Antwoord - Joost Klein

39.

"Where the fuck is Joost at?" I was so close to shouting, but I kept my temper, but only just.

"I don't know, I haven't seen him for hours" Dylan shrugged while stepping away from me. I might have been a bit threatening in my words, but I had good reasons.

Joost had been missing for hours without answering my calls or texts. I had been busy working all day so hadn't seen much to him, but I at least expected to see him in the area of the venue. He was nowhere to be found.

It was my birthday, but I knew that before I could celebrate properly, I had to get work done first. One of those things were to complete soundcheck but it was quite hard when Joost decided to fuck off without notice.

I didn't expect the slight threat from this morning to make him leave me. I didn't expect him to ignore my whole existence and put my work on hold. He was on thin ice today from first forgetting my birthday, then giving me commands, and now disappearing into thin air.

"We must let the people in in about an hour. We don't have time for this man to be a little bitch, all he must do is stand on that stage and sing his songs" I was letting my frustrations go out on Dylan, who just wanted to play his guitar in peace.

"I guess I can try to ring him again" he told me before stepping completely off stage.

Teun was behind me in his Dj booth but playing with some beats so there was no way I could get in contact with him. The lights were getting fixed and kept leaving me in the spotlight while blinding me.

"Need a little help with the soundcheck, sweetheart?" A voice asked from where the crowd would be soon. From the blinding light, I couldn't see the person standing there.

"Is that you, Joost?" I questioned while trying to put a hand over the light to help me see better.

"Nah, it's me" The person jumped up on stage and walked into the light.

A much taller figure than Joost appeared. His brown soft hair was pushed behind his ear revealing his dangling earring. His strong toned arms were on full display from the black vest he was wearing. And of course, a pearl necklace around his neck that matched his pear white teeth.

"Zachi?" I smiled at the sight of him.

"Happy birthday" he said immediately while pulling out a gift from behind his back.

He didn't have to have anyone remind him; it came completely natural for him. He already even had a gift ready for me, and he was here at soundcheck even though he had no reason to.

"You didn't have to get me anything" I said while looking down at the box with a big bow on it.

"It's nothing, now open it for me Ellie" Zachi handed over the box to me.

I slowly undid the bow to the box and took the lid off it. I looked down at the gift before immediately looking back up at Zachi.

"I know you're not really into football but that day we spent together in München at the stadium was special to me. I felt like I bonded with you even though you kept asking questions every minute of the game" Zachi nervously explained.

"I'm sorry about that part" I apologised for my weird behaviour.

"No, don't be. I loved it. I loved the way that you would have to slightly lift off your feet to whisper in my ear for me to hear you over the crazy football fans. I thought it was cute" A warm sensation spread on my cheeks as he explained it.

"Aww that's kind of sweet" I took the compliment with a bright smile.

I set the box down on the ground before I pulled out the gift to put over my head.