𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄, damiano david

━━𝟑𝟎.𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

The Ahoy arena became emptier, Måneskin had to go backstage with her manager and the rest of the delegation to prepare for the press conference after the event.

The rest of us waited in the meeting room for everyone to be ready, short interviews were still being conducted with individual artists, including me. I told the interviewer that I was totally happy with third place and incredibly happy for Italy, then I went to Sophia who was waiting for me.

We sat on the sofas in the meeting room and watched through the big TV as Måneskin sat down at the table.
Everyone was in a good mood, we cheered as Damiano opened the champagne bottle and celebrated.

"Hello Mum, it's me," Damiano said into the microphone and we laughed.
The conference went ahead, someone handed me a glass of champagne and I drank from it, grinning.

"So congratulations Italy, and Damiano, I have to ask this: because there was a sequence during the when you are seen in the background leaning over the table and seeming to be snorting something. And online people are suggesting that you were taking cocaine.", my jaw dropped, surely he couldn't be serious?

Damiano looked shocked too, but he quickly regained his composure, he explained that Thomas had broken a glass and that's why he looked down, "I don't use drugs, please, guys-", he said and then he shouted something that I couldn't understand because the reporters were clapping loudly.
Sophia and I exchanged a look and I rolled my eyes.

A new reporter asked his question, "I also want to congratulate you, that was a really good performance. Damiano, I also have a question for you, there is a video that was made shortly after the announcement of your victory, in it you can be seen together with the singer of the UK, it looks like you are kissing. What is your relationship with Coraline Collins?", a murmur went through the crowd in the press conference hall.

Damiano smiled, he seemed to think for a moment, "I think the ESC is a music event, so maybe we should keep the questions about our music and our performance, not about our private lives," he then replied and the reporters clapped again.

The press conference continued for a while, then Måneskin came back to the backstage area, Damiano had put on black trousers and a black jacket because his trousers were torn.

"Well said", I said when the whole band arrived at Sophia's and my place and grinned at him, "The cocaine thing is bullshit", I said.
"If they want, I'll do a voluntary drug test, then they can see what shit they're talking about," Damiano said and put an arm around me.
"Yeah, rock star," I grinned.

Together with all the other artists we went to the after-show party, which this year was held in a hotel opposite the arena.

The hotel had a large roof terrace that was beautifully lit. There was a bar and a table with food on it, music was playing loudly and there were already many people there who had been involved in the organisation of the ESC.

Elle said goodbye to us with a glass of wine in her hand to talk to Jared, Damiano carried me laughing in his arms as we all entered the roof terrace and he and his band were greeted with cheers.

The mood was exuberant and we danced to the music, but the fact that this was really our last evening together in Rotterdam hovered over us like a dark cloud.

At some point I moved away from the others to go to the bathroom, after washing my hands I stared at myself in the mirror. My face was shiny because the make-up was slowly dissolving, the eye shadow was a little smudged, but all in all I just looked like I had had a fun party night.

I reached for my phone which I carried in a small bag and unlocked it, I had hundreds of new messages from friends and students from my university congratulating me on third place and my performance. I would deal with that tomorrow.