradley continued seriously. “And I was thinking about it for most of that walk but —”
“Stop.” Sherman held Bradley back from him, so he could look into his eyes. This was going so much better than he could have hoped, and he didn’t want to risk ruining it. “The offer is there, but we don’t have to talk about it right now, Okay? Instead, how about we go to dinner, try and enjoy our last night in Bali and then, when we’ve had time to think about it, we circle back around?”
Bradley’s chin wobbled and his eyes began to water. “That sounds... that sounds perfect.”
The two men sealed the moment with a romantic kiss, right there in the middle of the parking lot. The sound of the waves lapping at one another echoed in the distance, the orange and red sun slowly set behind them and somewhere nearby a man with a guitar began to busk on the beach. It was as romantic a setting as they had been in all week and it was the perfect way to end their fight and start the next chapter of their lives... whatever that was going to be.
Indeed, the rest of the trip went off without too much worry at all. They had dinner that night at a seafood restaurant called Moi Fish; the two celebrated the end of their holiday by getting very drunk. After dinner they headed back to the hotel for a late-night swim in the pool and more drinks. This was followed by showers, a night of passionate sex, more drinking, more sex and eventually a deep, satisfied slumber.
The next morning was a bit of a rush as they both slept in past their alarms. It was all running and shouting and a race to get their bags packed and make it to the airport. This might have actually been a good thing though as it alleviated any desire to pick up on where they had left things the previous afternoon.
When they did reach the airport, Bradley’s flight was a full hour before Sherman’s. They both collected their tickets, Sherman walked Bradley to the gate and that was where they left it.
“I’ll call you when I land,” Bradley said.
“I’ll call you,” Sherman corrected him. “I’ll be in the air when you land.”
“Right,” Bradley nodded his head. “I’ll call anyway. Leave you a little voice message... maybe something dirty too.”
“Please,” Sherman laughed. “Now I’m expecting it.”
“Dick pic?”
“It better be.”
The two men chuckled. A final call for all passengers flying to Melbourne was announced and just like that, the holiday was over. Sherman kissed Bradley full on the lips and then stood there and watched until he was boarded on the flight and gone.
Before the week had started, Sherman had been looking forward to seeing Bradley. He had harbored fond memories of him from Europe, and their phone calls had cemented their budding relationship as a possibility. Until this week began, Sherman still saw Bradley as a sort of fling, a little bit of fun really. But now...
It had been the best week of his life, bar none. His first attempt to ask Bradley to move to Sydney for him had failed miserably, but that was just because he’d been a bit of a dick. As Sherman settled himself into waiting for his flight to leave, he knew one thing for sure: Bradley would one day move to Sydney and live with him. Of that he now had no doubt.
***
Sherman didn’t like this at all. It was sketchy, almost purposefully s
o. It was unexpected and a little random, but not in a good way. And worst of all, it was dangerous.
There wasn’t any actual danger yet. Right now, Sherman was safe and sound in the front seat of his car, doors locked and lights off. The car was parked somewhere out west of the city – the exact suburb was one that Sherman had never been too, nor ever thought he would — across the road from a small alleyway, which apparently featured a hidden door at its end. Any moment now, he’d be heading toward that door and fuck if he wasn’t looking forward to it.
In his lap was his laptop, opened on a couple of emails — a lot of emails — he was in the process of replying to, and propped up on the dashboard so he could see it clearly was his phone. There was no apparent danger yet, but when that phone rang... well, Sherman would see.
Even with the sense of impending doom hanging over his head the way it was, Sherman was having a hard time paying it as much attention as it probably deserved. His inbox was blowing up right now with distressed emails from clients... literally every single one. The only sense of relief that Sherman could glean from their grievances, and the literal hundreds of emails flying in, was that they all had the exact same problem.
There was a small hiccup occurring in the world of international travel and although it was nowhere near reaching critical mass yet, there was a slight chance that it might soon if something wasn’t done. Unfortunately, there was no clear way to stop it.
A couple of weeks earlier, a random virus popped up in China called Covid-19. It was meant to be a nothing virus, similar to the common flu. However, experts were claiming that it spread at three times the rate of the flu, and was far more deadly too. It had the potential to become a global pandemic, they said and might, if things really got out of control, put a halt on international travel altogether.
Sherman assumed that this was all hysteria. He had to! But the emergence of the Covid-19 flu was enough to send a wave of panic through the tourism industry. If international travel was forced to shut down, even slow down, then... Sherman didn’t even want to think about the consequences.