As You Wished

When Everything Changes

"You haven't changed a bit," Elior said, eyes sparkling as they met Kael's across the small table.

"Neither have you." For the first time in years, Kael's smile was completely unguarded. Not the polished version he wore to board meetings, but something real and warm and entirely his own.

In the bushes, Rui nearly choked on his own spit.

"Dude, I think your boss is broken," he whispered to Julian. "He looks... happy. Like, genuinely happy. Should we call a doctor?"

Julian shot him a look that could have wilted the flowers they were hiding behind.

Rui mimed zipping his lips, though his grin suggested he was enjoying this way too much.

"Really?" Elior's voice had that teasing edge Kael remembered from when they were kids. "What am I like, then?"

Kael's expression grew thoughtful. "Reckless. A complete disaster in any kind of crisis." He paused, his voice going softer. "But you have this way of smiling that makes people forget why they were sad in the first place."

The words hung between them, honest and unfiltered in a way that made Elior's breath catch.

"Is that really how you see me?"

Instead of answering, Kael reached across the table. His fingers brushed Elior's cheek, barely a touch, but enough to make them both forget how to breathe.

Then suddenly Kael was standing, decision made. He caught Elior's hand in his.

"Come on. Let's get out of here."

Before Elior could process what was happening, the evening exploded into chaos.

"OH MY GOD, GET IT OFF, GET IT OFF!"

Rui burst from the bushes like he was being chased by demons, bright green hair wild, face pale with terror. He was doing some kind of frantic dance, shaking his arm like it was on fire.

Julian popped up behind him, looking more rattled than Rui had ever seen him. Leaves stuck out of his usually perfect hair, and his tie was completely sideways.

Kael stared at this bizarre tableau—his best friend having what appeared to be a breakdown in public, and his family's unflappable butler looking like he'd been through a blender.

Elior's mouth fell open. "What the hell ..."

"Uncle Ju?"

Julian went very, very still. The kind of still that said his cover was blown and he knew it.

"Young Master Elior," he said with as much dignity as a man covered in plant matter could muster, giving a small bow.

Rui had stopped his panicked dance and was now trying to play it cool, which was difficult given that he was covered in dirt and still occasionally twitching.

"Oh hey!" he said to Elior with aggressive casualness. "Fancy seeing you here! Just out for a walk, you know, enjoying nature and definitely not hiding in bushes."

"Are you okay?" Elior moved toward him, genuinely concerned. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Don't," Kael said quietly, but there was steel in his voice.

Elior turned to him, confused. "He's obviously ..."

"Julian will handle it." Kael's tone brooked no argument as he tugged Elior toward the parking area.

"Kael, what the hell?" Rui called after them, his voice cracking slightly. "You can't just leave me here with my PTSD from invertebrates!"

But Kael was already guiding Elior to his car, leaving Julian to deal with the aftermath.

"Your boss is kind of a d**k," Rui muttered, still scratching at his arm.

"Language," Julian said automatically, then sighed. "Come along, sir. We have ointment at the house."

As they watched the Rolls-Royce disappear into traffic, Rui slumped against Julian's shoulder dramatically.

"Ju, I think I'm having an existential crisis."

"Yes, sir. It's been quite an eventful evening."

"Also, I'm never going near plants again."

"Understood, sir."

"And I need answers. Like, a lot of answers."

Julian patted his shoulder gently. "I know, sir. I know."