TWOSETVIOLIN • Little Ship Moments

Something About You

Eddy was doing well. At least as well as anyone who was seemingly in a stalemate. Sure, it was different from all the situations in which the word was used. But he couldn't move, and the other side – the heartbreak he considered another force – didn't seem to make any change either, at least in his perspective.

His job at the orchestra was decent enough. More than decent if he considered the way people once told him he'd never make a living as a musician. It was more hectic than before, back when Brett was still his friend, his best friend, his lover, his world, his everything... But being a concertmaster was treating Eddy well enough.

"Hey, Eddy! After practice, we should go get some bubble tea. It's on me if you say yes," Ann offered. She was the only friend he considered close out of everyone there. Despite the two years, however, he never told anyone about Brett. Ever.

Why? Brett was famous now.

As famous as Janine Jansen, Hilary Hahn, Ray Chen, and many more. Basically, a world-class soloist. To claim that he had known him would only make people ask him questions. Questions that would only remind him of what they once had.

And that hurt too much.

"Yeah, sure!" Eddy replied; the practice he had done seemed sufficient in his opinion.

Wrapping his scarf around his neck and taking his coat, he started joining in with the conversations. Everything was a buzz, everyone in the little group was talking about something completely different, and topics changed before he could add anything on to the previous one. The whole thing just became white noise as he started zoning out.

Anna bumped him by the shoulder. "Earth to Eddyyyy!"

"Oh, huh? Yeah?" He didn't even bother to pretend he was listening.

"Do you know about the soloist arriving next week?"

"Uhm...no?"

"The legendary Brett Yang! I heard he rose to fame quite late. But I heard another thing too."

Eddy felt his stomach drop, but putting more effort this time, he pretended to be interested. "What did you hear?"

Too caught up, Anna didn't notice the excess enthusiasm that was too sudden. Too abrupt for the real Eddy Chen. But no one knew that person except Brett anyway. "According to rumors from anonymous sources, he had once planned to be famous as a duo, had a best friend, and all that. But that friend ditched him, and he was forced to do it alone. The name remains hidden though. But believe me, the whole community has done their fair share of digging."

Rage filled his mind. What right did Brett have to twist all the facts and make himself the victim? He guessed the answer was popularity. And Anna had said they were just rumors. Maybe it wasn't true. Maybe he had never said that.

"Anna, that's probably just a rumor."

"Maybe. What do you want?" she asked as they neared the shop.

"The usual."

"What is 'the usual' for you? Got to remind you that your order changes every shop we go to. And I don't remember going here with you."

Brett used to know what to order for him without a word. Bubble tea was another specialty they both had aside from the violin.

But there was no Brett anymore. Only Anna.

"Just the brown sugar one. Thanks."

"Alright."

Eddy fell back into another daze. Two years. Two years!! And he still couldn't move on.