27. FATE & FRIENDSHIP

ACT FIVE

WHAT DRAWS PEOPLE TO BE FRIENDS IS

THAT THEY SEE THE SAME TRUTH. THEY SHARE IT.

- c.s. lewis

ACT FIVE SCENE ONE

FATE AND FRIENDSHIP

third person

perspective

LUCA FEELS AS IF he doesn't belong anywhere, sometimes he just wants to live in a place where nobody knows him. He wants to start a new life, but every time he faces a new situation — he has nightmares — there's always that concept of making new friends and he struggles to do so. He failed to realise that Asher wasn't his friend even when he considered him as one, it was like a punch in the guts for him; he truly wanted to believe Asher was his closest friend.

Maybe it was a life lesson.

It was a lesson to teach Luca that he'll be forever lonely. A boy like him could never be normal in a world where social interactions mean so much. He's an outcast, someone who doesn't belong on the main stage; an extra, who'll never have lines.

"Luca Valdez, the sole heir to Valdez cooperation, let's all take a drink for his youthful self," Luca could hear his father speak proudly, his tone was dense, his words were lies. "Now, the birthday boy has prepared a speech." his father eyes him, Luca smiles, walking towards the centre of the room.

With all the attention on him, he felt anxious. He could notice many familiar faces in the crowd, all the billionaire bad boys club members but he wasn't there. Asher didn't show up to his birthday. Luca felt his smile faltering, he wanted to see if Asher could come so he could feel confident that their friendship wasn't just nothing. He wanted his friendship to be something, but now, now he realised that you can't have everything. Loneliness seems to be Luca's trait and perhaps it will always remain that way.

"I..." Luca felt like crying. He didn't want to do this.

But his father's cold stare causes him to straighten his posture and lift his gaze up. He couldn't be a coward in front of all these people, he's supposed to be confident. The popular rich kid that everyone loves, he can't be weak, not on his birthday. He's supposed to shine, he's supposed to be brave and not shatter the Valdez family reputation.

"It's a pleasure to host this party to celebrate my youth, it's also a pleasure to announce..." Luca felt his eyes widen at the paper his father told him to read from. "T-That I'll be fulfilling a famous Valdez tradition by getting engaged on my eighteenth birthday." Luca felt his heart shatter, he didn't want to announce this to anyone. He doesn't even know who he'll end up getting engaged to, his father was choosing and he had no say.

People begin to murmur between themselves, various girls were excited, hoping that they'd be the one for Luca. None of them stopped to wonder whether Luca was happy or decipher if his smile genuine. It's as if a thousand storms were running wild in his mind, he couldn't think, he couldn't feel anything. His heart is numb and his world is grey as he has no words to say, he walks off, avoiding the gaze of everyone in the party.

Tears well up in his eyes as he walks towards the balcony. He needed some fresh air before he loses it completely.

The balcony door creeks open.

"I thought I'd find you here."

The platinum blonde looks at his friend with a sad smile. Asher walks towards Luca, standing right next to him. Even though he was late, he was here, here for his friend. Luca felt his tears escape, he couldn't believe it, the loneliest night of his life and his friend arrives late.

"You're setting a bad example for the other members as a leader, we don't cry over issues like this, we work together to find a way out of it, don't we Luca?" Asher questions, glancing at his friend, his stone heart was burning on friendship — a fuel Luca provided ever so kindly.

"We'd be nothing without you... so tonight as your members, we'll be everything for you. We won't let this happen to you, you won't go through this, mark my words." Asher says, he was about to pat Luca's back but he rests his hand in the air. He wasn't sure, he wasn't sure if Luca would be comfortable. After all, Luca doesn't like physical contact with anyone and Asher respected that.

"I apologise for everything, I failed to realise that all along, you were always there for me, not as a billionaire bad boys club member but as a friend." Asher whispers, although his words were quiet, they struck Luca. His words were loud and clear, making Luca turn to face him with tears cascading down his face.

"I didn't think you'd come."

Asher smiles. "Don't lose hope in me too quick, I'm here forever because that's what friendship is about right? Or am I saying this wrong... uh, well yeah, let's just say I'm here for you." he awkwardly says, Asher felt new to this friendship thing. The only other person he has shared some sort of companionship or friendship with him has left him and betrayed him to the point he struggled to understand the actual concept of friendship.

But watching Luca today. Asher realised that friendship is about comfort, it's about trust, it's about being there for someone. He couldn't let Luca suffer alone, he couldn't watch someone as hopeful as Luca look at fate with disbelief. For once, Asher wanted to be thoughtful of someone other than himself. He doesn't want to be arrogant and stuck up, he wanted to be selfless.

He didn't want Luca to cry.

If he could. He could cry in place of Luca.

Because that's friendship.

His loyalties remain with Luca.

"My father knows something about me that nobody should ever know Asher, the thought of anyone else finding out, I'd be powerless in such a powerful world." Luca says, his eyes falling on to his leather gloves.

Asher meets his gaze. "It can't be that bad, this secret can't destroy everything Luca."

"It can. It will make me out as some loser with such an easy weakness."

"Do you mind if I ask you what it is?" Asher politely asks.

"I don't think I have anything to lose anymore." Luca whispers.

"You have everything Luca, you're the wealthiest guy, the leader of the billionaire bad boys club. Don't tell me you have nothing to lose when you have everything to gain — use this secret if yours to your advantage, if you don't, who will? Your father, are you seriously going to allow that bald idiot to tell you how to run your own life? Or are you going to control your own life, your own fate? Don't be an idiot and sit still, work smart and beat that dumb guy at his own game." Asher's words cause Luca to smile. So this is a true friend, Luca thought to himself as he looked at Asher.

If it is. Luca is willing to fight.

He will control his own fate. Instead of allowing fate to control him.

and that my friends is how luca and asher rebuilt their friendship. what do you think is going to happen? will luca end up getting engaged or will asher save the day? what are your ships, i really want to know!

this chapter is close to me because there's always that doubt in a friendship, you feel as if you're losing a friend but you're really not. a friend is here to stay. choose your friends wisely, you don't want to be stuck in a friendship like sahar's (trust me you don't) through all my experiences, i've been friends with people like normani and solar. but i've finally found friends like asher. and those two people are my closest friends ever. find an asher. be friends with someone like asher, please stay away from people like normani and solar.

vote, comment, and share. i hope you all enjoyed this chapter. there's always room for more. i'll be posting another update tomorrow. hope you guys stay safe

— love kxdz 💓