Right thing to do

A day at the park

A cloudy day.

It's a rare situation to happen that they shoot videos outside, so hot, noisy, crowded, everything. They did so for the skit calls for a scene at the park. Eddy and Brett take a rest under the shade of a tree. Seated apart, doing their own things. Eddy checked the clips they shot on the camera while Brett wipes off his own sweat.

It's been a while since they were together, which didn't really happen before. From morning 'till the next morning, they are with each other's company, never separated as if they're a single entity. But these past few days aren't anything like that, Brett could say that he actually missed Eddy.

"You thirsty?" Eddy spoke.

Brett was about to stand up. "Yeah, let's get--"

Eddy quickly handed over the camera to Brett. "I'll go. Stay here." he stood up.

"What? Why? I wanna come." Brett insisted. Stuffed the camera to his bag.

Eddy briskly walked headed towards the destination, passing thru the forested path of the park. Had the intention to leave the other behind.

Brett hurriedly ran along. "Why are you running?" He felt that Eddy was still avoiding him.

"I'm not. It's my normal pace." In the back of his mind, 'Stop it, Brett.'

"No, it's not! You're too fast!"

"Your legs are just short," Eddy said, wanted to shake Brett off.

"Slow down a bit, okay?" Brett, lagging behind.

Eddy ignored him.

"Why are you running away, Eddy?" Brett getting tired, getting impatient.

"..."

"Eddy!"

"..."

"Eddy, I love you."

Eddy stopped on his tracks.

Brett stopped too. He panicked.

Eddy turned around, with heavy footsteps he walked to him. His face, serious, as he looked at Brett in the eyes.

"Eddy, I--"

"Don't."

Brett froze, gaze fixed on Eddy, his throat felt dry.

"Don't love me."

"Wh- why?" One word. But Brett had difficulty saying it.

Eddy already prepared what to say. He made it before when Jasmine confronted him. Before they were on tour. Before he admits to himself that he liked Brett. But no, he can't say it. Instead, he just stared at him, etched his face into his memory, like this is the last time he'll see him.

Brett was about to say something but his trembling lips couldn't form a shape. Nor his voice couldn't make a sound. Oh, how Brett wished he just heard him wrong.

"Because..." Eddy steels himself. "...It's the right thing to do."

"Bullshit!" He breathed.
Brett turned his head. Bit his lip, still trembling. Hoped that it will help to hold the tears in. Hoped that Eddy won't notice. Hoped that Eddy didn't...

Eddy instinctively raised his hand to wipe the tears forming from Brett's eyes. He stopped midway. He had to. He forced himself to.

With no warning, the tears that threaten Brett finally took their action.

Before he can defy his resolve, Eddy turned his back and quietly walked away. Eddy, again, had to. He forced himself to.

Seeing this Brett's cry became louder, his breathing harder. He wanted to move but he couldn't. With shaking hands he wiped his tears, they were still flowing. With those very arms, he hugged himself, still sobbing.

Brett thought about the person who'd tightly hug him when he cried, the person who'd quietly listen when he talked, the person who'd lovingly look at him when he smiled.

All of them were Eddy.

Large crystal-like tears fell from his eyes to his shirt, staining it, to the ground, blessing it. The trees surrounded him gave shade and protection as thanks for giving them a small rain.