Feel free to look up the term "compersion" if you haven't heard of it before. The story takes place even before that term existed.
If not for the opera Lakmé, things might have taken a different course. Or at least not developed as fast as they did. This is what actually happened to my wife and me.
If you are curious about Lakmé and Cecilias voice, please ask for listening tips or videos to search for in the comments.
You will find linguistic errors, I suppose. English is not my first language, not even my second. If you can't stand such things, just stop reading and look elsewhere for more suitable entertainment.
I have drafted a few stories from our life in Norwegian, but this is my first serious attempt to share in English.
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Lakmé -- The Opera, with Kari and Cecilia
Before she went back home in June, Cecilia and I had planned to go to the opera to see - and hear - Lakmé in the late fall. Then I met Kari, and she heard about this opera production, and wanted to join us. The day was approaching fast.
I had told Kari everything worth knowing, and some, about my former lover Cecilia. She and I had been fuck-friends until she had graduated and returned home. Our relationship had been much like the one of Kari and me. And of course, Cecilia knew I had found a new lover after she left. She was happy for me. This was in the eighties. No social media, only phone or letter to stay connected for those who lived far apart. But we had talked repeatedly on the phone. And she had learned as much about Kari as vice versa.
My relationship with Kari had inevitably moved towards something much more than just "fuck-friends". Imperceptibly and quietly, we fell in love. Without realizing what was happening to us.
We were both polysexual, and she a bit bi-curious as well. By now it had become quite clear that we were soul mates in so many ways. But none of us were ready to admit it openly yet.
When Cecilia came to the dormitory at noon, she met Kari for the very first time. They hadn't even talked on the phone before. But it seemed as though the girls had been best friends for years. They hugged and appeared to have an immediate and cordial connection. Both Kari and Cecilia were outgoing and open-minded and easily made new friends. The fact that they knew a lot about one another in advance, probably made that even easier this time.
A few hours later, we waited for the performance to begin. Me with a lovely girl on each side. All three in our finest dresses and suit as for a party. Lakmé is an opera by Delibes with a soprano and a mezzo-soprano in two of the leading roles. Respectively as Lakmé and Mallika. An aria from Lakmé has become incredibly famous after its use in advertising. Cecilia had been looking forward to this performance for a long time. Especially because she was an opera singer herself. Classical singing was her passion. But I think she could have made a distinguished career in most genres. R&B, jazz, soul. If only she had wanted it badly enough.
She was delighted and exited because she could easily sing the role of Mallika with her fabulously beautiful, warm voice. She also had the vocal range necessary for Lakmé. But Mallika was clearly the one she was most comfortable with. She was after all a mezzo-soprano. But the boundaries are fluid both up and down. She could go high enough for the role of Lakmé if she tried. But control and virtuosity of the highest notes, wasn't as good as those lower ones for now. Though, she dreamed of, and still worked hard to develop her upper voice range as well.
Just a few minutes into the performance, she put her head on my shoulder and grabbed my upper arm. I looked down at her. The mouth formed soundless words. She sang along quietly. I looked at her, this beautiful, delicate, yet so strong creature. Admired the arch of the cheek, the soft skin I had so often caressed, the smooth lines of the jaw... The lips that had kissed me so tenderly. They moved as if she were standing there on the stage singing. The ear I had whispered tender words to. Hints of future smile lines around the eyes and mouth. Her long blonde hair gathered in a ponytail. The high forehead, without a single wrinkle. Nicely dressed. The low-cut dress that highlighted the well-known curves and beautiful shape of her breasts. The tantalizing cleft between them. And the most delicious, delicate, utmost beautiful person, hidden inside this gorgeous shell.
A thought saddened me. She was a couple of years older than me and was already starting her career. The assignments at home and abroad stood in the line for years to come. So dedicated to her song and the art. The years ahead would be a roving existence for her. She felt she couldn't have any permanent relationships with such a life. A defense strategy? I had grown immensely fond of her in the short year we had known each other. If the circumstances had been different, who knows what our relationship could have become?
It was as if she was reading my mind. The hand around my arm began to stroke me gently. She looked up at me, eyes sparkling from the stage lights. Was there moistness in the corner of her eyes? A pained and melancholy looking smile. Although the smile was still loving and tender. Was it because of the song and the music, or also a bit because of me and her? Kari? I saw a tear forming and running down her cheek. Sad eyes now. Smiling softly, she caressed my arm some more.
When we got to the "Flower Duet", the grip became firmer. Kari must have noticed something. Or maybe she just understood that this was the role Cecilia dreamed of. Either way, she looked over at her. I had another peek too. Her tears flowed freely. The beautiful song and the emotional Cecilia. I became deeply moved. Now Kari put her head against my shoulder too. She smiled up at me. Tears had started rolling down her cheek too. Something welled up in my own eyes. I couldn't hold back. But why should I? The feelings were strong. And that was perfectly fine. Tears flowed from all three of us. I stretched my arms, pulled them close. Kissed them in turn on the head. My two beautiful, delightful girls. There were plenty of room for them both in my heart.
The performance had lasted about three hours. And had had a profound impact on all three of us. We were tired, weary and emotionally drained when out on the cold streets again. Cecilia shared her interpretation of parts of the opera. The "Flower Duet", she believed, had an underlying or implied erotic element of love between two women, Lakmé and the maid Mallika. But a little later, she said, Lakmé displays interest in a man. She was probably bisexual.
The soprano and mezzo-soprano had both given a deeply emotional interpretation of their roles, especially in the Flower Duet. They had beautiful voices. But she believed that they should have gone further in expressing the erotic tension between them. Not just taken off all the flowers and jewels, as in the productions where they go the furthest in movement and stage action. I want more, much more. They should have taken off some of the garments and at least embraced each other. "Sometime in the future that role will be mine. And I pity the director or choreographer who refuses to let me take off a shawl, a jacket and something more.... Show the erotic passion that is obviously between them", she said.
Then she showed Kari a little of what she meant. Cecilia pretended to undress Kari and then hugged her. Stroked her shoulders, back and hips lovingly. Pressed against her in a rocking erotic way, tight and long. Then she sang some verses with her beautiful voice. Kari responded positively to her caresses and reciprocated a little. And eventually Cecilia ended the show with a moist kiss on the mouth and a hug. Then I heard Cecilia whisper into Kari's ear: "Take good care of him for me, Kari! You won't regret it."
It wasn't meant for me to hear her quiet whisper... No, those words were not meant for my ears to hear...
Arm in arm we strolled towards the subway and after a short trip we got off at Blindern subway station. Then we wandered on up through the pear alley with trees that had hardly borne fruit that year. And finally, through the garden between the buildings and up to my room in the east wing.
After some necessary errands, Cecilia showed Kari how Mallika should have undressed Lakmé if she had been the choreographer. For real this time. Slowly, garment by garment fell to the floor, with empathy and graceful movements as if they were on an opera stage. Supplemented with plenty of caresses all over. I helped Cecilia and myself until we were all as naked as when we were born. Silently we embraced each other's naked bodies. A sensual group hug. A few caresses. Just the three of us silent together. No need for anything else.
