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CXXVI

“And then, one time, I forgot my violin on a train!”
“What? I thought it was at a train station? How did it get on the train by itself?”
“Nah. Two separate incidents.”
“No way!”
“I’m not joking! And one time, that was for AYO camp I think. My mum brought me to the airport and everyone was there, all excited and stuff. I had my backpack and luggage and then, one guy went ‘Dude, where’s your violin?’ And I’m just ‘Oh god! I left it at home!’”
Brett laughed his ass off and held his belly, which was a difficult task while walking. 
“No way!”
“Yeah. My sister had to get a taxi and bring my violin. Missed the flight, of course and had to take the next one.”

They were strolling down Chinatown and Brett had the time of his life, listening to Eddy’s memory-failing-him stories and picturing the poor guy in those scenarios. 
“Oh, I wished I was there!”, he guffawed and wiped a tear away from the corner of his eye.
“I wished that too! At least I would have had someone getting something out of it!”
“I would have made fun of you so bad!”
“I know! That’s why!”
Both boys grinned at each other.
“I can’t believe you’re such a good violinist with the amount of time you spent looking for your instrument.”
Eddy huffed. “Can’t believe it either. You’d like some coffee by the way? Or another bubble tea?”
“Only when I’m buying this time.”
“But it’s me taking you on a date.”
Brett tsked. “We’re on a date together, love. Bubble tea? Or are you too full for it?”
“There’s actually a very cute café just outside Chinatown. You down? Because we sure need caffeine for our next activity.”
“Uhh, now I’m curious. Lead the way.”
Eddy bowed down a bit and placed a kiss on Brett’s surprised lips. “We’ll get bubble tea after, I promise.”

Brett would have walked past the café if it wouldn’t have been for Eddy. It was a tiny store in-between a giant warehouse and some luxury window display. Two even tinier tables and chairs were propped up in the front. An intense coffee aroma overpowered their sense of smell as soon as they stepped over the threshold and dimmed, warm light coming from bare lightbulbs gave the whole place a homey, cozy feeling. Eddy ordered them two flat whites which the barista brewed with very expensive looking, italian coffee machines. It was just the way Brett liked his coffee. 
“That’s a welcoming change from the cafeteria stuff”, he remarked, taking the first sip with an appreciative hum after they sat down on some armchairs the store had miraculously fit in somehow, “Although ours is worse, lemme tell ya’.”
“Really?”, Eddy raised an eyebrow, “I mean, it helps you survive for sure. There’s definitely better than what the Sydney con offers though.”
“It’s an upgrade to our con.”
“Are your parents coming to the concert next week by the way?”
Brett placed the rim of the porcelain to his lower lip. “Mhm. I forgot to tell them that I won.”
“You did?”, Eddy chuckled.
“Was kinda busy with… you know…”, Brett said with a small smile.
“Oh”, the other made like a balloon losing air, “Uhm… god, Brett, I’m-”
Brett held up his free hand. “Nah! No apologizing anymore, remember?”
Eddy closed his lips with a snap.
“They called a thousand times and when I called back, my mum became tiger mum unleashed.” He rolled his eyes. “Nagging about why I haven’t told them earlier and stuff. At least she has something to complain about to my aunties, I guess.”
“And to brag”, Eddy toasted, his expression proud.
“Your mum’s gonna be around too, right?”
“Yup”, Edd nodded, “She wants to meet them.”
“That’s gonna be interesting”, Brett deadpanned. 
Eddy laughed. “It’s gonna be okay but I’m pretty sure my mum wants to make it happen at all cost, so maybe warn your parents?”
“Oh, they’re gonna be delighted, I’m pretty sure. And if we’re boyfriends by then…”
Eddy looked at him, his gaze loving, reassuring. “You wanna tell them?”
Brett sighed. “I don’t know… what about you?”
His eyes wandered to the wooden ceiling. “As long as you’re by my side, I think it’s gonna be fine.”
Brett blinked, the familiar butterflies along with the familiar warmth spreading through his body, into his limbs. 
“I mean, not gonna lie, I’m kinda terrified about how my mum’s gonna react, but she likes you a lot. I don’t know, I feel like it’s gonna be okay. And I’d love to say the same about your parents but I don’t know them.”
“Pretty sure they gonna like you a lot too”, Brett stated despite a nasty, nauseating feeling making itself annoyingly present. He had never talked about this particular topic with his folks, though he had a suspicion they weren’t exactly gonna be thrilled when they’d find out he was in love with a boy. How were the scenes of his mother losing it and his dad's pale face so goddamn vivid in his head? He swallowed hard and tried to deadpan over cold sweat breaking out his forehead. 
Eddy furrowed his brows. “Are you okay, Brett?”
“Yeah, all good.”
“You worried?”, he hit the mark despite Brett’s attempts to hide it. Had he lost his superpower or was it just useless when it came to his love?
“A little”, he breathed and Eddy’s hand instantly found Brett’s upper leg, giving it a comforting squeeze. 
“Don’t know if it helps but I’m with you every step of the way.”
Brett breathed in again and managed a smirk. “I know.”

The cups were emptied and after Eddy threw a glance at his Disney mascot watch, he was quick to drag Brett out the café and down the street.
“Shit! We’re gonna be late!”
“Is it far?”, Brett panted, his short legs causing him to frustratingly lag behind Eddy no matter how fast he moved them.
“Shouldn’t be. Just around the corner, I hope.”
They picked up the pace, their cases hitting their lower backs. Fortunately, they reached their destination soon enough. 
“Wait!”, Brett tried to catch his breath and squinted his eyes at the sun behind the sign he tried to read, “Don’t tell me we’re going…”
“Escape room!”, Eddy announced, his arms opened triumphantly, “Ever done one of these?”
Brett beamed. “Are you kidding? I love escape rooms!”
“Thought so”, the taller winked, “Let’s go inside? They’re probably waiting for us."