A/N: Something different. Hope it works.
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8th of Feb, 2021
Eddy was swiping left, swiping left and swiping left.
His finger stopped on a pic of a guy. Dark, dead-straight hair, south-east Asian looks, his photo was somewhat pixelated but he could see a cute smile, height 170cm, lives in Brisbane. "Hi, I'm a violinist and classical music is my passion!".
Wow
His profile had a special red banner at the top that said "Special swipe required. Swipe to the top right to see if you can contact this person!"
Eddy swiped top right.
8th of Feb, 2031
Brett was swiping left, swiping left and swiping left.
His finger stopped on a pic of a guy. Light brown fluffy hair, south-east Asian looks, his photo was somewhat pixelated but he had a warm smile, height 178cm, lives in Brisbane. "Hi, I'm a violinist and classical music is my passion!".
Wow
His profile had a special blue banner at the top that said "Special swipe required. Swipe to the bottom right to see if you can contact this person!"
Brett swiped bottom right.
Eddy and Brett had swiped at exactly the same moment in their respective time dimensions.
*DING*
They each got an instantaneous message.
Congratulations, you both are keen to meet each other!
B_theviolinist> Hi
Hi< E_theviolinist
B_theviolinist> Would love to meet you.
Yeah, me too< E_theviolinist
Eddy cautiously called out to a man sitting in the café.
"Hi, you must be...a violinist?"
The man turned around.
"Yes, I..... Eddy..!?"
"...Brett..? Is that you..?"
"Oh my god, look at you Eddy... f*ck"
"What!?!?"
"Look at you Eddy..."
"You already said that. What !???"
"F*ck... just what year exactly is it ???"
"Brett??? What are you talking about? 2021 of course."
"Oh my god....Eddy, you're ....27?"
"Brett? So? And you're 28, what's the big deal ?"
"Eddy, can't you tell? I'm 38."
"WHAT !?"
Eddy peered into Brett's face. Their noses almost touched.
"Brett, I don't understand. I haven't seen you since uni. You look about your age, 28? I can't tell."
"Eddy.. you swiped to the top right to meet someone, me, from the future."
"What???"
"I swiped to the bottom right to meet someone, you, from the past."
"...Is this some kinda joke ?"
"No."
"Brett, couldn't you tell it was me from my profile pic?"
"Your photo was pixelated."
"...yeah come to think about it, so was your photo!"
"Yeah, the app does that with matches across time dimensions."
"...this has to be some sick joke."
"No, Eddy, I swear, here, have a look at my phone."
Brett showed Eddy his iPhone. Its display showed the date: 9th of Feb, 2031. Eddy flipped over the phone and it said iPhone 20.
Eddy smirked.
"An iPhone 20?? No f*cking way."
"No joke, Eddy. Like I said, I'm 38 years old."
Eddy peered into Brett's face again.
"F*ck Brett, you've aged well. You'd pass as 28."
"Um, thanks????"
"And.. I'm in 2021.. Look, my phone says so.."
"What is that ? An iPhone 12? Wow, I remember those."
"Oh stop gadget flexing. So, Brett, what year are we actually in now ???"
"Um... limbo."
"Limbo?"
"Yeah, we actually can't interact with anyone else in this dimension."
"This.. is too weird. How come you know all this ?"
"When they do these matches across time dimensions, it's the job of the one from the future to explain stuff to the person from the past."
"Oh... I guess cos I'm too primitive to understand it, huh."
"Well, I suppose you are from a more primitive dimension than mine."
"Are you guys serious? Are you guys with this new technology really expecting people to have relationships like this? Like across time dimensions ??"
"Well... , I suppose it depends on what kind of relationship you're after. What exactly were you after Eddy?
"I.... I don't know.. No!! Look, I wasn't after a quick.. y'know, if this was meant to be for that. I would've wanted to get to know the person first...Look, I didn't even know what swiping top right meant..!! "
"Hmm, point taken."
"What about you Brett? You knew what you were getting yourself into when you swiped bottom right, didn't you?"
"... I was just curious..Your pic reminded me of you. OMG that sounds so stupid."
"Reminded you of me? Why didn't you just look me up in your time dimension then ??"
Brett froze.
"I can't tell you.. but I can't."
Eddy went pale.
"Oh my god I'm not dead in 2031, am I !??"
Brett looked horrified.
"No!!! Oh god no, I'm sorry Eddy, I didn't mean to scare you like that, it's not anything like that. Let's just say... it's a little too late for me to do so. But I can't tell you details."
"Oh..."
Brett suddenly reached out and grabbed Eddy's shoulders.
"Eddy, listen, this may be the only chance I have to tell you... that I always had feelings for you."
Eddy looked startled.
"What..??"
"Eddy, I loved you."
"...Always ?"
Brett nodded.
"Always."
Eddy whispered.
"...Since... when ?"
Brett whispered back.
"Like... forever."
"..Uni?"
"Of course."
"...High school?"
"Yes."
Eddy his eyes shut but couldn't stop squeezing out tears.
"F*ck, why didn't you tell me !?!?!??!"
"Because I was scared."
Eddy shook his head in confusion.
"Scared of what ??"
"Losing you as a friend."
Eddy looked at Brett.
"Sh*t Brett..but you just left me.. as soon as you graduated uni..you...just.. f*cking ....left.. me...!!!"
"I was going crazy... I felt like I just couldn't tell you and it was killing me, I had to get away."
"Damn it, Brett, do you have any f*cking idea what it felt like to be left behind ?? Do you have any idea how long it took me to be able to function as a person again ???"
"...Eddy, why did you swipe right on my pic?"
"I guess it did remind me of you. Even though I knew it couldn't have been you... at least in my time dimension..."
"Why not ?"
"I dunno where you are in my time dimension, remember? You pissed off overseas."
"Eddy... I'm so sorry..."
"...Brett, where are you in 2021?"
"...I was actually back in Brisbane, Eddy.."
"Oh my f*cking god.. and you haven't contacted me ???"
"I am so sorry.."
"Are you... with someone in 2021?"
"..No"
"Did you still have feelings for me in 2021?"
"....Yes Eddy."
"Oh my god.. I have to contact you, please let me know how I can contact you."
"Eddy.."
"I swear, I will call every single Yang number in Brisbane if I have to."
"Eddy... my parents' number wouldn't have changed.."
"Brett, they got rid of their landline at least 5 years ago, like shortly after I finished uni."
"Oh.. Okay..let me give you my mum's mobile number"
"Thank you, Brett. Hey... why do you look so sad???"
"Um..."
"What is it ??"
"I'm happy for you Eddy and I'm happy for myself in 2021. If you call me, I.. I mean, he will be so happy.. honest."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah.. but, um... I'm in a different time dimension... not just time, but dimension.. Whatever you choose to do now and change the course of your future, it won't impact me."
Tears fell from Brett's eyes.
"...what????"
"Different worlds exist in parallel... I'm so happy for you and myself, honest.. but I won't get to... be with you in 2031... "
"Oh no..."
"It's all my fault. So I should be living with the consequences. And if I'm able to make you happy and I know one of myselves from one of the dimensions will also be so happy... then it's worth it."
"Brett...I don't understand this..."
"It's okay Eddy. I just want you to be happy. I am so sorry I caused so much grief to you. Please go and be happy. Myself in 2021 will also be very happy, I swear. And I hope he's gonna be good enough for you."
"But Brett what about you, in 2031??... is there anything I can do for you?"
"Eddy, I'm just grateful that I got to meet you. At least I was able to make one thing right. And I got some closure. I got to tell you how I always felt about you."
Eddy was sobbing.
"But.. that's too sad for you... Could I... maybe still sometimes come and see you like this then..?"
Brett smiled.
"Eddy... if you're gonna go and start a relationship with me in 2021, I'm not going to let you cheat on me with...me."
"...That sounds... so stupid..."
"Heck, I'm jealous of my 2021 self already. I know the 2021 me would be in a rage if he found out you were seeing another guy behind his back.. even if that guy was me, as in, him."
"Oh my god this is so confusing."
Eddy grabbed his hair by his fists.
"Oh Eddy, you're so cute when you look confused."
"Damn it, Brett."
"Eddy"
"Yes?"
"..Would you be okay letting me kiss you once before you go kiss my 28 year old self?"
"..Brett"
"I'm sorry I'm so much older than what you might be used to but.."
Eddy took Brett's wrists and brought them up to his face. Brett opened up his hands and cupped Eddy's cheeks. They both closed their eyes as they slowly moved closer to each other, Eddy lead by Brett to face down towards him as Brett went up on his toes.
10th of Feb, 2021
Call from an unidentified number
"...Hello?"
"Brett ?"
"....Eddy?"
"I got your number from your mum. Please let me see you. We need to talk."