The Suitcase (a-ha fanfiction)

Recollections

"This is so--- different! I did not see this coming. It sounds more like rock rather than pop" exclaimed Frida as she sat on her couch in her apartment and listened to her new copy

" Reminded me of The Doors. My dad was really into them" Sebastian replied to her comment

"Especially the second track. It's so catchy-- even though the song is about getting away with murder"

"It's about what? Why are they so into this? haha" 

"I don't know man, why don't you ask him?"

"That reminds me of this, you met them when you were 18 but you forgot to tell me the rest of your story. And today, I'd like you to debunk this"

Ugh. Why are you soo curious?"

"Come on Frida! Pleasee" 

"Oh well-- okay then" 

-

(Flashback: 1986 ) 

I loved listening to music. I was drawn into a-ha because of that incredible video I saw on MTV.  However, what really made me love the band was not the looks of the musicians (Okay, yes  -all three of them were gorgeous and I had a soft spot on Morten Harket)  - it's the music material. And that got me into Dostoevsky, Victor Frankl, Knut Hamsun, and several other existentialist authors. I remember I did my high school literature essay based on Dostoevsky and Nietzsche with reference to music. I credited a-ha's work as a part of my analysis. My teacher was baffled by the new perspective I've taken towards a-ha. 

During my high school and sometime after that, I used to attend several concerts around my home town and watch the musicians perform. I loved buying records and playing them as I return home. There's a feeling of satisfaction in terms of owning my records and playing my favorite song on repeat. Ever since my aunt took me to Live Aid in 1985, I've been so fascinated by the chemistry of the audience and the performers. The crowd was wild and so much in sync with the performance. This experience prompted me to explore more artists and even watch them interact with us. 

And then, one day - I met a-ha in Oslo - in 1986

I just completed my graduation and my mother gave me a surprise backstage pass to the band's concert in Oslo Spektrum. She stated that the principal sent my essay to the manager of the band and now, they wanted me to see them. 

a-ha were like young chums or more like freshmen in College - trying to explore the competitive atmosphere and getting a hang of it. It was noticeable that they were trying their best to comprehend the ambiguous method of the fans' display of affections. Some of them were quite reasonable - who cares if we were shouting to them and say that we love them?  I definitely did that. And I'm not ashamed and so is the rest of the audience. Haha, the media was such a living joke. a-ha sings about existential angst and the media referred to them as teeny boppers. There were majors in the audience too! dummy. 

Some display of affection was also -- well, questionable. I have no idea why some girls send their undergarments to them. That's just bizarre from my point of view. And not giving them a space to breathe and simply invading their privacy seems to be bothersome to them. I almost had a chance to visit their hotel rooms - by sneaking in. But at the last moment, I felt so incongruent and I left the group who was about to do it. 

Around 9:45 PM, a-ha completed their setlist and bowed to the audience who gave them a mix of applause and complimentary screaming.

While I waited backstage in their green room, along with their bodyguards.

As they walked in , I realized there was a gulp in my throat and I immediately swallowed it.  Nervousness was hitting the peak. Why now? Of all the days in my life? 

They were so soaked up in their own sweats - it was as if they had a pretty good work out. 

As they saw me, Magne Furuholmen- the extroverted tall guy - proceeded to hug me first. He was such a hugger. I reciprocated back and felt the apparent sweat of commitment around him. He was way too tall for me so it took me some time to adjust to him. 

Pal Waaktaar arrived next. His hug was quite shy. He also gave me a small pat on my back and gave me a smile , which I replied back with the same.

Morten Harket arrived in the end. He seemed to be the one which a lot of sweat but seemingly, he smelled incredible ( perhaps, it was his perfume). His hug was the longest. I realized that his white shirt was unbuttoned while I was hugging him- and I felt some part of his bare skin touching mine ( i wore a crop top on that day). I blushed incredibly.