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Jamil Viper sighed deeply, his hand gently grazing over the cool leather seat he was sitting on. The car shook softly as it navigated through the streets of Silk City, its destination making the locals who hurried out of the way of the car raise their eyebrows. The car, and by default Jamil, was headed straight for the Asim estate.
A lot had happened in the three years Jamil had been traveling. When he and Kalim had graduated from Night Raven College, the Asim heir wasted no time in setting his servant free. After the brunette’s overblot their relationship had been strained at best and Jamil felt such a refreshing feeling of liberation as he packed his bags and headed off into the sunset on his scheduled plane ride, never once looking back at the happy yet tear-filled expression of his former master.
The next three years for Jamil had been filled with the trips of his dreams, his knowledge and experience expanding far beyond what he ever could have hoped to imagine. He felt his wings, clamped up for so long, slowly unfurl and guide him towards unique place after unique place, each one never failing to make him ecstatic. The eldest Viper child was free to experience what he wanted and share what he wanted, and he found that people across Twisted Wonderland enjoyed watching him dance. He had to admit that it stroked his ego immensely. He finally got to be the center of attention for once, and his body and mind craved it.
All three years of his travels had been enjoyable, but the first year was the one that felt so blissful, Jamil felt as if he was walking in a dream. By the time the second year rolled around, the former servant found his thoughts slowly betraying him, constantly drifting to a certain white-haired boy who was the heir to the Asim fortune.
Kalim Al-Asim.
At first, he couldn’t understand why this was happening. Jamil’s thoughts and feelings towards the other boy were still a sore spot and thinking about Kalim while on his travels was like pouring salt into the wounds. Kalim and his family were the ones that put Jamil in so much pain for most of his life. Why would he be thinking about that spoiled, rotten brat now?
Over time, as Jamil started to mature and truly think things out, he realized just how much Kalim meant to him. The brunette’s life seemed duller now, like the very sun had been stolen away from his world. Because that is what Kalim Al-Asim was, no matter how much Jamil wanted to deny it.
Kalim was a being of pure light. He saw the good in everyone and anyone, even after going through the most traumatic of incidents. He always gave everything he had to make people happy, his generosity showing no bounds. And while he was oblivious and air-headed at times, and had trouble understanding his homework, he was far from stupid. The young heir had grown up learning the ropes of the business world, which was nearly identical to a whole different language. He had to learn how to manipulate, talk, and interact with numerous different kinds of people. Maybe that was why he was so good with people.
He had also grown up quickly in order to care for his little siblings. Now that Jamil had more clarity of thought, he could remember all the times that Kalim was responsible, helpful, and protective with his younger siblings around. The young heir seemed to be completely carefree in Jamil’s care because that was the only place he could entirely let his guard down. People expected a lot of Kalim Al-Asim, but Jamil had always offered him a safe haven from the jeers, the judging eyes, the scathing remarks, and the innumerable assassination attempts and kidnappings.
But most importantly, Jamil finally realized that nothing in his life was directly Kalim’s fault. The brunette’s anger and hatred for the life he was born into, the system that kept him caged, and his parents that made him suffocate his own special light so Kalim could shine brighter than the stars was all unfairly poured out onto his former master. The system and his parents were the ones to blame for his indescribable pain, not Kalim. The white-haired boy had always only supported him in his own special way. He was the one that constantly lavished praise on Jamil, even after the former servant’s infamous overblot. He was the one that kept Jamil as his Vice Housewarden and defended him after the events of their winter break. He was the one that had stayed by Jamil’s bedside when he had been hurt protecting the heir just to make sure that the brunette had a friend to wake up to. He was the one that couldn’t eat or speak the name of ‘curry’ because of what happened to his best friend. The Asim heir was the only one in Jamil’s life, besides his sister, that had loved and supported him unconditionally, even as Jamil left him all alone in the dark estate so he could fulfill his dream of freedom.
After thinking through and dissecting his feelings on the matter of Kalim, Jamil felt his heart start to long for the other boy. His newfound like of Kalim turned to something stronger very quickly. Jamil realized that he had always loved the Asim heir. It was like they were destined to be together, their souls naturally intertwined since their births, meant to grow up together and fall back to each other when they matured. Every cruel word the former servant had spouted during his overblot was a lie, and the complete opposite is what he had truly wanted to say. He didn’t hate Kalim, he loved him. But Jamil had grown up being taught that loving the untouchable young heir was wrong. They were not equals. How could Kalim ever be with a lowly servant like him? So, the brunette had turned his love into hate.
And it was the worst mistake he could have ever made.
Jamil’s soul cried out as a revelation hit him. He finally understood how much those harsh words and the cold betrayal must have hurt the man he loved. His bleeding heart longed to call out to Kalim, to apologize and confess to him.
But his stubborn pride had always been Jamil’s downfall.
By the time the third year of his travels had started, the brunette found himself on a downward spiral. The hotel rooms he would stay in at each location he traveled to would rapidly become littered with used, crumpled up paper filled with words of apologies and longing. Jamil could have easily reached out to Kalim over the phone, but he felt a text wouldn’t get across all the things he needed to say to the man he found out that he loved, and Jamil couldn’t trust his voice wouldn’t break down in a call.
Eventually, Jamil managed a few nice, well-written letters that sufficiently explained his feelings for the young heir. But he found that his anxiousness stopped him from sending them. Jamil Viper had never personally suffered with anxiety and he never worried about his confidence levels, but the mere thought of confessing and apologizing to the man he loved made his heart start to pound faster within his chest and nausea to rise in his stomach.
So instead, he kept his heartfelt letters wrapped in their envelopes, safely tucked away in a special box he had gotten from the Queendom of Roses that was adorned with satin and decorated in a rose shape. Maybe someday he would be brave enough to send them to the rightful owner.
And today would be that day.
After the last year of his travels, Jamil realized he couldn’t hold himself back from seeing Kalim anymore. He was truly lovesick, his heart and soul wishing for just a glimpse of that white hair and those beautiful ruby eyes. He wanted the heir’s smile to set his life ablaze again. He wanted to pour out every single one of his thoughts and feelings to the man that held his heart in his hands without even knowing.
So, in true Jamil fashion, he concocted a plan.
He had sent his love-filled letters to Najma, his sister, emphasizing in embarrassment that she should not read them. She probably wouldn’t listen, but she was the only one he could ask to do this for him. He asked her to give them to Kalim on this day specifically. It was Love Day. A day where everyone gave gifts and spent time together to show their love for one another. Jamil thought it would be the perfect time to confess to Kalim his true feelings. The former servant had timed it to where he would be visiting the Asim estate right after Kalim would have gotten and read the letters. He hoped that Kalim still felt the same way about him. He knew the heir had been hopelessly in love with him since they were children, but three years can change a lot, as Jamil now understood.
No matter. If Kalim didn’t reciprocate his feelings, he would deal with those repercussions later.
For now, he wanted to focus solely on making Kalim understand how sorry he was and how candidly in love he was with him.
He felt his heart start to beat faster as the car finally pulled up to the Asim estate, parking just outside the large, golden gates. Jamil thanked the driver and got out, grabbing his bags before heading inside of the massive building.
This was it. This was the time where Jamil would either sink or swim.
~*~
Kalim had been going around the estate all day, giving personal gifts of gratitude and love to each member of his family and of the staff for Love Day. He always enjoyed this day and the festivities that came along with it. It was his belief that everyone should be able to feel loved and appreciated.
It was hard to enjoy it, though, without the man he loved most.
Immediately, he shook his head to get rid of those thoughts. Stop it, Kalim! Jamil is finally free and living the life he always wanted! Stop being so selfish, his mind taunted him. Kalim took a moment to squeeze his eyes shut, heaving a sigh, before opening them again and carrying on. His thoughts were right. He had to forget about Jamil.
The heir was on his way down to the servant’s quarters to hand out his gifts to the staff when he nearly bumped into Najma Viper.
“Oh, I’m sorry! While you’re here though, Naj, let me give you your gift!” He was about to reach into his bag to find her gift when he was stopped by her hand on his shoulder.
“Actually, Kalim, I have something for you first! From my brother…”
It was like the wind had been knocked out of Kalim’s chest and time itself screeched to a halt. He had not heard from Jamil in three whole years. The ache of missing Jamil had not gone away, it had simply been buried carefully into the confines of Kalim’s soul. It had to be, or Kalim knew it would have consumed him from the inside out. Jamil hated him. Kalim had put him through so much pain and suffering. The young heir knew he shouldn’t be so selfish as to wish for Jamil back.
But now…here he was. In the form of some box that he had sent to his sister so she could give it to Kalim. Honestly, the heir felt like this was some sort of prank. He hesitantly took the box and opened it, his eyes widening when he saw the multiple letters inside it. He glanced back up at Najma and she wiggled her dark eyebrows teasingly.
“I think my brother has finally come to his senses.” She said lightly, giving a playful wink before turning and heading back down the hall, leaving Kalim alone with Jamil’s messages.
Kalim’s garnet eyes meticulously picked through every single one of those letters. As he continued reading, he could feel his heart swell with emotion, so much that he felt like it could burst. His throat tightened and silent tears started to leak from his eyes. He read every apology, every heartfelt complement, and every confession of love on those pages. Gradually, the ice-cold fear that had encased Kalim for years with him even noticing started to melt away. The fear that Jamil would always hate him forever. That Jamil would never forgive him. That Jamil would never come back to him.
But all of Kalim’s intrusive thoughts were finally wrong. Jamil was finally going to come back to him… finally.
“Kalim.”
The Asim heir could never mistake that voice. He whipped around, his eyes laying on the one person that he had shared his entire life with. The one that would always, no matter what, own his whole heart.
Jamil Viper was standing right in front of him after three long, painful years. He looked exactly as he had when he had left. That long, beautiful dark hair that Kalim always loved to brush and braid when he had a panic attack was laid neatly into their usual braids. Those stone-grey eyes that were usually so cold, especially right before he left, were now warm and inviting. His regular hoodie was fitted to him perfectly, and Kalim blushed as his eyes unconsciously roamed over Jamil’s body.
The heir was suddenly engulfed in those strong arms, and his tears fell harder than before. They dripped onto Jamil’s tan skin, but the brunette didn’t seem to take any notice.
“Oh, Kalim. I’m right here, I’m right here. I’m so sorry for everything that transpired between us. I was able to think through a lot of things and I’ve matured a lot. I want to start again, without being master and servant. I want us to have a natural relationship, whether it be friendly or romantic. What do you say?”
Jamil pulled away and rubbed Kalim’s arms up and down gently. His heart broke at the sight of those tears, vaguely wondering ironically if this is what love did to someone. He has seen Kalim cry so many times and was never this affected by it. Was this what being in love felt like?
“Kali, please stop crying, sunshine…everything is going to be alright.” Jamil resorted to the use of Kalim’s old nickname, knowing it helped calm the young heir down.
But Kalim couldn’t stop crying. He couldn’t stop crying because he knew what he had to say next.
“Jamil…I’m engaged. I’m marrying her in a few days.”
~*~
Jamil thought that the worst thing that could happen in response to his Love Day plan was that Kalim would flat-out reject his affections. Now the brunette knew that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Knowing Kalim returned his feelings wholeheartedly but couldn’t give his heart to Jamil out of obligation was a new, worse, more painful type of torture.
The brunette sat on the stone bench out in the Asim estate’s gardens, Kalim by his side.
“I- I want to be with you, Jami. You have no idea how bad I want that…how bad I’ve always wanted that. But…I’m twenty-one now. I have to marry and produce an heir. And she’s a prominent figure in the Scalding Sands. Our marriage would signify a powerful unity with her family. My family wouldn’t accept me marrying anyone else.”
Now it was Jamil who felt like crying.
“I was okay with it because I simply thought you’d never come back…but now I-” Kalim cut himself off, taking in a shaky breath to steady himself and hold back his tears.
Jamil, underneath his absolute crushing heartbreak, felt a fire beginning to smolder inside him. A unique rage, mixed with jealousy, began to rear its ugly head inside Jamil’s soul. How dare this woman touch what was his? How dare she think she owns any part of Kalim?
Jamil grit his teeth. “So, what’s her name?” He asked, his shaking hands curling into fists as he tried to control his anger.
“My name is Leila, of the Hadid family.” A cool, silvery voice spoke from behind them, and both boys jumped slightly. Jamil turned and found a conventionally pretty young woman, her long black hair in a long braid down her back. Her features were small and sharp, and her hazel eyes were focused on Jamil. The former servant studied her for a moment, recognizing the distrust in her vibrant orbs.
“And who might you be?” She asked, stepping up behind her fiancé, her slender hand landing on Kalim’s shoulder.
“Jamil Viper.” The brunette answered just as cooly, not bothering to try and hide his dissatisfaction.
Kalim let out a soft sigh and looked up at the woman, his hand rising to cover her own. “It’s alright, love. He used to work for my family. We grew up together.” He explained, trying to ease the sudden tension around them.
Leila simply huffed and tugged once on Kalim’s hand. “Come on, sweetheart. We have to look over some plans for our big day.”
Jamil hated that her voice was dripping with sarcasm.
Kalim stood and smiled softly at Jamil, though the pain in his eyes was not concealed in the slightest. He followed his soon-to-be wife until they were out of Jamil’s sight. The brunette sat back for a few moments, letting everything sink in. He didn’t know what to do. Kalim was right. This marriage had to happen for their families, and their families wouldn’t accept any other alternative, not even when it involved true love. Kalim nor Jamil could do a thing about it.
The former servant had to close his eyes and breathe deeply for a second to get rid of the extremely dark, negative thoughts in the back of his mind that whispered to him to just get rid of her…
He couldn’t do that. He would be caught and beheaded before he could even look at Kalim again.
His hands were ultimately tied.
~*~
Despite not being able to do a thing about the situation, Jamil didn’t leave the Asim estate. He didn’t go back to his travels. He did not want to ever leave Kalim behind again, even if that meant he would have to suffer seeing the love of his life with that wretched woman.
And, oh, it was painful. The daggers placed in his heart when Kalim had broken the news to him now seemed to twist and turn every which way as he watched Kalim with his soon-to-be wife. Every time they laughed together, Jamil felt like crying. Every time they sat next to each other, Leila’s hand gently grazing Kalim’s soft skin, Jamil wanted to tear her away from the heir.
By the time the night sky graced the Scalding Sands at the end of Jamil’s first day back home, the brunette wanted to rip his heart out. That would surely be less painful than suffering through this. And their wedding was coming up in three days’ time. Jamil genuinely didn’t know if he could stand there and watch it.
What hurt the most was that Kalim wanted to be with him. If Jamil were to raise his arms towards him and call his name, Kalim would come running to him without hesitation. What kept them apart was obligation, just like how it was when they were little. And Jamil hated it with a passion, that old and familiar feeling of being seen as less than and unworthy of the Asim heir bubbling to the surface.
The second day Jamil stayed at the Asim palace was even worse. He had been asked to be Kalim’s best man in the wedding. Of course, they’d had one already picked out. They needed one to help with the wedding planning and details, after all. But now that Jamil, Kalim’s best friend, was home, it seemed the obvious choice for him to be the heir’s best man. Once again, the adults in their lives were pulling the strings for them, making all of the decisions about their lives without listening to anything the boys had to say.
Because, if he could, Kalim would keep Jamil as far away as he could from his wedding to save them both the pain of that. To both of their families, though, Jamil’s absence would seem incredibly awkward. Kalim’s father would hear about no such thing.
“He’s your best friend. He will be in your wedding, no matter what. It’s only proper.” Kalim’s father had said.
Jamil, once again, was placed into shackles, unable to escape his fate of keeping up the charade of being a supportive friend. It was the same charade he had kept up his entire life. He just never thought that now, he had to keep up the charade for an entirely different, opposite reason.
On the third day, the day before the wedding, it all boiled over. Jamil found he couldn’t take it anymore. He thought he’d have been able to handle at least a few more days of this, but he couldn’t. His arms positively ached to be wrapped around Kalim. He needed that boy to be his.
The night before the wedding made both Jamil and Kalim feel sick. The Asim heir had snuck out after the family dinner and found himself on an innocent walk through the estate gardens. Innocent, until Jamil pulled him into a private space under a weeping willow tree. Kalim yelped quietly before turning and facing his former servant.
“Jami?! What are you doing?! If we get caught, we’re both dead!” He whispered, vehemently. Jamil simply gazed into those beautiful ruby eyes, his hands coming up to cup the heir’s cheeks gently.
“I can’t take this anymore. I can’t simply stand by and watch as you are forced to live your life with someone else. I can’t do it. I thought I could…but I just can’t. I need you, Kalim. You’re not my master anymore, but I find that you still own me; heart, mind, and soul.” Jamil whispered these words gracefully, his lips just grazing Kalim’s own.
The eldest Asim child shuddered slightly at Jamil’s open display of affection, his own arms wrapping around the brunette’s waist softly. Their lips found each other, crashing together like waves against rock. This was their first passionate kiss. Kalim felt his eyes slip closed as his breath was stolen away, their lips feeling like they were made specifically for each other.
When they finally pulled away from each other, their lungs begging for air, Kalim realized that silent tears were slipping down his face. His heart felt like it was being torn to shreds. He wanted to so badly be with the man he truly loved, but fate would have it that they would never be together. Their lips found each other repeatedly, the weeping willow making a serene outline around the couple.
As Jamil and Kalim were wrapped up in their sentimental moment, neither of them noticed the dark-haired woman in the corner, watching it unfold.
~*~
Kalim stood in front of his father, his ruby eyes wide in disbelief. Leila had suddenly stopped their upcoming wedding on the morning of the big day and left of her own accord. He didn’t know how or why, and his kind heart felt bad that he had left her to her own sorrow. He really didn’t mean to hurt her in any way, but he couldn’t help where his heart truly lied. But he couldn’t think of Jamil right now. He was too worried about what his father was going to say about this whole situation.
“So…you and Jamil are a little closer than just best friends, hm?”
Kalim felt his stomach twist nauseatingly. His father knew. His father knew about his and Jamil’s new, budding romantic relationship. He squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the outburst that was sure to come.
“Honestly, I’m shocked I didn’t see this coming. Two boys growing up together in the way you and Jamil have would naturally develop an extremely close bond. Other members of our family may be angry at your decision, but I am the head of the family. I feel that you should be able to love who you want to love, and I know the Vipers’ son will do his best for you. Jamil’s service over the years has been nothing but exceptional and I truly believe he has your best interest at heart. He’s the best person for you.”
Kalim stared at his father, his jaw nearly dropped to the floor, as he received his father’s blessing to be with Jamil Viper. He never thought in a million years that his father would have been so supportive of his decisions about his love life, but he was so grateful at the wonderful turn of events.
After profusely thanking his father, Kalim rushed out of the immaculate office to find the boy who had always owned his heart. When he caught a glimpse of Jamil’s braided, dark hair with accents of his gold jewelry jingling around his face, Kalim broke into a run.
“Jamil!” He cried out, smashing into the taller boy. Jamil let out a grunt as he fell back into the wall, a strong arm circling around Kalim’s waist in order to keep him upright.
“What? Shouldn’t you be getting ready for your…wedding?” The brunette choked the last word out, all his pain and grief just barely being contained within his strained voice. The bright, blinding smile Kalim was wearing made Jamil’s eyes narrow.
“Jami, Leila left voluntarily. I- I feel bad that I hurt her…but my father gave us his blessing!”
Jamil’s heart stopped.
“What?! He knows about us?!” The former servant’s life flashed before his eyes, until Kalim’s words finally sank into his brain. “Wait…he supports us?” Jamil didn’t bother hiding the pure, unadulterated shock in his expression.
Kalim nodded vigorously, a diamond-like sparkle in his garnet eyes. “She must have seen something or realized what was going on and told my father that was her reason for leaving. And he accepts it! I couldn’t believe it either, but he said you are the best person for me!”
Jamil felt his ego swell at those words. He was the best person for Kalim, in his humble opinion. He always has been and always would be. His arms snaked around Kalim’s waist on their own accord, the brunette wanting to bring the Asim heir as physically close to him as possible.
“Then…I guess we’re officially dating.” Jamil mused, an eager glint in his gray eyes.
They both knew this wasn’t going to be a completely smooth ride. They still had a lot of things to work out and a lot of unspoken feelings that festered, completely unimpeded, since they first met. Both boys also knew they would be met with plenty of resistance from both of their families. But they were an unstoppable duo, and they knew they could handle anything that came their way, as long as they were together.