Ready for it? (Joost Klein)

2

Arriving in Madrid, we went straight to the hotel. Elio had booked a beautiful hotel where we would stay for 2 nights. Tomorrow is the pre-party and the following day I leave back to Belgium.

I am in my room with Kate unpacking my suitcase. Elena and Lucas have gone into town together for a while.

"Livia, I think you should listen to the other candidates' songs. You've only heard 2 and you'll meet them all tomorrow." I sigh and look outside. "I know. But with each song I compare Ready For It and then suddenly it doesn't sound as good."

Kate comes up beside me. "I have an idea. We'll eat here at the restaurant first, I'm starving. Then we'll listen to the songs together one by one. I'll remind you how perfect your song is."

"You're the best! I'm going to quickly change into something comfortable first."Five minutes later, Kate and I are in the elevator. 

Before the door closes, another man joins us. He is tall and has blond hair. He wears black glasses.

"I heard from Elio that some candidates from Eurovision would spend the night here. I think he mentioned Denmark and that Joost from the Netherlands," 

Kate says in the elevator.

I smile. "If there's one name I wouldn't give to my son later, it's Joost." Kate looks at me, smiling. "Why not?"

"I don't know. It just sounds old-fashioned. And you can't make nicknames out of it."

The elevator stops and we get off on the floor of the restaurant. The blond man cuts ahead of us, causing me to nod at him politely. He too gets off and, like us, walks to the restaurant. 

Once there, my mouth falls open. I see long tables full of food with everything imaginable.

"Kate, I just stepped into my dream. We're going to stay here all night!" Kate smiles and pulls me over to a table of two.

Moments later, I just take the last bite of a plate full of pasta, sushi, paella and pizza. "This was so delicious! I want to take that chef to Belgium with me."

Kate nods. "I noticed there was apple pie. How about dessert?" I get up immediately. "I'll be right back with a slice for both of us."

I walk over to the dessert table. There I see that all the apple pie pieces are gone. And I love apple pie so much. 

Then I see the man from in the elevator, with 2 pieces of apple pie on his plate standing 2 meters from me. He is pouring water. Should I ...?

Normally I would just accept it and grab something else to eat, yet within 5 seconds I am already in front of him. "Excuse me sir, I feel stupid to ask but could my friend and I have 1 of your pieces of apple pie? These were the last ones."

The blond man looks at me and smiles briefly. "No."

There is silence for a few seconds.

"Why not?" When it comes to food, I don't give up.

"Because it's an old-fashioned tradition to eat 2 pieces of apple pie. Oh and besides, I wouldn't name my daughter Livia Lissens either. Reminds me of a flower variety. But then the ones that don't smell good."

He steps away.