“Thank goodness,” Fluke says, rubbing his cheeks from the strain of smiling the whole night. “I thought I would never get to be with you guys again. Thanks for waiting! I owe you.”
“Oh my Goddd,” Earth squeals, wrapping his arms around his best friend. “You’re part of the royal family now! There’s no turning back! But no number of Special Agents will stop me from shaving your head in your sleep if you forget about us.”
“I could never,” Fluke says, hugging Earth back and moving to hug the others as well. “I really can’t get over how handsome you all look tonight.”
“Us? What about you?” Boun says, squeezing Fluke as tightly as he could. “You’re glowing!”
“And please put your hand away before you blind any of us,” Earth teases, admiring the lovely sapphire engagement ring on Fluke’s hand. “It’s so beautiful!”
“It is, isn’t it? The King and Queen had it made for us… I kind of feel awkward wearing something so extravagant.”
“What are you talking about,” Boun instinctively replies.
“You deserve it!” Earth says, sighing as he takes Fluke’s hand to stare at the ring even more. “It suits you so well….”
“Thanks, guys,” Fluke says, his cheeks turning a soft pink from the happiness he felt. “I’m still getting used to all this. But P’Ohm said the same thing…”
“People in love stink,” Prem says mockingly, sticking his tongue out and wrinkling his nose.
“Oh no,” Fluke immediately says, resting his hands on Prem’s shoulders. “He had alcohol didn’t he? No wonder he’s been quiet till now. Prem? Are you alright?”
“Pff! Me? I’m fined. I mean, finedT! I’m alright,” he says, smiling so widely that his eyes disappeared. The young man wraps his arms around Fluke and almost stumbles into their embrace. “I’m just really happy, so very happy for you! The happiest! And I’m also proud of you! So, so proud!”
“I forgot to tell you guys,” Fluke says to the other two, struggling to keep steady with Prem’s weight on him. “Prem can’t handle alcohol, like at all. How much did he have?”
“Just the same thing I had. Couple shots of whiskey? And two glasses of champagne? Maybe three? I don’t know; I wasn’t really counting,” Boun replies, a worried look forming on his face.
“Oh, dear. He probably didn’t want to seem weak in front of you,” Fluke says. “He gets this way when he gets drunk. He’s fine now but we need to get him out of here before he starts dancing.”
“Dancing?” Earth says, trying hard to hide the delight on his face. “He’s a happy drunk?”
“A VERY happy drunk. He’ll start dancing around and telling people how much he loves them if we don’t make an exit plan for him.”
“What a glorious day! I’m in the Palace, Fluke becomes a royal, and now I’ve finally found my clubbing buddy! Perfect!” Earth says, smiling. “Prem, sweetie, you’re amazing!”
“And so are you, Earth! I mean, really! Just look at how talented you are! You’ve managed to make P’Boun look even hotter in that suit,” Prem blurts out, surprising everyone around him.
Boun’s face turns beet red in a heartbeat, and everyone else is too shocked to respond. Even Earth was too surprised to retort anything back. But before anyone could say anything, someone with impeccable posture joined their conversation.
“Who’s hot?” Prince Ohm asks, giving warm smiles to everyone. “Good evening K’Earth, K’Boun, K’Prem… I’m so happy you made it tonight.”
A spattering of respectful greetings came from the three of them, as they bow to acknowledge the presence of the Crown Prince.
“You know our names! So freaking cool!” Prem says, still smiling from ear-to-ear. “You’ve always been my favorite Prince, but don’t tell Fluke.”
“P’Ohm, I think Prem enjoyed the open bar a little too much tonight… Is there any way that we can send him home right now?” Fluke says.
“Of course. That’s not a problem at all,” he replies, raising his hand in the air to signal for some help. “I’m sure P’Kao can arrange that.”
In no time at all, Kao arrives by the young Prince’s side.
“Yes, Your Highness,” he says, nodding politely at everyone, doing his best not to meet Earth’s eye, still recovering from the encounter they had not too long ago.
“Phi, can you arrange for a car for K’Prem? He’s not feeling well and needs to get home right away.”
“Certainly, Sir,” he responds, quickly taking his phone and posturing to make a call. “Should I call the infirmary for assistance?”
“Oh, no need, Phi,” Fluke answers. “He’s just a little--”
“I’M DRUNK,” Prem interrupts. “Helloooo K’Kao! Can you please tell my radiant friend Earth that you didn’t mean to be a dick, you were just too busy checking him out and--”
“Heyyy,” Earth says, stepping beside Prem so fast, squeezing his hand to get him to stop talking. “You’re such a chatty drunk, aren’t you, Ai’Prem? Open bars don’t agree with everyone.”
“Uh, sure,” Kao replies, trying to brush off the increasingly awkward exchange. “I should get the car prepared for K’Prem. To which address should we take him to?”
“Actually, can I go with him?” Boun says. “I feel responsible for him since he was just trying to match me. I really had no idea that he had such a weak tolerance. I’d feel a lot better if I could see him get home safely? That is, if you guys don’t mind.”
“Not at all. I understand. We’ll have plenty of time to spend together in the coming days,” Prince Ohm says.
“If you’re leaving too, I should go with you guys then,” Earth chimes in, the disappointment in his eyes shining through.
“No, stay,” Boun insists. “You haven’t even taken half the photos in the Palace that you said you wanted to. Besides, all these people… I know you wanna stare at them a bit longer. We’ll be okay, I promise.”
“Yeah, please stay,” Fluke seconds. “This night is so stressful… I’d really love it if I had my best friend with me till the end.”
“Sometimes I hate that I can’t say no to you,” he replies, all his usual sass melting away at the whole-hearted request of the future Prince.
“Thank you, K’Earth,” Prince Ohm says. “I’ll see to it that you’re properly escorted home tonight, right P’Kao?”
“Yes, of course. Another car will be available for you when you’re ready. Just come find me,” Kao answers.
“See??? K’Kao and Earth. It’s destiny, just like Prince Ohm and Flukie. THAT RHYMES!” Prem says, laughing joyfully at his own joke.
“Alright, it’s been a really exciting day,” Fluke says, turning Boun and Prem to the direction of the main doors. “You should get some rest.”
“Hold on,” Ohm says. “We should all have a photo together first, shouldn’t we?”
“I knew you were our future ruler for a reason,” Earth says, looking around for the Palace’s professional photographers. “I’ve been dying to get noticed by these guys the whole night. They take the most beautiful photos.”
Kao’s hand shoots up in the air, signaling to the photographers that they were needed, all the while stealing glances at Earth. If Prem’s drunken musings were to be trusted, it seemed that Earth had gotten the wrong idea, and it bothered him more than he could say. Thoughts of wanting to make it up to him filled his head as the photographers scurried in front of the group and directed them on how to stand. As always, the Aide steps out of frame and lets photos be taken without him. It allowed him to look at Earth even more and take in just how beautiful he is.
“P’Kao,” Fluke says, gesturing at the Aide furiously. “What are you doing there? Get in here!”
“Join us, Phi,” Ohm says. “I want a photo with our best friends.”
Flustered, Kao walks to the end of the line nearest him. This position just so happened to place him beside the one person that managed to make him nervous the whole night. His heart raced a million miles a minute being this close to Earth. The scent of his perfume took over Kao’s senses, and made it hard to concentrate on anything other than the fact that they were so close to each other.
“See?? The six of us are so cute,” Prem says, preparing to smile for the photo. “Say destiny!!”
The group chuckles at the young man’s bubbly energy and obliged his request.
Kao couldn’t help but steal another glance at who was beside him as he quietly muttered under his breath.
“Destiny.”
******
It’s been almost an hour since they sent Boun and Prem off, and equally as long since he was by himself for the night. He tried to strike up conversations with random people but they all ended up in brief, small talk, at best. No one seemed to want to talk to him, and his confidence was waning.
His entire life, he’d dreamed of being part of this crowd so much. He was sure that his talent and hard work would bring him to the same level of recognition someday, and everything was just a matter of time. But the way he was being treated was making him finally consider the thought that was looming over him the entire evening: Maybe he was kidding himself. Maybe he really didn’t belong here.
He needed to clear his head. Luckily the party was big enough for him to slip out and take a walk without anyone noticing.
After wandering alone, he came across glass doors that led to the place he so desperately wanted to see, but wasn’t sure he was going to get to. It wouldn’t hurt to try turning the knobs and try his luck. To his utter delight, the doors click open.
“Oh, my God,” he whispers, as he carefully steps onto the Palace garden. “Stunning.”
He’d seen this place countless times before on television and in magazines, but he never really thought he’d reach a place in his life where he’d see it with his own two eyes.
It wasn’t that the photos turned out bad. He had turned taking selfies into an artform, and he knew every angle and lighting that would give him the best results. Every shot was worthy of an upload, but he couldn’t help but feel that something was missing.
Earth clicked his tongue in frustration, sighing heavily as he zoomed in on his face.
“I can take your photo if you want,” a voice says from behind.
Startled, the young man straightens up and comes up with an excuse for being somewhere that he wasn’t supposed to be.
“Uh, I’m sorry. I just needed space to get away from all the people for just a bit. I’ll leave, I’ll go back to the party. Just please don’t kick me out,” he pleads, immediately recognizing the person who had caught him. “K’Kao… I’m sorry… I’ll go back.”
“It’s alright, K’Earth,” the Aide says, his heart softening for the young man even more. “Don’t worry. The lights are off to discourage everyone to stay out in the cold but the garden isn’t a prohibited place for guests. Trust me, if it was, you wouldn’t have gotten this far.”
“Of course,” he replies. “Listen… About what Prem said… I…”
“I know I look quite stern. Don’t worry, that’s the common experience of people who don’t know me too well. I don’t think ill of you because of it.”
“Thank you, Khun,” Earth says, relief washing over him.
“It’s not your fault at all. I don’t have the friendliest face, I guess.”
“Sure you do,” the younger man replies. “You should just maybe show your smile off more often.”
The comment makes the usually stone-faced Aide smile shyly. He clears his throat, suddenly remembering that he had a job to do.
“Actually, this isn’t much of a coincidence. N’Fluke sent me to find you,” he confesses.
Earth sighs in dismay. “Can I ask you a favor?”
Kao looks blankly at him, wondering what in the world he could want.
“Can you tell Fluke that you couldn’t find me yet, just for a few more minutes?” Earth asks, recognizing the need to explain himself after seeing Kao’s puzzled reaction. “It’s always been my dream to be here, in this garden, and I don’t really know when I get to come back. Can I sit here by myself for a while? I just want to take it all in.”
“Will ten minutes be enough?”
“Thank you,” Earth says, with the sincerest eyes Kao had ever seen.
“Are you sure that you don’t want me to take a photo for you?”
“Yes, I’m sure,” he replies. “It might take a while to find the right angle. I don’t want to keep you. See you in ten. You don’t have to come get me, I’ll go back to the party myself.”
The Aide nods and smiles as he starts to walk away, closing the door to the garden behind him. He tried his best to just return to his duties and not to look back, but something in his heart wouldn’t let him. He takes his phone out of his pocket and lifts it up to take a snapshot of the young man’s silhouette looking up at the stars and the moonlight.
It was the most beautiful photo he had ever taken in his life.