(ALMOST) SPRING FEVER
There’s nothing worse than feeling like absolute shit and seeing a bright blue sky from a bedroom window.
It was day three of a bitter cold that just wouldn’t quit and Freddy was determined to get himself out of bed and go outside to Albert Heijn for some groceries. There’s nothing worse than feeling like absolute shit and seeing a bright blue sky from a bedroom window. Between binge watching hours of a Scandi-noir mini-series and re-watching Dune for the umpteenth time, Freddy took breaks from the screen by looking out at a couple of birds getting their nest ready, finding long pliable twigs that they expertly placed to form a sturdy basket atop a tree just outside his window. In only a few weeks time, the branches would be full of buds and eventually the leafy foliage would hide their craftsmanship from his view.
Last night was pretty bad. He tried to calm himself down by telling himself that the uncontrollable shivering was his body’s way of fighting off the infection. He just needed a few more days. Slightly feverish but determined, he threw on his coat and made his way to the grocery store.
He actually didn't mind running into Sanne at Albert Heijn. He was too sick to care. Things had gotten a bit awkward with them ever since they ran into each other at a cafe on Waterlooplein a few months back. A few days before their meeting at the cafe, Freddy was with Charley at a pre-party. There he met Sharon who happened to know Sanne. “Small world.”
“Yes, I’ve been out with them,” Freddy said. “Her, Bas and Daan.” Maybe it was because he already had a bit of a joint at home and his was two beers in that he was feeling a bit loose. He was happy to meet Sharon and connect with someone new.
She seemed to know Sanne quite well and was a bit loose lipped herself. “It’s been kind of on and off with those two.”
Freddy hadn’t spent enough time with them to say. “They always looked pretty chill to me.”
“Bas just wants to hang out with Daan.” She took a swig from her beer. “I always thought they had a bromance going on.”
“What do you mean a bromance?” Did she mean a gay thing?
“What, you haven’t noticed how close they are?”
He didn’t think much of it until she mentioned it. Daan and Bas had been friends since they were in middle school. It wasn’t surprising they were close. Still, the idea that Daan and Bas had any kind of physical connection certainly peaked Freddy’s interest.
“If you could have sex with either of them, who would it be, Bas or Daan?”
Girl, what the fuck, I just met you! “Well, why can’t it be both?”
Sharon laughed. “Greedy. I like that!”
When Freddy ran into Sanne at the cafe a few days later there must have been a few rounds of broken telephone because after they greeted each other she mentioned she had spoken with Sharon.
“She said you wanted to sleep with Bas?”
“Well, I mean we were kind of joking.”
“So, you don’t find Bas attractive?”
“Well, no, he is.” Why was he starting to feel defensive? “I’m just saying I’m not trying to sleep with him or anything. We were just kidding around.”
“No I know,” she said. “But watch it Freddy. That boy is mine!”
Now at Albert Heijn, Sanne’s look of surprise settled quickly to one of concern. “Hoi, Freddy. Ben jij ziek?”
“Yeah, I got this cold over the weekend. It doesn't want to go away.” Freddy felt pathetic and feeble staring at her.
“Bas is sick too. I’m buying him some soup.”
Freddy tried to push their last conversation about Bas out of his mind. “Tell him I say, beterschap.”
When Freddy got home, he thought about Bas being sick too. Somehow being sick started to make Freddy homesick. He missed having his mom care for him and make him Arroz Caldo, how everyone once in a while his dad would check in on him as he lay in bed and would give him a scalp massage. He tried to imagine Sanne giving Bas a scalp massage. He wondered what it would feel like to run his fingers through his silken, chestnut hair.
A few minutes later Freddy got a text.
Bas: Hey. Sanne said she saw you. You’re sick too?
Freddy: Yeah. Hope you feel better.
Bas: wanna come over?
Freddy: Isn’t Sanne with you?
Bas: She just left.
Freddy’s throbbing headache was replaced by a thumping in his chest.
Freddy: Isn’t it weird to hang out while we’re sick?
Bas: Haha. I guess? Just wanted some company. I’m about to watch Dune again.