In Search of Yin
Simeon spent the next few days thinking about Eden. "Why does she keep running out on me? Why doesn't she tell me anything? I don't know where she lives or what her job is? I miss her, and it's not just the sex I miss." "What's happening to me?" "Maybe I should tell Eden what I'm feeling. Women like that sort of thing don't they?" Simeon finally decided to ask Eden what the problem was next time he saw her.
Simeon didn't see Eden until after his next gig at Lalalandia. He was kind of disappointed she didn't turn up to see him perform. He found her backstage, waiting for him to finish. They started kissing, exploring each other when a guy nearby asked them to move. Simeon then remembered he needed to talk to Eden. "Eden, can we go somewhere private please?"
"Sure Simeon. What did you have in mind tonight?" she asked as she ran her hands down his chest.
"We need to talk."
"Oh."
They walked in silence back to Simeon's dressing room. Eden kept glancing at Simeon, but he was looking at the floor. Eden realised this was going to be serious - it was crunch time. Simeon entered and took Eden's hand to lead her to the sofa. They both sat down and Eden saw the concern and worry in his face. She felt guilty to know that she was the one who has caused it.
"Eden, I want to know what the problem is. Why do you keep running out on me? Why do you never stay? And why don't you tell me anything about you - I don't even know what your job is?"
"I thought we both wanted the same thing, to have a little fun, nothing serious. Most guys don't want to hang about afterwards - I was just making it easier for you."
"But I want you to stay. I want to know all about you."
"Oh Simeon." Eden hung her head; she couldn't believe this was happening, she thought she would be the one cast off when someone else caught his eye. Simeon put a hand under her chin and lifted her head up to meet his gaze. "He looks so serious," she thought.
"Eden, I think I -"
"Don't say it! I don't want to know. Look, I care about you Simeon, just not in that way. I just wanted a fling. I just wanted some great sex and some company. Are you telling me you haven't done the same thing?"
"No. But�."
"But I think I better leave now. It was great between us. Bye." Eden kissed Simeon on the cheek and left, slamming the door shut behind her.
Simeon just sat on the sofa in shock. "It's over." He stayed there about ten minutes, then grabbed his stuff and left for home.
For the next two days Simeon stayed in his apartment moping. He didn't want to talk to anyone and would not answer the door. He tried to console himself in his music, but even that didn't work. "It's no good, I've lost the vibe." He then started getting depressed. He didn't sleep or shave and wore his oldest clothes; a bleach splattered, threadbare t-shirt and a pair of faded sweat shorts which were slightly too tight for his taste. Simeon still wore the pendant Eden gave him, it was the only thing of Eden's he had, and Simeon was kind of attached to it now. Geek finally got to talk to Simeon; he had never seen him in such a state. He tried to convince Simeon that he should be with his friends at the moment.
"Everyone is worried about you, we only want to help."
"OK, but I'm not good company at the moment."
Geek spent another hour talking to Simeon about nothing in particular; he just wanted to assure himself that Simeon was going to be all right. He said that Anamika wanted to talk to him about something to do with his posters. So Geek then left and Simeon headed downstairs to Anamika's apartment. She asked him if he was ok with the colour scheme she had chosen and he agreed, not really caring. She kept talking to Simeon, and finally got the whole story out of him. Anamika thought it was ironic that what has so upset Simeon he had done countless times to others, but said nothing.
Anamika told Simeon "If you need to talk, my door is always open."
"Thanks for that, I appreciate it."
"Well, do you want to help me get some food ready for tonight?"
"Tonight? What happening tonight?"
"I guess you forgot. Zina's got her exhibition today."
"That's today? Oh. I was gonna wish her good luck, I guess I'll have to see how it went later."
"You are welcome to join us tonight if you like, it's nothing special. It's just that she'd be tired when she gets back, so I offered to cook for her."
"No, but thanks anyway, I don't want to spoil the celebrations."
"Ok then, let get some food ready. Here, catch." Anamika threw a lettuce at Simeon. "You wash the salad and I'll go dig a pie out."
They started preparing the food and ended up having a water fight. Simeon moped up the water with a cloth and then left before he got into any more trouble.
Simeon then went back to his apartment and tried to compose some music. He spent about an hour working on various ideas but it was useless, his heart just wasn't in it. He decided to watch some TV and drink some wine. Simeon then decided to go and annoy Zina. "She should be back from her exhibition by now. Annoying Zina always cheers me up." Simeon bounded down the stairs and banged on her door.
"Hang on" he heard Zina shout.
"Hello Simeon. Come on in," she said slightly too loud. Simeon noticed her face was a bit flushed and she was wobbling slightly. "Take a seat. Want some wine?"
"OK, Zina." Simeon wandered over to the sofa in the living room, sat down in front of the wine carton and her nearly empty glass.
Zina returned from the kitchen with an empty glass and carefully poured the wine out. "Sorry to hear about you and Eden." Zina knew he was cut up about it, but hadn't seen him since.
He took the glass of wine and downed it in one go. "She dumped me. I don't wanna talk about it."
"Okay." Zina copied Simeon and refilled both glasses, then sat down next to him. "Move over," she told him, bumping against his side. She wiggled down and sat back on the sofa.
Simeon was really amused by all this. "So Zina, how did the exhibition go?" he asked, but already guessing the answer.
"The exhibition was terrible. I didn't sell anything, and I only had one enquiry about putting on a show. It was terrible. What'ma gonna do Simeon?" Zina buried her head in Simeon's shoulder and tried to muffle her sobs. Simeon put his arms around Zina and tried to comfort her.
"Hey Zina, it's gonna be alright, you are a very talented lady." He lay back on the sofa and pulled Zina with him, she ended up with her head on his chest and he kept caressing her arms, face and hair.
"But my life's a mess - what life! All I have is my art and my books." she snorted and buried her face in his t-shirt "Just hold me. Please..."
Simeon glanced over to the far wall; it was full of books, floor to ceiling. He kissed the top of Zina's head and she sighed and snuggled up to him, Simeon was trying not to think about what effect her snuggling was having on him. "Zina's not wearing any bras again!" It was killing him to see her so upset; he wanted to comfort her, cheer her up.
"Simeon? Kiss me."
He stared at her in shock. "I'm hearing things."
"I guess I'll do it myself then�" and she kissed him; a deep, fierce, passionate kiss that amazed him.
Simeon couldn't believe it. Zina was kissing him. "She's kissing me. Me."
He lost himself in the moment. Simeon broke off the kiss and wondered, "Could life get much better than this?" "Zina� Are you sure about this?" "How much have you had to drink?"
"Simeon? Do you know how long it is since I had sex? So long I � can't remember."
"What! Where did that come from?" "Zina? Are you saying what I think you are saying?"
"Yes Simeon! I want to have sex now, with you! Geesh! - What's a girl gotta do to get a little action 'round here?"
Simeon's eyes grew wide; he stared at her again and then shook himself. "I shouldn't, I know I shouldn't, but I can't help myself."
Simeon then kissed Zina, a slow tender kiss, and for once she didn't push him away. He kissed her again, deeper this time. She moaned a little "Mmmm." They broke apart, Simeon was still hesitant, and suddenly Zina reached around the back of Simeon's neck and pulled him down towards her.
Continued in Part 6.