Chapter Text
The plan is quite simple.
The plan is to choose 5 people, the most important in Isak life, whose opinions are of real importance to his boyfriend, whose opinions are really heard...almost, really heard.
Perhaps the problem is also simple... How to choose 5 people without undervalue the friendship/relationship of the others? Because being honest, almost all the people with whom Isak interacts are definitely special to him, though he would never admit it, even those with those he only talks a few times.
The most important thing is why to talk to these five people; maybe no one will ever know that he talked to them. Maybe no one else will find out that he had secret meetings with those five people. But they’ll definitely know that they were chosen for a greater good.
He still has time to organize things well even though he definitely knows the answer; it’s not as if Isak reminds him almost every week that he would marry him. Drunk, sober, even in the middle of their conversations as they share a marijuana joint – courtesy of Jonas – in the middle of study sessions, endless kiss sessions...Isak always says yes, Isak reminds him that his answer is and will always be...yes.
That simple word, along with Isak’s smile and his bright eyes as he says them, makes his chest almost burst with happiness. And even if he knows the answer, Even wants to do it in the right way. He wants to do it in a romantic and intimate way, just the two of them.
Maybe it’s the fact of having seen too many movies, read too many books...whatever, but before asking the person in question, if he want to spend the rest of his life with him, Even wants at least to know the answer of these five people. What do they think of his decision? Whether they have their blessing or not?
And although it’s important to know their opinion about it, nothing will change the fact that he will carry on with his plan. Nothing and nobody will prevent him from living his life with the man of his dreams.
And time is what he has nowadays, isn’t cliché or anything like that, but he definitely has time to do things the right way. He has time to create the perfect plan, to create plans b, c...and all possible plans in case the first doesn’t work.
But before he carries on with his master plan, he must take the first step, and that’s to look up the phone numbers he needs from Isak’s phone. It’s only two, two phone numbers are all he need to start.
Isn’t something that takes too long, or id difficult to achieve. A trip to the bathroom by his boyfriend in the middle of a marathon of movies is all he needs to take his phone from the bedside table, unlock it, and search for between his contacts those two numbers, write them down on HIS phone and leave Isak’s in the same place in which it was.
All is normal, no one suspects a thing, and now he can start with the plan.
--
Only a few days later, when Isak is in college and himself working on the morning shift in the cafeteria, and having gathered enough courage to send the first message, is that he takes advantage of his break time, that he decides to send something short but accurate… according to him.
Terje:
Good morning Terje, I don’t know if Isak told you about me.
I’m Even, your son’s boyfriend. I would like to talk to you about
a very important topic.
I hope you don’t mind me sending this message.
Just tell me the day you have available and where.
He doesn’t wait for an immediate answer, not even a message during the rest of the day, perhaps in the remainder of the week a quick call to know what it’s about and done. And without expecting anything, he prepares himself mentally to continue working…maybe he can leave today a few minutes earlier and het to meet Isak for lunch.
--
Three days later and on his way to his next class, his phone starts to ringing, Even answers without looking who’s the one calling.
—Hello— He says cheerfully.
—Even? — A mature voice but with some doubt in his tone asks his name. A voice much similar to Isak’s.
—Terje? Shit, eh ... Mr. Valtersen?— "Treat him formally or not? ... Shit, what do I do?"
Even stay stands in the middle of the hallway, with his phone next to his ear, only a few meters beyond over there are the doors of his class.
—Just tell me Terje— says Isak's dad —, look... I don’t know what you want to talk about, I just hope it isn’t anything bad or some joke.
—Not a joke, I assure you and it's definitely anything bad— says Even, trying to sound as serious as possible —, I just want to talk about Isak.
—Did something happen to Isak?— Terje asks, sounding a little worried.
—No sir, believe me when I tell you that nothing has happened to Isak— Even lean against the nearest wall, trying to breathe calmly —, is something I in particular want to talk to you...face to face.
For a few seconds neither of them said anything.
—Even ... look ...— Even could hear more voices in the background —, tomorrow at 4:30, do you have free time?
—Yes, I have the whole afternoon free— Even answered quickly.
—Well...at that time then, I'll send you the address… I'm sorry but I have to hang up.
And so with nothing more to add, Terje end the call. Even looked at his phone, almost waiting to do something else, but nothing happened. He puts his phone in vibrator mode and put it in his bag, slowly walks those few meters that are missing to enter his class. He still has a few free minutes, before his teacher arrives. Even sits near the window, to have an excellent view towards the whole class and also to the outside. At the same time as his teacher arrives, and the rest of the students settle into their chairs, Even feels the vibration of his phone, takes it quickly and sees that he has a message.
Terje:
Good morning Terje, I don’t know if Isak told you about me.
I’m Even, your son’s boyfriend. I would like to talk to you about
a very important topic.
I hope you don’t mind me sending this message.
Just tell me the day you have available and where.
"Stockfleths Prinsens Gate", Prinsens gate 6, 0152.
Tomorrow at 4:30 pm.
Brief and direct. Just for a second he hoped that Terje added something else but that never happened.
--
16:15 pm and Even is sitting at the bar which is located next to the cafe window, right in the center of Oslo. The coffee is simple and harmonious, several places to choose where to sit and lots of wood everywhere, and hundreds of things to choose to eat and drink. Even doesn’t think about ordering a coffee or something to eat because he knows that that simple liquid or that simple piece of food will cost more than he can afford and doesn’t think he can take or eat something with his nerves twisting his stomach. Isak has classes at this time, and will not leave until after 18:00 pm, so he has plenty of time to talk to his ...father-in-law?, or whatever, and return to the apartment to prepare dinner and do as if nothing weird was happening.
Even doesn’t have to wait so long to see how someone similar to Isak came in, perhaps a few inches taller than his son, but still lower than him. Terje looks around and recognizes him in some way. "Does Isak have told him about me?" He doesn’t think too much about it because the father of his boyfriend sits next to him.
—Even— he says in a salute, leaving his suitcase in the same bar and settles to stare at him.
Even can see the same green shade of Isak’s in his eyes, Terje is dressed in a gray suit without a tie, but tidy and clean.
—Terje— Even greets him the same way.
—I'm sorry that I ended the call so abruptly yesterday, I had only a few minutes to talk, and...— Terje looks back at the waiters— do you want something to eat? Drink something? — Without waiting for an answer he moves his hand to make himself noticed, only a few seconds later a waiter arrives.
—Hello, good afternoon my name is Oskar... What would you like to order?— The waiter is young, has a few years more than Even that’s for sure and dress completely in black, which highlights his blond hair. He has his notebook ready where he is going to write the order, and watches them both...waiting.
—I want a regular coffee, with two sugars and a cinnamon roll...Even?
—Hot chocolate, please— that’s the only thing that can say Even.
—I'll bring your orders right away— he says as he writes down the order, smiles gently at them and leaves without saying anything else.
—Well...tell me, what do you want to talk about?—Terje looks straight at him, serious and showing no emotion.
Even feels like he's being analyzed, and the nerves he's feeling do not help at all. On any other occasion and with anyone else he know that he would be smiling, eating something and trying to start a conversation as if it were nothing of other world. But there’s something in Terje's way of acting that will not let him relax.
—I'm...sorry— Even takes a big breath of air — first I want to introduce myself...I know this should be in other way, another time, but what I want to do or trying to do is...just trying to meet you.
—Isak knows you're doing this?— Terje asks, raising an eyebrow.
—More or less— Even responds quickly.
Even is saved by the waiter who arrives with a tray and puts in the bar a cup of coffee along with the cinnamon roll and a large cup of hot chocolate.
—If you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to call me— says the waiter with a smile and goes without adding anything else.
They both watch as the waiter moves away, no one speaks for a few seconds.
—Thanks for the chocolate— he murmurs, taking a sip of his cup. Terje looks at him again, but without touching his coffee or his cinnamon roll—, well...I'm Even, your son's boyfriend— says with a little more confidence for the simple fact of saying those few words.
—Isak told me about you— Terje says in a neutral voice —, at first I didn’t know what to think, I must admit that for some weeks I thought it was a joke. I didn’t think it would last this long.
—What do you mean?— Even asks, surprised at those words.
—I just thought it would be a phase— at that moment Terje takes a big sip of his coffee — I think that the two of you just started your relationship or..., I don’t know if it was something serious or not, not with the ambiguous messages from Issy.
"Issy" that little nickname coming out of the mouth of his boyfriend's father sounds so weird, as if it was something he didn’t say long ago. Even can see how Terje's gaze gets lost in the memories.
—Maybe that was my fault— says Even, looking out, the streets full of tourists and the sun shining brightly — our beginning was not the best of all, but believe me that what we have now is not a phase, and I doubt that’s something that will end in the near future.
Even can feel the intense look of Terje, analyzing it, the only thing he can do is take another sip of the hot chocolate.
—Isak told me enough about you— says Terje, taking a piece of his cinnamon roll— it’s not like I could ask for more. It’s my fault that we do not have a closer relationship, not with everything I did.
Terje is the one looking out now half lost in his memories, again. For some minutes no one spoke.
—I want to marry your son— say Even, both hands clutching the cup of chocolate firmly, staring at Terje.
Terje can only look at him completely in surprise; his face could show that that sentence took him unawares.
—Are you asking for my permission? — Terje asks as he fits better in the chair — because you know that Isak is a mature man, legal and all that...right?
—I'm very aware— Even answers earnestly—I just want to do this the right way; Isak already knows I want to do it...
—Right way?— Interrupts Terje, takes his cup of coffee and ends it at once— Even ... I doubt this— pointing to Even and himself— is considered the right way to do things.
Even looks at him, waiting for him to keep talking. Terje takes a big piece of the cinnamon roll and eats it slowly.
—The little that I know of you is that you’re studying cinema or something like that; that you’re older than my son by two years, and already the two of you has been living together almost three years. The fact that I still help Isak to pay a part of his rent and part of what he needs for college doesn’t mean that you should talk me about this— takes another piece of the cinnamon roll and eats it, now quickly —it's been a long time since I lost the right to decide things about my son. I know you have the best intentions but I think you also know that if Isak finds out that you spoke to me without him knowing, he will be angry.
—It's something that I have more than clear— interrupts Even —I just want to talk to you, because at the end of the day...you're his dad. Whether or not you make up your mind, if you ever manage to have a normal father-son relationship again…that will depend on you, I just want to know if, in spite of everything, you agree with my decision —Even takes a sip of his chocolate— and if I may be honest, sir, if you do not agree whit this, it will not change my mind.
Even looks at Terje, who has a small smile on his face.
—You will talk to his mother?— Terje asked in a sad voice.
—She's one of the people I should talk to— Even says.
—Do you know where to contact her?—
—Yes.
—Okay— Terje says, looking at his watch— Even looks...there are two things in all these years that I've been alive that I do not regret. One of them is to have married Marianne, young as we were and everything...but believe me when I tell you that that day, when I saw her walk towards the altar, I was so nervous and kept asking me over and over why she agreed to marry me, when she could have had anyone she wanted— Terje looks at the window, with tears in his eyes—, and I may never know the answer, because I ruin it completely— he says sadly —and Even, the second thing I will never regret is having Isak —Terje look at his watch again.
Even knows that this will never repeat again, so he remains silent.
—... I will never regret having it, nor will I get tired of seeing all that it has achieved. Because those things he has achieved them alone and believe me that if there is something that sets me apart from my son, it is that he is really brave and I know he will get more things than I.
—Isak has not achieved things alone— says Even —He has a lot of friends who are always supporting him, and he knows that in spite of everything ... you also support him, you and his mother.
—Evan, I know you're bipolar— Terje says, staring at him— I'm sorry for mentioning this, but there are things in Isak's life that I may not be able to handle and that is totally my fault...as a parent I failed and I must live with that. I think there are certain parallels in our lives, and the fact that Isak has found someone who also has a mental illness and knows how to act in the right way speaks strongly about how mature my son is. But to what I mean when I say that Isak has accomplished things alone, it is simply because I know he has fought. I know it has taken time to accept himself as he is, I know that he have managed to have a totally good and healthy relationship with you, but they are things he has had to fight alone, and yes...he has friends, but they don’t decide for him, neither do you. Isak has accomplished things alone, and you have been there to see those achievements... –
Even doesn’t know what to do with that information. Maybe for the first time in his life, he blushes.
—..., Isak is braver than me, because he has been with you in spite of your illness, and it’s something that I didn’t know how to do when Marianne began with her situation— Terje looks at his lap —Isak is braver than me and doesn’t need my permission, nor my blessing to get married. You already make him happy, and I know that as a couple you’ll have their ups and downs, but you two will be together for too long…— Terje looks directly at Even—...marry Isak, and make him happy, be happy together and if there is something I regret, it’s not to have made my son happy.
Even sees Terje stand up and take his bag. Even also stands up and the two of them stand there, standing in front of the coffee bar.
—When will the wedding be?— Terje asks, fixing his jacket a little.
—Honestly not so soon, maybe in a year or so— Even answers with a big smile.
—Good— says Terje— you have plenty of time to plan something romantic and intimate.
Even blushes again.
—I can tell that you're a romantic Even— says laughing Terje—, but I know Isak would be able to kill you if you do something with more people around—Terje puts his right hand on Even—, just one advice Even...there’s beauty in simplicity.
—Thank you, sir— says Even.
—No sir, tell me Terje...at some point you'll be my son's husband, I think you can call me by my name—Terje still has his hand on Even— make Isak happy, that's all I ask. Do what I couldn’t do.
—I will do it, I promise.
—Well, you've got me a head start. Take care Even— Terje pulls some bills from the pocket of his pants and leaves them on the bar—I know we'll see each other again.
Without saying anything else, Terje leaves. Even stays for a few minutes, then he fixes himself and leaves, he must still come to his apartment and think what he will make for dinner, yet he has a big smile on his face.