The Bridge To Success

The person who caused his hallucinations

Brett received a text from his friend from his orchestra days. Wanted to meet-up, to catch up on things. Brett, being the social butterfly that he is, agreed. He remembered Eddy was in that orchestra too. He messaged him.

Brett:
Bro, you got a text from Chris?

Eddy:
Yeah
Bowling right?

Brett:
U gonna come?

Eddy:
Nope
Got other plans on that day
Sorry

Brett sighed, then he replied, "alright then..."

===

"We're here," Chen-mama said as she pulled over for the parking spot.

Eddy, with a grunt, got out of the car. He wanted to go with Brett. Anywhere, anytime as long as with Brett. But now he can't, physically can't.

He's at the airport. A familiar place, they've both go in and out to, from tours to vacations, arrivals, and departures. 'Shit!' He began to miss Brett.

He dragged his feet as he walked from the car to the entrance door. His mom in front of him. She's excited, he is not. If only he can say that 'Mom, I don't want to be in here now.' If only.

"Walk faster, Eddy!" Chen-mama said enthusiastically as she half-walk-run, head turned to him, smiling.

He sighed. Eddy got nothing to do but follow. He then forced a smile, "Okay..." He said.

Eddy walked along with his mom, absentmindedly. He thought about how he really wanted to go bowling with Brett. Not really the bowling part, but the Brett part. About the Brett part... It reminded him of that from the day before. Eddy blushed at the thought.

"Have he found his glasses yet?" A dumb question Eddy mumbled to himself, to distract him from that. Eddy's face up to his ears turned redder. That was not effective. He covered his face with his hands hoping his mom or anyone else won't notice.

Chen-mama and Eddy arrived at their destination. She gestured him to sit down the nearby bench, and they did. Chen-mama eyed something on Eddy. She shrugged, left it for some other time. They arrived early so they have time to wait.

Eddy looked around to find another distraction. There were lots of people passing by around them. People watching, he settled on it.

He saw a mother with a sleeping baby in her arms. 'Aww... He's so cute.' he commented mentally, 'looks like baby Brett.'

Eddy then turned to the man sitting alone on the bench beside his, busy on his phone. 'Brett would rock his hairstyle.' Then he realized something. Eddy bit his lip in frustration. 'This ain't working!'

He then moved his eyes on the handsomely dressed teenager walking towards his direction. The guy took off his sunglasses. Maybe he felt that Eddy was looking at him so the guy glanced back at him. 'Shit! He looks like Brett too!' Eddy mentally slapped himself. The guy passed by him as the way to the exit was behind him.

Eddy then shut his eyes closed, leaned back the bench and crossed his arms. 'I'll just sleep then, no Brett allowed in my dreams!' he thought to himself, but Chen-mama tugged his sleeve that instant. "Don't sleep Eddy, they'll arrive soon." 'Shit!' Eddy half annoyed.

About ten minutes passed by and a new batch of people exited the arrival gates. This flight was the one they are waiting for. Both Chen-mama and Eddy stood up. Looked for their relatives amongst that crowd.

Eddy's phone rang. He fished it out of his pocket, checked the caller ID. The person who caused his Brett hallucinations: Brett.

He was about to answer the call when suddenly someone hugged him from behind, that made him drop his phone. "I missed you, boy!" The man lifted him and swayed a little. Crack. Both of them froze.

"Dad, you stepped on my phone!" Eddy shouted.

"That's how they greet people in New York." His sister, who arrived with his dad, said. Sarcastic.

Eddy got teary-eyed mad. Chen-papa apologized dozens of times and told him that he'd buy a new one. Both Chen-mama and his sister tried to calm them both down.

"I don't want a new one, just send it for repairs. I don't want to lose my files and pictures." Eddy demanded. He didn't talk to his dad the whole trip back.

===

While they waited for the others to arrive, the early ones on the bowling center rented bowling shoes. One of the girls brought socks for them all. Brett helped to distribute them and kept a pair for himself.

"Wow, what a gentleman!" The girl said.

Someone in the background shouted, "He's just gentle, but no man!" Then laughed.

Brett threw a pair of socks on the guy. "Fuck you, man!" He laughed too.

Brett then excused himself. He texted Eddy. A random "We've just arrived. How're things there?" just to check on him. Minutes passed, no reply. Brett started to worry.

Eddy was not the type of person that doesn't text back. So he tried to call him. It rang for a few seconds before it disconnected. It sent a tiny jolt to his heart. He tried again, this time it didn't connect. Hurt. He decided not to push it further.

Brett thought Eddy was avoiding him because of what happened in his bedroom the day before.

'What I did back then was a mistake,' Brett told himself, 'a big mistake.' And he believed it.

One of his friends called him over. With a bittersweet smile, he joined the game.

===

They stopped by a repair shop. It was lunchtime by then. So the family decided to grab something to eat while they wait for Eddy's phone to get fixed.

While their dad was in the toilet. His sister grabbed the opportunity to ask Eddy. "So who's the hickey person?"

Eddy shyly covered it with his hand and answered, "No one."

"What? Don't tell me you did that to yourself!?"

"No, that's physically impossible!" Eddy's hand covering the marking slid down.

"Come on, tell me, who is it?" She said really curious, wide-eyed.

He sighed. Eddy was silent for a while, mused whether he'd tell or not. Then he answered, "...It's Brett."

"Mom! My gosh!" Waving her arms, grabbing Chen-mama's attention.

Their mom, who heard being called, turned to them.

"It means you two are together now, huh, huh huh?" His sister squealed.

"That... Er..." Eddy hesitated to answer, "Nope, We're not."

"What?!" Chen-mama exclaimed. "Then what's that?" She pointed on the marking on his son's jaw.

"Can I punch Brett?" His sister, pissed.