Kael finished his noodles and put his chopsticks down. He felt very full. He felt happy to be home, but he also felt like a liar. Leo was sitting across from him. Leo kept reaching out to touch Kael's expensive shirt sleeve.
"Kael, I am so in love with the new you," Leo said. He had a huge smile on his face. "You smell like a fortune, and also look like a rich people, You have a private driver. You gave me a PS5 and a new phone. Does this mean the hard days are over?Does that mean that we are no longer going to be poor and eat just noodles.
The question made Kael feel sad inside. He looked at Leo's hopeful face. Then he looked around the small room at the old, peeling wallpaper. He thought about the 50,000 dollars he was currently paying by being a contract partner, he thought about Jaxen, the cold man waiting in the big mansion.
Kael was silent for a minute. "Well," he said slowly. "My work contract is only for six months. I don't know what happens after that. It is just a temporary thing, Leo."
Leo's smile went away for a second. Kael quickly grabbed Leo's hand across the shaky and old table.
"But I promise you," Kael said firmly. "I will make sure we don't suffer again. I will work very hard in these six months. You are going to finish school. We are going to get out of this old place. Even if I have to follow that boss and his weird rules every day, I will do it for us."
Leo cheered up fast. He was a goofy kid again. "Six months is a lot of time! In six months, you will probably be able to save some money to pay for my fees and other things, But no more sad talk. We have to celebrate!"
"I agree," Kael laughed. "What should we do today?"
Leo jumped up from his chair. "Let's go to the amusement park! We haven't gone since we were little kids. We need to catch up on all the weeks we were apart. I want to ride the fast roller coaster until i feel sick!"
Kael made a funny face. "The amusement park? My stomach is still busy with these spicy noodles, Leo. If you put me on a spinning ride, it will be a big disaster."
"I don't care!" Leo said. He grabbed the empty bowls. "It is a brotherly rule! You can't say no to the guy who misses his brother and also just got a new phone."
Leo tried to take the dishes to the kitchen. Kael stood up and stopped him. "No. Give me those. I have missed doing the dishes here at home, Let me wash the plates. Go get dressed. Wear your best clothes."
"Are you sure?" Leo asked. "I thought rich people forgot how to touch soap."
"Go before I take the PS5 back!" Kael joked. He pushed Leo toward the bedroom.
Kael stood at the small sink. He started to scrub the plates. It was funny. In Jaxen's house, he was afraid to touch anything. Everything looked like it was for a museum. Here, he could scrub as hard as he wanted. He liked the soap suds on his arms. He felt more like himself here.
Soon, Leo ran out of the room. He was wearing his new shirt, his old jeans, and his brand-new white shoes. He looked very cool.
"How do I look?" Leo asked. He walked like a model through the tiny room.
"You look like a dork," Kael teased. "But you look good enough. Let's go. I want to win a stuffed toy."
"You wish!" Leo yelled. "And you are buying the giant cotton candy!"
They left the apartment and walked to the park. It was a very loud place. There was music playing and people screaming. It was full of bright colors.
First, Leo dragged Kael to a ride called 'The Iron Dragon.' It was a giant metal arm that went high in the sky. It spun around and around.
"I am going to die!" Kael screamed as the worker strapped him in. "Leo, if I die, tell my boss I hate his almond milk!"
"Shut up and hold on!" Leo laughed.
The ride started. It went up fast. Kael's stomach felt like it was in his throat. "OH NO! STOP IT!" Kael yelled. His hair was flying everywhere. Leo was laughing and pointing. When the ride upside down, Kael closed his eyes tight. "I WANT TO GO HOME!"
When they got off, Kael's legs felt like jelly. He walked like a duck. Leo was perfectly fine. "That was great! Let's do the 'Sky Drop' next!"
"No more spinning!" Kael begged. But Leo didn't listen.
The 'Sky Drop' was a tall tower. They went up slowly. Kael looked down. The people looked like tiny ants. "We are too high, Leo. This is not safe."
Then, the ride dropped."AHHHHHHH!" Kael screamed so loud his voice cracked. He sounded like a little child that his toy was taken from him. Leo was screaming too, but he was happy. They fell fast and then stopped. Kael's heart was beating like a drum.
"One more?" Leo asked.
"I need water," Kael panted.
They walked to a game booth. Kael had to throw rings onto bottles. He tried five times and failed. Then, on the last try, he got it! He won a giant purple gorilla. It was very ugly and very big.
"Here," Kael said, giving it to Leo. "You have to carry it all day."
"This thing is heavy!" Leo complained. He had to hug the big purple toy to keep it from falling.
Next, they went on the 'Bumper Cars.' Kael liked this one. He could hit Leo's car. Bang! "Hey!" Leo shouted, spinning around. "I'll get you for that!"
They chased each other around the small floor. They were hitting other cars and laughing until their sides hurt. Kael forgot all about the mansion. He forgot about the fake dating. He was just a guy having fun with his brother.
By the time the sun started to set, the park lights came on. Everything was glowing with pink and blue lights. They went to a food stand. Kael bought a piece of cotton candy that was bigger than Leo's head. It was bright blue.
"My tongue is blue," Leo said, showing his tongue.
"Mine too," Kael said.
They sat on a wooden bench near the big Ferris wheel. They were both very tired and exhausted.
"Best day ever," Leo whispered. He leaned his head on Kael's shoulder.
"Yeah," Kael said, looking at the pretty lights. "Best day ever."
In that moment, Kael knew something. He hated the lies. He hated the fake life. But seeing Leo this happy was worth everything. He would do it all again just to see that smile