It was a typical boys’ evening; Lots of drink, lots of bragging and lots of loud music. After two or three drinks they began to talk about what boys really like to talk about.

‘The thing I will never understand is why girls are more likely to believe a story which is so obviously a load o' bull than the truth.’

‘That’s not really true and you know it,’ retorted Oliver.

‘The thing about you is that you are sex starved. You aren’t being serviced.’ That was Fred. It always seemed to Oliver that that was all Fred ever thought about. That was not to say Oliver didn't feel that he was sex starved. Recently he had been going through a phase and now trying to be honest with himself he had to admit that he was looking for something more than sexual gratification. For once he wanted to make love and not have sex. You couldn't really make love with someone you didn't love, could you?

‘Are you sex starved?’ Chola's eyes were fixed on him. ‘I know Cindy is still crazy about you. Isn't she, James?’

‘Yes. She told Gertrude that. I forgot to mention it. They are both coming tomorrow.’ James said pointedly.

‘Come on guys cut it out. I am not sex starved. I am just not interested in girls at the moment.’  He ignored James' implication.

‘You mean girls aren't interested in you, don't you?’ Laughter all round.

‘You are hopeless Fred. When did you last have some action yourself Romeo?’

‘Well if you must know, Chewe came over last night and lets just say my roommate did not quite enjoy his sleep. Boy she was really frisky. I have never known her that hot.’ More laughter.

‘I hope you used protection. The number of girls that come here...’ he let it trail off.

‘Come on. What do you take me for? I bet that if I were to say to every one that we should all go for an HIV test, none of you would be in a hurry to do it.’ Uncomfortable murmur.

‘Damn right you are.’ That was James.

‘We have all done something at one point in our lives we wish we hadn't.’

‘But don't you think it is better to know than not to know?’

‘What if you are found to be positive? What then? Let’s not pretend guys that we could handle it. It is bull shit.’

‘The problem is that we seem not to know enough about the damned disease. I went recently for a test.’ Oliver added as an after thought.

Everyone turned to look at him.

‘And?’ Chola asked wide eyed. There was a deafening silence. All eyes were on him.

‘I'm negative.’

‘That’s a relief. But what if it had been the opposite?’ Fred asked, shaking his head.

‘I don't really know.’ Oliver said truthfully. ‘Live with it I suppose.’

‘I think you're bloody brave.’ Fred finally said after an awkward silence.

'’I could never do it.’ said Chola with emotion.

‘I have done it before,’ said James ‘and now recently with Oliver here.’

‘You guys are nuts.’ laughed Fred

‘Nothing nuts about it.’ smiled James

‘And were your babes aware that you had gone for tests?’ Fred asked with his drink half way to his lips.

‘Of course.’

'Where do you get your hot babes guys?’ Chola couldn't keep the envy from his voice, but it made a welcome change to the uncomfortable subject.

Chola was going out with a really hot number called Barbara. She managed to tame Chola beyond belief.

She, despite having spent several nights in his room, was still a virgin. Poor Chola had been trying for a whole month to get her to sleep with him, but he had not made much progress. This, of course, meant that Fred teased him mercilessly.

It was not the Chola they all knew. Barbara had done something to him. He was really in love. Although Oliver contributed to the teasing game, deep down he knew he was a bit envious of Chola. That’s what he wanted; to really be in love with someone. He was tired of running around and having girlfriends just to prove that he was man enough.

‘I best be going now,’ he said. ‘Thanks for the drinks.’

‘Come on the night is still young.’ Chola objected.

‘I know but I have a lot of studying to do. Besides tomorrow I will have to go to this conference. You never know what opportunities may lie ahead. This is the time to make contacts. It won't be that easy once we are in the field.’ 

The truth was that he needed some time to himself. He needed to think about things and to decide what to do next. His mind was on the girl behind the counter in that fast food shop. He quite liked her. He would definitely go and have coffee at that place again. He had no expectations, but one never knew. She could turn out to be the thing he was looking for.

‘What do I tell Cindy?’ That was James.

‘Anything you like.’

‘So you are serious you told her you didn't want her any more?’ Chola couldn’t keep the incredulity from his voice.

‘Come on Chola. It was hard enough for me to do it. When you say it, you make me sound like some kind of monster.’