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CXXV

“Gosh! Definitely need that bubble tea like, right now!”, Brett groaned, dragging his feet over the hotter getting gravel path, the dark blue waves crashing against the shore as inviting as ever, calling him to cool his overheated ass in the water.
“Skinny dipping?”, Eddy suggested jokingly with a tired grin from his end.
“I’m actually tempted if it wouldn’t be for the tourist group over there.” He pointed at a bunch of clearly retired people taking pictures close to the bus station they were heading towards to.
“We should have behind that giant rock in the back, I knew it!”
“Maybe. Wanna head back?”
“Too far.”
“True.”

Needless to say, the AC in the bus not working wasn’t helping with their nerves and when they finally got off somewhere in the city center, they were both cooked.
“Bubble tea!!!”, Brett cried, disregarding the hundreds of passersby around them.
“So sorry I didn’t bring water or something! For a two hour hike in the sun!”, Eddy said, shook his head over his own ignorance and took Brett’s hand, “You’re not feeling dizzy or anything, are you?”
“Nah, but soon maybe.”
“There’s a great store in the front across the street.”
Brett lifted his head a bit, eyes catching red paper lanterns. “Looks like…”
“Chinatown”, Eddy confirmed, “Our next destination! We’ll have lunch there too, if that’s okay with you?”
“Oh my God! Of course! That’s perfect!”, he beamed, feeling his energy level rising again just from imagining all the food they were about to have.
“Good”, Eddy’s smile matched Brett’s, "Thought you might like it.”
“How can I not? It’s not like my family always goes for Chinese or Asian food whenever we travel.”
Eddy laughed. “Same! As if my stomach can handle other cuisines.”
“Really?”
“Yeah”, the taller nodded when they came to a stop by the red light separating them from their elixir, “I mean, it’s not super bad but sometimes, I get cramps when it’s too like cheesy or heavy or whatever.”
“Damn!”

Eddy wasn’t exaggerating when he’d said the store was legit. The menu strongly reminded Brett of the shops in Taiwan and when Eddy ordered their usual in Chinese, he almost couldn’t contain his giddiness. 
“I said it before and I say it again”, Eddy went when he handed Brett his cup like a dad giving candy to a little kid, “I love how much you love bubble tea.”
“Don’t tell me you don’t love it just as much!”, Brett huffed, popped the straw through the lid and took a long, appreciative first sip, moans included. 
“Would never dare”, Eddy mimicked Brett and they both sat there in a corner of the little bubble tea store, letting the aircond and boba cool them down. Brett’s free hand ventured over the tiny table, gently took Eddy’s in his and got rewarded with a wide beam. 

“Random question, but when was the first time you had bubble tea?”
“Oh god!”, Brett munched away on some unlucky pearls, a frown between his brows, “Can’t remember. Probably when we were living in Taiwan? Pretty sure my parents got me some when I was super tiny.”
“Tinier than now?”, Eddy winked and got a slap on his upper arm for that.
“What about you?”
Eddy’s expression turned gloomy. Just a tad, but enough for Brett to catch it and subconsciously rub his thumb over the back of the other’s hand.
“Taiwan as well. My dad bought one for me when I was like four. I still remember, which is weird because I hardly remember anything from back then. He liked boba a lot too.”
Brett swallowed the tea and gulped again, lowering his cup. “You miss him.” 
He didn’t have to ask. He could see it in every little twitch in his beloved’s face. 
Eddy sighed heavily, giving Brett’s hand a squeeze. “Yeah. I do. He would have liked you, you know.”
“You think so?”
“For sure!”

They fell silent, each in their thoughts and sipping their teas. 
“I would have liked to meet him.”
Eddy sniffed. 
“Your mum’s great, you know. So your dad surely must have been equally awesome.”
Eddy’s hoarse voice was barely audible.“They loved each other a lot.”
Brett warmly smiled at him. “I believe that.”
Another minute of comforting silence and then, Eddy heaved a deep breath and got up. 
“Ready for lunch?”

Restaurants in Chinatown were usually a bit cheaper than other places in Sydney with food matching both boys’ taste. And to no one’s surprise, Eddy led Brett to a tiny place with four tables serving hotpot. 
“Ohhhh! 小提琴天才回來了！ (The violin prodigy returned!)”, a small Asian woman around sixty rushed over, carrying a wide, welcoming smile which instantly reminded Brett of his grandma he hadn’t seen in forever. 
“阿姨，妳好！ (Hi, aunty!)”, Eddy greeted with a polite and very charming smirk, making Brett simper right at the doorway of the restaurant. 
“唉啊，快進來啦。還等什麼？ (Oh, come in already! What are you waiting for?)”, she huffed and quickly shooed them to a table close to a tiny window on which another younger woman placed a steaming pot of soup the moment their butts met their designated chairs. 
“謝謝! 料理也可以上了。(Thanks. You can bring the ingredients as well.)”
“You’re here often, huh”, Brett meant, eyes following the busy workers delivering one plate after another filled with different meat, fish, shrimps, scallops, veggies and noodles. 
“Been here once or twice. Last time with my mum”, Eddy shrugged and put his case against the wall, “The people are nice here and the food is just-” He did a chef’s kiss motion and Brett chuckled.
“Then I can’t wait to dig in! Shall we?”
“Absolutely.”

Eddy didn’t oversell. The food was amazing, the soup rich and savory and the ingredients fresh and absolutely delicious. It was impressive how fast the bits of meat and fish vanished into the pot and were retrieved to be eaten shortly after. Waiting time was filled with chatter about their favourite pieces and composers throughout the years, which was very interesting to hear.

“Debussy?”, Brett exclaimed in joyous surprise, “Wow! I mean, I get it! His compositions are dreamy af.”
“Dreamy af!”, Eddy laughed, “Yeah. I like the late 20th century stuff. And Claire de Lune is just out of this world.”
“Kinda mainstream though, no?”, Brett winked and stuffed a piece of chicken into his mouth.
“Just proves how superior his work is”, Eddy humpfed.
“Kidding. It’s very nice. Definitely better than Canon in D.”
The taller almost snorted half a mouthful out. 
“What about you?”
Brett tilted his head. “Hmm, so hard to tell as a classical musician. Tchaik is definitely up there! Love the violin concerto!”
“I’d love to hear you play it!”, Eddy’s eyes shone.
“I’d love to play it for you”, Brett said, warmth spreading through his insides which had nothing to do with the hotpot, “But you might have to wait. Not gonna mess with Korngold by playing a different piece I haven’t practiced for some time.”
“Wise choice”, Eddy nodded, “I played the first movement for a competition once.”
Brett’s eyes widened. “What really?"
“Yup. Won first prize. Wasn’t a big comp though.”
“Now I want to hear you play it!”
“Maybe later?”, Eddy winked and had to chortle at Brett’s enthusiastic nodding.

The table got lighter and soon enough, they leaned into their chairs with appreciative groans.
“Man! That was good!”
“Right?”, Eddy sighed contently.
“Gotta come back again!”
“歡迎你們常來吃！小提琴天才的小男友也真可愛！(You’re welcome anytime! The violin prodigy’s boyfriend’s real cute too!)”, the old lady threw in while she started to clean their table. Brett’s Chinese was good enough for his face to turn as red as the Chinese lanterns outside, the colour intensifying when Eddy replied, “對不對？超可愛是吧? (Right? Super cute, isn’t he?)”
“Dude!”, Brett huffed, pulling up his collar to unsuccessfully hide his face. 
“What? She’s right. And I’m right.”
“She thinks we’re boyfriends, no?”
“I reckon yeah. We give off that vibe, apparently.”
“但他也很可愛啊！(But he’s cute too!)”, Brett’s instincts took over, making half the establishment laugh. And there was this stupidly happy grin and bright shine gracing Eddy’s features when he paid for both of them before taking Brett’s hand into his with pride oozing out his presence.