Kael woke up feeling like a brand-new human being, energized, and full of both life and hope. For the first time in weeks, his brain wasn't filled with thoughts of fake dating or Jaxen's cold glares. Instead, it was filled with one name: Leo. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of being a prisoner in a mansion that everything in it was worth more than his life , he was going to see his brother.
He jumped out of bed and dragged his heavy traveling bag from the closet. He threw it onto the bed with a loud thud and swung the wardrobe doors open.
"Time to shop for leo from my wardrobe," Kael whispered to himself with a smile on his face.
He started grabbing everything Jaxen had bought for him over the last few weeks. He didn't just pack clothes; he made sure he packed atleast one of anything jaxen had bought for him. He grabbed the silk button-down shirts that felt so smooth they almost slipped out of his hands. He grabbed the heavy, designer hoodies that were probably made from the wool of sheep that lived in palaces. He packed three pairs of jeans that fit him so perfectly he felt like a model.
Then came the bathroom supplies. He grabbed the fancy shampoo that smelled like "mint and strawberry" He grabbed the expensive face creams and the gold-plated razor. He even found a stash of high-end chocolates Jaxen had bought for him the previous week in the room little dark chocolate truffles shaped like gold bars and filled with sea salt caramel. He dumped those in, too.
"Leo is going to think I'm a rich intern," Kael muttered, stuffing a pair of designer leather boots into the side pocket. He looked at his bag. It was bulging at the seams, but he didn't care. If Jaxen was going to make him live a lie, Kael was at least going to make sure his brother got some of the perks.
Once he was packed, he headed downstairs. He felt light on his feet. He walked into the kitchen and immediately started on his breakfast. He popped some bread into the toaster and brewed a fresh pot of coffee. The smell of burning bread and caffeine filled the air, making the house feel a little more alive.
Jaxen was already there, of course. He was sitting at the kitchen island, dressed in a suit that probably cost more than Kael's entire education. He was staring at his tablet with a look of intense concentration, his face as still as a statue.
"Good morning!" Kael chirped. He was radiating so much joy it was almost annoying.
"Good morning," Jaxen replied. His voice fierce and cold as usual. He didn't even look up.
Kael didn't let it bother him. He sat down and attacked his toast, humming a loud, off-key song just to see if Jaxen's eyebrow would twitch. It didn't. After finishing his breakfast and gulping down his coffee, Kael wiped his mouth and stood up.
"So, I'm about to head out," Kael said. "Just wanted to say bye before I go."
"The driver will take you there," Jaxen said, finally flicking his gaze toward Kael. "He is already outside waiting."
Kael nodded. "Cool. Simple. I like it. I'll go grab my bag."
Kael ran back upstairs, grabbed his massive duffel bag, and lugged it back down. He was panting by the time he reached the bottom of the stairs. But when he turned the corner into the living room, he saw some shopping bag standing by the front door
Standing by the front door were four massive, shiny black shopping bags. They looked heavy and very, very expensive.
Kael looked at the bags, then at Jaxen, who was standing there with his arms crossed. "What is this?" Kael asked, pointing a finger at the pile.
Jaxen looked at him like he was asking a stupid question. "What are you seeing, Kael?"
Kael walked over and peered into the first bag. His eyes went wide. "There are clothes in here. And shoes. These are... these are brand new sneakers. The expensive kind."
He moved to the next bag and gasped. Inside was a sleek, white box. "A PS5? Are you serious?" He reached into the smaller bag and pulled out a box for the latest smartphone. "And a phone? Jaxen, what is going on?"
Kael looked at Jaxen, feeling a wave of panic. "This is too much. You know I have a debt of fifty thousand dollars I'm trying to cover, I can't be taking stuff like this. It feels wrong."
Jaxen didn't move. He didn't even blink. "I didn't do it for you," he said coldly. "I did it for Leo. He is a good kid, and he deserves to have nice things while you are busy... working."
Kael felt his heart do a weird little flip. "How did you even know his sizes? Or that he wanted a game console?"
"My personal bodyguard picked everything out," Jaxen said, checking his watch. "He is very efficient at gathering information. Now, I am leaving for my own meetings, so get going."
Jaxen gave Kael one last cold, sharp stare—the kind that usually made Kael want to hide—and then he turned and walked out the front door.
Kael stood in the middle of the massive, silent living room. He looked at the four bags of treasure. He looked at the door. Suddenly, he couldn't contain it anymore.
He started to dance. It was a terrible dance. It involved a lot of shoulder-shaking and a very awkward moonwalk attempt across the hardwood floor. He pumped his fists in the air and did a little victory wiggle.
"We're rich, Leo! We're rich for a weekend!" he cheered to the empty room.
He gathered his strength and grabbed all the bags. The bags were very heavy and plenty for him and he stumbled out the front door toward the waiting black SUV. The driver, a tall man in a suit, immediately hopped out and opened the trunk.
"Let's go, my friend!" Kael said, tossing the bags in. "Take me to the promised land!"
"Okay, sir," the driver said, hiding a small smile as he closed the trunk.
The drive was the longest hour of Kael's life. He sat in the back of the air-conditioned car, staring out the window at the changing scenery. The big, gated mansions turned into smaller houses, and the smaller houses turned into the crowded, noisy streets of his old neighborhood.
Every time the car hit a bump, Kael checked the back to make sure the PS5 was still safe. He was sweating from excitement. He could already see the look on Leo's face.
When the car finally pulled up to the curb of their apartment building, the neighborhood looked exactly the same. There was the guy selling fruit on the corner, the sound of a distant car alarm, and the smell of the nearby bakery.
And there, leaning against a tiny house with a red front door and looking at his old, cracked phone, was Leo.
The driver hadn't even fully stopped before Kael was unbuckling his seatbelt. He pushed the door open and hopped out, his face hurting from how hard he was smiling.
"Leo!" he shouted.
Leo looked up, and his entire face lit up. "Kael! No way! Is that actually you in an suv?"
Kael laughed and gestured for the driver to open the trunk. "You haven't seen anything yet, kid. Come here and help me with this haul!"
Leo ran over, looking at the black SUV like it was a spaceship. "Man, you look like you own the city. What's in the bags?"
"Life," Kael said, grabbing the first shopping bag.
"Your new life."