𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 | 𝘑𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘒𝘭𝘦𝘪𝘯

Chapter 37 - Splash!

Splash! is an annual music event in Germany. It focuses on hip-hop and attracts local and international artists every single year. Ferropolis is the perfect place for a festival, in my opinion. The former industrial site gives it a cool vibe.

Aggu and Joost were lined up for the weekend this year. With the attention on their collaboration, everyone could've seen it coming. Just like them dragging me along and me not saying no to a festival.

While the two men enjoyed the spotlight, being interviewed and preparing for their shows, I stood on the side talking to none other than Paula Hartmann and Domiziana.
We chatted about how life was going for us and future plans. I hadn't seen them in months so we had a lot to catch up on. Domiziana got called to showtime, making me check my phone.

————————
Unknown Number

Good luck with the new guy.

It won't last long though.

You're still the unlovable person
you were before.

——–—————

Not this again, I thought. The number was blocked by me without any shame. He was really asking for another report huh?

A pair of hands on my hips snapped me out of it. I smiled at the graze, turning my head towards my beloved boyfriend. He mirrored my expression: "Hey, mijn liefje."
"Hi, how did they go?", I kissed his cheek that showed his dimples. I hinted to his interviews in the past hour. Joost took a seat on the camping chair next to me, concluding my head to lower in order to make eye contact.
"It was nice, hope you don't mind me mentioning you."
"Depends on what you said", I instructed him to give me more details.
He shrugged with a grin: "Nothing too crazy."
For Joost, 'too crazy' doesn't exist. He could drop the most bizarre sentence and consider it normal.

"You guys are so cute I think I might vomit", Paula gagged comically. The three of us cackled at the noise she made.
"Really though. Lenny already pined over you a year ago, Joost!"
I hit her arm as she exposed me.
"What it's true!"

——

The front of the main stage was packed, waiting for the next act: Ski Aggu.
He was nowhere to be found, probably in some corner flirting with other female artists and only showing up the minute he was on. Typical Aggu.

Joost, my father and I remained on the left wing leading to the stage. Their surprise appearance was scheduled for 'Friesenjung' which meant they had some time to kill. They were deep in a conversation about life, my dad giving Joost wise advice. I didn't pay much attention to what he told him. I admired them and the way they bonded so effortlessly, couldn't help but take a picture.

On time, Aggu jumped onto the platform. His performance boosted the energy of the masses. This was his biggest achievement yet. Managing to get the entire festival crowd going was something he had never experienced before.
He talked to them after 'Broker', taking a picture with the crowd and shouting random things for them to repeat.

"Do you want one more?", he asked, to which a loud 'Ja' rang back. "But what do you want?"
Aggu removed one of his in-ears to listen to their answer: "Friesenjung, Friesenjung, Friesenjung!"
"See, I was feeling low today and really contemplated on not playing it. There was bad news because I had planned to have Otto with me. But he sadly couldn't make it."
He was gaslighting the entire audience while my dad was in fact right next to me. They 'aww'ed in unison, bummed about the information.
"Right, I know. I was just as sad, that's why I didn't want to play it. But!", Aggu continued his speech,"I'm still not alone. Because there's a very special person here today. A person who I met a year ago and with whom I created a song together. He started walking from the Netherlands 5 days ago and just now arrived. Make some noise for fucking Joost Klein!!!"
His last sentence was almost muffled due to the screaming of the crowd.