the essence of life is love

Naamloos deel 28

"How was the funeral?"

"Sad, not cheerful at all. There was nothing to laugh about. And I didn't see anyone familiar in case you're wondering. There weren't many people."

"How did she die? She must have been young."

"She wasn't old, fifty-seven. And how? I don't know, it wasn't disclosed. Now that you mention it, there was no eulogy either. Just photos from a vacation, long ago, and a lot of music."

"How is Bo? Is he okay?"

"Good, I think. I haven't spoken to him afterwards. His mother dropped me home. Kaan stayed with Rick."

"With Rick? Why?"

"Because, contrary to what you would do, some people do stay with their partners when something happens to them."

Lara jumps up from her chair at the dining table and stands right in front of him with a quick, large stride.

"Gays?"

"They are together, married, they love each other."

"So, faggots."

"I see them as two men who love each other. Homosexual is, I believe, the official term that goes with it."

"No, really, faggots. And you let them touch you?"

Lara laughs maliciously and comes back a moment later with a phone number written on a piece of paper.

"You're calling now. This is a physio who will treat you. You're not going to that faggot anymore."

"Lara, be reasonable. You and your absurd ideas."

"No, I don't want some pervert touching your body. He massages your legs up to your crotch. He might take advantage of you."

"And what about you? Can I say that you can't go to your hairdresser anymore? Or is that too much?"

"He's not a faggot, think for once."

"That's exactly what I'm doing, but you can't. Too blonde, oh no, that's also fake about you."

Seb sees that Lara still doesn't get it, her brain is spinning around and around, her surprise makes her momentarily silent.

"I just want gays touching your hair, not straight guys. Before you know it, they're reaching for your boobs. Not that there's much to find."

Now he grins at her. She still looks as if she doesn't fully understand.

"Forget it, you got artificial intelligence from too much hydrogen peroxide. You can't help it."

With a face as if a truck ran over her, Lara steps back to her chair. Meanwhile, she tries to feel her breasts as inconspicuously as possible.

"You know, Lara, in a few weeks, you need to practice your smile. After that, you have to do it yourself. I won't accompany you to parties with the press anymore."

"Do you have a new girlfriend to take with you?"

"No, of course not. I'm still a faggot. I'll take someone else, maybe your hairdresser."

"Be normal, he's married and has three children, with two women."

Seb stands up with difficulty, his leg hurts from standing this afternoon in the coffee room. Nevertheless, he wants to try his luck now that he can easily tease Lara back.

"You never know what men do behind your back, right?"

Now she looks angrily at her friend.

"That can't be true, you're not like that. Not you."

"Who knows, maybe I wasn't. It could be that I turned gay because of you, maybe I've become a woman-hater because of you. You never know for sure."

Seb can't hold back his laughter. Her face is too much of a joy to look at, her hunched shoulders, her collapsing world where she had the say in everything is destroyed by something she despises. Men who love men in public. All those years they walked through the city together, every time that unmistakable envious snicker she made when two men holding hands passed them, or even dared to kiss in front of her. Fortunately, she has never looked at Seb's laptop search history. Otherwise, she would have had a heart attack. Due to her ignorance, it's Seb who ultimately takes back control in the last few weeks to choose what he wants to do. With a lawyer, the papers for settling the cohabitation agreement have been drawn up. With a real estate agent, the sale of the house has already been arranged. A brochure with photos and everything is ready. If all goes well, Seb has a decent profit. Luckily, he followed his parents' advice well. There is nothing shared. Everything is clearly separated. That Lara has his bank cards means nothing regarding the rules on paper. She fought hard to maintain control over her own money, and it's the same for Seb. That he let her share the benefits, he can stop that easily. All he has to do is make sure the cards are blocked. Most of the money is already in a place where Lara can't reach. The damage is already limited. Now he just needs to take back his life.