in the rain

twenty-one.

brett wraps his arms around eddy's neck, hugging him tightly. the rain falls on their backs, so eddy holds the umbrella properly to shield them. 

brett looks at eddy, who's looking down on him with his starry eyes. "it's like déjà vu, isn't it?" 

"mmhm." 

in the end, will it all be the same as before?

"hey. what are you thinking?" eddy cups his cheek. brett takes his hand and holds it instead. 

"i'm in disbelief, that's all." 

"is it so hard to believe i'm actually here?"

"honestly? yeah. i mean… why are you even here, anyway?" 

"you're really asking that?" 

"because of you. you're my reason," eddy looks for brett’s gaze. he only averts his eyes. 

"look, i'm sorry for leaving you. for not coming back sooner. i'm sorry, brett."

"this was all for you. even when i was away i did it all for you. now that i'm here, can you just… let me come back home? to you?" eddy's voice breaks. 

"okay. let me take you home tonight." 

☂ 

they're sitting on brett's sofa, shoulders touching. eddy's wearing brett's clothes as they eat their take-out.

"i'm sorry i didn't get you flowers." 

"hmm?" 

"for your performance." 

"it's okay."

"it was wonderful, by the way."

"seeing you there was more wonderful."

"i didn’t know i’d see you there."

"i didn't know if i would see you there. i'm glad i did." 

"what if you hadn't?" 

"but i saw you. no more what ifs." 

brett thinks of what to say for a while. the silence is tense, both of them walking on eggshells.

"i want to let you go, eddy."

"what does that mean?" eddy gets shocked. please, no.

"i don't know… you have your whole future ahead of you. i saw you perform. you have what it takes. you'll tour and become a successful soloist and all. i don't want you to string me along all of that. i'd rather let you go."

"but i'm here now—" 

"how can i know you'll be here tomorrow?" brett's voice suddenly gets a little louder. he sighs. 

"you shouldn't have found me earlier." 

"were you running away from me?"

"maybe i was." 

"but we're here now." 

"because you found me, and you kissed me, and just fucking seeing you right in front of me made me want you back again, and the world suddenly started turning again and—" 

"stop."

brett does, defeated. 

"stop running away. stop trying to let me go. you don't fucking need to because i'll be staying by your side for good."