Modesh

Chapter One - Cabi

Sarah first caught sight of Tristan at the gym. He was listening to music as he ran on the treadmill, whatever song was playing was causing him to smile and mouth the words between the labored breaths he was taking. Cute, she thought. He was well-groomed and delicately built; slim and tanned with a mass of dark wavy hair that was pushed back with a headband. She had a feeling about him... If only she could hear him speak then she'd be certain. When he finished his run and headed to the watercooler, Sarah was already there waiting for him. 

"I can't stand the treadmill myself" she told him, motioning for him to remove his headphones so he could hear her better. "Not a fan of running" she said, "when I'm not on the elliptical I just come here to use the sauna." 

Tristan smiled politely and nodded, wiping away his sweat with a towel. 

"You do speak English, don't you?" she asked. 

"Y...Yes.." he replied, a little confused as to why the stranger had approached him. 

"I wasn't sure at first" she continued, "you're so tanned I thought you could have been a local. But I guess you're one of us! Have you been in Cabi long?"

Tristan had only been in Cabi for a few weeks, and it already wasn't what he thought it would be. The job he was doing involved long hours at the computer, and expectations of overtime that he hadn't accounted for. The change of scene was supposed to make things better, and the sunshine meant to slowly lift his battered spirits, and yet he'd hardly seen the sun. 

A tax haven by the sea, Cabi was home to a lot of big financial companies, drawing in a large number of foreign workers that were attracted by the hot weather and satisfying paychecks. From 8am to 7pm, Tristan was in the office; he was yet to make any friends, and by the time he arrived home to his little studio, he couldn't bear to leave it again. 

It was only the free gym membership that came with his job that had forced him out of the house. Even if everything else was terrible, he was at least going to make the most of a perk like that. But now here he stood, tired and ready to go home, but trying to be polite to the lady that continued to make conversation with him. 

"Did you move here with your partner?" she questioned, "Does he work in finance too..?" 

Tristan was a little taken aback. True, he was gay, but he'd never had anyone so blatantly assume his sexuality before. He was in a gym, not a gay bar.

"I don't have a partner" he said, avoiding answering explicitly. 

Sarah smiled knowingly, "Well, most people have met their other half in Cabi so I wouldn't worry about that. Here" she said, handing over her phone, "let's be friends. Give me your number and I can show you around. I can already tell you're new here. Trust me, I know everyone!" 

The only thing on Tristan's mind was collapsing on his sofa and falling asleep; if giving her his contact meant he could leave in peace then it really didn't matter. He gave her his Cabi phone number and eventually made his escape; but not before a further five minutes of explaining where he worked, lived and shopped, while Sarah corrected him on where was best. He was walking through his apartment door when the notification came through on his phone. Sarah was inviting him to a mixer.

He threw his phone aside, took a shower and got ready for an early night. When he went to set his alarm for the morning, the notification was still sitting there. 

"CABI EXPATS!" it read, "Drinks tomorrow at the usual ('The Palm' for you newbies!) We'll be in our regular corner from 7pm, so come join us until they kick us out!"

Tomorrow would be Friday, and The Palm was wasn't far from the office. Tristan had walked past it once or twice when he needed to pick up groceries on the way home. Kind of cheap and tacky, but definitely lively. From 0-100 wasn't exactly Tristan's style; a quiet bar might have tempted him to go and take a look, but he wasn't sure if he could manage being around so many people all at once.