A/N: This is part 2 of a short story within the Twoset Veterinarian series. The first part is:
173. Twoset Veterinarian XI
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"Hey Brett, thanks for dropping by to show me how you play bar 87"
Eddy expressed his gratitude towards his best friend as he stuck his hand into the pocket of his jeans to get his key out. Brett had come by the coffee shop after his tutorial session and once Eddy finished his shift, the duo headed off to Eddy's unit. On their way, they had purchased some takeaway food for dinner. The plan was to have dinner, then Brett would help Eddy practice the piece they've both been working on, with particular attention to bar 87.
Eddy couldn't find his key in his pockets. He handed the takeaway food to Brett to hold and removed his backpack to search for his key. It wasn't in his backpack either.
"Oh f*ck, I lost the key to my unit."
"What? Hey, don't worry Eddy, I've got your spare key with me."
Brett whipped out his key ring and held onto Eddy's key as he handed the bundle to Eddy. This was Eddy's spare key that was given to Brett in case of emergencies.
"Oh yeah, that's right, I knew it would come in handy one day, thanks."
"You should take this key back now before I forget. Just cut me a new one if you want me to keep carrying one for you."
"Okay."
Once they were inside Eddy's flat, Eddy removed his housekey from Brett's keyring and handed Brett back his bunch of keys. Eddy placed his own key on the kitchen bench.
"Okay, let's have dinner before the takeaway food gets cold."
"So, the wretched Bar 87.."
"Yeah Brett. So how did you know it was bar 87?"
"Cos I also had a b*tch of a time getting it right myself."
"Hmm."
"Okay, so, play it for me?"
Eddy played as Brett listened and watched intently.
"Well Eddy, you sounded heaps better than what I used to sound like."
"But you've since nailed it haven't you? I practically come to a screeching halt. You play it for me now?"
Eddy passed his violin to Brett.
"Okay.. slight change in fingering.. makes this shift easier... this bit here..."
"Ooooooooooooooh ! Lemme try, lemme try"
Happy with their practice, the duo proceeded coffee in the living room.
"So, Eddy, was it only your house key that you lost on your keyring?"
"Yeah.. it's a shame that keyring went missing...it was one of my favourites."
"Oh I know which one, it's the one with a fluffy thing attached to it, wasn't it?
"Yeah. Um.. Brett, y'know, ...this is really strange..."
"What is?"
"...I think I'm been haunted by Lizst.."
Brett froze with his mug still against his lips and looked up towards Eddy. His eyelashes fluttered and his eyebrow was raised in confusion.
"...What..? The pianist?"
"No.. my pet cat that died when I was 8 years old."
"Oh. Lemme guess, I bet Belle named him."
Eddy nodded.
"Okay, so.. why did you think this cat's haunting you?"
Eddy told the story about how he felt responsible for letting Liszt die on his own by neglecting him when he needed medical help.
"Oh, but Eddy, you were at home alone at the time and didn't realise how serious it was, right ?"
"Well.. even I think what I've just told you sounds like a copout.. an excuse."
"Oh Eddy, c'mon don't be so hard on yourself."
"...Thanks Brett."
"So.. going back, why did you think Liszt was haunting you?"
"Well.. in addition to my house keys, there's been a few other things that have gone missing recently. And all the stuff that has gone missing.. they're all cat related.. more specifically, Liszt related. Like my favourite keyring with the fluffy attachment that looked like a cat's tail.. its pattern matched Liszt's tail, which was why I got it in the first place. This rosin case with a spherical lid reminded me of a ball that Liszt liked to play with... And my cat ears headband with the same coloured fur as.."
Brett raised his eyebrow further.
"You had a cat ears headband?"
Eddy blushed.
"I got it when I travelled to Japan last year. Just as a bit of a joke."
Brett grinned.
"Yeah, yeah of course you did. Just as a joke, hey."
Eddy blushed and stammered.
"I, it was...!!"
Brett giggled.
"Of course. What a shame you lost it. I bet you would've looked cute with it."
Eddy cringed.
"OMG Brett..Please stop..!"
Brett chuckled.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry."
"There's more Brett.. I feel like someone's looking at me all the time.."
"W, what..??"
Brett thought he was caught out.
"Brett, I don't want to sound like I'm flattering myself saying this.. it's not a look of admiration.. it feels like something more sinister..."
"Oh.. like..? "
"Really dominating.. or like a grudge or resentment... like Liszt may have felt towards me.."
Brett's eyes shot open.
"Oh c'mon Eddy.. surely it can't be that..."
"And that's just not it either."
"What..? What else?"
"I..I've been hearing this noise when I'm trying to sleep at night.. the sound of a cat munching on dried cat food..."
Brett recoiled in horror.
"OMFG now that's messed up."
"It.. doesn't really scare me.. Actually it kinda does..a little.. maybe Liszt is trying to curse me to death? Like this is some kind of retaliation of what I've done to him?"
"Oh my god Eddy, weren't you like 8 when Liszt died? Why has it taken 10 years for Liszt to come back to haunt you?"
"I.. I don't know. I suppose I enrolled into uni to study vet science this year..? Maybe that pissed him off.. maybe he wants to know that doing this isn't gonna make amends ?"
"I don't understand. Would Liszt be that pissed with you?"
"I.. I ignored him when he needed me. Don't they say being ignored is more painful than being hated or ill treated..?"
It was then when Brett noticed Eddy was crying.
"Eddy..!!"
Back to current time
"Oh yeah.. Eddy I remember that time in your flat.. I.. I mean.. how could I forget.."
"I asked you to stay the night."
Brett smiled.
"Yeah. Well, it's not like it was my first time to sleep over at your place, y'know."
"Well, yeah but all previous sleepovers were at my parents' house.. and so that was the first time in my unit, just the two of us...."
To be continued...