Chopsticks

Here goes my story.

“You are definitely a loser! Marry your fucking music and so-called sticks! ” slammed the door. My since-then ex-wife went away with all my illusions as well as expectations. But I didn’t take it very hard, weird.

My name is Heath Mendes, an infamous composer with plenty of “just-so-so” works on which no one paid any attention, have divorced once with my first girlfriend who I began to date since senior high. I knew that was fate somehow, but what I didn’t know was that she was also the last girl I loved.

During the 7 years after her leaving, I have dated no one, and been continually addicted to collecting chopsticks, unlike most “losers”, and masturbating, like most “losers”.

“ring-ring-ring” rang the telephone.

I clumsily climbed to the sofa, picked up the phone and said in a sleepy voice “Hello?”

“Hey, buddy! It’s me, Derek. I was wondering if you would like to go to a collection party with me. You know, I have no idea with the collection but the party seems to be fun. I need your help.”

“What kind of collection?”

“Whatever! Someone said he collected watches and some collected condoms…”

“Condoms? Don’t tell me he is asceticism.”

“Maybe he is carnalism. So, you will come, won’t you?”

“Pick me up at 7.”

“Nice! I’ll see ya tonight.”

“I will find out if the condoms are used,” I whispered to myself.

“Ow!” I fell onto the floor.

Everyone hates dressing, or maybe just me.

White shirt, black shirt, white shirt, black shirt…Jesus, my wardrobe is as monochrome as my life.

I put the white one up, picked a pair of jeans and a black bowtie with white spots, and went out of my house in flip-flops.

“Get in.” Derek was already waiting for me.

“Where?”

“Pirates’.”

I’d never been there before. The fact that I had virtually never been to a bar seemed to be unbelievable in my friends’ opinions.

“How’s she?” I referred to his girlfriend, Rebecca.

“Well, still the same. We are planning to take a trip. Can you recommend somewhere?”

It’s a tough question.

“Hmm…you know I hardly go to travel since then.” That’s true.

“Maybe you can join us if we decide a place.” He made a silly face.

“Forget it. I don’t want to be the third wheel.” We both laughed.

“Holy shit!” Derek pressed hard on the brake as there is a crowd ahead of us.

“An accident.” I said in no time.

“Every time there is an accident, a crowd seems to gather from nowhere.” Derek looked upset.

“Relax, we won’t be late.” I don’t know since when I became the patient one especially compared to Derek.

We arrived at 9, almost one hour late.

There were less than 30 people. This was to be expected, though.

Derek disappeared in a second but I was sure he wouldn’t take anyone home because he was just a party boy who was absolutely loyal to Rebecca who he chased for a long time before getting into a relationship.

I kept looking around with my tiny curiosity and had drunk up 3 glasses of mango juice to lessen my tension.

“I won’t forgive myself if I don’t buy you a drink.” A girl in red popped up and pointed the glass of beer not far away from me.

“Thanks. I’m Heath by the way. Heath Mendes.” I introduced myself in a quite uncomfortable voice.

“I’m Ronda, Ronda Johansson.” Unexpectedly, I found her holding a tall guy’s arm.

“This is?”

“My boyfriend.” She said with a subtle smile.

“She’s just kidding,” such a low and attractive voice, “I’m Nathan, her twin brother.”

“Cool. But your eyes are gracefully blue.” Ronda has beautiful green eyes.

“Gene mutation, I guess.” He laughed.

“I’m still here guys.” Ronda kindly complained.

We had pleasant conversations then.

“What? You collect chopsticks? That’s incredible.” Ronda stared at me, eyes wide.

“How about you?” I asked Nathan.

“Well…actually we just wanna enjoy the party.” He answered slowly and honestly.

“Hey, where have you been? I can’t find you anywhere.” Derek patted me on the shoulder.

“Excuse me?” I stared at him and grabbed his arm strongly.

“Kidding.” He smiled and looked back at somewhere “I met some funny guys there.”

“Okay, this is Ronda, and this is her brother, Nathan.” I thought I was rude not to introduce them first. “Ronda, Nathan, this is my best friend, Derek.”

“Nice to meet you.” Derek shook hands with them politely.

“Did you have fun tonight?” Derek drove me home.

“I think so. But it seemed to have nothing to do with the collection.” I gently tapped my pocket where a pair of my precious was hidden.

“Ronda is beautiful, isn’t she?”

“Yeah, a family gene I guess. Her brother is also attractive.”

“…tonight~ingh~ingh~ingh~ingh, we are young! So let’s set the world on fire. We can burn brighter than the sun...”We sang along with FUN.

“Ba-ba-ba-ba-nana” I got a message.

“What the fuck! Monica Bellucci has divorced with Vincent Cassel.”

“Relax. I heard that Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones broke up recently.”

“What a world.” I sighed.

Did I mention that Derek and I are both keen on films? I was a bit crazy about their personal lives too.

Another nightmare came to me.

I went to wash my face and wake myself up.

“It’s 5 o’clock in the morning. Conversation got boring. You said you’d go into bed soon. So I snuck off to your bedroom…” I turned on the music.

I hardly sleep well these years but I refused to take meds.

Confusions didn’t help me with work at all.

Such an early morning it was! I logged in Skype to see if there was someone I could talk with.

“Hey, it has been a really long time since we talked last time.” It was Jess.

I even didn’t know whether it was her real name but it doesn’t matter. I knew her since 18 but I forgot how. We sometimes talked despite of 14-hour time difference and 8-year-old age gap as well. We talked about family, study, work, films, sex, and almost everything. She never stopped saying she loved me but I regarded her as my special friend. I really cherished this relationship though sometime I ignored her on purpose to avoid embarrassment.

We talked for a couple of hours as sharing lives, feelings, and who looked like a gay on the screen. She had a gaydar which sounded ridiculous to me but I had to admit it was real because those actors did come out not long after we talked about them.

I drank up a cup of black coffee and finished an egg for breakfast. Not until my agent Ed asked me for some new demos on the phone did I realise the date. Ed was a quite nice guy and never abandoned me because of my over and over failure.

“Lunch together?” Ed added.

“Fine. Pink Star.” It was our routine place to go.

“I’ll bring someone to let you meet.” I felt he was hiding something and would reveal it.

I hung up and sort of looked forward to lunch.

When I came into the bistro, I saw Ed sitting by the window and a man in suit was sitting right next to him.

“Hi, here you are.” I handed over my demos in case we forgot.

“Okay,” he was uncomfortable obviously, “this is Harry. Harry, this is Heath.”

“Nice to meet you, Harry.” I looked into his eyes with kindness.

He shook my hand gently.

“Look, Heath, I always consider you are my best friend.” Words came out fast.

“Me too, man.” I was a little bit confused.

“We’re engaged.” Harry held Ed’s sweaty hands.

“It is totally okay if you don’t want me to be your agent any more,” Ed said, his voice trembling.

“What?” I was too thrilled to shout. “I am truly happy for you. I mean it. Congratulations! You are still the best agent in the world. ” I got up to hug him.

Harry kissed his forehead and comforted him.

“Are you a lawyer?” I asked Harry.

“Yes. I joined Ben&Aaron last week. ” It is the most famous law office in the city.

“We met during Tim Mossy’s lawsuit. ” Pop singer Tim Mossy was trapped in a “hit-and-run” accident 3 years ago but what was dramatic was that the man he killed was one of the most-wanted men.

Once I wrote a song called “Ed is a gay” for fun and sang to him to celebrate his birthday in public but his girlfriend left him right away at that party. Then I took the blame though everyone knew it was not my fault. In fact, no one knew the exact reason behind their splitting up.