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Chapter Text

‘Hi and welcome back to NRK P3! We play music you love.’

Muffled sound of the radio was disturbed by the loud laugh somewhere in the back of the room. Isak and the boys were sitting on the narrow windowsill — or better to say they were trying to, barely succeeding in it. The light haze of a shared joint spread around the room, the rest of the smoke going out in the opened window.

‘You don’t seem that happy,’ Jonas noticed looking directly at Isak.

Oh, Jonas knew Isak better than anyone else in his life. He always noticed, he always cared for him. And this time, even though they were already high as fuck, Jonas was still being his friend.

‘No, I’m happy,’ Isak said. ‘Just… I don’t know, man. I’ve never even been anywhere outside Oslo my whole life. And also my mother…’

Isak did another drag of the joint.

‘No shit, going to live in another country for some years is scary,’ Mahdi agreed while taking his turn.

‘But the opportunity to study in the best med school in the whole Europe…’

‘I just like to imagine Sana’s face when I’ll tell her about this.’ 

Isak smiled lazily and looked out of the window. Today was gloomy, grey clouds gathering to pave the way for the heavy rains that’d been promised earlier on the radio — that didn’t add up for Isak’s mood. 

He didn’t actually feel scared at all for the opportunity to move to Sweden. On the contrary, he liked the idea of starting fresh, new life without his old doubts and mistakes he’d made on the way to his adult life. He was worried for his mother. Since Lea and her husband moved to Bergen, Isak was the only one left to visit her in the hospital. And though it was often a tough one for him — to go once a week to the hospital and see her being so sad, it was the least of things he could do after leaving his mom alone in the house for months in high school.

Meanwhile, another soft rock song on the radio’s just ended and the male voice announced: ‘Today’s mood is a bit melancholic, just like the weather in Oslo. Bu-ut, if you want to brighten someone else’s day, it’s the right time to do it and call us to leave a message! Friends, family, loved ones — make sure they listen to NRK P3!’

Mahdi immediately got up from the windowsill and turned up the volume.

‘Bro!!! Listen-listen, you’re gonna love this!’ He said excitedly.

Isak rolled his eyes. He knew something was coming since Magnus didn’t come to his place.

There was a ringing sound coming from the radio.

‘Hello! It’s NRK P3 radio! Do you want to brighten someone’s day?’

‘Erm, hi!’ It was Magnus’ voice coming disturbed because of the bad signal, his words were hardly distinguishable from the noise and hash. ‘I’m Magnus, I’m your biggest fan!!! Well, anyway, I wanted to congratulate my friend Isak Valtersen for passing to the best med school in the world!!! Isak, you’re sooo cool!’

‘Oh my fucking God…’ Isak sighed.

Others were already laughing their asses off. 

Isak had to admit, it was nice. It would’ve been nicer if the fucking host didn’t comment on this. His loud, happy voice somehow annoyed Isak every time he had a misfortune to hear it on the radio. It’s a pity because he loved to listen to that station — the only one with good music.

‘Fuck, Magnus is out there doing shit for all of us and we couldn’t even leave some Mary Jane for him.’

‘I guess, he’ll make do with the leftover beer,’ Jonas said.

He, too, got up and went to the fridge to take another can. Isak was left alone on the windowsill. 

The greyness of the sky was making him sick already, so he looked down to see what’s happening on the sidewalk — as grey and dull as the sky. Isak got this place as a temporarily apartment as long as he works as delivery boy for some company. It wasn’t a lot of money for living but at least he didn’t have to pay for the apartment. Still, the district was a shithole. The boys weren’t frequent guests here, actually, just because it took them an unbearable amount of time to go to the periphery of the city. There was nothing but old plain buildings, all the same. And people who lived there seemed just as miserable as Isak himself. 

‘Maybe, we order some more pizza then?’ Jonas asked him when returned back.

‘Yeah, good idea.’

He looked at Jonas with a pensive eyes, still not fully back to the real world. Jonas could feel the tension in the air.

‘Hey, everything’s gonna be alright.’ He came up closer to Isak. ‘We’ll still be here if anything, you know that.’

‘Thanks.’

Isak needed that. After all, he’s going to Sweden, it’s the opportunity of all his life. Nobody would’ve given up on that.

‘Did this creepy guy tried to hit on you again?’ Even laughed.

‘He’s not creepy!’ Vilde exclaimed. ‘But he seems to be kinda persistent…’

She was hardly eating her salad, mostly just poking with her fork in it. They were sitting in cafeteria which was placed one floor down their radio room — the place was almost empty at such an hour. 

‘Like all the crazy fans are,’ Even said.

‘That’s so strange…’ Vilde sighed, her face pensive. ‘Like how can you be a fan of someone who talks on the radio?’

‘You have a very cute voice, admit it. And also you’re a girl — twice the amount of perverts can appear around you, unfortunately.’

‘He called you today during your program.’ Vilde looked at Even with a shy smile. ‘Did you notice? Magnus.’

‘Yeah, I noticed. I really thought he’d send you a love message or something.’ He chuckled and took another sip of his instant coffee.

‘No-o, he did it for his friend! It’s nice!’

‘You seem to really like him though. This creepy guy.’

Vilde sighed.

‘I don’t know,’ she mumbled. ‘And what about your wedding, by the way? You never tell me the news!’

That was time for Even to sigh pensively. He didn’t really like all of this ‘wedding talk’ everybody got him on with. Sonja was enough of a bore: menus that, guests it, and all of the different colors he had to pick from. He was starting to believe that everybody around him cared more about the wedding than Even himself. Honestly, he perfectly knew the reason why. 

‘I have no news, Vilde,’ he said. ‘Same as always, Sonja and I go around the restaurants and look for a perfect dress. Nothing’s found yet.’

‘Oh God, it’s just five months left and Sonja doesn’t have her dress?!’ Vilde was shocked.

‘I—‘

‘Naesheim!’ A loud voice from the corridor interrupted them.

A man in his forties appeared in front of their table, looking directly at Even.

‘Yes, Mr Belvig?’

‘We’re airing in five and you’re still fucking around here! Drink up your coffee and go!’

With nothing else to say, Mr Belvig kept the stare for some other seconds and only then went further to buy his favorite fish sandwich which reeked all over the studio.

‘I better go now,’ Even said with low voice.

Most of the time Even liked his job and liked his coworkers like Vilde, for example… But Mr Belvig was the only thing that was getting on Even’s nerves. The guy got a raise as a producer a year ago despite knowing literally nothing on teens pop-culture. He hated everyone here, starting with his boss and ending with a janitor who would come here late after the airing. It happened that Even, like anyone else, got in-between that list. But apart of the obnoxious chief, Even felt like it was his favorite place at the moment. At least, he liked being in the studio more than being home.

Just when there were seconds left before the airing, Even felt his phone ringing in the jeans pocket. He involuntarily rolled his eyes. He knew it was Sonja waiting for him at the car park to book a limousine she’d dreamed of forever. He didn’t have time to reply. Instead, he coughed to clear his throat and moved closer to the microphone.

‘Good evening, Oslo, and welcome back to NRK P3! We play music you love’

Even was running late once again. After the show, Mr Belvig, as if he really felt the matter of urgency Even had this evening, decided it was a good idea to ask him to go to his office to announce some new show. And this man couldn’t stop talking — strangely enough, since most of the time he didn’t even want to see any of his employee, especially during off-hours.

To add up to the other worries that decided to fall upon Even’s head all in the same day, he had to carry around his canvases with all the sketches. Even forgot all of them after his last shift and he needed them at home.

He remembered to call Sonja back on the way to the parking. Even nearly ran which was quite complicated due to the amount of people on the streets. And the rolls of his canvases under his arm. He hated Mr Belvig, he hated rush hours and he hated fucking limousines. Another minute, and, he thought, he’d hate his sketches as well.

Even took out his flip phone when he had to stop and wait for the traffic light to turn green on the big crossroad. It was terribly stuffed with all sorts of white collars who were in a hurry to go back home just like Even (in some kind).

It was very loud on the street, mostly car sounds around. The ringing sounds were scarcely heard in the phone speaker. 

‘Hey!’ He said as soon as Sonja answered his call. ‘I know I’m late and I was busy, I’ll be there in…’ Even looked on his wristwatch, trying not to drop the sketches, ‘… fifteen minutes. Or twenty. Depends on the traffic.’

And right this moment the traffic light started glowing in poison green — Even wouldn’t has noticed it if it wasn’t for the crowd that rushed to the other side of the road taking Even with them.

‘Fuck,’ Even said under his nose when one of his canvases almost dropped. He tried to hold it with his hand while the other hastily put the phone back in his pocket. There was some noise of the plastic cracking but he couldn’t care less at the moment. He had to do and receive back some shoves to finally get out from the crowd. At east, he was able to breath now. But he still needed to hurry.

Isak refused to go to the bar that evening, even though he really wanted to. But there were two things: firstly, he hardly had any money for the overpriced Czech beer, secondly, he was tired after the shift. People were crazy today with the delivery — he went around at approximately 40 places today. If that’s even possible. And now Isak had to somehow go back to the other part of the city. 

It was rare when he’d got stuck in the traffic, the work of a delivery guy had its benefits. But this day was an exception — Isak happened to be right in the middle of the crowd which was rushing through the crossroad, right to the entry to the underground station.

He got shoved by a guy from the other side of the street. Isak wanted to scold him back or at least to shove him back but he saw a small grey flip phone right on the crossing road. He didn’t think much — and picked up the phone to save it from a spike heel of a white collar lady. And because he had to stop for less than a second, he got shoved another couple of times.

On the other side of the road, safe from the crazy evening crowd, Isak took a look at the phone: a bit old, scratched on the back, with a little keychain. Well, he has someone else’s phone. How to find the owner now?

The answer, as Isak instantly thought, came the next second — the phone ringed. He opened it and saw a name ‘Sonja’. He decided it was better to answer, maybe, this Sonja’d help him to give the phone back.

‘H-hello?’

On the other side, there was silence.

‘Hey?’ Isak tried once again.

‘Ugh, sorry,’ the only thing he heard.

‘Wait, I found this phone on the—‘

But it was too late. Sonja hang up on him.

And what can he do with this fucking phone now?

Chapter Text

‘Oh, finally!’ Sonja exclaimed as soon as she saw Even.

She looked tired, exhausted even, and Even felt sorry for being so late once again. He tried to convince himself that this was an important moment in his life and what Sonja and him had been doing together for the last months was to make this moment perfect. It was sad that he was more and more unsure about the whole point of their wedding, the more he thought about it.

‘Hey, princess!’ He smiled at her and kissed in the kissed her gently on her temple. ‘I’m sorry, Belvig was once again making some shit up for me.’

‘Where’s your phone?’ She asked. ‘I tried to call you but there was other man’s voice.’

‘Wait.’

Even tried to grope for his phone, which was pretty hard considering bulky bundles of canvas in his other hand. But hen he didn’t feel the shape of his phone in the pocket where it supposedly should’ve been laying, he had to nervously hand in his paintings to Sonja. She watched him with this familiar tired look Even knew so well.

‘It should’ve been there, in my pocket…’ He mumbled while continuing to search all of his pockets.

‘Even…’ She sighed. ‘Maybe, it’s been stolen?’

‘What?’

‘There was someone on the other line, I told you.’

Even frowned. He was still not over the fact of the loss, his hands still moving around his jacket but with less effort.

‘Give me your phone, please,’ he asked her.

Sonja gave it to him, it was getting hard for her to try and hold Even’s paintings.

Even quickly found his own number in her contacts and pressed ‘Call’. It beeped once, then again meaning that his phone was still on the line. But nobody answered the call. Even bit his lip when he heard the third beep. Sonja looked at him worriedly from aside.

But then someone finally picked up.

‘Hey ehh, do not hang up!!!’ Somebody on the other line shouted.

‘God, that was aggressive,’ Even said.

‘Oh, that’s not Sonja…’

‘Well yes, that’s the owner of this phone you’re holding.’

‘Thank God!’ There was a sigh of relief. ‘Look, I didn’t stole it, just for the record. I— I know it sounds dumb but ugh…I found it. On the street—’

‘Yeah, I figured. And by the way, even if you were a thief, you’d be a stupid one.’

‘Wow, that was rude, man.’

‘No, I mean, why would a thief answer the stolen phone?’

‘I dunno… just to make fun of his victim?’

Even couldn’t help but laugh.

‘That would be too cruel.’

‘Yeah, thieves are not known for compassion.’

‘You know too much about thieves’ behavior, I’m afraid…’

‘Hey, I am not a thief! I don’t even need the second phone. You just dropped it in the middle of the road, I didn’t want the valuable device to be smashed. I saved it.’

‘Thank you for your bravery, I appreciate it. No, but really thanks. But we need to meet somehow now… I’d like my phone back.’

‘And this is the moment where I should make fun of you and plead guilty of the theft?’

Even gasped.

‘I’m just joking! I’m free tomorrow, we could meet somewhere in the centre of Oslo.’

‘Great! I’m working tomorrow but we could meet up later in the evening… Say, half six?’

‘Fine. Where?’

‘Near Nationaltheatret station.’

‘Oh God, this is where you’ve lost your phone, isn’t it? I already can see the crowd there… Okay. So see you tomorrow ehh…’

‘Even.’

‘Oh, so Even. I’m Isak. Nice to, umm, meet you I guess?’

‘Same. See you, thief!’

‘I’m not—‘

But Even did’t hear Isak’s last words, hanging up the phone just for the effect. It was surprisingly fun talking to a stranger over the phone. Well, his own phone but still.

The call caught Isak on his way home when he was just about to exit the underground station. This and the unknown ringtone were the reasons it took him some time to answer. Who in his right mind uses Radiohead songs as his ringtone? Isak, on the other hand, was one of the few who still used the default sounds just because he didn’t want to ruin his favorite songs.

This Even seemed to Isak a strange man but in a good way. But the end of the call made Isak a bit confused — did Even really considered him a thief? He hoped he did not. 

And God did his voice sound nice! Isak didn’t like to crush into boys just like that, with simple things like voice or hair or anything else but sometimes he couldn’t help his ‘annoying gayness’ as he would often call Eskild, his friend. But Eskild’s never been offended, he knew perfectly well that Isak is another one annoying gay in their small group.

Isak looked on the phone screen for another minute, nervously twiddling with a trinket. He had to fight the urge and not to snoop into someone else’s phone. It was a stupid, annoying trait of him, being a bit nosy. For the most part, he was interested in the music that was downloaded. Radiohead was a good start. 

Instead, he took his mp3-player and tried to find if he had any of Radiohead songs. He, unfortunately, didn’t. So, Isak just started playing a random song, put on his earbud back and went down the street. The random song happened to be Still Dreaming by Nas and Kanye West.

Before entering his flat, Isak checked the mailbox and — finally — he got the letter he was waiting for. Honestly, his feelings were pretty much mixed over this fact but on the surface he felt excitement. This was the letter from Karolinska Institutet.

He hastily locked the door, dropped his backpack on the floor and took off his hoodie. The flat met him with darkness all around, Isak had to turn the light on to finally be able to read. It wasn’t the first letter from the institute (with a bran logo on it), the first one contained his results of the exams, which he did great, and this second letter was an invitation to start studying. ‘Oh God, this is really happening’, Isak thought. He started reading it, hands shaking a bit, anxiety spreading around his body. He couldn’t even understand why he was so anxious, he already knew the letter is good news.

Well, he was admitted to the Karolinska Institutet. If Isak only knew five years ago that he’d become that much of a nerd… 

He took a deep breath, entered his bedroom and lay down on the bed to think over once again. Isak liked to just stare into the ceiling like that, nothing to distract him — just lost in reflection, in his own mind. The earbuds were hanging down his jeans, he forgot to turn off the music in the player — the soft quiet beat was hardly heard in the room.

Honestly, Isak felt confused with this whole situation of the institute in Sweden. When he decided to pass the entering exams, he hoped for nothing much — it was more of a bet between him and Sana. And, surprisingly, he won it. And now it’s become to real. On one hand, this is a really prestigious med school which is a great choice to go further in his core studies in genetics. On the other hand… well, there was a lot to unpack.

In the end, he decided to call Sana. It was about time she heard the news about her loss. Absentmindedly, he  pulled out a phone out of his pocket. It was a Sony Ericsson flip phone. This damn flip phone, Isak forgot about it already. He sighed and put it back and tried to find his own. His was a battered, old Nokia — a trash compared to a nice flip phone of the stranger. Even. 

He dialed Sana.

‘Hello.’

‘Hi, Sanasol.’

‘Oh, it’s you Isabell.’

‘I have news for you,’ Isak decided to go straight ahead.

‘What, did you finally find the proof that weed increases your IQ level?’

Isak laughed, still lying down and looking up the ceiling.

‘Naah, gi-irl.’

‘You seem to spend a lot of time with Eskild, Isa.’

There was a gain of truth in it… and yes, sometimes he could say something ‘Eskild-style’ as he called it. But Isak could allow it only with Eskild himself and, of course, Sana — few people who he came out to. 

‘Okay, if you are so eager to know…’ Isak started.

‘I sure am,’ she said sounding totally deadpan.

‘I’ve got admitted to Karolinska.’

‘Yeah, okay, I’m tired of you fooling around, honestly.’

‘No, I’m serious. I just got the acceptance letter.’

‘No way…’

‘Yes way, Sanasol.’

‘So does weed really increase your IQ or what? I didn’t know you can be smart.’

‘I can be smart when I want to. Also this means you’ve lost me 20 bucks.’

‘Thank God I decided not to bet a grand.’

They talked a bit about the study in Sweden, what courses there will be and which of them are most interesting, but Sana had to go to bed early and they ended the call.

Isak felt a little bit more sure about this study. Sana was the only person in his life who motivated him in his genetics studies. So, he decided then — he’ll go to Sweden. But that meant he had to start preparing now, and the first thing to do was to quit his stupid ass job in delivery. 

Isak was woken up in the early morning by the already familiar voice of Thom Yorke. ‘Ice age coming, ice age coming’. Not very promising words to start the day. He took that call out of habit, having even thought if it was some stranger who was looking for Even. But it was Even himself, voice sounding too energetic in the morning but a little bit of hoarseness made up to it. And okay, Isak really liked his voice, it was stupid how much. He really hoped that Even would turn out to be ugly as hell.

‘Good morning, Isak!’

‘Egh… Yes, right, Even.’

‘Nice that you remember. Especially knowing you have my property in your hand.’

‘Shut up,’ Isak said it without thinking, he didn’t really get the chance to wake up properly. So he himself was surprised of his own rudeness. But Even just laughed.

There was something strange about his voice, though. But Isak couldn’t figured out what exactly.

‘I just wanted to remind you about the meeting. What do you look like?’

‘Erm, why do you need to know?’ Isak was confused. 

He got up from the bed and opened the curtains. Isak excepted to see the blinding lights of the morning sun but instead he saw that the sun’s just started rising. ‘What the fuck, Isak thought, too early.’

‘Well, how else do I suppose to figure out who out of billions other people near Nationaltheatret is the man who stole my phone?’

‘I didn’t— Okay, never mind.’ Isak sighed. ‘Yeah, you’re right. But do you think I have any thinking ability in the God’s hour of six??’

‘I don’t know but I sure hope you have a thinking ability at all. So what do you look like, Isak.’

And there Isak was silent. He didn’t really know how to describe himself. Just the guy? In the hoodie?

‘You first.’

‘You want to know what I look like?’

‘Yes, since I am the one to stay outside and wait for you, it’d be nice to know who I’ll be looking for.’

‘Fair. I’ll be in a leatherjacket and with a big bag. And, probably, with headphones on.’

‘And that’s all?’

‘Yes. Oh, and I’m like very tall if that helps.’

‘Man, I’m tall too, this is not very helpful.’

‘No but are you like 1,93 meters tall?’

‘Okay, so you’re tall-tall. Got it. You beat me in this, I’m shorter.’

‘Shorter checked,’ Even said it if he was writing down what Isak’s just said. ‘Anything else?’

‘Are you like checking if I match your imagination?’

‘Maybe.’

‘Do you have a blonde hair item in your checkbox?’

‘Blonde hair,’ Even mumbled once again.

Isak rolled his eyes.

‘I’ll be in a hoodie.’

‘Hoodie.’

‘I’ll be slowly taking off the hoodie,’ he said with a lower voice now.

‘Slowly taking— Wait. What are you doing?’ Even sounded confused, almost shocked.

‘I’m messing with you, gosh.’ Isak laughed out loud already. ‘I’ll be in a grey hoodie, shorts and with a deck.’

‘You could really tell me all this like five minutes earlier, you know.’ 

‘You woke me up at six AM, I have nothing else to do now but talking with you.’

‘That’s really sweet but I need to go to work. Do you even work?’

‘Not at six in the morning.’

‘Well, lucky you. So let’s meet up. Grey hoodie, skateboard… Yeah, I’ll find you. Or you’ll find me. Half six.’

‘Yeah, I remember, half six.’

‘Great! See ya, Isak.’

‘Bye, Even.’

Isak’s actual morning started a few hours later. He ate his cereal, or more to say the remnants which he found in the cupboard, took his skateboard and headed out. It was his day out and he would usually stayed at home as long as he could but since he had decided about his future in Sweden, he had to go to the head office. He’s quitting.

It was hardly an actual office, nothing more than a stuffy desk room where only one manager sat. The thing about this manager guy named Howard — he was not a very nice person, to Isak’s opinion. Maybe, it was a common thing around all managers but he thought of himself, if his position better than about all of the couriers. But, to Isak, the only difference was that while they were going around the town working, Howard was polishing the desk with his jeans.

‘Hey,’ Isak greeted him entering.

Howard lift his eyes from the computer.

‘Hello, Isak. I thought you don’t work today.’

There was a radio playing on the background. NRK P3 once again… Isak heard this stupid host whose voice he didn’t like. Funny that it reminded him of Even. The host and him had a similar voices. But while Even’s was nice and comforting, the host’s voice, as always, was too bright and too loud. But he started getting distracted.

‘Yeah, I just came to resign,’ He said to Howard.

‘You what?’ Howard as taken aback in a moment. He even got up from his seat.

‘I’m quitting.’

‘Yeah, I got it the first time. Okay, not that it’s a tragedy but I thought you needed the job.’

Well, it was true since Isak’s dad stopped giving him money when Isak refused to his meetings. 

‘I’m going to study abroad,’ he simply answered.

Howard tried to contain a chuckle. For some reason, he didn’t consider Isak as someone who wants to, or at least can, study.

‘A good reason. Well, then give me a sec, I’ll find your docs. And you’ll need to sign the resignation list.’

He went to the other room. Isak sat on the other side of the desk, found a clean sheet and a pen and started his resignation letter.

‘By the way,’ Howard said from afar, ‘you know you’ll have to free your apartments in a week after you quit?’

Isak froze half the way when he started signing it.

‘What? Why?’

Howard came back with a munch of documents in his hands. He looked at Isak as if he was trying to pity him but couldn’t help his laugh. Isak could sense that Howard liked the idea to be in charge of someone’s life right now.

‘Because it’s apartments for the workers. And when you quit, we’ll find a new courier and we’ll need to place him in this apartment.’

Fuck. Isak could say nothing against, these were the rules. He felt stupid. And in that moment Howard took his signed paper, read it and nodded. 

‘Okay. I’ll send it to the boss and you’re free from now on. Good luck with your study, Isak.’

Isak was angry. Angry at Howard, at the stupid rules but the most angry he was at his own self. He could just work for another month before the start of his med school, he still needed money to live and to buy tickets to Sweden. But he didn’t think it through first — he just wanted to quit his shitty job and this was an opportunity to do so. But now he was deep in shit. He still needed to live somewhere for another month.
Now he was on his way to meet with the guys in the skate park — the reason he took his skate. Unlike his friends, Isak didn’t really like to skate on the crowded streets or streets at all. Skate parks was more his cup of tea. 

He was slowly skating down the street to the skate park. It was nice a time like this — because crowds of people were staring at their computers in the offices right now, — it was still summer, not very hot but the sun shined nicely, the streets were empty which made the skating more pleasant. Isak had one earbud on, the other hanging loose on the soft wind when he moved. He listened to Enema Of The State the whole ride.

It was refreshing to let all the problems go out of his head for a moment. Isak had only one solution — to go to his dad for a month. It was the easiest if you think about it from one hand. But the fact is Isak hadn’t talked to his father for a year, mainly because of his mom. It’d be the biggest loss in Isak’s life if he had to ask his dad for help.

But there was Jonas. And Eskild. Also Eva even if they don’t talk that much after school. The thought of his friends soothed Isak’s frustration.

It was five in the evening when Isak gave high five to Jonas and waved to others in the park. He was right on time at Nationaltheatret station, with a skate in one hand and holding the flip phone in the other. 

And he waited. And waited. And waited.

There was the other guy who stood a bit stupidly just like him, waiting for someone. He didn’t wear a leatherjacket but he was tall enough and had a big bag on his shoulder. More than that, he looked handsome. 

‘Sorry, are you waiting for someone?’ Isak asked him.

‘Oh, yes. For my girlfriend,’ the man smiled.

Fuck, he was wrong. Soon enough the girl appeared and the pair went away. Isak again was standing alone, the evening crowd walking back and forth — nobody saw Isak, nobody sought for him.

There were thousands and thousands of young men in leatherjackets, but neither of them was tall nor had a big bag. Isak was tired of trying to find the right one among countless of people. And how hard it was to try to meet someone who didn’t have his phone. 

It was near seven already. Isak was just sitting there on his skateboard, waiting. He bit his lip, looked at the phone in his hand.

‘Oh fuck it,’ he mumbled, took his skate and went to the station. He couldn’t wait any longer. Fuck this guy and his phone.

Even liked his work. Most of the time he did really love it, radio was a good place for him. But this day was different. Despite the fact that it was Friday, Even was exhausted by the end of the day. Belvig didn’t fool around when he decided to swamp him in work. Usually if there’s new project coming out, it starts on Monday, first work day of the week — that what everyone would say. But Belvig was something else, even though he didn’t seem a fan of alternative radio. Even thought he was looking for a raise here.

And it was decided to start their new radio project this exact Friday — and, of course, just like the Devil wrote it, Even should be the one to host it. It was an evening program, which would slowly switch to their nighttime ambient music. And that’s why Even exited his office when it was getting closer to 7 PM. He had to work two more hours, hosting the program on ‘relationship advice’. Whoever in the world even needed that on the radio. But there were some calls where people would ask if it’s normal to have sex on the first day and so on. Even hated this.

Even remembered about his flip phone when he was hastily going to the underground station. Isak. Isak must’ve been waiting for him all this time. Even couldn’t believe it but his day’s just got much worse. And, in fact, he didn't care that much about the phone — if anything, he’d buy a new one. But he was the one to ask Isak to meet. 

Even looked around near the station’s exit, hoping that, maybe, Isak still waited for him there. But of course, nobody would wait for him for two hours. No guy with the skateboard. It was obvious.

He stood on the moving staircase when he saw a guy a few steps apart holding a simple skateboard. It could’ve been Isak, Even thought. But, to his own upset, Isak wasn’t the only one skater in the whole Oslo. But Even couldn’t stop looking.

In the end, he got in the subway car and went home.

Sonja met him worriedly. 

‘Where’ve you been so long?’

‘I got late at work. Again. I told you yesterday about the new program Belvig decided to start.’

‘Ah yes, right.’

Sonja went back to the kitchen. The room was filled with delicious smell of their dinner. 

Even and Sonja were together for almost 7 years already. Even didn’t have anyone else for all his life. Sonja felt like the mandatory part of his life. And it was tiring, especially when the time went on and on. Even met new people, he grew up so much since they started dating. And so did Sonja — Sonja has changed a lot, actually. Not in the bad way or anything, Even still liked her, she was the sweetest person to him. But they became a bit different. Or maybe not a bit, but a lot more than Even allowed himself to think. They had never talked about this, and maybe it was their mistake. 

They sat in silence. Sonja did a great pasta for them tonight. But Even didn’t felt hungry, so exhausted he was.

‘Are you sad?’ Sonja asked.

He knew what she meant.

‘No, not like that.’ Even sighed and put away his pasta. ‘Just tired, I guess. I don’t like this stupid program and I don’t want to host it.’

‘Tell Belvig about it, I’m sure he’ll find anyone else.’

‘Yes, but… First, it’s Belvig. He’s my boss and he can kick me out for lesser things. Secondly, well, we need money. You know, for the wedding.’

Sonja stayed silent, thinking.

‘You sure you’re okay?’ She asked instead. ‘You take your meds, don’t you?’

Well, this is it. It was always like that, ever since Even got diagnosed. And he knew Sonja meant well, he knew Sonja was worried about him because she loved him. But she’s got this tendency to reduce every little problem or bad emotion Even had to his bipolar disorder. And yeah, she was right about it in many cases — they’ve been together for so long, she could read Even whole. But… 

‘I take my meds every day, dear. I’m allowed to have bad days.’

‘I know. I was just worried.’

Even sighed. They continued their dinner.

After that Sonja went to shower and Even decided to try and call Isak. He took their home phone — the only means of communication he had at the moment, just like old days. He dialed his number on the way to the balcony, a small little place in their flat which Even liked. Summer nights were the best to spend your time on the balcony. And there Even was able to smoke in peace.

He clumsily lighted the cigarette with one hand, while the other held the phone. He could hear the sound of highway from afar, rustle of leaves on the wind and long beeps in the phone.

When Even thought that no one would going to answer, he finally heard Isak’s voice:

‘Even?’

‘Yeah… Isak, I’m so sorry really! I had to do extra hours in the office today, my boss tried to kill me with tons of work. If I only knew, I’d never make you wait. I’m really sorry for that.’

There was silence for a moment, then a little sigh. Maybe, Even just imagined it to himself but he could hear a smile in Isak’s voice.

‘Shit happens. But I’m glad to know you didn’t happen to be an asshole.’

‘I’m relieved. How long did you wait for me?’

‘I dunno… I’ve lost count.’ It sounded like a lie. ‘I started asking random people in leatherjackets, you know. They all were much shorter than me but hell knows, maybe, you lied to me about your height.’

‘Why would I lie about that? You think I have insecurities about my height?’

‘Lot of men have.’

‘I’m not like other men.’ He said it half jokingly.

‘Funny you say that because just like all other men you stood me up.’

Even didn’t know if it was a joke or not. Did just Isak confess to him like that?

‘Okay, that’s a good one. But sad anyway. And like… I didn’t stand you up!’

‘Yeah, and I am not a thief.’

‘Stop roasting me, Isak! I had a hard day already.’

‘Sorry, couldn’t help myself. Why was it hard? Work stuff?’

For a moment, Even thought to just laugh it off like he always did with other people. But this time he decided to be honest.

‘Work stuff, too, but there is also the wedding…’

‘Wedding? Like your wedding?’

‘Yeah, my wedding. Crazy, I know. The funny thing is…’ This moment Even stubbed out his cigarette and took a glance on the room behind him — Sonja was still in the shower. ‘The funny thing is that I’m not sure I really want this marriage.’

‘Wait, really?’

‘Yes. And you’re the first person I’ve ever told this, by the way. Well, this is actually the first time I admit it to myself,’ Even uttered a nervous laugh. He really needed another cig right now. ‘Sorry to dump that on you, like I’m a complete stranger but… I don’t know what to do.’

‘Why won’t you talk with your girlfriend about that? Ugh, Sonja?’ Isak spelled this name in a funny way, as if trying it like some dish for the first time.

‘That’s… complicated.’

‘Well yeah, right. I understand.’

‘Thank you. You know it’s very nice to finally tell it out loud to someone… I couldn’t tell it to my friends or parents but you’re like a magical stranger from the other side.’

‘The other side of the phone, yeah.’ They laughed. ‘Your secret is with me, Even. Good thing we don’t know each other.’

‘Yeah, and if you have anything that bothers you, you can tell me too. I don’t want to be the only one with a shitty life…’

‘Wait, do you want me to have a shitty life?!’

‘No, I didn't mean it like that!!! I’m just the only person whining here to a stranger, like a complete loser—‘

‘You’re not a complete loser, Even.’

‘How do you know?’

‘If that helps you, I just quit my job today and right after that the boss told me I have to leave my apartment they gave me for work in a week. I do not have enough money for rent, I do not have anywhere to leave and I don’t wanna be stupid and go back to beg to take me for another month.’

Even stayed silent.

‘Okay, you win.’

Isak laughed.

'But why did you quit then?' Even asked.

'I'm going to study in Sweden, I've got accepted to the university there but I still have a month before going there. So yeah...'

'Yeah,' Even echoed absentmindedly.

‘Here, now we both know shit about each other — you’ve got a shit job and unwanted marriage, I’m gay and homeless.’

‘I don’t know if I should laugh or cry,’ Even said but he definitely laughed while saying that. ‘Also I still didn’t my phone back.’

‘We can try and meet tomorrow if you’re not going to stand me up once again.’

‘I promise I won’t. I’m not working tomorrow, we can meet whenever you’d like this time.’

‘Any time?’

‘Any time.’

‘Okay, let’s meet in the afternoon, at two. Same place.’

‘Noted. I’ll come.’

‘I hope that you will.’

Even heard Sonja in the room right when they hang up. He felt strange, as if he was cheating on her, not just talking over the phone with a stranger. Well, Isak wasn’t really a stranger anymore. They talked more than twice and know a bit too much about each other. He tried to imagine what he looks like.

‘Even,’ Sonja called him.

‘Coming!’

Now Even wanted to meet Isak. Not just for the phone. He really wanted to know what he looks like.

Chapter Text

Isak woke up to the sound of a radio on. It was a morning program which hosted a girl Magnus had been obsessed with. But mostly with her voice, since he’s never even seen her. If a week ago Isak always found it strange to fell in love with someone’s voice (but there were a lot more other strange things about Magnus, to be honest), right now he had to shamefacedly admit that he understood that by now. 

Well, it wasn’t exactly that he fell in love with Even’s voice but… It was really, really nice to hear it. Yesterday they’ve talked for about half an hour on the phone — very off-the-wall thing for Isak who didn’t really get along with people. Also for the first time in his life Isak felt so at ease when saying he’s gay out loud. It’s the first time ever he didn’t feel ashamed of it. 

‘…even though the forecasters predict it’ll be raining today, we still can keep sun inside us by making good things to your loved ones!’

The radio was still on and the girl kept talking. Isak looked at the clock and groaned with irritation. The second morning in a row he woke up so early. And this voice… Isak wondered if it was intended to hire as radio presenters people with the most annoying voices. And he didn’t even like NRK P3, he only turned it on yesterday because they had nice nighttime ambient hours which helped Isak to fall asleep. 

It was clear Isak wouldn’t be able to fall asleep again, so he tried to stand up and start his brand new day. He still needed to turn back his work clothes back to the office and they owed him his payment for the last shift. He hoped it would be his last visit to that frowsy room.

After completing his morning routine if you could call it one, Isak poured some instant coffee in his mug and sat down by his desk — which was actually just an ordinary kitchen table but since Isak 1) didn’t have money 2) didn’t have much space in his tiny crib, he had to make do with this. So he worked where he ate, sometimes simultaneously.

He needed to write back a letter to the Institute — and for some reason writing something like a simple ‘yes, I accept your invitation’ was impossible for Isak. There was a blank list before him and he could think nothing at all. Was it his insomnia corrupting his brains like that or just general Isak’s hate for writing official letters — he wasn’t sure. But something inside him didn’t allow him to accept it right away.

Fifteen minutes like that and he gave up. He will write this later in the evening, just not now. Isak remembered his mother again. She doesn’t know yet. Not that Isak is that of good sons who share the news with their parents all the time. Isak had a life his mom wouldn’t like to know about.

Instead, he looked for his cellphone, totally forgotten in his hoodie yesterday. He’d spent more time on Even’s phone than on his own (fair since Even was the only one who called him constantly). 

There was one text from Eskild, not long ago.

u me & sexy boys 2nite at club??

Isak sighed and rolled his eyes. Well, it was typical of Eskild. It meant he was still in distress after his last breakup — it’s been month already and Isak was a bit tired of going to gay clubs every other weekend but… Okay, he was a good friend to Eskild as Eskild was a good friend to him. Plus, Isak thought, he could try and find someone to hook up with for the night. At least, it’s the inly thing that could ease his stress.

He typed his response:

I know sms isnt cheap but u have 160 chars for it & ok ill go o4u

Going out with Eskild was something of a secret part of his life. Boys knew about him and all but they would be shocked if they’d learned Isak is gay club frequenter. Not that he loved it anyway, but it was way easier to fine some one night stand for a gay man than to find The Only One. Or maybe Isak was that unlucky.

He was halfway through his late breakfast (he only had two eggs left in the fridge) when he heard already familiar sound of Thom Yorke. Damn this stupid Radiohead song.

‘Do you even have friends?’ Isak asked as soon as he heard Even’s voice.

‘Yes, a lot of them, actually. Want to become another one, Isak?’

‘No, I was just wondering. You just like to call me too much, maybe you have no one else to talk to.’

‘Haha, witty.’ Even did a fake laugh. ‘You can consider that my calls are so frequent because you have my cellphone, boy.’

Isak couldn’t help but roll his eyes even though Even couldn’t see it. 

‘Boy?! Who the fuck are you calling a boy?’

‘I don’t know, you sound pretty much like a boy to me.’

‘Okay, you can call me a boy only if you’re like 60 or something.’

‘You think I’m an old creep?’

‘Considering it.’

‘How old do you think I am?’

‘Now I think you’re 60 year old creep.’

‘Fair… My guess is that you’re 18 at max.’

Isak grinned.

‘Nice of you to think that. I’m 22.’

‘Really? Oh my god, I really thought you’re younger. Still younger than me though.’

‘Yeah, it’s hard to compete with a 60 year old.’

‘I’m just 24, oh my god, Isak!!!’

‘Okay, I believe you.’

‘Now that we have stated our age — which is not why I called you, by the way — do you remember about our meeting?’

‘Did you call me just to make sure I’ll come? For real? I’m not the one who didn’t show up last time, Even.’

‘Don’t be so hard on me, man.’

‘I’m joking. But of course, I remember. Two o’clock, today, at the Nationaltheatret.’

‘I’ve never doubted you.’

‘And you still called.’

‘Maybe, I missed your voice, Isak.’

‘You’re almost married man, Even,’ Isak said even though he couldn’t help his smile. Flirting with a straight married man on the phone… Not a life Isak imagined.

‘Yeah, almost…’ Something in his voice gave away sadness.

‘So I guess I’ll see you later?’

‘Yeah, will you be with your skate again?’

‘Nah, just grey hoodie and all.’

‘Not very informative but I’ll make do. See you, Isak.’

‘See you, Even.’

The call’s ended and suddenly, the world seemed to shine brighter for Isak.

Even didn’t know why he called Isak in the morning. There was really no reason at all for him to call or, more than that, to remind him about their meeting. It was just stupid. Sonja was still asleep when Even woke up. He had a rough sleep this night, after talking with Isak and finally admitting his thoughts. So Even didn’t realize when his hand started dialing his cellphone number.

But the fact is it was nice talking to Isak. And it was so easy with him as if they were friends for ages. It was a funny feeling considering Even didn’t even know what Isak looked like. He just imagined him as some grumpy teenager but apparently he was older. Well, he’ll finally see Isak today, Even was anticipating it.

Even though this phone talk was pointless, it brightened Even’s mood for sure. Isak was funny. And gosh, why did Even have to be so awkward? He was a flirty man, it’s kind of part of his job as well. But sometimes it becomes too much. 

He decided to spend the remnants of his morning in his workroom where he mostly painted. Even turned on his CD-player and put on his favorite Sade’s album. He loved to listen to music when he was drawing. Even though there was a fresh canvas waiting for him for days already, Even wasn’t in the mood for painting. He just needed to relax while doodling things. So he sat down by his desk with a sketchbook. It took him some minutes but he chose to try to draw Isak. Well, the way Even imagined him. He did a few sketches of a boy with a skateboard in his hand, a boy skating and a boy talking on the flip phone which looked like Even’s.

Even slumps back in his chair to have a clearer look on his drawings. It was a while when he last doodled something just for the fun of it — just funny little comic-like doodles. He liked it. Even reached out for a pack of cigarettes on his desk, took one and lit it up. Sonja wasn’t a fan of it, but workroom was Even’s territory.

After a few minutes he heard a knock at the door and then Sonja herself appeared in the doorway, still in her pajamas, water dripping from the ends of her short wet hair.

‘Are you smoking here again?’ she asked with a not-impressed look.

Even let out a puff. 

‘I’m an artist, I need some tobacco to live.’

‘I’m not buying your artist-y stuff, Ev.’

Sonja came up closer to him and took a look at the sketch.

‘Nice,’ she said with a smile.

But Even felt uneasy, as if Sonja just witnessed something inappropriate. Thank God she didn't ask him who was it. 

‘Do you remember that we should go to the agency today?’

Oh fuck, Even thought. He stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray.

‘Ugh, yeah-yeah, ‘course I remember,’ he said. ‘We are booked for ehh…’

‘The appointment is at 12:00,’ Sonja helped. She knew he didn’t remember shit but decided to show mercy and do not point that out. ‘We need to finally settle with the place, you know. If we don’t choose and book now, we’ll end up celebrating under the bridge.’

‘Well, it’s a bit extravagant but I like the idea… Can be a nice political gesture.’

‘Even,’ Sonja sighed. ‘You’re not funny.’

‘Relax, sweetheart.’ Even smiled genuinely. ‘You are too nervous, I try to unwind you a bit. I’ll finish here in minutes and then we’ll go to the agency, alright?’

Even stood up and took Sonja’s hand. She smiled back at him.

‘Okay, I’ll go get ready then.’

When she went away, Even bit his lip and muttered ‘fuck’. But the appointment shouldn’t be that long, should it? He hoped he will get in time to meet Isak. 

Even didn’t except it’d take this long. They’ve been sitting there for an hour already, picking out the best places for the wedding — Sonja wanted something outdoor, not very expensive and posh but still nice, nature-like style. Even just wanted to end it up already. Who could know that there were like hundreds of places in suburbs of Oslo to play a wedding there: half of them were out of their humble budget, the other half had too many ‘buts’. There wasn’t any lake, this place was too far away, another one didn’t have a place for a barbecue and so on and on and on.

Honestly, though, Even wasn’t this kind of a man who hates fun and parties, quite on the contrary — he LOVED it. And he always imagined to have a very pretty romantic wedding, with preparations and flowers and guest cards, all of that. But… he came to a conclusion: he didn’t want that with Sonja. And he hated to admit it. Everything they did together for their wedding made Even nauseous, left with a dreadful feeling. But the sole fact that they got to the point of playing a wedding was a sign he took it too far. 

And more than that, he had another important thing to do. So while Sonja talked with a manager discussing things, Even glanced at his watch from time to time. And he had less and less of it to make it on time with meeting.

He bit his lip nervously. He tried not to look at his watch and turned his head to the only window in the room. It was getting cloudy outside, sky grey and gloomy. It was definitely going to rain soon.

It was quarter till two when Even understood he needed to hurry. It was about a 20 minute walk from here to the Nationaltheatret station but maybe if he ran, he could be in time. 

He stopped Sonja in the middle of her question to the agent:

‘Honey, I need to go like right now. I have a… an important meeting.’ It was really an important meeting, Even thought to himself.

‘What? Where?’ Sonja asked. 

‘Sorry, explain later. Need to run now.’

He kissed her in the cheek before taking his jacket and rushing to the exit. 

Strong wind was already blowing outside, it got even darker under all those dark clouds gathering in the sky.

Even couldn’t think anything besides ‘fuck’ — he needed to run faster. As if just to spite Even more, there was a roadwork going on and the path was blocked. He had to bypass using the longer route. Then a very long red light on the crossroad, so long Even started to think the whole world turned on him.

Only when he finally got to the station, he stopped to catch his breath. He was almost wheezing from how fast he had to run. Only seconds later he realized he needed to look for a boy in a hoodie— well, not a boy as they’d stated it earlier, but at least someone edgy enough to be a skater in his 20s. There were a lot of people around as always, but no sign of Isak or someone who looked like him (in Even’s imagination). Was Even too late after all? 

He looked at his watch. 14:11. It couldn’t be that Isak was already gone. Or… Even went around, looking for someone, something. The first drop of rain fell on his forehead. Even tried to descend to the station and look for Isak there but he wasn’t there in the slightest. It was strange he didn’t know Isak’s appearance bus somehow he could still feel it in his guts that no man around was Isak. 

Even got back up to the station’s entrance. There was another two drops falling down. He looked at his watch one more time — 14:15. Fuck, he was late again and now Isak really thought he was an asshole.

And then it started raining. 

He needed to do something. To reach Isak and tell him he came, came but it was too late already. Even didn’t want to loose their strange friendship if he could call it that.

And then he remembered his office is near to Nationaltheatret. It was Vilde’s shift today and she could help him use the stuff’s phone to call Isak.

Even felt his hair gone wet, all the efforts in the morning to style it were washed under five minutes of rain. He ran to his office. Suddenly, there was almost no people on the street — the rain scared off all of them. When he entered the office, he quickly greeted the security guy and ran up to his floor. 

‘Even, what are you doing here?’ Vilde exclaimed when she saw Even entering the lounge room. 

She and their colleague Mikael were right in the middle of their coffee break. 

‘You’re dripping, man,’ Mikael said worriedly. ‘Do you need a towel or something?’

‘No, I need a phone. It’s urgent.’

Vilde and Mikael exchanged looks.

‘What happened?’ They said in unison.

‘Please, don’t start now, I’ll tell you all everything later.’ Even ran his hand through his wet disheveled hair. ‘And a towel would be nice, to be honest, thanks, Mikael.’

In the studio they had a stuff landline for important calls which mostly were a part of their job or just some other urgent cases. And since Even’s case was as urgent, Vilde took him to their into their work place — good thing Mr Belvig was busy in the other part of the office having some important meeting.

Even dialed his number — a thing he quickly got used to in these couple of days — and started anxiously jiggling his leg while listening to long beeps. ‘Please, Isak, answer it.’

‘Even,’ was the first thing Isak said as he finally answered.

‘Oh finally!’

‘I’m sorry, fuck, I tried to be on time but—‘

‘I really got there, I was late just a few minutes and I just—‘

They started talking simultaneously, each of them trying to explain things.

‘Wait,’ Even stopped him. ‘You were there, at the station?’

‘Yes but I was late for like— ugh, 20 minutes? And I couldn’t find you there. I thought you’d been already gone.’

‘Isak,’ Even wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. ‘I was looking for you too. And I was late, I tried to run to you as fast as I could before rain started. But you weren’t there when I came. I was there at 14:15.’

‘Fu-uck, really? But I didn’t see you when I got to the station.’

‘I don’t know… I had been looking for you for another ten minutes maybe but when rain started, I decided to find somewhere to call you.’

‘That’s really strange, we should’ve met then! I tried to find you too. But thought you couldn’t wait this long.’

‘It’s if the fate itself doesn’t want us to meet, don’t you think?’ Even started laughing. 

They both were stupid wet men who couldn’t cross each other paths.

‘What if, when we meet, the world explodes? Maybe, all the higher forces gathered to prevent this from happening.’

‘If that’s the reason, then we really need to meet. Fuck those higher forces.’

‘God, you’re insistent.’

‘I can’t live without my phone!!’ Even said. But honestly, he didn’t care about his phone at all at the moment — he wanted to meet Isak.

‘Kay, fine, are you free tomorrow?’

‘Ehh, tomorrow I’m working till late. But maybe Monday? Will you be free?’

‘Well, I’m fucking jobless now so I guess.’

‘Great, so you’re free for me anytime.’

‘I still have a life beside you and your phone Even…’ Isak sighed and — Even couldn’t know it for sure but he felt it — rolled his eyes. ‘But yeah, basically anytime is fine. But not fucking six in the morning, I beg you.’

‘It’s a pity, I wanted to take you to meet the sunrise for saving my phone. But I’ll make something up then.’

‘To rent a yacht with a personal chef will do if you’re looking for ideas.’

‘You’re not a modest man, I see.’

‘It takes a lot to carry your phone everywhere just for you to chat with me.’

‘And I’m grateful for that.’ Even was joking, but he really felt grateful — once again in the last three days Isak made Even smile over the phone. ‘I’ll call you later.’

‘Fine. I’ll be waiting for your call. Not that I could have any plans for the rest of the weekend.’

‘A loyal phone bearer you are.’

‘Buy, Even.’

‘Good bye, Isak.’

Only when the call ended, Even realized he was smiling all the way through like crazy. He’d never felt like that before. Ever.

Today was rough for Isak, to say the least. On the way outside he checked his mail and found an official notice which just reminded him about two weeks time to leave his apartment. So, it was pretty much official, not some stupid joke from Howard— Isak hoped it was but after he read those scary words: ‘You must leave the work premises within two weeks in relation to your resignation’. What high words for someone who worked in food delivery.

He had two weeks to find a place to live then. What can he do? Isak couldn’t stop thinking looking over different variants he could come with — Jonas, Eva, Dad, Eskild, Lea… All those names around and around in his head. It was like his 2nd year in school all over again— when he had to leave mom, when he passed out drunk in a bar thinking he could bear living on the streets of Oslo until winter. How stupid it was of him. But now Isak got into another shitty situation. He didn’t even decide yet if he’d go to Sweden. 

Okay, he will find a way here. He has friends, he can overstep his pride this time and ask for help like a grown man. Just two months before the uni starts. Isak decided to firstly ask Eskild today at the club (before he was going to get completely drunk).

And also their another failed meeting with Even — the universe really didn’t want them to meet. But with Isak’s stubborn personality, it just made him want to meet Even more. What did the universe hide from him? 

What’s funny about that — Isak should’ve been at the station much earlier, he had perfect timing. But on the way there he stumbled upon a supposedly homeless old lady who asked for his help — and if it was about money, Isak would’ve coyly refused because, yeah, he had no money neither. But she wanted to find a way to a building. After hours of trying to explain how to find the street she needed, Isak gave up and tried to lead the lady there himself. It really took him long enough to be late. He was devastated not to see Even there. And this time Isak was the one to blame.

And to add up, he got completely soaked under the unexpected rain. Okay, it was pretty much expected since Isak had already heard the weather forecast in the morning but he had enough problems in his head to forget this little detail which ultimately ruined his day.

He felt really better only after their talk with Even on the phone. Isak was on a bus when Even called him — and it was so hard not to smile like an idiot in front of the crowd of people there. 

And now he was at the club waiting for Eskild and thinking of no one but Even. Fucking straight man. Isak had problems with men when it came to his feelings but never had he ever fallen down this low. He started examining others in the club while standing beside the bar. Scissor Sister’s song was playing loudly and everyone danced. Isak felt like an old man every time he went to a gay bar with Eskild. He never danced.

‘Hey, Issy-boy!’ Eskild appeared on his side. He was wearing make up, shining with glitter. ‘Here you are!’

‘Hi.’

They hugged— wasn’t a common thing for Isak when their friendship just started in his second school year, but eventually, when he started hanging out with Eskild more often, he grew into it. Eskild was one of Isak’s closest friends alongside with Jonas and Sana.

‘Haven’t found a boy for yourself yet?’ He asked Isak.

Isak rolled his eyes in response.

‘I’m not a horny monster like you are, Eskild.’

‘Oh, that’s so sweet you think of me that high!’ Eskild laughed and then went on to order a cocktail from a bartender.

Isak looked at Eskild who was radiating gay vibes, looked at other people around him dancing and then remembered that he came in ragged jeans and an oversized t-shirt with Nirvana logo. Oh God, he was the straightest looking guy for kilometers — generally, it was a good thing for Isak but not when he tried to find a hookup for the night.

‘Nice glitter,’ he said to Eskild.

‘Thanks!’ He smiled. ‘You want that, too?’

Eskild knew him too well. He took out a tiny bottle of glitter and applied some on Isak’s face.

‘Pink suits you, baby gay,’ Eskiled said.

Isak just smiled shyly. 

‘Eskild,’ Isak asked him once again. ‘I— I think I need your help. Again.’

‘What’s happened?’ Eskild furrowed his brows.

‘Nothing serious… Well, I quit my job and now I need to find some place to live till the end of summer.’ 

‘What? Why? What’s with your flat?’

‘Too many questions, Eskild.’

‘Yeah, because you said basically nothing!’

Isak sighed.

‘I was just asking if I could crash at yours for some time… Like old times, blah blah. But I can ask someone else, no need to worry for me.’

‘No, of course you can come to my place, I’m always happy to see you there and you know that, Issy. But what’s really happened?’

‘I’ll explain everything, I promise. But not right now in a fucking club, please.’

‘Okay,’ Eskild nodded. ‘Did you have your beer already?’ Isak nodded to his almost empty glass. ‘So let’s dance then!’

That was totally not was Isak was keen to. But for both of them it was more like a ritual — they would go to a gay club, just two of them or with Noora and Eva sometimes, they would have their first drinks, and Eskild would always try to make Isak go dancing, and Isak would always refuse until Eskild would find a handsome guy for himself. And this time was the same.

Eventually, Eskild was lost in some other man’s mouth and Isak, finishing his third beer, started looking more eagerly. He was standing in a dark corner, a little tipsy, feeling more brave. But there was no one good-looking enough still. Where did all the nice guys go? 

After half an hour Isak found himself kissing with a tall blond in leather jacket. When he saw that guy, he immediately remembered about Even for some reason— oh right, because Even told about his leather jacket. And while this wasn’t Even in any way, the guy was very nice, both in manners and his looks. 

‘What are you thinking if we continue somewhere else?’ The guy — Isak forgot his name (or he forgot to even ask) — whispered in his ear.

And suddenly, all of Isak’s desire was gone as it never been here. The haze of yearning melt in his eyes — and the guy was not that pretty as Isak thought seconds earlier. And, in fact, Isak didn’t want sex, didn’t want it with a stranger — he realized it only now. He thought that this’d help him to blow of some steam after recent days of his struggles, but words of the guy, his hot whisper while he said that — all of this became a total turn-off. 

‘Ugh, yeah, but like can you wait then a minute? I need to pee,’ Isak lied.

Seconds later he was gone. He hid from this guy outside in the smoking area. Isak wasn’t a smoker (mostly just pot or joint) but in this moment he craved a cigarette. He bummed one from some butch and made the first drag. Nice nightly air together with a smoke did unbelievable things to him. It sobered Isak up a little.

He found Eskild some time afterwards when returned into the club. It was so sweaty in here after fresh air outside.

‘We should have another drink, I think,’ Eskild offered. He seemed drunk and tired.

‘No luck today?’ Isak asked him in queue to the bar.

Eskild shook his head.

‘Most of men are dickheads here, it’s terrible. But you? I’ve seen you exchanging saliva with a hotty!’

Isak grimaced.

‘Naah… I realized I’m not really into one night stands stuff. It’s so tiring and disappointing every time.’ Isak sighed. ‘I just want love and romance… Do I sound like a chick?’

‘Honey, everybody wants love and romance, regardless of their sex and age. And oh god, just stop with those masculine nasty language!’

‘Sorry-sorry…’

Well, he admitted it. Isak was in a relationship twice — once with a girl Sara in school when he tried to fight his homosexuality and the second time was the first relationship with a boy, it was when he started his university already. Those relationship was horrible and lasted just a month or so but it left Isak in such an abhorrent state after that he thought to never try again. Until recently when he started to understand that he really wanted to be just like other people. To love and feel loved. Just for once.

And that was it — he started thinking about it again that was his mistake. Isak was tired, drunk and sad. He wanted to go home. Which he did. When he was leaving, ‘Sola Sistim’ started playing: a very strange pick in a gay club, Isak thought.

He came back in the middle of the night, exhausted. He needed to shower but he had no strength left. So Isak just turned the radio on and started undressing. Eskild glitter was everywhere on his clothes and body.

‘And this was the last track of the night, friends. Now it’s time for our ambient program and I leave you here wishing you best dreams. Stay with NRK P3 and good night!’

It was this man’s voice again. For a second Isak thought it was Even — the voice was really alike. Wishing you best dreams… Isak went off to sleep thinking of Even again.

Chapter Text

He needed to do it now, it was for sure. Even had been in doubts for a long time, too long, he’d say. 

Yesterday Even came back to face Sonja’s questioning look and a following interrogation which resulted in a nasty quarrel. This is the reason he left to work much earlier than usual — he took a long walk to the underground station, just to feel the fresh morning air, just to feel something else than despondency. Even didn’t even put his headphones on and just listened to birds singing, the leaves on trees rustling, cars making noise from afar. It was a nice morning.

But that’s the only nice thing Even got between a fight with Sonja and shit from Mr Belvig which concerned his new project. It was stupid but Even didn’t want to be a person who gave relationship advice — not when he was thinking of dumping his girlfriend right before their wedding. Plus, Mr Belvig didn’t want just a discussion of relationship on air, he wanted more talks about sex for some reason (well, yeah, because this attracts audience).

‘Why do I need to be the one to answer to questions like ‘How to ask my wife to do anal?’, I barely hold back from punching those in their faces!’ Even exclaimed. 

‘Yeah, this is terrible. But you could use this as an opportunity to teach these people to talk with their partners. Just an example,’ Vilde shrugged. ‘I mean, doing anal isn’t something bad, right? Maybe, his wife wouldn’t mind if he just asked directly, like normal people discuss their sex life.’

Even sighed.

‘Vilde, you’re better than me. And you’re right, maybe I should try.’

‘Yeah, bring light into those barbaric men’s minds,’ Mikael smiled and they all laughed.

They finished their coffee break in another five minutes. It wasn’t often when all three of them would have the same shift together. Especially Mikael — Even mostly hung out with him out of work hours despite the fact they worked together. Mikael was one of Even’s oldest friends and he was the one who offered him a place there. Mikael himself was a sound producer.

‘Everything alright, Ev?’ He asked Even when they went out to smoke.

‘Do I look that shitty?’ Even scarcely smiled and took a drag of a cigarette.

‘Well, yes.’

Even stayed silent for a moment watching the grey smoke dissolving in the air.

‘I think I should break up with Sonja.’

‘Wh- What? Why?’ Mikael nearly choked. ‘You’ve been literally planning a wedding together the last couple of months! What happened, Ev?’

And that was it — a concerning look, too familiar to Even. Everyone around him started looking at him like that, ever since he was diagnosed. He could understand them but they couldn’t understand him. Since he was 17, Even had to double check every thought of his, every word and decision — just because he got looks like this, looks seeking for symptoms, for some signs of mania. 

‘I’m not manic, Mik.’

‘No, I’ve never—‘

‘I’ve been thinking for a while about it already. The proposal was a mistake, the last couple of years were not the best. We’re… We’re not the same, you know?’

Even took out another cigarette. It was a hard talk for certain.

‘Fuck… I— I don’t even know what to say…’ Mikael finished his cig and looked down for a moment. ‘Are you sure about it? That you want to dump Sonja?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then… I think it’ll be good for both of you if you really, ugh, don’t feel like that anymore.’

‘Yeah. I mean, I love her, she’s the best girl in the world but…’ Even sighed, ‘I don’t love her like I used to. I don’t have the feelings I had years ago. It’s just—‘

‘A habit? Yeah, I understand.’

Even looked at Mikael. He was a good friend, even after all that happened to them at high school. They smiled to each other.

‘Drop that cig, buddy,’ he said to Even, ‘it won’t do you better if you start smoking like a chimney.’

‘Don’t start with your mom behavior, Jeez!’

‘Somebody out of our gang should be a mom friend,’ Mikael laughed. ‘I decided I fit the role.’

‘You fit the role too well.’ 

But Even obeyed and threw out his half-smoked cigarette.

‘Thank you.’

They went back inside the office talking about other things.

‘And that was Moby with his song ‘Slipping Away’ from the last year album. A very important song to me, it gives me hope for the future. Maybe, it’ll give hope to you too, friends. Stay with NRK P3, we play music you love!’

It was close to 10pm when Even was done with his shift. It was his second time with the new program and he still hated it. He was so relieved to play the last song of the day, so he could finally go home. Go home and start an important dialogue. The mere thought of it made Even anxious as hell but he was certain about it. He smoked and smoked the whole day, hoping that Mikael wouldn’t notice or at least say anything. Even needed that smoke. 

On the way home he took his MP3 player and listened to music to unwind a bit. When Amy Winehouse’s ‘Love Is A Losing Game’ started playing, he couldn’t help his smile — just to the irony of it.

Sonja met him at the door as if she’d been waiting for him since she came from work. Well, it could be true, because they haven’t talked from yesterday evening and they ended up not on the best note. Another note, which Even was going to add, was even worse. 

‘Hey,’ Sonja greeted him.

She obviously wanted to hug him as usual but she stopped herself, lowering her head hesitantly.

‘Hi.’

Even could feel the tension between them, it could be cut with a knife.

‘So, about yesterday—‘

‘Sonja. We need to talk,’ Even said.

‘I know, I know…’

‘No, it’s not what we talked about yesterday.’

He put down his bag and took off his leather jacket.

‘Okay,’ Sonja nodded. She seemed nervous. ‘Do you want a dinner, maybe?’

She already turned back to go to the kitchen but Even stopped her by holding her hand.

‘No, not now. I—‘ he sighed, ‘I think we should break up.’

Sonja froze. She looked back Even in the eyes.

‘What?’

‘We should break up,’ he repeated.

It was so scary to say a moment ago knowing that it will change everything. But right now… Right now having said that Even felt it was a right decision. He felt relieved. Yes, it hurt to see pain in Sonja’s eyes when she heard those words. Even has never wanted to hurt her but… He would’ve hurt her even more, stayed they together.

It was just a start of their long conversation, the discussion of rights and wrongs. Pain, plea, cry — there was all of that this night. Even wiped tears off Sonja’s eyes, he whispered million of sorrys but it hurt, it hurt so much. 

They hugged, they fought, they cried. But with every word Even felt a little bit lighter because, in the end, it all will pass — a start has been made.

‘Even, you are manic again!’

‘Stop! That is why I can’t marry you! I’m so tired of hearing ‘manic’, ‘bipolar’, ‘depressed’ — every time I make something you don’t like.’

‘I’m sorry…’

And then:

‘You know, I felt that, too. I was wondering if it’s just the premarital stress but… It wasn’t the same.’

‘I think… I’m afraid we made a mistake with that. I’m sorry for leading it to such end.’

‘Well, it was a crisis from both sides.’

It was past midnight when they calmed down. They both were sitting in the kitchen, the prepared meal was long cold. Even sat across the table but he didn’t look at Sonja anymore, at her red eyes. He looked in the window thinking.

‘I don’t love you anymore. I’m sorry,’ he said.

Even was unsure at first if it was better to say that or spare Sonja these words. But it was a last point Even had to make. ‘I don’t love you’ meant an end, once and for all.

‘I don’t regret anything, all the time I’ve spent with you and you know it’s true. Every word and hour was worth it. But sometimes relationship dies out. And I was starting to fear that I’d regret whatever comes after our marriage.’

Sonja stayed silent, she wiped a tear that started to run down her cheek.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said quietly.

‘What for?’

‘For all I’ve said to you today. And yesterday. And like… yeah, I’ve said a lot of shitty things actually.’

‘We talked about it before and I know you didn’t mean that. Well, most of it.’

Sonja smiled.

‘Yeah, I still think you have bad taste in fashion,’ she nodded at his semifitted shirt with a V-neckline.

Usually, Even would say something back, they would bicker a bit but right now he just smiled. He was tired and he could see Sonja was tired too.

‘I, ugh… Is it better to leave you alone this night or..?’

Sonja hummed.

‘I don’t know, it’s all so confusing… And if yes, then where’d you go to?’

‘Mikael’s. Then to parents, you know.’

‘Alright.’

Later Sonja fell asleep on the coach in the living room. Even covered her with a blanket and left. He hoped Mikael and Elias weren’t asleep. Sometimes life was really hard without a phone. He remembered Isak. Funny story that Isak was the one to give Even a kick, as if to say. He listened to him, a complete stranger whom Even’s never seen. Fate can be an incredible thing.

‘I ain’t happy, I’m feeling glad…’ — 2-D’s voice was heard somewhere at the distance where the guys were still skating.

Isak and Jonas were sitting on the back of the bench in the skate park, eating sandwiches and drinking coke — something that hasn’t changed much since their school days. 

‘So you’re going then?’ Jonas asked.

‘Ugh… Yeah, I think I should.’

‘You should or you want to?’

‘Don’t ask me these stupid questions!’ Isak whined. ‘I still don’t know, honestly. But I quit my job, so I guess I’m going to Sweden anyway.’

‘Okay.’

Jonas shrugged and took another bite. 

Actually, Karolinska was the least of Isak’s concerns the last days. He haven’t sent his answer and his documents, something sitting inside his anxious brain just didn’t let him do it. But Isak was more and more sure about his studies — he just needed to finish some other important things, important for him. That’s why he asked Jonas out today to skate and to chill — mostly they’re going to skate park with the whole gang. Isak wanted to talk with Jonas, to finally tell him he was gay. He had actually told a lot of people about it but Jonas had never known still. For some reason, it was the hardest confession to Isak out of all other — also his mom but it is another story (which, he hoped, he will finish too soon). 

Eskild, Eva, Sana, Noora — all of them knew Isak is gay, it wasn’t hard to tell them, but Jonas… Jonas was different to Isak. They’ve been best friends seems forever, they met when they were children still. Isak used to have crush on Jonas, for God’s sake! It wasn’t long, they were just teenagers but… it was Isak’s awakening at some point. And since then Isak’s most horrible fear was that Jonas would know that and he would be disgusted by it. It was irrational, especially if taking into account Jonas was the most supportive person in his life. It was still scary. But now… now if Isak decided to start a new life, it could be one of the first steps to this new life.

Despite everything, Isak had a little feeling Jonas has already understood everything by himself. And maybe, he didn’t need to start all this talk right now… But Isak thought it was right.

His reflections were interrupted by a phone call. Even. Isak immediately took the phone.

Jonas looked at the flip phone in Isak’s hands.

’Oh, you’ve got a new phone!’

‘Uhm… yeah, I— yes, new phone,’ now was not the time to start explaining the whole story, ‘give me a sec.’

Isak sprang off the bench and answered the call.

‘Hey.’

‘Halla, Isak.’

Even sounded weirdly positive through the phone.

‘Haven’t heard of you in ages,’ Isak said, ‘I thought you forgot about me.’

‘How could I! I just, ughhh, well, I had an important thing to do, so…’

‘And you’re free now, I assume?’

‘Oh, you got right to the point. You can’t even imagine how free I am now.’

‘Okay, now you just talk strange.’

‘Sorry-sorry, I just broke up with my fiancée as if to say. Going a little crazy now over that,’ Even laughed.

‘Wait, what? I—‘ Isak was shocked, ‘I don’t know, ugh, should I say sorry? Or congratulate you?’

‘No, that’s okay, I should’ve done it a long time ago. I mean, nothing bad but… Never mind, it’s not the reason I call you anyway. But yes, I am free — we could meet tomorrow?’

‘Yeah, same place again?’

‘I’m starting to believe the station is haunted but it’s the best neutral place, so let’s try again. Somewhere in the afternoon?’

‘Okay, yeah, two o’clock if it’s okay for you. Sorry, I just… well, I have an important things to do as well.’

‘A coincidence, huh? Maybe, it’s astrologically good time to do important things.’

‘What astrology has to do with that?’

‘You know, everything! How they tell you on the radio, ‘now’s the month of Cancer’ or something.’

‘I don’t know if I seem like an astrology forecast fan to you but I’m not, like, at all.’

‘Bad for you, you could learn so much about yourself.’

‘I’m not sure I want to.’

‘Okay, if we meet tomorrow—’

‘When we meet tomorrow, Even,’ Isak corrected.

‘Right, when we meet tomorrow, I’m gonna teach you some astrology then.’

Isak rolled his eyes so hard, he was sure Even saw that over the phone.

‘Good bye, Even,’

‘See you, Isak.’

As it’s always been with Even, they talked a little bit more than a second or even a minute. Jonas has finished his sandwich when Isak turned back. He looked at Isak with a question in his eyes.

‘Is it mom?’

‘No,’ Isak shook his head. ‘It’s ughh, about my job. That I should return the uniform and everything, doesn’t matter.’

He lied. He often lied to Jonas, even this time. But it was easier this way. It still was strange that he’s been talking with a stranger over the phone (his lost phone) every day for the last week. It’s not something common and, honestly, sounds a little bit insane.

Isak sat back on the bench near Jonas and took a sip out of his can. Kids on the ramp were listening to Wu-Tang Clan now.

‘You remember Julian, right?’

Isak glanced at Jonas with caution but he didn’t even flinch at the name.

‘Ugh, yeah.’

‘I dunno if you understood it by now but, uhhmm… he wasn’t just a friend from uni.’

‘Yeaahhh,’ Jonas nodded, ‘I assumed.’

Isak looked at Jonas, he couldn’t understand his reaction.

‘And?’

‘And?’ Jonas repeated. ‘What do you want me to say? I mean you didn’t tell much about your relationship, so I dunno, man.’

Isak tried to hide his smile, it was wonderful just how unbothered Jonas was — as if they were talking about some girl Isak used to date. He didn’t say ‘I knew you’re gay!’, he didn’t make faces at Isak’s words. And God…Isak was for sure relieved.

‘Was he an asshole?’ Jonas asked then. 

He looked at Isak concerningly. He didn’t ask him why Isak never told him about it, nothing like that. He just continued being his friend, being Jonas.

‘Well,’ Isak sighed, ‘yeah.’

‘That’s shitty. I’m glad I told him to fuck off that one day then.’

Isak laughed.

‘He definitely deserved it.’

They took their skates with them and went back to the ramp.

Isak broke the silence.

‘Sorry, I’ve never told you that. But I wanted you to know, so…’

‘That’s okay, bro, don’t worry. But do I really look like a homophobe?’

Isak rolled his eyes. Of course, Jonas would be worried about it — he was one of the best social justice warrior out of all of them.

‘I— No, it’s… Well, you acted a bit fucked up when you learned that Eva started dating a girl.’

‘I didn’t—! Jeez, it wasn’t about the fact she started dating a girl, like at all! I just… You see, I hoped to have a second chance. To be together again and so on.’

‘Waait, you still like her?!’

‘Right now I think it’s not like that anymore, but…’ Jonas sighed and god on a skateboard, ‘a year ago I was crashed as fuck. She found someone else and that was the end of it all, I didn’t care about gender. Like you know me, bro, I’m a proud leftist!’

Isak smiled.

‘Course. But I didn’t know that you were so fucked over your breaking up.’

‘And I didn’t know you dated this asshole Julian.’

‘Touché.’

It was finally the day — the day he should take his phone back and forget that silly story, that’s what Even thought waking up at his mom’s house. He felt like a teenager once again: he heard his mom cooking breakfast in the kitchen while he was in his old room full of posters and his old drawings and paintings. It was, on one hand, a warm nice feeling to have his childhood back for a couple of days but, on the other hand, old memories filled up his mind. Not all of them were good.

Even still had to pack up and collect his belongings he had left at their — Sonja’s — house. Turns out it’s the hardest thing to do after the break up. And, honestly, it was understatement to call it the break up, not when they had shared life together for years, but it was what is was after all.

And Even didn’t feel sad, he felt confused — his life has changed in seconds just because of it. It wasn’t planned and now he didn’t know what to do next. He was just floating around, a bit anxious.

His parents understood him, they didn’t try to over-persuade Even. And Mikael and Elias were there for him, too. It was a good thing to have people around at such strange times of his life.

When Even was about to go out, he glanced at the landline. He knew he was about to meet Isak but he so wanted to call him — their talks always calmed him down incredibly for some reason. And he just like to talk to Isak, the mysterious guy whom he could only imagine: what he looks like, what does he do in life, how he spends his free time, etc, etc. Almost an obsession.

But Even fought the urge. 

He was right on time when he exited the station. And there he was — Even recognized him at a glance, it was hard not to. Isak was beautiful. All those days Even has been trying to draw him, to imagine his looks and all of them were not at all what Isak really looked like. And God did he look like an angel — odd enough angel to wear Adidas and baggy pants.

Even felt like he was in a drunken stupor, just looking at Isak like a creep while he hasn’t yet seen him. Isak was sitting on a bench with earphones on, scrolling songs on his player. He would’ve seen Even if he just looked up.

Something made Even hide inside the station for a moment. He’s never felt like that. Isak was nice and devastatingly beautiful. A stupid thought came across Even’s mind — what if he never shows up, what if he continues calling Isak and talking with him every evening? Even realized he didn’t want that to end just like that.

But time passed and couldn’t stand Isak up again. And Even went up straight to him.

‘Hi,’ he said a little unsure.

Isak looked up and their eyes met for the first time. It was like a lightning. Even could barely breathe.

‘Hey,’ Isak smiled at him sweetly. ‘You’re the Even?’

‘And you’re the Isak, I imagine,’ Even smiled back.

Both of them were awkward as hell, Isak looked back down shyly. He took out Even’s Sony Ericsson out of his pocket.

‘It’s yours?’ He handed Even his phone.

‘Ah, the stolen phone!’

Isak rolled his eyes.

‘So, ugh…’ Isak started.

‘Thank you,’ Even said, ‘for keeping it. And for bearing with me also.’

‘Nah, I actually kinda got attached to it. But not when someone else tried to call you, honestly.’

‘And you answered?’

‘Of course, I thought it was you!’

They both laughed.

‘Well, I should probably go now,’ Isak said shyly. ‘Have things to do.’

‘Yeah, I should go, too.’

Isak stood up from the bench and looked Even in the eyes for a moment again.

‘So you didn’t lie that you’re tall.’

Even was about to say something stupid, to flirt or… Well, it was hard for him to think. So he just smiled.

‘Good bye, Even. It was nice talking to you.’

Isak’s just turned away when Even’s brains glitched.

‘Wait!’

Isak turned back.

‘Give me your number, please.’

‘Why?’

‘I don’t know, just in case. Wouldn’t you want to talk with me again?’ Even smiled.

‘I… I wouldn’t mind, okay, well, here.’

Even found his sketchbook in his bag and gave it to Isak. He wrote down his number there while Even was just staring at him, at his golden curls, at the tip of his nose.

‘Thanks,’ Even said when Isak returned the sketchbook.

‘Bye, Even.’

‘See you, Isak.’