The Harmony of Obsession

Chapter 1

"This was the strongest, most durable, and purest amorous infatuation of his life. It possessed all the charms, sufferings, depth, and force of the most sublime and radiant love. It was chivalric service of 'a fair Lady,' without any thought of sensual encroachments."

——Tchaikovsky Through Others' Eyes

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It was February 28th when the scorching hot sun wasn't ready to stop torturing the flora and fauna. The tranquility or the deathly hush on campus was interrupted by a group of incoming first-year students. They moved into their dorms one week earlier than returning students for their orientation.

It was Brett's first semester at university. Getting exhausted from talking and socializing with others, Brett decided to have a solitary movement during the lunch break. He accidentally arrived at the building complex of the String Department. He looked up at this three-story red brick construction, still couldn't believe he would spend the next four years here with his beloved violin.

Standing in the heatwave, Brett had an illusion of him and the building melting down under the sun and he eventually becoming a part of the construction. The glass door in the main entrance was propped open where appeared a man carrying his violin case in hand, dressed in his black suit even in this 35-degree weather. The first two buttons on his shirt were left open; his double G buckle looked a bit tacky in Brett's opinion. As he passed by, he greeted Brett with a smile and a nod.

"Hello," he said under his breath.

"Hi..." dazzled by this stranger's air of sophistication, Brett was lost for words. His eyes even followed that person until his figure receded into the distance.

It was Brett's first time meeting Eddy. At the time, Brett didn't know that in the following years, he would often turn around to gaze at this taller man disappearing from view.

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Brett was lost. He hadn't had time to explore the campus and this was certainly not the best way to explore his university in such a hellish weather, especially he was supposed to be in his academic advisor's office 10 minutes ago. Staring at the spiral staircase in front of him that he had no idea where it would lead him to, Brett sighed.

His advisor Jonathan Morris was a prominent violin soloist. Brett has already heard rumors about how strict his advisor was from upper-class students even though he just started his life in college for less than two weeks.

"What a way to make a gReAt first impression. Professor Morris will just hate me for the rest of four years. I'll be the musician who not only comes in late during the orchestral performance but also meetings. He might ask me to switch to viola, or even worse, switch to play the recorder." Brett thought to himself while taking a step on the stairs. During the past orientation week, his ego and self-esteem were both well crushed by a few prodigy players from his year.

The layout of the building complex was not extremely confusing: the three-story brick construction was divided into the west and the north wing that were perpendicular to each other. The library, studying space, and practice rooms located inside the west wing, and faculty members' offices and classrooms were in the northern part of the building. A few years ago, the connected basement was renovated as a giant concert hall for hosting student performance as well as for guest artists.

After double-checking the room number that was mentioned in the email, "305 W, what does it even mean?" Brett muttered to himself while he was wandering the hallway on the third floor.

He saw a man walking towards him in business casual with his dark grey blazer unbuttoned carrying a violin in his hand; one of the strings was broken. Brett soon recognized this person was the one who greeted him from the other day, but he wasn't aware that he has been looking fixedly at the taller man for so long that this person perceived his stare. The tall man paused and asked: " Hello, how can I help you?"

"Hi, err... I am wondering if you know where Professor Jonathan Morris's office is? I am his advisee." Brett immediately withdrew his gaze and tried his best to suppress the sudden that had burst into his veins.

"A first-year student?" Eddy asked.

As Brett nodded, the taller man put a smile on his face: "Welcome to the conservatory! Jonathan's office is actually in the west wing. I'll show you the way."

Walking behind him, the shorter one gazed at this person at his back unconsciously and was spellbound by his slender silhouette, his long fingers that were grabbing the violin, and the veins stood out on the back of his hands. He was completely lost in himself that he didn't even notice they already standing in front of the mysterious 305 W.

"Good luck with your advising meeting!" Eddy smiled kindly and left before Brett even had the chance to express his gratitude.

Brett was still dwelling upon his daydreaming during his meeting and didn't pay much attention to his advisor's words. The figure of the tall man was clear yet vague, lurking in his mind. He somehow felt lost when he realized the taller man didn't remember him from that afternoon despite the fact that people, in general, could rarely recall someone whom they brushed past.