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You were in Berlin and he was in Berlin. Or dare you say Berlijn? Perchance you ended up talking to Joost in this huge city. And ever since that day in the Tierpark (biggest Zoo in Europe which is located in east Berlin) in which you watched the tall young man happily lean down to pat a small goat, he didn’t seem to ever want to leave your life. Both his smile as well as him in general were constantly on your mind from the moment your eyes met and he blurted out “the goat is a cutie, right?”
That was quite a while before he conquered Germany's charts by going number one with Friesenjung. So you had no clue who Joost Klein was. But that of course changed rather quickly, as you went along with him and talked in English while watching all the other animals. It was easy to figure out that he isn’t German and he himself soon also told you that he is Dutch, and more specifically from Friesland.
During the conversation in the cutest way possible when he struggled to remember the English word for something he instead said it in Dutch while making matching gestures. He hoped that you would get it and you sometimes did but sometimes also didn’t. This probably was the first reason that made you think about learning Dutch.
As weeks and months went by and you both just got closer and talked more and more with every passing day, it became clear to you that learning Dutch might actually be an option, not just a fleeting idea. But what factually made you do it was when Joost told you about his and Appies partnership with Duolingo and asked if you could test the Dutch course before they recorded their Eurovision promo ads. He even managed to time it in a way that made it possible for you to be there and watch him goof around with someone in a Duo costume which heavily reminded you of how happy he was while interacting with the animals at the Tierpark.
“He is a natural,” said a woman from the German Duolingo team standing next to you.
“He is. His creative output is crazy,” you noded. “He actually made me take some of the lessons and tell him if they teached me something useful.”
“And how far did you get?”
“Ik ben een appel en ik spreek een beetje Nederlands far”
“A classic,” the woman laughed. “I’m also an apple but definitely speak even less Dutch. It’s just thanks to German being so similar that I understood you”
“Oh my god (Y/n) why didn’t you tell me that you are an apple?!” Joost screamed melodramatically from the other side of the two film crew people and started walking toward you which looked quite silly with his blue Europapa-suit on.
“But I did!” you responded and started laughing when Appie completed the picture by dancing around with a Duo mask on.
As soon as you looked back at Joost he was already standing in front of you completely unaware of Appie. “Liar! You didn’t! But I might forgive you if you hold the Dutch flag in one of the TikToks.”
“Huh so that’s why I’m here?”
Joost just smiled innocently. “Maybe.”
“Ik ben very disappointed Joost,” you answered while rolling your eyes.
“erg teleurgesteld.”
“What?”
“It’s erg teleurgesteld. You are erg teleurgesteld,” he repeated, now smiling even more sweetly than before.
Feeling defeated you sighed, “You planned all of that all along, didn’t you?”
“C’mon it will be fun,” Appie suddenly butted into the conversation still with that silly mask on. “You can hide your face behind the flag but deep down you will know that you are part of it!”
It was apparent that Joost wanted to agree with him but instead he was taken aback by laughter.
You could listen to Joost laughing for ages. He turned really pretty when his features all scrunched up as his voice changed into a higher pitch during his repeated laugh.
It took you a lot of self control to not just watch Joost laugh and actually answer Appie, “I’m sure this isn’t in your contract.”
Instantly you noticed how the Duolingo woman next to you shifted her body away. You gasped, “No way.”
“Ehm. Well Joost might have mentioned something about preparing a contract for you in case you say yes. You would get half of his payment,” she explained sheepishly.
“For how many videos? We already filmed two.”
“Just the next one.”
Flabbergasted your gaze moved to Joost, then back to the woman, took a detour to Appie and then back to Joost who now shrugged his shoulders but had a bright smile on his face. “Gotta make it appealing.”
“You never miss a chance to surprise me,” you said in slight disbelief while shaking your head.
As soon as you signed the contract you changed locations to the top of a staircase. Your job was easy, simply stand a few steps below and hold up the Dutch flag while moving it around a bit. Duo and Appie in the Duo mask dance around while Europapa is playing and Joost dances and lip syncs to his song. Surprisingly it was way more fun to be in front of the camera than behind it.
And finally after all the filming was done and Joost changed into his regular clothes, you, Appie and Joost went out for some drinks and snacks and ended up in a nice empty place. Surrounding you was a mix of rustic wooden tables and benches and the modern flare of a light gray exposed ceiling decorated with hanging plants. Although at this point in time Friesenjung already charted in Germany and Austria, it seemed quite improbable that any of the few guests might recognize Joost. So you chatted away happily, bought beer, shots and whatever other alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages sounded nice at the given moment.
As the evening turned into night Joost and Appie more and more frequently started codeswitching in a jumble of English and Dutch. Every now and then you actually understood one of the Dutch words but the question marks floating around your head stayed with you until you had enough. “Guys please speak Duolingo to me. I have no clue what you’re saying.”
Both started giggling about your half serious half joking request. “Before we do, do you remember what ‘very disappointed’ is in Dutch?” Joost grinned at you, fully aware that even if you did, you probably would struggle with the pronunciation.
“Rude. It’s tele-someting.”
“Close I’m sure you tried your best,” Appie answered instead of Joost. “But be honest how much did you actually learn so far?”
“I can tell you good night or good evening or good day or say that you’re reading a book or a newspaper. Or rant about how silly it sounds to me that the plural you is jullie. But I also know thanks to Joost translating some of his songs that for the singular you, you can use je or jij. Your language is complicated” you rambled.
“Don’t tell me this guy started with Ome Robert,” Appie laughed.
“He did!”
“Well,” said Joost elongated, “I’m just a guy.”
Appie continued laughing as if this is the funniest joke he ever heard while you responded “a very silly guy at that.”
Dutifully Joost nodded with a serious expression on his face. “That’s kinda my brand, makes me lovable.”
“Oh definitely!” You agreed and added in drunken bravery, “Ik houd van jou like that.”
Your casual love confession made Joost stop in his tracks while Appie started coughing on his most recent sip of whatever he was currently drinking. “Sorry, sorry,” he mumbled and turned away during his coughing fit.
But Joost on the other hand had this certain look in his eyes as he stared right at you. In another universe he might as well, called you cute instead of all the staring. That’s at least what you thought until he asked, “that’s all you know?” His voice was soft yet had a teasing edge to it.
“Then you gotta… uh… wachten op een antwoord from me?”
“Damn you really love me. You know all my lyrics!” Joost giggled and Appies coughing turned from uncontrollable to intentional. “Guys get a room!”
“Nah you get a room. A bathroom specifically. You spilled something on your hoodie,” you pointed out a non-existing spill to change the topic because you suddenly felt a bit embarrassed about your confession.
“Huh?”
“(Y/n) is obviously joking.” Joost instantly clarified and grinned mischievously at you.
„If you continue this I might as well stop speaking English to spite you,“ Appie in turn announced but it also made you remember your Duolingo vocabulary.
„Het spijt me is I‘m sorry, right? So het spijt me I guess.“
Both men seemed to be positively surprised about how you once again threw Dutch into the conversation.
“See Appie! I told you (Y/n) is a keeper!” the blond exclaimed and put special emphasis on your name. The moment he said it something seemed so different. So intense as you looked at eachother. Joosts pretty blue eyes moved gently, as if they took in every detail of your face. From the top of the head down to your chin. Absolutely everything.
You almost didn’t notice Appie asking you if there are any other words you would like to know in Dutch. Therefore you said the first thing that came to your mind while locking eyes with Joost. “Goat.”
“Goat??”
You nodded. “The first time I saw Joost he was petting a Goat. Just remembered that.”
“You guys I’m not even sure anymore if I can call this cheesy. It’s getting out of hand–”
“It’s Geit,” Joost said happily and ignored Appies comment.
“Het?” you asked confused because it basically sounded the same to you.
“Don’t worry about it too much. But yeah sounds kinda similar although Geit starts with an G instead of an H. I’m sure you will hear the difference when you get a bit more practice” Joost explained sweetly.
This made Appie groan annoyed “I dare you both to finally kiss and stop turning me into the third wheel. It's awkward!”
You quite literally felt your eyelids open widely into a deer in the headlights stare. While Joost seemed much more relaxed than you as he extended his arms towards you to fulfill Appies request. “Come here (Y/n)!”
He leaned over to you and kissed your cheek leaving you stunned with your hand instinctively touching where his lips met your skin mere seconds ago.
“Everybody’s happy now?” Appie asked whilst giving you a meaningful look. Oh he definitely knew too much for his own good. You decided to not leave him the upper hand.
“Actually yes. I suppose we should slowly get back to our hotel. It’s late isn’t it?” you tried to sound nonchalant. Be completely normal about Joost kissing your cheek. Afterall it was just the cheek.
But Joost had none of that. “C’mon the Night barely started!”
“Well” Appie responded, you could see it in his expression, he did have the upper hand after all. “I might agree with (Y/n) on that. I’m tired and have plans for tomorrow. I need my beauty sleepy.” He yawned in an exaggerated manner and winked at you. “But feel free to stay up and talk some more when we’re back at the hotel. I’m sure you guys would have a lovely conversation without me.”
You didn’t.
All of you went into your separate rooms and called it a night.
Your head was spinning in the endless limbo of constantly shifting between being awake and asleep. Something prevented you from fully falling asleep. And that something was a certain someone called Joost and now after Appies remark even more present on your mind than ever before.
As you finally thought that you might enter a dream you noticed your phone getting a notification. Although you at first thought it might be just in your imagination since you felt close to falling asleep, it happened once again. This time definitely in reality. And a third time. It could be Joost.
You opened your eyes and grabbed your phone to see if it was him. The screen was way too bright for your liking. But you accepted your fate to read through all three messages your certain someone has sent you.
»Hi«
»Are you still up?«
»If yes come over and talk to me i’m bored«
As you typed your response, Joost sent you a grainy photo of himself in the dark staring directly at the camera. »I see you.«
»Joost it’s 3am«
»What about it? You instantly responded and Appie didn’t. I can also come over to your room if you prefer that«
Was that enough to actually convince you? You hated to admit it because yes maybe it was.
»Ok you come over.«
Not only did Joost knock on your door less than a minute later but he basically took his whole bed with him, blanket draped over his shoulders and two pillows in his arms.
“You didn’t mention a sleepover?”
“Should I have mentioned a sleepover? I didn’t know that you wanted me to stay with you so badly,” he joked and started typing on his phone. Seconds later you got the message. »Coming over for a sleepover. Choose a movie or something«
His hair was messy and all over the place. His legs quite exposed thanks to the shorts he was wearing and his tummy ever so slightly showing underneath the tanktops hem. He looked comfortable and domestic. But his eyes seemed tired as if he as well struggled to fall asleep right before he appeared in your room and sat down on your bed leaning against the headboard. It felt right to see him like that, it made you smile. “Sooo” you started as you walked over to the other side of the bed to sit down next to him. “You still want to watch a movie?”
“I guess. I suppose it was the first thing I thought of. I would also be okay with just talking or watching a funny YouTube compilation.”
You nodded and leaned back which made your shoulders touch with a layer of blanket between them. “It feels like you want to talk about something,” you admitted to your gut feeling while searching for a fitting YouTube video on your phone.
“Yeah,” he agreed. “But it’s not really important enough to talk your ears off about it. I don’t want to burden you.”
This made you look at him. “Don’t say that. If it keeps you awake I’m sure it’s important enough to be talked about.”
He sighed and leaned his head against your shoulder. “It’s about Eurovision. It’s getting closer with each day and now with that official Duolingo promo and all those interviews about it, it started to feel real. Kinda overwhelming. I’m constantly thinking about it as well as about y- ehm. I mean like yes I always say that my dreams are big and all, but now it feels like I’m flying a bit too close to the sun with the size of my dreams. I’m already noticing the spike in my social media following although Eurovision hasn’t even started yet,” he rambled on and on but never moved his head away from your shoulder as you listened.
He took a deep breath before he continued “And you know I was also wondering if you have some spare time during Eurovision? I would love to have you there with us. Thanks to your Duolingo lessons I’m sure you would fit right in with the Dutch delegation” he said clearly nervous as he slightly fidgeted with his hands and talked much more quietly now.
His little Duolingo comment made you giggle and lean your head against his connecting by touch as much as possible without overstepping the border of being just friends. “I would like that.”
“I’m glad,” he yawned and adjusted his body to be even closer to yours by slightly turning towards you. “Suddenly I feel much more relaxed. Thank you.”
As he cuddled up to your side he removed the blanket that still was draped over his shoulders and put it around the both of you. Both his warmth and his scent buried you and turned you as relaxed and sleepy as Joost suddenly became.
“I could stay like that forever although I would prefer to properly lay down,” he said happily albeit a bit slurred. The mere thought of staying like that – almost cuddling – made your still very tipsy mind malfunction and your heartbeat quick enough to hear it in your own ears. You wondered if Joost could hear or even feel it, but he didn’t mention it. And you didn’t ask because today was not the day of confessing your feelings. You decided that just for tonight you can pretend in your drunkish closeness that you are more than friends while he is sleeping next to you. Maybe if you're lucky this moment will extend until seemingly forever in your dreams. You are content with this. With how things currently are. The balancing you both are participating in on the line between being friends or more. “Welterusten Joost.”
“Jij ook!” He responded and opened his eyes one last time to look at you before falling asleep with a smile on his lips and the endless possibilities of Berlin waiting for you to wake up again for another day alongside him.