April 12, 2019 – Cocoa talk with Laura
(previous play)
(Joint project from @riddikulus und @shakshuka-grandpasweaters, translated from @girlwholovesagirl, @divingdeepintothewater, @m-ger and @julerocks. Please find the first play here. Here is the timeline and the link to the original blog @unsere-zeit-ist-jetzt. If you would also like to help translate, please contact one of us.)
Friday, 09:30 pm
David: *is standing in the living room with palpitations and listens to Laura interrupting Matteo, apologising to him and closing the front-door* *would have never thought that Matteo would come to his home, to talk to him after his message* *is thinking about how Matteo deserves a conversation and that it was cowardly to send him a message and to ask if he could give him some time but he doesn't know how to explain what is going on – he doesn't understand it himself* *has undertaken to not tell anybody that he is transgender – and didn't want anybody to get so close to him that he has a reason to explain it* *is scared and panics that Matteo would reject him if he knew, that he would tell everybody and so everybody would know and it would all begin again*
*doesn't want that to happen and thinks that it would be the best to end everything before it can really start so it can't escalate* *grabs his phone and writes without thinking about it: “Just leave me alone. I don't want anything from you!”* *presses send without thinking about it and takes a deep breath* *hears how the door closes downstairs and walks to the window* *sees Matteo on the street, grabbing his phone, reading the message and throwing his phone onto the pavement* *feels how his heart contracts* *didn't want to hurt him and actually knows that it's selfish not to talk to him face to face, not explaining the situation – but the need to protect himself is bigger* *feels how Laura stands next to him and is thankful that she doesn't say anything* *watches how Matteo picks up his phone and keeps standing there for a time until he slowly goes away*
Laura: *stands next to her brother and looks down at him* *can imagine that David wrote another message when she sees the phone his shaky hand* *puts her arm around his shoulders* David... *she says gently, hesitantly* … is this a cocoa talk or a beer talk?
David: *forgot that Laura stands next to him for a moment and gets back to reality when she talks to him and puts her arm around his shoulders* *slowly turns away from the window and grabs her hand on his shoulder* *presses it softly and takes a deep breath* *almost smiles bitterly when she asks* *runs a helpless hand through his hair and finally says* Cocoa... *turns away from the window completely, goes into the kitchen like in a trance, switches on the small lamp on the countertop and drops onto a kitchen chair* *stares at his phone that lies on the tabletop and asks himself if he hasn't just made a huge mistake*
Laura: *nods and leaves him alone while she makes cocoa for both of them* *thinks that it's quite good if he puts his thoughts in order* *knows that he likes Matteo but somehow didn't think that it would take him like that* *tough that it was a flirt and that David only took off a little late* *but now that her brother is sitting there like a picture of misery, she isn't quite sure if this was the last time that she saw Matteo* *but now it's her brother's turn* *she puts the cups on the table and sits opposite him* *she tilts her head and smiles softly* So? *she asks quietly and gives him the opportunity to tell her what he wants* *she can still ask questions later*
David: *takes the cup from Laura and smiles a bit tired* Thanks... *pushes his phone to the side and warms his hands on the cup* *doesn't know where he should start but knows from experience that when talking to Laura it doesn't matter since at the end of the conversation everything will automatically come to together in the right order anyway* *just starts somewhere and says quietly* We had a date yesterday... *feels a lump in his throat, as he thinks about how much fun they had yesterday and how he felt really comfortable, then clears his throat so the lump goes away* ...and at the end he told me that he broke up with his girlfriend.
Laura: *looks at him attentively* *lets him talk* *can't help but smile in the end* He broke up with his girlfriend? What a wretch! *looks at him understandingly again and nods* That means it suddenly got serious, right? It suddenly got real? *sees David nodding and nods too* And that's why you turned him down?
David: *looks at Laura, like he is outraged and insulted when she laughs* *buries the face in his hands and groans* That's not funny... *sighs at her conclusion* *didn't think that Matteo would break up with Sara* *thought that he could adore him for a little and for Matteo the whole thing might just be some playing around... or something to try out* *would've never thought that Matteo would break up his his girlfriend because of him and doesn't even want to allow the thought that he might really mean something to Matteo* *shakes his head at Lauras next question* Not right away... I texted him that it was going to fast for me and that I need some time... *shrugs and looks at Laura helplessly* … and not even 10 minutes later he stands in front of the door... *smiles sadly* Thanks by the way for getting rid of him... *could only whisper earlier that he was not there if it was Matteo and is really grateful that she jumped in for him without hesitation*
Laura: *nods* I know, I'm sorry... *nods again* Sure, no problem... you didn't think that he would come, right? *takes a sip of her cocoa and sighs* Your shoes were in front of the door so I guess that he knows now. *sees David slump more if that's even possible* Is that really what you want David? Get rid of him?
David: *shakes his head at Lauras question* *may have expected that he would ask via Whatsapp but not that Matteo would appear in front of the door* *hears the stuff with his shoes and Laura's comment on that* *briefly presses his lips together and then admits softly and with a slightly trembling voice* If not through the shoes then because of my message... *takes a deep breath and explains quietly* I just texted him that I don't want anything from him and that he should leave me alone... *has the feeling that he does everything wrong but doesn't know what to do without hurting himself* *grabs his cocoa at Laura's last question and takes a sip* *thinks about it* *just shrugs at some point* *takes another sip and then has their date in mind... the first kiss... and the half-kiss... their weekend in bed... Matteo's closeness, his laughter and his blue eyes... the feeling he could be himself* *closes his eyes when he realises that they get watery, puts the cup on the table and briefly presses his lips together before he answers Laura's question* No, it's not what I want. But what should I have done? It's a bit late for an outing, isn't it? I mean... he broke up with his girlfriend... he expects something from me... which I most likely cannot fulfill. He'll probably think I was just kidding him all the time... *shakes his head again* And I don't want to tell him! Nobody at the new school should know! And if it somehow makes the round, should I start all over again?
Laura: *nods and sighs when she hears about the second message* Oh, David... *looks at him and sees how something changes, his eyes get watery but he also relaxes* *just wants to say that he was hit pretty hard but doesn't get there because he speaks again* *presses her lips together* Hey...*she say softly and grabs his arm* Hey... it's your decision, you know? Of course you don't need to tell him, you don't need to tell anyone if you don't want to. *slowly pulls her hand back* But you know... sometimes... sometimes people surprise us. *sighs and quickly adds* That doesn't mean you made the wrong decision... I don't even know him... but... I hate to see that this hurts you so much and I don't want you to think that you can never trust anybody again.
David: *lets her words sink in and thinks about it* *says softly after some time* I don't even know myself if I made the wrong or right decision* *takes another sip and remains silent shortly before he continues hesitantly* I think it would be different if I was already through school... *also thinks the idea of never being able to trust someone is horrible and thinks that Matteo would have had some kind of potential to be trusted ... if it weren't for the school and his fear that it would go around there if Matteo can't handle it* *shrugs a little* Maybe I would've told him if I already had my Abi and wouldn’t need to go to school anymore... so I don't need to see anyone if Matteo... *doesn't like to think about the “if” in relation to Matteo because it hurts him in some way* *suddenly feels really tired, crosses his arms on the table and rests his head on them*
Laura: *nods slowly* Yeah, stupid school, but it's not long anymore, only a few weeks. *sighs quietly and takes a sip of the cocoa* If Matteo turns out to be an asshole? *extends her hand again and ruffles his hair* Hey... hey... it will be fine... The main thing is that you feel safe, okay? *hesitates slightly but then says* I have a feeling that everything will come together, okay? It will be fine...
David: *nods hesitantly at her words* *doesn't want to think about Matteo turning out to be an asshole, but is also not quite sure how well he knows Matteo* *closes his eyes when Laura ruffles his hair and mumbles* Okay... *actually feels a little safer right now but still alone and sad* then straightens up and look at Laura* *tries to smile and shrugs* We will see... *drinks his cocoa and grabs his phone* *opens Whatsapp and sees that Matteo read his message and hasn't been online since* *asks himself whether his phone survived the bang on the pavement* *looks at Laura again and stands up* Thanks for... everything... *gives her a kiss on the forehead before he leaves the kitchen* *wants to be alone for now and not see anyone*
(next play)



















