Ineffable ꕥ Joost Klein ꕥ

3.

Joost's apartment was the same as Elke's. A green sofa faced a TV and a kitchen took up the far wall. Two windows faced the same street, reminding Elke of the cigarette she had seen him have.

The kitchen counter and coffee table were covered in various objects. Baseball caps, sunglasses, lighters, bandanas and cigarette packets took up a majority of the space. The living space floor was clean but Elke's quick glance towards the bedroom told her that the sentiment didn't continue further than that.

Elke was awkward as Joost closed the door behind her. She shuffled out of the way and he passed her to head to the kitchen. She tried not to think about how she was in someone else's apartment on a Friday night; another man's apartment, at that.

'What do you do? What's your promotion?' Joost asked while opening a kitchen cabinet.

'Consultancy. I'm team leader of my division now.'

'Pardon me, Miss Team Leader,' Joost turned with two glasses in hand and raised eyebrows. 'I should have some crystal to use for times like these. Unfortunately IKEA cups will have to do.'

Elke snickered and headed towards the counter. She put the bottle down and Joost took it, popped the cork without needing a screw before pouring the champagne.

While on opposite sides, the two were quiet as Joost poured. It let a pit form in Elke's stomach and she glanced up from the fizzing bubbles.

She scoffed and brought her hand up to her forehead.

'What?' Joost caught her humourless laugh.

'I feel stupid.'

'Why?'

Joost put the bottle down and held one glass out. His own sat idle, his eyes unmoving from the girl who shook her head with the same strained grin.

'I bought the bottle thinking someone would come over when I told them. Now I'm in your apartment because I recognised you from the car meet,' she took the glass with her cheeks flushing. 'I'm sorry for doing this. You don't even know me-'

'I'll accept champagne from anyone. You don't need to be sorry.'

Elke looked across the counter as Joost took a sip from his glass. With one hand in his sweatpants pocket, the tall blonde held a gentle smile. He didn't seem bothered by the fact that a random girl had turned up at his door. In fact, it was like he had been expecting her with the way he stood and spoke so casually.

Chewing the inside of her cheek, Elke had to tear herself from Joost's eyes. They were so bright and looked nowhere else but her. She would say they were intimidating but that would mean she was uncomfortable.

'Who were you meant to be celebrating with?' Joost asked, his gaze flickering down for a moment. 'Friends? Your boyfriend?'

'Would you laugh at me if I said yes?'

'Why would I laugh?'

Joost's head tilted to the side and Elke clenched her glass.

'Because he was free tonight and still didn't come around,' Elke mumbled and her champagne bubbled as she drank. She knew she sounded bitter and for a moment, she felt bad. Bad mouthing Roan to a male stranger felt wrong. But then she pictured him in his garage, probably with one his friends, with the bonnet of his car held up by its roof stand.

The apartment air turned awkward as neither Joost nor Elke knew what to say. Joost finished his glass quickly and it prompted Elke to do the same. She hoped that he wasn't signalling for her to leave. But when she saw Joost pour more champagne into his glass, Elke relaxed and accepted his offer to pour more in hers.