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To be fair to everyone, or at least to Yuder’s closest friends, nobody has met this Akit. Not even a digital footprint of him exists, or at least according to Hinn when she’d tried looking him up on the internet.
Not to mention that the only picture Yuder took of him candidly is a rather blurry one, a hazy picture of a tall blond man playing with ducks by the Capital’s pond. Or, at least, according to Yuder—he never explained anything more than Akit tried to feed the ducks bread when I repeatedly told him that he shouldn’t.
Logically, this should explain why Gakane stares at Yuder rather helplessly, as if trying to believe his bestest friend of almost five years rather than straight up telling him to just. Well.
Then again, who is Gakane if not the most supportive best friend?
Thus, “Perhaps we should really meet this—uh, your boyfriend?” he suggests one day. “I mean. Didn’t you mention that he wants to meet us—your friends—too?”
“Can’t right now,” Yuder answers curtly, somewhat preoccupied with a book he’s reading. One of Akit’s (many) gifts, he’d mentioned in passing. “He’ll be busy this week, he texted me.”
Good heavens.
Gakane lost count at how many times he’d heard this—in a meeting, out of town, out of country, too preoccupied with work...
Sometimes he wonders how they even got to this point.
“But if he was your boyfriend,” Hinn chirps, “wouldn’t he adjust and make time for you??”
Now this—this makes Yuder pause, lower his book, and ponder.
It’s a look Gakane hasn’t seen since they were both in university, considering their career choices and Yuder finally deciding to try his hand on the Capital before returning to the countryside.
Hinn, quite unfortunately, interprets this rather differently. “This Akit hasn’t made time for you?!” she nearly screeches, partly in disbelief and partly in a tone that says something about her being so doubtful about this Schrödinger’s relationship.
“He has,” Yuder murmurs, mostly to himself rather than Hinn. “But they were too brief…”
Both Gakane and Hinn stare at him with wide eyes, angered and hurt in Yuder’s behalf. Sure, his face never said much about his true emotions, but years of friendship have sharpened their senses to know that Yuder is not the least bit happy about it.
Somehow, a small part of Gakane is slowly more sure that this relationship is real, considering Yuder’s reaction.
Well. If this isn’t a good time…
“Now’s his chance to prove whether he’s sincere about you!” Hinn grasps Yuder’s hands tightly between her own. And prove that this Akit boyfriend of yours is real! she doesn’t say out loud, but Gakane hears it anyway. “What kind of boyfriend wouldn’t want to meet his lover’s friends?”
“Hinn…” Gakane tries to placate her, worried about pressuring Yuder.
Hinn answers him with a suspicious glare. “Oh shut up, pretty redhead. I know you’re also dying to meet him.”
There is no way to dodge that bullet, Gakane admits.
“Well? What do you say? C’mon, Yuder! Yuder? Hey!”
Yuder remains strangely silent for the rest of the day, that look in his dark eyes lingering.
It all started with the astronomical (Finn’s adjective, not Gakane’s) amount of luggage Yuder came back with. It was two days after he decided to quit his job in the Capital and decided to take over his Grandfather’s farming business and research instead.
“Gifts,” Yuder explained when Gakane gaped at the large luggage on the doorway, yet to be carried up to Yuder’s room. “I told Akit I’m going to take most of his gifts with me when I go back, and so he bought me all this. Haa, why does that guy even…”
“Akit?” Gakane tried to recall all of the coworkers Yuder mentioned to him on their weekly calls, barely remembering a single mention of this Akit guy.
“Mmm,” Yuder nodded, and brought several of his stuff in. “Don’t worry, I’ll carry them all up—”
“Oh, come on,” Gakane huffed and carried two luggage bags himself. He was quite surprised to realize how heavy these are, considering that Yuder doesn’t have much of his own stuff, to begin with—
“Hold on.” Gakane paused, staring oddly at Yuder. “Exactly how many gifts did he buy you?”
“Uh…not much?” Yuder’s tone was not very convincing, especially with the way he’s trying to avoid Gakane’s suspicious gaze.
Also, if not much consisted of three large luggage weighing almost several kilograms each—
“Hold on a moment,” Gakane set the luggage down. Serious green eyes stared deeply to depthless, black eyes and asked. “Who on earth is Akit, by the way?”
“Ah.” A pause, and then three words that pretty much changed history.
“He’s my boyfriend.”
From that day on, it’s almost a staple to see Yuder glued to his phone or laptop every night, chatting quietly with someone. Sometimes packages get delivered either to Gakane’s or Yuder’s place, addressed to Yuder Ail. There’s no name indicated on whoever sent the package, except for a single ‘Akit.’
And for most part, all those packages are sweets. High-quality chocolate bars, almond nuts or hazelnuts covered in chocolate, delicate cupcakes carefully packed, sweetened fruits…
(Gakane once wondered if he should also keep watch of Yuder’s health. Or maybe look up into his family health history. Just to check whether Yuder has dangerous chances of having diabetes.)
Hinn and Finn, being Hinn and Finn, always drilled Yuder with dozens of questions about his boyfriend. Is he handsome? Is he taller than Yuder? Is he filthy rich, because how else would he be able to afford that chocolate set worth a kidney and a half to buy?
And how on earth did they even meet, anyway?
Thankfully, Yuder managed to answer each question. That a) yes he is very handsome, handsome isn’t even enough to describe him, b) he is a head taller or so than Yuder, c) well, he is quite rich, considering his job, and d) they met in the Capital, more specifically in the company where Yuder used to work, and everything stemmed from there.
There were more barrages of questions that followed, mostly wrangling for more details. The answers only gave birth to more questions; each answer sowed more seeds of doubt because reality-wise—no offense to Yuder—who, and how, does one get to meet a perfect boyfriend like that?
(Not to mention Yuder being very wordy when it comes to describing people. At best, Yuder tends to describe other people as “They’re good,” or “They’re fine.”)
Gakane wanted to ask more questions himself, more on how Yuder is taking it, if he is being taken care of well, and if he is happy. But he never got many opportunities—even less the courage of asking him more, scared as he is to cross boundaries.
“Yuder has a what now?!”
Despite everything that has happened so far, Gakane still finds himself jolting each time he hears this reaction, may it be through a video call or not. As if he’s the one with the boyfriend yet to be met, much less seen.
“Yuder just told us that recently,” Gakane mutters. “The twins kept on asking him about it.”
“And how did he answer?”
“As how Yuder would typically answer,” Gakane smiles despite himself. “Mostly basic information, actually. You know how he is.”
Kanna chuckles. “Hinn probably pulled her hair out of frustration because she couldn’t squeeze more info out of him.”
“Precisely.”
“And how’s Yuder?” Concern is clear as day on Kanna’s eyes, despite the grainy screen due to albeit slow internet.
Gakane recalls—Yuder is still the same Yuder as ever, nearly poker-faced to anyone who doesn’t know him well. Still strict with his own schedules, dedicated to his own farming-related research with folks he’d met in the Capital. And maybe consumes more sweets than usual thanks to Akit’s never-ending supply of chocolates and sweetened fruits.
Remembers the emotions settling deep in Yuder’s face, especially after those nightly calls with his yet-to-be-met boyfriend—a faint blush on his cheeks, a smile subtly lifting the corners of his lips, his tone softening on the edges.
Joy and warmth lingering on his dark eyes, affection sparkling like the bright stars in the endless night sky.
“He’s…happy,” Gakane finally settles for that word, although it doesn’t quite cut it. “This Akit guy has obviously taken care of Yuder well while he was at the Capital.”
Kanna beams. “Then that’s good to hear! By the way, have you met Mr. Akit already?”
This time, Gakane has nothing else to say except, “Uhhh…”
Kanna’s eyes narrow, and Gakane can feel the sharpness in her stare through his phone. “Gakane Bolunwald.”
Gakane looks away, flinching away from his phone.
“What is going on?!”
A week or so after Hinn’s shocking question and Kanna’s promise of visiting them very soon, Gakane wakes up to Yuder making breakfast, movements nearly silent.
For a short moment, Gakane wonders if he’s still asleep and dreaming.
Yuder can cook, of course. He can whip up a decent meal for everyone, but only does it when Gakane—the assigned cook among them—isn’t available to do so. Which is rare, considering Gakane takes cooking food very seriously, especially nutritious stuff.
But Yuder Ail, cooking several things at seven in the morning, does count as unusual.
That, and his aura seems…different than usual.
“Good morning,” Yuder notices his presence, glancing at him. “Coffee?”
“Uh. Yeah.” Gakane helps himself to a cup—that Yuder himself brewed!—and settles to a chair. Watches, with his mind still befuddled, as Yuder wraps up the last of his cooking, the delicious scent of steamed vegetables, roasted potatoes, and fried eggs wafting through the kitchen.
Gakane takes a sip of his coffee, takes a deep breath, and says. “Who’s visiting? Other than Kanna, that is.”
Yuder is nonplussed—almost nonchalant as he answers, “Akit.”
If Gakane had been sipping coffee when Yuder dropped the bomb, he would’ve spat it to shield himself.
“I’m sorry—who?”
“You heard me clearly, Gakane.”
“Yuder…” Gakane feels a headache incoming too early to handle in the morning. “Listen. I—”
“—didn’t know either until I read all my text messages early this morning,” Yuder sighs. “Should’ve let you know all this earlier, sorry.”
Gakane swallows a word or two, and pulls up a smile. “Well, since it’s come to this…how many hours until we get to see him?”
Yuder answers him in the most Yuder way possible: “In an hour.”
An hour of speedy eating, panicked dressing while cleaning the house, and a Kanna Wand almost sprinting to Gakane’s place in hopes to be there before Akit, the three of them wait calmly in Gakane’s living room. Well, more like Yuder remains calm as he finishes another of Akit’s books, while Kanna and Gakane keep on exchanging anxious glances at each other. No words are needed to get their worries across; only pointed looks and not-so-subtle frowns are more than enough.
The twins—Finn and Hinn—are currently out of town for their job, lamenting about missing the opportunity. Gakane promises them a picture, much to Hinn’s joy and, “That better be a really clear photo!”
Seemingly given up on Gakane’s I-really-don’t-know-much stares, Kanna takes a deep breath and asks Yuder herself about Akit, mostly how he treated Yuder while he was still in the Capital. The answers are more than reassuring, with the glow in Yuder’s face each time he talks about Akit too obvious to be ignored.
However.
“Has he been that busy after?” Kanna presses, more curious than worried. “I thought he would visit you every now and then, because he seems to be that kind of guy to me.”
“It can’t be helped, considering the situation back in the Capital,” Yuder answers. “It was already bad when I arrived there, got worse when I left. I don’t know the specifics, but he’s been more busy after that.”
“You mean Mr. Akit?”
“Yes.”
“But—”
Kanna’s question gets interrupted with the sound of the doorbell ringing. Yuder coolly stands up, ambling to the door himself.
The door opens, revealing the man Gakane and Kanna least expected to meet.
He’s tall, quite taller than Yuder or even Gakane, and muscular. Blond, just like that picture clued them on, and very much handsome as Yuder did mention. Ruby eyes sparkle as they meet Yuder’s gaze, warm and affectionate, full lips pulling up into a smile. He’s holding a large basket on one hand, filled with summer flowers and perhaps more sweets.
“Yuder,” the man breathes sweetly. “Have you been well?”
“Yes,” Yuder nods, and lets the man in. It’s only then that both Kanna and Gakane take a closer look, and their jaws drop at the realization of who this man possibly is—
“You must be Yuder’s friends,” he formally greets. “My name is Kishiar la Orr, Yuder’s boyfriend. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
—one of the country’s most famous diplomats and brother to the current President, Keilusa la Orr.
Wait.
What’s his name again?!
“Yuder said,” Gakane mumbles, his mind close to detonating, “that his boyfriend’s name is…”
“Hmm?”
“N-nothing, nothing!” Kanna quickly recovers, flashing them a smile. “I-it’s good to f-finally meet you! Really! Ah Gakane! Shouldn’t we be good hosts!”
Gakane scrambles to get the snacks and tea he and Kanna prepared earlier, all the while pinching himself to make sure he isn’t dreaming. Or hallucinating.
*
It takes a series of stammering introductions, flimsy small talk, wide-eyed glances to Yuder, and nearly spilled tea on the table for both Gakane and Kanna to calm down and face the music. In their defense, Yuder never told his boyfriend’s real name, only calling him as Akit.
Gakane brings this up as an explanation to their earlier reaction, much to Kishiar la Orr’s resounding laughter and Yuder’s half-embarrassed, half-accusatory look.
“Then it is truly my fault,” Kishiar says, humor still in his voice. “While I introduced myself to Yuder with my real name, it was only when we got together that he began to call me by my nickname. How adoring it is to know that he still refers to me that way, even to his friends.”
Yuder says nothing, opting to nibble on a macaroon, not even complaining when Kishiar playfully pokes his cheek and teases him about liking macaroons.
“I apologize for not meeting you sooner,” Kishiar says sincerely, bowing. “I truly wanted to even before Yuder asked me, but circumstances have been unkind.”
Had it not been for Kishiar la Orr’s remarkable background, Gakane and Kanna may have doubted him a little. Then again, it’s no secret to the whole country that the diplomats have been working thrice as hard after the recent tumultuous events involving the President’s move to oust powerful yet corrupt officials within the government, and the nearly catastrophic events that followed.
“Is it why,” Gakane asks rather carefully, “you went back here, Yuder?”
“Not really,” Yuder shakes his head. “I went home to further expand my research because the political climate in the Capital wouldn’t let me do it in peace.”
“His Excellency did offer you—” Kishiar starts, but Yuder cuts him off.
“I said this to His Excellency and to the First Lady before. The Capital’s land, however promising it may be, will never yield bountiful harvests if those political storms brought by House Diarca will never stop. And until the last of their bloodline withers away, I don’t see them stopping.”
Kishiar falls silent at his heavy words, and so do Gakane and Kanna. Yuder’s passion towards farming and nature in general is well-known to almost everyone, especially in their hometown, as well as his general disinterest towards (annoying) politicians.
“So anyway. I went back, decided to expand Grandfather’s farm, focused on our own tasks. While keeping my promise to always talk to each other, of course,” Yuder concludes.
“If I may ask,” Kanna raises a hand, “did you intend to keep your relationship a secret?”
Kishiar and Yuder exchange glances, then Yuder shakes his head.
“We had a simple agreement before, however. For the sake of Yuder’s safety, we kept our relationship a secret except to my family,” Kishiar explains. “As much as I wanted to let everyone know that this adorable, most capable researcher-farmer is my most beloved, it will only bring him harm. Not that I don’t think he can’t protect himself, of course. Only when the tensions began to slow down did we become more open to expressing ourselves—respectfully, of course.”
Kanna and Gakane blink at his words. Yuder got himself a romantic boyfriend, a species worth envying.
That, and it probably explains why Yuder never mentioned anything about Kishiar unless asked, not even referring to him as Kishiar but Akit. And that blurry picture Yuder only showed, as well—although that one probably leans more towards the fact that Yuder really isn’t a fan of taking pictures himself.
“I told you,” Yuder sighs, “that I can always concoct non-traceable poison to protect myself just in case.”
“How terrifying,” Kishiar chuckles, “but come now. There are better alternatives to poison, don’t you think?”
“....laxatives, then.”
Kishiar bursts into loud, amused chortles once more.
“Thank you for taking care of Yuder,” Kanna genuinely expresses once Kishiar’s laughter dies down. “We were so worried for him when he decided to leave for the Capital by himself, and we’re glad to know that he’s in good hands.”
“I should thank you too,” Kishiar smiles warmly. “Yuder has shared so many stories about his friends; it’s a delight to know that there is much more to know beyond the stories I’ve heard.”
Already Kanna and Gakane can roughly guess why Yuder looks at this man like he hung the sun in the sky. And maybe the same goes for Kishiar.
“For how long will you be staying here, by the way?” Yuder asks him. “And who’s taking over for you while you’re away?”
“Nathan’s doing most of the job while I stay here for two weeks,” Kishiar answers, sneakily clasping Yuder’s hands between his own. “The situation has calmed down anyway.”
Yuder’s eyes widen, as well as Gakane’s and Kanna’s. “Two weeks?” Yuder echoes in disbelief.
“It’s more like a mandatory vacation ordered by His Excellency himself,” Kishiar chuckles, albeit awkwardly. “We don’t dare disobey His Excellency now, do we?”
Yuder’s usually placid dark eyes dance with barely-concealed joy, something that Kishiar obviously delights in seeing, answering with that iridescent, beauteous smile of his.
Something that eases whatever’s left of Gakane’s and Kanna’s worries, and makes their hearts full in knowing that their dearest friend is genuinely happy and loved.
“Have you brought your things, then?” Yuder asks, eyes only seeing Kishiar.
“They’re already in your place as we speak.”
“Thorough, aren’t we.”
Kishiar only laughs as an answer.
Gakane feels the atmosphere slowly shifting into something he and Kanna shouldn’t be in, and says, “Well, uh. Can I have a bit of a request?”
“Sure,” Kishiar smiles. “What is it?”
“Can we take a picture?” Gakane blurts out before his embarrassment gets him. “You know, like, to commemorate…”
“Of course,” Kishiar agrees, while Yuder sends a questioning look to both Kanna and Gakane.
“Here, use my phone!” Kanna offers, handing her phone to Gakane, the Camera app already opened. “You take the picture!”
“All right, all right,” Gakane angles the phone just right to make sure everyone is included. “And, one, two, three—”
Gakane wakes up to his phone buzzing late in the night, notifications popping crazily on his phone screen. Blearily he opens one of them, and chuckles.
[ Hinn: tell me it’s photoshop!!!! it’s edited, isn’t it!!!!!]
[ Hinn: no way it’s that kishiar la orr!!!! ]
[ Hinn: @.yuder_ail I KNOW UR LURKING!!!!! ]
Before Gakane can even reply, something else pops up, and his phone nearly falls to the floor.
[ Yuder is typing…]
[ Yuder: img_01.jpg ]
[ Yuder: Hello, this is Kishiar la Orr. Yuder’s currently asleep. I hope you don’t mind me answering on his behalf. ]
Gakane swears he can hear Hinn screeching her lungs out from kilometers away, already bouncing for her work to end so she can hop on the earliest train back.