TWO WORLDS OF A MIND

13. DÉJÀ VU

Rubin walked behind Eddy to ensure he doesn't run away. Rubin had instructed Eddy to invite him as a special guest for the show.
Even though Rubin was focused on his goal he dazed out for a split second.
"Take this violin." Eddy said.
"Whose is it? Brett's?" Rubin asked.
"No..... it Sophia's. She also learning the violin."
"Hmm.. I see."
"You wait here. I'll call you." Eddy stated in a normal tone. There was no emotion of anger or grief. Just his usual.
"You better do it. How come you're ok with what happened?" Rubin asked as he coughed.
Eddy seemed confused.
"Meaning?"
"Nevermind, now go."

Eddy went up on stage,
"Ok, we have a surprise for you all. We have a famous violinist amongst us. Give it up for Rubin Neel!" Eddy exclaimed.

Rubin walked on stage with pride. The spotlight focused on him. He indeed felt the attention he desired.

"We'll play Tchaikovsky's swan lake. Maybe a few bars." Eddy said.
The backtrack played the Tchaikovsky's swan lake of an orchestra.
"Sure." He said trying to hide his pain. A pain he assumed a dull pain.
As Rubin took the stage in playing the audience cheered. It's was his dream.
The piece was played very elegantly with all perfect notes.
Suddenly, Rubin felt sick to his stomach. What was this pain? Or was it the butterflies of finally achieving what he wanted?
Knowing the fact Eddy was playing along with him. He heard a third violin playing from the wings. He saw a person coming on to the stage. Brett.
"What?" Rubin whispered beneath his breath. He stood baffled.
"But how did everything change?" He whispered to himself.
He rewinded 5 minutes ago.

What had happened:
* When Brett had caught Rubin from behind, Eddy rushed in, only to find an equalizer with a silencer in his hand. Rubin fought against them and in the struggle, there was a pop. Brett and Eddy tried to get hold of Rubin before he fell, but his mind believed that Brett was injured; in reality, he was wounded.

As Brett approached him, he pushed him away and took charge. He commanded Eddy to head up to the stage. Eddy silently told Brett to stay there for a while and follow them as they left.

Rubin's mind in order to strike perfection overlooked everything that existed in reality or hid any flaws. A perfect two-sided brain. It struck a line between fantasy and reality: what he imagined was fantasy escaping the wrath of reality.

It all came to Rubin. The pain hit him.*

The hidden fact was that Brett and Eddy didn't know that he was injured. And he couldn't say anything on stage as he was under the pressure of his mind to be PERFECT. The crimson slowly started travelling through Rubin's black shirt, no one could even notice.

After a few bars, Rubin was playing offkey.
"You ok?" Brett asked.
Rubin told Brett.
"Oh my god, Rubin. Get off the stage now!"
"But I thought it was you."
"Me? No. You're blinded by your own brain."
The music rang behind them.
"Eddy!" Brett exclaimed.
"What happened?" Eddy asked.
"Get the medic on the backstage. In the fight behind, Rubin injured himself."
Without saying anything Eddy sprinted off.
Rubin took a deep breath and walked off.
"I am joining the Viola Gang!" Rubin tried to add a bit of humour. At least he could. Overall, his mind didn't want to let it go. It was still a fantasy.
The crowd cheered. That was the appreciation he always wanted.
As he got off he collapsed. Luckily Eddy was in the back. Brett rushed back to help.
"Don't worry, Rubin. We're here to help you." Eddy reassured.
"It's okay, Rubin." Brett said.
Everything was blurred.