I can't say your name

Cap. 3

It took a whole hour for Brett to calm down, and even though he didn't stop crying, now he could at least talk and see what was around him.

The room was simple: four grey walls, an enormous king sized bed and a table with two chairs. There was a little window on the wall next to the table, but the glass was stained, so he had no idea where he was. His beloved friend was still embracing him, with is strong jawline landed on Brett's left shoulder. He had closed his eyes and was gently rocking him back and forth to calm Brett down. He was almost asleep when the koala in his arms talked.

Brett: "How...how is this possible?"

Eddy: "Oh look, you can speak now"

Brett: "You didn't answer my question"

Eddy: "Everything in it's time, let me order something for lunch first"

Brett hadn't even realized how hungry he was: he would have eaten an entire rhino without chewing it with how hungry he was. The taller man stood up and helped Brett on his legs. He made him sit at the table, then he took a phone from one of his pockets and sent a message. After 15 minutes the door opened and Katlin entered with two trays. She settled them down on the table and walked away. The black suited boy sat down facing Brett and handed him a tray: kung pao chicken, and a big glass of bubble tea.

Brett: "Thank you"

Eddy: "Thank you for not going away"

Brett: "Why, just tell me why!"

Eddy: "I can understand you're super angry with me Brett but trust me: hurting you was the last thing I ever wanted, and I know that from now on our friendship won't be the same as always..."

Brett: "Oh cut the bullshit! Just tell me why the hell you had to make me believe that you were dead for one fucking year!"

Said Brett lifting a piece of meat into his mouth

Eddy: "I told you, it's not that easy...let's eat first"

Brett didn't protest: if there was one thing he was sure as hell he would do before the day ended, it was making his beloved friend tell him all the truth. The man in front of him stood up and collected the two trays, he opened the door and left them on the ground outside the room. Then he helped Brett to reach the bed and lay down. Brett was visibly weak, he needed to lay down a bit while his friend spoke. Once Brett was comfortable, Eddy sat down on the edge of the bed, took off both their shoes and climbed on the bed to sit cross legged next to Brett.

Eddy: "So...I guess you have a lot of questions, so let me just make an introduction before you ask anything"

He said caressing Brett's left shoulder.

Eddy: "As you probably understand, my job as a musician is just a cover: I'm a secret agent. I'm not allowed to tell you all the details of my real job and I cannot tell you who I work for. You've arrived here, you still don't know where you are and you never will. The only thing I can tell you is that this is a special room used by agents for marriage meetings if they have to spend long periods here. Now you may be wondering why I didn't tell you about this if we practically lived like a married couple..."

Brett: "Yes, I am!"

Spat out Brett with what the other man swore was venom

Eddy: "Because we are allowed to speak only with a marriage certificate. Our families know and, if we are married, our partner knows, but the amount of information that we can share is still limited, and the people we are allowed to share information with are super controlled. For example my sister knows, but my friends don't and even if you are my best friend, and the person I cannot live without, my hands were tied"

Brett: "And why can I know now?"

Eddy: "Because I'm retiring"

Brett didn't know how to absorb that information

Brett: "But you are only 27..."

Eddy: "Yeah I know, but this job is pretty tiring and I'm fed up with this life. The last mission took me two years to complete and I had to see my best friend suffer for an asshole like me"

Brett: "Hey, you're not an asshole...ok maybe you are, because I still have nightmares"

Eddy: "I'm sorry, I missed you"

Said the younger violinist while gently combing back Brett's hair

Brett: "I missed you too...you know I went every week at your grave to speak to you..."

Eddy: "I know...my agents looked after you all the time and there was a bug in the cross..."

Brett: "Hey!"

Eddy: "What? In the end you were talking to me!"

Brett: "Fair enough...I guess"

All of a sudden Brett realized that maybe he could have listened to his confession, crap! His white porcelain cheeks turned a bright pink shade. He tried to cover it by rolling on his belly but damn it was so obvious

Eddy: "Hey you have nothing to regret...I loved earing you voice"

Ok maybe he didn't listen to his last confession, just maybe, act cool Brett!

Brett: "Well thank you?"

Eddy: "You're welcome"

He responded with a mocking tone of voice

Eddy: "Ok...where was I, oh yeah the secret stuff. To conclude that speech: you know I'm a secret agent and you will never know anything more about my job than this room and the fact that I am an agent"

Brett: "Ok chief...may I know why the hell you've left me for one fucking year?"

Eddy: "Oh yeah the mission! I obtained the permission to explain my mission to you since now it's finally over and I'm retiring"

Brett: "Ok then, I'm listening!"

The younger boy stood up and walked to the table. He took out a key from his breast pocket and opened the drawer hidden on the side of the table. He took out a yellow a4 sized envelope and handed it to Brett.

Brett: "What's this?"

Eddy: "The folder of the mission: paperwork basically, but there's a photo that can help you understand"

He said while sitting back on Brett's side. The shorter boy lifted his body till he was sitting with his legs crossed and carefully unzipped the envelope.

Brett: "Will I like what I see in there?"

Eddy: "I don't know...I'm as afraid as I was with the hood, so take your time"

Brett turned his eyes back on the folder and shily slid his fingers inside. He took out a ridiculous amount of papers and placed them on the bed in front of him, making sure not to mess them up. On the first page, a giant title glared back at him threateningly. He sighed after reading it and turned his gaze back to his friend

Brett: "So it's about me..."

Eddy: "You and a lot of other partners of these company members, and the company members themselves"

Brett turned the first page and scrolled through the others rapidly: he didn't understand much that didn't have five lines and black dots. Then it appeared in front of his eyes: a photo of him and the man he loves at a math tutoring with their teacher.

Brett: "I don't understand..."

Eddy: "You will"