“Oh shit, they talked about us on the radio?”
“Yeah, chicks apparently really love him and his blog, and they had some petition to get him to go on TV, because people want to meet them, and see them for real.”
“Yeah, Axel told me. Can you imagine? Malena would die of shame.”
“The students would love it, they already all fangirl over you like you are some popstar dude. I mean, you always get the most applications for your doctorate courses. It’s ridiculous.”
Jens laughs out loud. Again. “Ridiculous is the right word. I have no idea why.”
“Oh, come off it Jens. You run the best lectures, all dramatic and over the top. Throwing your clothes about and standing on chairs and being all theatrical about everything. The students love it. I’ve seen you in action, and the students are all sitting there in awe. And you know Agnetha in Languages has a crush on you, still. She has a photo of you and her as her wallpaper on her phone. Check it out next time you go and see her.”
Jens bangs his head on the desk. Smiling with giggles escaping his mouth. Letting his chest jump a little with laughter. “Really, Sondre? How fucking embarrassing. I don’t believe that. Agnetha?”
Sondre just smiles and nods. “Come on you wanker. Let’s go get these nominations done so you can go see your Axel dude. And I will pen him in as your plus one in Stavanger. Don’t even dare to say no, we will all want to meet him. Carla will freak. Any chance of dinner with the two of you next week?”
“Absolutely. Let me check with Axel. I’m sure he would love to.”
“And please, let me tell Sylvia and the girls the gossip. I am dying to see their faces!”
“Really? You are going to out me to the worst gossipmongers at the University of Oslo? I mean, they will have the press team up here before the day is over.” Jens is joking, of course. But yet he is not. That radio thing is a bit of a worry.
“I mean, it’s better that people know than that there is gossip floating around. And someone has to break Agnetha’s heart. Gently.”
Jens just whacks Sondre on the arm. Gives him a grin. His face is red. His eyes crinkly with laughter.
It’s good to be happy. To be free. To just be completely himself for once.
PAPPA: Just heads up. There is some radio petition to get Axel on TV, and he has been asked to go on Good Morning Norway to talk about us. Like in him and Me being together and stuff. Just thought you should know in case you hear anything at school.
MALENA: Why do people know about you two?
PAPPA: Axel’s blog. He has a lot of fans apparently.
MALENA: I read it. It’s good. He calls you J, nobody knows it’s you.
PAPPA: Everyone at work will know by this afternoon. I might have told Sondre.
MALENA: Fuck. Are you OK with that?
PAPPA: Of course, As long as we don’t go on TV we should be fine. I wouldn’t do that.
MALENA: Good. I don’t know if that would be slightly cool or worse than death. Honestly.
PAPPA: Axel said No. I say No. We are not doing it. Don’t worry.
MALENA: I told Nassi about Axel. She thinks it’s the coolest thing ever. She wants to meet him, which is seriously embarrassing. She is acting like he is some kind of celeb. Asked if she could have a selfie with him to put on Insta. I mean WTF.
PAPPA: Hysterical. Tell him. He would laugh at that.
MALENA: I did. He went bright red. I might have to make him do it. Just so I can tease him about it forever.
PAPPA: Do it. See you later. Love you.
MALENA: Shut up. Celebrity wannabe. #FamousAxel
Jens manages to wing it through the nominations. He has kind of skimmed the book he thinks they should put through. He trusts some of the students. He trusts his instinct. He promises himself to read the ten books he puts on the table for the poetry awards. Honestly. He will read them all. Even if it kills him.
Luckily the others trust him. Why, he doesn’t quite understand since he has been a shit colleague for the last year and half. He hasn’t really been involved, not contributed. He lost his passion, his drive and his enthusiasm somewhere along the way and while it’s not back, not like he used to be, there is something there. A little excitement. A sprinkle of passion showing through as he summarises his choices, perfect rip-offs from the essays he has been grading. Not that it really matters. They are solid choices, from a wide range of styles in Bokmål and Nynorsk, the two versions of the Norwegian language. He even threw in a wildcard in Icelandic, from a Norwegian- born poet. Why not. And the translation is good, from what the review said, especially since he trusts Heiðdís, who is half Icelandic herself, even though her own poetry sucks. Which Jens thinks might make her a brilliant poet one day. If she can only control her style, then her words would work.
Jens is rambling again, making the others laugh. Pulling at his hair, waving the papers in his hand about, while raging over the sacrilege of a student’s blasphemous choices in mixing words. He laughs too. He knows how carried away he gets when passion hits a nerve in him. When he just has to make his point across. He smiles, watching his colleagues laugh back at him. He smiles when Sondre squeezes his shoulder and whispers to him, “Get the fuck out of here.”
He laughs out loud at Sylvia’s face as she corners him by the coffee machine with a face full of questions. He just gives her a kiss on her cheek and whispers, “Whatever you heard, it’s all true.” Her face is a picture. And Jens can’t stop laughing.
He thinks of Sofie when he skips down the steps towards the tram. Smiles at the thought of her curling up with giggles. Because she would have laughed. She would have been in hysterics.
In a way, Jens is grateful. He will never forget all the things that Sofie taught him, how she showed him that he was loved. Even in his most ridiculous moments, she would always tell him. “You are loved darling, so much. Don’t forget that. When life throws shit at you, remember that. You. Are. Loved.”
The memory wraps around him like a warm blanket, kissing his skin like summer sun.
He feels so loved right now that it is ridiculous.
JENS: I am on my way.
AXEL: I am naked.
JENS: I wish I was too.
AXEL: That can be arranged.
AXEL: Just don’t strip on the tram. It’s not a good idea.
JENS: I will try to control myself.
AXEL: Good. Once you are inside my door there is a ‘No clothes allowed’ rule Ok?
JENS: Perfect. Now I have a boner. Ridiculous boy.
JENS: Fancy being my date for the Norwegian literature awards in Stavanger? Dinner Dancing, posh suits and staying in a hotel. Sex guaranteed. I’m easy.
AXEL : Fuck yes. I’m there. Will your colleagues stare at me like I have two heads?
JENS: Nope. Well yes. I kind of outed myself today. They all know I have a famous boyfriend now.
AXEL: Famous?
JENS: Famous. And I am about to fuck my famous boyfriend. Just letting you know.
AXEL: Bring it on. Can’t wait.
JENS: I fucking love you so much.
AXEL: I know. Now hurry up and get here.
JENS: (running man emoji) (Love heart emoji)
Axel’s apartment, Majorstua, Oslo
Monday
Axel is pacing up and down the hallway like a man possessed. He should really calm down and sit down before he makes himself have a heart attack. Really. He keeps talking to himself. Running his hands thorough his hair. Wondering what the fuck he is letting himself in for.