The Companion (Part I)

He didn't have it clear when he had made the decision that had led him to be in this situation today, about which it was necessary to only assume, since there was no possibility of taking another path.

But he also didn't question himself much, since he had liked playing like this, always on the edge, pushing the possibilities to the limit. Everything had led him to this point.

Facundo was an escort, a word that tried to disguise more explicit, vulgar, and crude ones. He had been one since he was 25 years old.

He was the youngest of four siblings from a provincial city who had studied journalism in the big city, with a lot of effort and dedication. He had gotten a job as a field reporter for soccer broadcasts on streaming platforms. It hadn't gone badly for him, apart from being charming, having a good presence, knowing about soccer, and handling a wide vocabulary that earned him a good evaluation, but he could never ascend to commentator and, after a year, discovered that he would never reach the desired position, and to make matters worse, he was fired and replaced by a woman who knew little or nothing about the profession, but was the niece of one of the producers.

He felt discriminated against due to his lack of connections in the environment and frustrated because they didn't value him for his merit, which wasn't little. He became depressed when searching for and not finding another job in similar activities. He presented more than 30 applications and didn't get any responses. He dedicated himself to hosting nighttime shows at a disco in the bohemian neighborhood, thanks to his friendship with the owner, whom he had known since his university days, since he had worked a lot there, as a waiter, barista, and helper in the salon's productions. It wasn't a great job, but it allowed him to survive. He had a partner who broke up with him once he was fired as a field reporter. They lived together in her apartment, which he had to abandon and go live with a university friend who lent him a room "until he found a job."

Facundo feared that any day he would be kicked out of there and would end up on the street, so he didn't stop looking for work. He had reduced his expenses to a minimum, such as clothing, food, and the gym. All of this frustrated him, because since he was a teenager, he had had almost an obsession with his body and aesthetics. He knew he was attractive and made an effort to stay in shape, practicing soccer and regularly going to the gym, dressing fashionably, and his presentation was always adequate for work and social life. This comforted him, but now it hurt him to have to give up these expenses to prioritize mere subsistence.

His friends considered him a bit frivolous and fond of appearances, and indeed he was, but deep down he was a responsible and hardworking person who had achieved what he was only through his work and dedication.

In a certain way, he was reaping what ...