Chapter 6 - Dominic
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Dominic
I clutched my glass of water, still unable to believe that Kilian was standing next to me. Fuck! I had wanted to keep my distance from him.
I should have just glanced at the flyer before agreeing to come here.
As the gallery director spoke about the exhibition concept and introduced Lucien Gilliéron as the first artist, I could feel Kilian’s presence beside me so intensely it almost unnerved me—but somehow, it didn’t. I would never admit that it felt good.
I convinced myself it was only because Nico no longer stood next to me anymore. It was completely normal to gravitate toward the next familiar face.
The problem was, that face turned out to be Kilian’s.
“And I’m sure Lucien Gilliéron has a great career ahead of him,” the gallery director concluded, flipping the page. “The black-and-white photographs by Alex Winter, on the other hand, deal with hiding in very different ways.”
I followed her gaze to the photographer, who held a glass of red wine in his hand. Beside him, a guy dressed in a leather jacket and ripped jeans seemed completely out of place here. As he whispered something in the photographer’s ear, a knowing smile spread across Alex’s lips.
I frowned in confusion, eyeing the man more closely. An odd feeling crept over me–I was sure I had seen this guy before.
Maybe in a bar? Or if he’s a photographer, he might have shot somewhere I was …
Then it hit me, and a wave of heat rushed through my body.
He had been at one of Livio’s parties.
He was the guy who suddenly couldn’t breathe and had to be rushed to the hospital.
Shit! The ambulance had taken him!
I was relieved to see that he was fine. But just then, a tightness gripped around my throat, and I unbuttoned the top button of my shirt. I felt pale all of a sudden. Even Nico, who was across the room with Hector, noticed something was wrong with me and wrinkled his brows in concern.
I shook my head to reassure him and took a sip of water. But nothing was okay. I was flooded with memories, and my mind was spinning. It felt like a flashback to a chemsex party—naked skin, drugs, and the loud groans of multiple men.
It wasn’t until Kilian put his arm around mine to steady me that I realized I was dizzy and had almost swayed.
“Are you okay?” he whispered, but it was loud enough to bring me back to the present.
I forced a nod and was grateful he didn’t let go of me. In one big gulp, I drank more water and tried to focus again on Greta’s speech.
“The third artist in the group is Kilian da Silva. When I asked for his CV, he simply referred me to the theater, where he works as a lighting designer. He probably thought he could get away with that, but I called and was able to learn a bit more about him.”
I could feel Kilian’s grip on my arm tighten. It was clear that he was no longer supporting me—I was now his lifeline. Since everyone’s attention was on him, I couldn’t tell him to let go.
“As a lighting designer, he’s not only worked in theater but has also illuminated numerous events like gala dinners and film festivals.
I met him a year ago when he did a major lighting installation at Puls 5.
He’s an artist who definitely knows how to create an atmosphere.
The stage manager told me that he’s a bit eccentric, but a real genius when it comes to light. ”
I wondered what had gotten into Kilian to cling to me like this during the entire speech. After all, I had met him as someone with a huge ego—someone who wasn’t easily shaken. Was he afraid some secret might be spilled that would make him look bad?
The gallery director concluded her speech with: “And now, let’s be enchanted by a light show that will take us to hiding places far from reality. Kilian? If you’re ready, the space is yours.”
The audience applauded, and Kilian’s grip on my arm slowly loosened.
“Are you okay?” I asked quietly.
“I should be asking you that,” he replied. “Can I let go of you, or are you going to topple over on me?”
I rolled my eyes. Of course, he just had to turn it around. The guy really had an ego problem. “I’m fine,” I said as he looked at me with genuine concern.
“Okay. Enjoy the show.” With a wink, he let me go and headed up the stairs to the gallery. He sat down at a table near the railing, where a laptop was set up, pushed a black strand of hair behind his ear, and put on a pair of headphones.
Then the lights went out, and ethereal sounds filled the darkness. I hadn’t even noticed how the large windows facing the street had been covered with light-blocking curtains to prevent any natural light from entering.
When the first light particles flashed on the walls and drifted through the space like delicate snowflakes, I turned around in astonishment.
They were everywhere, dancing around me, transforming into butterflies, and flying up into the infinite space.
A sense of awe came over me as I glimpsed up at the ceiling, where a portal to another universe seemed to open.
The music grew louder, and the light particles spun in a spiral, pulling me into a wormhole that brightened, exploding in opulent colors and mesmerizing sounds.
I couldn’t close my eyes. I did everything I could to keep from blinking, determined not to miss a second of this artwork unfolding around me.
Fuck! That bastard was more talented than I had expected. The variety of colors and arrangements shattered my concept of light, and I found myself on an acid trip I didn’t want to end—and all without any drugs.
I was in a spectacular storm of colors. Kilian sent me through a snowstorm, a sunrise, dark forests, caves, and other dimensions.
I felt as though I could almost smell the lavender as a rich purple hue spread across the wall.
I could also feel the heat as the light transformed into red flames that crackled throughout the room.
The climax was a symphony of blue, accompanied by atmospheric music mixed with the haunting sounds of whale songs. My senses were completely overloaded, but amidst that endless blue, my body finally calmed down. It was like breathing underwater, and I could smell the salt in the warm sea air.
Kilian had stopped time and taken the space to another dimension. When the music faded and the colors dissolved into the darkness, a sense of sadness settled within me, yet a smile remained on my lips, and my body felt light as though I were floating.
The lights had changed when they came back. It was no longer the same lighting as before. Kilian had transformed the entire exhibition space and created a vibe that brought the artwork into the foreground.
In an instant, the people around me burst into cheers.
They clapped and shouted “Bravo” enthusiastically.
It took me a moment to realize where I was.
I gazed up at the gallery, where Kilian had risen from his chair and silently acknowledged everyone with a modest gesture that conveyed his gratitude.
The gallery owner stepped into the middle of the room and announced, “The light show will be repeated four more times during the exhibition. You can find the exact dates and times on our website.”
By now, Hector and Nico had rejoined me. It seemed that no one had been able to stand still during the light show. You had to move to fully experience the new spaces.
“That was insane!” Nico said, his eyes wide with excitement.
“Yeah, it was,” I agreed.
Fuck! Why does this guy keep getting more interesting?
I scanned the room, past Hector who was talking to the two guys who had come with us, Luca and Juri, when Nico appeared in my line of sight.
“What was going on with you earlier?” he asked, concerned. “Are you okay? You looked so pale.”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I replied. “I just got dizzy. Haven’t eaten anything yet.” That wasn’t even a lie. Sure, there were some snacks here, but I wasn’t into olives or salmon sandwiches.
Nico squinted at me, his gaze intense. “You were about to pass out if Kilian hadn’t been holding you up. The whole speech.”
“That wasn’t …,” I immediately defended myself. “He just didn’t want to let go when the gallery owner started talking about him.”
“Why’s that?” Nico asked, amused.
“How should I know?”
Why did I feel like I was lying to Nico?
The applause rose again as Kilian descended the stairs and was instantly surrounded by curious visitors.
I smiled when our eyes met. As big as his ego was, it was clear he was uncomfortable with all the attention.
He pleaded with me silently to do something, but instead, I used the opportunity to wander through the exhibition and admire the artwork.
At one point, I found myself in front of a photograph showing a nook beneath a staircase. I couldn’t help but be reminded of the strip club scene when Kilian had flirted with me. This time, though, a smile briefly crossed my lips.
Guess I’ve just accepted that he keeps creeping into my thoughts whenever I least expect it.
“Hey,” a voice said beside me.
I turned around and found myself face-to-face with Alex. Everything in my head spun again, and I felt like I’d gotten up too quickly. I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the dizziness.
“Do you like the picture?” he asked, gesturing toward the photo.
“Yeah,” I answered awkwardly. “It reminds me of a place. Where did you take it?”
“Oh, that was in a café in Geneva.”
There was a moment of silence, and I wasn’t sure if I should say anything.
“Sorry,” Alex said finally. “Have we met before?”
My heart skipped a beat, then raced, and I gasped for air. Before I answered, I glanced over my shoulder to make sure no one was nearby, listening in.
“I … I wasn’t sure at first either, but … It must have been at Livio’s party, when you … I was the one who called the ambulance.”
“Oh no,” he said, clearly startled. “That … Shit …”
The situation was so uncomfortable that I ran my hands through my hair in agitation. “I’m clean now. No more parties.”
“Me too.” The relief on his face was obvious. “That was my last one.”
I forced a smile, but it faded almost instantly. “I wish I could say the same.”
“You made it out, so you should be proud of yourself.”
I rubbed my shaky finger over my lips and chin. “I … didn’t come out unscathed.” My voice was barely a whisper, and I wondered why I was telling Alex this.
My therapist had always suggested I join a support group. Maybe this was what he meant—talking to someone who had been through something similar.
“I’m sorry,” Alex said.
I didn’t want his pity, so I tried to steer the conversation elsewhere. “I saw you during the speech earlier. Is that your boyfriend?”
Alex’s face lit up, as if all the spotlights were on him. “Yeah, we met back then. He knows everything about my past—which is good. And he accepts it.”
“That’s nice,” I said, clearing my throat as I strengthened my shoulders. Somehow, I felt like I’d been slouching. “Anyway … I’m glad you’re doing well. You were really lucky.”
Alex narrowed his eyes. “If you want to talk …”
“No,” I said, forcing a laugh. “I’m fine.”
“I mean it.”
“Hey, guys!” Kilian called out as he came over to us with a glass of wine. “You two know each other?”
“No,” I replied shortly.
Alex was also vague. “Only briefly.”
“Are you both starving?” Kilian asked after a brief silence. “Lucien and Noé are suggesting we go grab something to eat.”
“Sure,” Alex said, looking at me. “You coming? You two seem to know each other.”
“You have to!” Kilian interjected. “Jonah is coming too, and I don’t want to be the fifth wheel.”
“I don’t know anyone.”
“You know Alex!” Kilian laughed. “Come on! It’ll be fun!”
“Can we leave already?” I asked, glancing around the gallery. There weren’t many visitors left.
“The place closes in half an hour. So, yeah.”
“All right,” I said, not feeling like going home just yet. Plus, I really needed to eat; the dizziness was getting to me. After saying goodbye to Nico and Hector, I headed out onto the street, where Kilian was already waiting with two guys.
“This is Lucien,” he introduced me to the honey-blond painter.
“Nice to meet you,” I said, shaking his hand.
“And this is Jonah.”
“Hi.” Jonah greeted me with an outstretched hand. “Nice to meet you.”
With his Western Swiss dialect, open smile, and big brown eyes, he was instantly likable.
“Okay, we’re ready,” announced Alex, who came out of the gallery with the long-haired rocker. “Dominic, this is Noé.”
“Hi.”
Noé only nodded at me, his hands full with a guitar case and a backpack. He had caught my attention in the exhibition earlier, giving off a bit of a reserved vibe, but now, as he smiled at me, he seemed pretty nice.
“Okay, let’s go,” the rocker exclaimed with enthusiasm. “I’m starving.”
The man spoke to my soul, and I let out a chuckle as I joined the group.