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“Hey, Jere?”
“Yes, Bojan?”
“Can we play a game of ‘explain that meme’ again?”
“Oh no.”
“What?”
“Last time you were mad.”
“I wasn’t mad. Just confused as to why my mom is suddenly sending me a song called Grindr Mayhem and asking if I like it.”
“And I tell you, not my fault. Did not know she follows me on Tiktok.”
“Well, neither did I. My point was just that a heads up might have been nice.”
“I thought you are not supposed to watch things online.”
“I wasn’t! But you can blame the guys for this one.”
“Okei. So what is it?”
“Why are you quoted saying that I ‘tentatively’ asked you to join the tour bus?”
“I… I don’t know what that means.”
“You mean ‘tentatively?’ Well, it makes it sound like I’m on a school yard, asking a friend to pass you a note that says ‘Tour bus? Check yes or no’”.
“Really?”
“It makes it sound like I’m Julia Roberts, standing in front of a boy, asking him to join her on the tour bus. Which is also an actual picture Jan sent me.”
“Oh. Well. Reporter man ask me if I’m gonna see you. I say that you ask me, kind of.”
“Oh, I asked you, did I? Remind me again how that went? Or do you want me to send you the text? It’s from June. Or I can read it to you.“
“You still have that?”
“Yes? Maybe? Not the point. You asked, in June, which hotels are we staying at so you can, and I quote, “book next room”. And when I said that I had no idea, no-one has any idea yet, remember what you said?”
“I have feeling that you tell me.”
“Oh, here it is. ‘It ok, I will sleep in your room.’ Sound familiar?”
“Maybe.”
“Okay. So what’s this about me chasing after you like I’m twelve?”
“Why it bother you so much?”
“Huh?”
“I say something, some fan translate it, you are upset. Why?”
“I’m not upset.”
“No?”
“I… I don’t know.”
“I say this thing because they ask and I have to say something.”
“I know. Jere, I know.”
“And remember what you ask me, in June? You ask me to, what is it, keep lower profile? I try.”
“I know.”
“Is not always easy with you, Bojan. They ask so much. I don’t want to lie. I don’t want to say one thing and then later say no, that’s not what I mean. I say maybe and I say I don’t know. And not say what we plan for performance. Because I don’t want that someone comes to your show for me. And I don’t want make you uncom.. uncomfr..table.. I don’t want you worry.”
“Okay. I’m sorry.”
“It’s sometimes not easy.”
“I’m sorry. You’re right. I know. I’m being kinda high maintenance, aren’t I?”
“A little. Drama queen.”
“You’re actually doing amazing. I know I’ve asked a lot.”
“Not a lot. Just, I’m not used to? Think about what I say.”
“And I appreciate it. It’s just…”
“What is it?”
“Sometimes they are way off, spreading rumours that we hate each other, or are fucking, and it’s just idiotic stuff, but sometimes it feels like they see fucking everything. Like I can’t do anything without someone analysing every word.”
“I know what you mean.”
“And I admire you so much for not giving a fuck. I wish I was like that.”
“If it bother you, maybe don’t look?”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to do. And it’s so much better, nowadays. Sometimes, it just gets… a bit much. It’s going to be a lot, during the tour, I think.”
“Want me to forget my phone home when I come?”
“Would you?”
“If you ask.”
“No, I’m kidding. I’ll be fine. It’ll be fun, probably, being on the same side of the camera for a change.”
“Yes! Will be fun. Don’t worry so much.”
“Sometimes, I just want to keep it to myself. Our friendship, and you. I want to keep you to myself. I don’t want people looking.”
“It’s okay. They only see the stuff on.. On surface?”
“And okay, this is going to sound even more stupid, but I guess I was also thinking that maybe you don’t actually want to.”
“Want to what? Come with you?”
“No, yeah, like. Spend so much time with us. Me.”
“You’re right, that is stupid.”
“That’s what I said. I’m not sure what’s with me lately, just, stupid stuff gets to me.”
“You're nervous.”
“What? You mean about the tour?”
“Yes. And me.”
“Nervous about you?”
“Yes. About one hotel room, one bed.”
“Oh. Haha, very funny.”
“Funny?”
“You did book rooms for yourself, right?”
“...”
“…Jere?”
“Yes yes, I’m kidding.”
“Ha fucking ha.”
“But Bojan?”
“Yeah?”
“I don’t have to. Use it. Room, I mean.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes.”
“Wow. Okay. That’s… Um.”
“Just ask.”
“Okay. Maybe I will.”