A/N: I was meant to write this sooner but had writer's block. I've been inspired by today's Twoset's video to complete this sequel...!! So Eddy really doesn't like.. em, does he...
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Brett heard his phone give off a ping noise and so he stopped typing on his office computer and picked up his phone.
1 text message from an unidentified number.
Sometimes new customers preferred to text his mobile number, so Brett thought such was the case in this instance. He tapped to read the message.
Hi Brett, it's Eddy Chen. I'm sorry I haven't contacted you earlier, may I come in this afternoon to drop off the uniform?
Brett had to fire Eddy who he had just hired as a pest control technician because Eddy had a severe case of the fear of cockroaches. Eddy had said he would return his uniform within the next few days but come to think about it, it's almost been a couple of weeks since that day.
Hi Eddy, sure, not a problem, I'm in the office all day, see you anytime.
Brett decided he would go and grab something to eat now so that he wouldn't have to duck out to get lunch in the afternoon and possibly miss Eddy's visit. He caught the lift downstairs and as he got out on the ground floor, he saw a familiar face outside the building. Brett approached the familiar-looking young man.
"Um... Eddy?"
The young man turned around startled.
"Brett..!!"
"Geez, you're early."
Brett whipped out his phone and checked the time. It was 11:30am.
"Um, yeah, I was a bit early but didn't want to barge in on you in case you had something on."
"Eddy, you could've just asked if you could see me now. Um... I was about to go grab some lunch, would you want to join me?"
"Um.. yeah, sure."
"What do you wanna eat? Any preference ?"
"Um... Asian ?"
"Sure, How about Taiwanese?"
"My favourite."
"Great, I know a nice place."
"Oh my god you didn't have to pay for my lunch Brett..!!"
"Hey it's okay, I don't like fussing over the bill at the till, y'know."
"Um.. well thank you Brett. It was really nice food. Look, can I at least get you a coffee or something ?"
Brett smiled.
"That's a very nice gesture. Thanks, Eddy."
Once they settled inside a nearby café, Eddy opened his backpack.
"Look, I'm just taking this out now so that I don't forget to give it back to you. It's the uniform I was meant to bring back to you last week."
Eddy pulled out a paper bag from his backpack and passed it to Brett.
"I'm sorry I didn't bring it back earlier. I was a bit...unwell."
"Oh? Are you okay now?"
"Um... yeah... I was really stupid."
Brett furrowed his brow.
"In what way? What happened ??"
Eddy blushed.
"I tried to desensitise myself in an attempt to get over my phobia."
Brett raised an eyebrow.
"...What exactly did you do Eddy?"
"I tried to... um... touch a... you know.."
"...Oh no Eddy, didn't you end up having a massive anxiety attack?"
"Pretty much, yeah.. panic attack or anxiety attack, I forgot, but I wasn't in a good way for days."
"Geez Eddy, this isn't something amateurs can self-treat, y'know... it's a much more complicated process... that must have been awful for you.."
"Yeah, it was kinda tense... Um.. Brett, can I ask you something ?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"How come you're not scared of... u know. Them."
Brett smirked.
"Well... I'm actually an entomologist."
Eddy's jaw dropped.
"No way..."
"Yes."
"You.. study bugs for pleasure..!?!?!"
Brett let out a giggle.
"Well, that's a rather interesting way of putting it, but yes, that's what I used to do. I now use my knowledge to kill them. I sound pretty brutal, don't I."
"So... I'm guessing you are used to handling... them..?"
"Um... yeah, they don't give me any particular pleasure or anything, but I'm okay with it. Probably more okay with it than most people."
"Wow..."
"So... what made you try to desensitise yourself, Eddy?"
"Well, ... I thought if I could overcome my phobia, I could perhaps ask for my job back..."
Eddy blushed and stared down into his empty coffee mug.
"Oh Eddy.... Look, like I said a couple of weeks ago when I called you into my office, I really don't think you are compatible with this line of work..."
Eddy nodded quickly.
"Yeah, I know. I really know now Brett. I am looking for other jobs."
Brett smiled.
"That's good.. I hope you find something nice."
Eddy looked up.
"Um... about that.."
"About what ?"
Eddy put his mug down.
"About finding something nice."
"..Yeah..??"
"Um.. I think you are... nice."
Brett almost spat out his coffee.
"Um... Eddy, thank you..??"
"I just wished there was an opportunity to get to know you a bit better, y'know. Which was why I really wanted to stay on the job and work with you."
Once Brett recovered from a coughing fit, he scratched his head to collect his thoughts.
"Well... I'm actually glad you told me this Eddy. Cos I was actually wishing for the same thing."
Eddy looked up.
"...Really...??"
Brett smiled.
"Yes, really. I would like to see you again outside work. It's probably better that way anyway, less distractions?"
Eddy smiled.
"Yeah. You're probably right."
"So... would you see me again?"
Eddy blushed and smiled.
"Yes.. I'd really like that.. but.. um.. I really need to know something."
"What is it ?"
"Do you have any pets ?"
"Um... I have goldfish ?"
"I don't mind goldfish. ...You don't keep any... pets in line of your work..?"
Brett raised an eyebrow. Then he flinched and shook his head.
"Oooooh! Oh, no, no, no, I don't keep any of those large... u know, things from Papua New Guinea if that's what you're thinking."
Eddy let out a sigh.
"Oh thank bloody goodness... cos I don't care how cute you are, I don't think I could... see you if you ... u know.."
Brett smirked.
"...Did you just tell me that I'm cute? Anyway, good thing you didn't meet me while I was still studying then..."
Eddy recoiled in horror for a moment, then remembered that he did call Brett cute and blushed again.
To be continued...