** BRIAN **

LIFE WAS GOOD. I CLEARLY REMEMBER MY OLD manager always commenting on this extravagant 21st birthday party he would throw me, taking me to casinos with lots of the booze I’d be allowed to drink. Instead, I was going to celebrate the day having dinner with Allan. The universe apparently does like me.

I woke up on that Thursday to a message from him. It was, indeed, a happy birthday already.

Happy b’day, mate! Now you’re of age everywhere, I can finally lead you down the dark path!

Thanks! Please, don’t do that.

Lol Of course not. You’re too precious. Meet you at five?

Here or at the venue?

Up to you.

The venue’s closer to you. We’ll meet there, then.

Deal. Enjoy your day, worldwide adult!

Allan was the only one who knew it was my birthday, other than my parents. They had called me a little bit before lunch to wish me a happy birthday and ask if I had received their present. I stared at the miniature piano on my coffee table. At first, I found it cute, then I realised it was a disguised flask. I thanked them and said I had loved it. I know, I’m partially to blame. If I don’t tell them stuff, how can I expect them to learn? Still. Not in the mood.

I taught three classes that day and enjoyed my lonely lunch thinking I wouldn’t have a lonely dinner. This birthday was already so much better than the last one. True, Allan and I were still just friends, but I was so happy and thankful he was in my life that I decided to accept my blessings as they came. Every day I grew more certain of my feelings for him and something deep down inside insisted that he felt the same, but I didn’t know if that was perception or hope, which means that I never acted on it.

When my last student left, I ran to the bathroom to take a shower. I wanted to dress extra smart today, but I was also conscious that Allan might not be able to do the same. In the end, I went for a new pair of shoes I had bought the day before with a nice shirt hidden under a contrasting colour blazer. I made sure I looked and smelled great and left the flat after calling an Uber to the Opera House.

When I arrived, Allan was already waiting for me on the pavement. He had combed his short hair backwards, so it was more spiked than ever. He was looking neat with a tight jacket full of adorned buttons. It was only a bit more than half closed and his neck revealed a nice shirt underneath. He had never looked more handsome. I couldn’t stop admiring him and the fact that he had dressed up for my birthday.

We hugged tight when I reached him and he smelled better than he looked.

‘Happy birthday, big boy!’

‘Thanks! I do indeed feel a bit taller! I’m happy you noticed it. I didn’t think you would!’

‘I did!’ He laughed a little. ‘I got us programs.’

‘Sweet! It’ll go to my collection!’

‘You collect show programs?’

‘I do! I started collecting the ones from the concerts I played, then when I stopped, I decided to keep collecting from the ones I attended.’

‘Do you miss it? I mean, doing concerts and stuff. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, though.’

‘Nah. It’s okay. I’m not going to lie, a standing ovation feels really awesome, but at the end of the day, the cons were so much heavier than the pros. I’m truly happier now.’

‘If you’re happy, I’m happy. And I’m happy I get to be happy around you when you’re happy.’

‘That’s cheesy.’

‘I know, right?’ He said laughing. ‘Shall we?’

‘Of course. Lead the way.’

‘Okay. Follow closely. Don’t get lost. If you do, scream and I’ll come find you.’

I laughed as I followed him down the straight line which we crossed in less than ten steps towards the House doors.

The Opera House was a place I would never get accustomed to enter. It has always mesmerised me and I always liked to spend a few minutes admiring the inner architecture. The heavily ornamented ceiling, the out-of-this-world staircase, the posters of classic acts that have passed through its stage. When I was little, I once dreamed of having a poster of myself among the others. I did enjoy fame and success, but that is something that never happened. Still, I was so happy now that it didn’t bother me in the slightest.

Tonight, we were watching Carmen, the first opera I have ever watched, and now it would be Allan’s too. I couldn’t believe it when I got the House’s calendar and saw this awesome classic would premiere right on my birthday, so I must admit I wasn’t at all subtle with Allan three weeks ago.

‘Hey! I got the Opera House newsletter and guess what?!’ I said to him when we were getting pizza that day, barely able to conceal my excitement.

‘What?’ He asked through a mouthful.

‘They’re starting a new season of Carmen right on my birthday! How awesome is that?!’

‘For you to be this excited, I’d say it’s pretty awesome. Last time I saw you like this was when we got a free pizza for coming here too often.’

‘Yeah. That was good.’

He chuckled. ‘Yeah. It was.’

When we were heading to his bus stop, he turned to me and said, ‘so… Brian, Allan, and Carmen for your twenty-first birthday. How is that for a plan?’

I tried not to squeak. I failed.

‘Oh my God, that’s so perfect! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!’ Next thing I noticed I was jumping and hugging him. Yes, we were standing on the middle of the pavement. No, I’m not ashamed.

‘Brian?’ Allan’s voice came waking me up from those memories. ‘Is everything okay?’

‘Better than okay. Come on, let’s take our seats.’

We made ourselves comfortable. The seats were really good and they were Allan’s treat. He had insisted that today was all on him.

I first watched Carmen when I was ten. My grandparents had taken me to see it so they could distract me from my mother having forgotten me at school for the fourth time that week. The love they showered me with that day was so big that by the end of the final act I couldn’t even remember what I was sad about. It meant a big deal that I got to watch it again, this time with someone that is also so special to me. Somehow, I felt connected to all the people I love on my birthday, and nothing in the world can top that.

The show was a perfect rendition with talent flooding from the stage from the first to the very last second. When it was over, neither Allan nor I could move from our seats.

‘It was so… beautiful.’

‘Yeah… it was.’

‘I can’t even describe how touched I feel.’

‘Make those my words.’

We were finally able to get up and leave the House.

‘But I have to say, though. The intermission was a nice present to my bladder.’

‘Right?! Mine, too.’

‘All right. Now, where are we having dinner? Pizza?’

‘Nah. Tonight’s a special night. I want you to remember it, if not forever, for a long time.’

Allan then took me to this fancy Italian restaurant a few blocks away from the House. It was a nice walk there and, once we arrived, the food and the conversation were simply divine. We merely talked about how our days had been, both of us happy to be with each other for something funny after all those dull hours we had endured before meeting. When we were ready to leave, he insisted on paying the bill. I was worried for him, that was a rather pricey place.

‘It’s your birthday. You won’t even touch your wallet tonight, Brian.’

We walked back to the square in front of the Opera House, where we would part our ways.

This weird feeling and courage were overwhelming me like a fire I’ve never felt before.

‘You know,’ I said, getting a little too close to him, but he didn’t move. ‘This was by far the best birthday I’ve ever had. I felt special like I haven’t in a long time. There is only one thing missing for it to be perfect.’

‘And what is —’

Before he could finish talking, I hugged him and kissed him full on the lips. He was shocked at first, but soon he opened his mouth, kissing me back with as much passion and fire as I was kissing him. Our tongues explored one another and they felt as if they were finally hugging, as if they themselves were longing for that touch and were at last rejoicing at their union. My heart beat so fast I could hear it against my ribcage. The touch of his hand on my nape, lightly holding my hair was sending electric waves down my skin.

When we both let go, none of us could say a word at first. We remained in our embrace, calmly staring deep into each other’s eyes with a silly smile on our faces.