The classroom was unusually lively that morning. The chatter was louder than usual, desks scraped as students leaned closer to each other, and even the teacher's entrance didn't completely silence the room.
She placed a stack of papers on her desk with a sharp thunk and announced, "Alright, class. Today, we'll be doing something a little different. It's time for you to think about your futures."
Groans instantly erupted around the room.
"It's too early for that," one student complained.
"I don't even know what I want to eat for lunch, how do you expect me to know my career?" another added, earning laughter from a few classmates.
The teacher only smiled knowingly as she began passing the sheets down each row. "No excuses. Write down what career path you're considering after graduation. Think carefully."
Eli stared at the blank page in front of him. Career aspirations.
He tapped his pen against the desk, lips pursed. Around him, his friends were already scribbling or doodling.
"I'll be a doctor! Imagine me in a white coat!" one declared.
"No way, you'll faint at the sight of blood," another shot back.
A third leaned over toward Eli with a grin. "Eli, you'll probably be a librarian. You basically live in the library."
Eli laughed awkwardly, scratching his cheek. "Hey, that's not… completely wrong, I guess."
But when he tried to write, his mind wandered.
In his dreams, he wasn't here in a normal
school. He was somewhere else—wearing old robes, standing beside someone who felt so familiar. And every time, that person's face—so much like Kai's—lingered in his chest when he woke up.
He shook his head quickly. This is reality, Eli. Stop thinking weird things.
Finally, he scribbled something normal: Maybe a teacher.
Meanwhile, Kai's pen moved smoothly, no hesitation at all. He wrote his answer in quick, deliberate strokes, then set the pen down.
Curious, Eli leaned just slightly, trying to catch a glimpse. The words startled him.
I don't care what I become… as long as I don't lose what's important.
Eli blinked. That wasn't a job. It was… something else. Something heavier.
Before he could say anything, one of their friends leaned over with a grin. "What about you, Kai? Future king? Prime minister? Model?"
"Nah," another laughed, "I bet he'll end up being a bodyguard with that serious face."
The teasing soon turned to Eli. "And Eli! Don't think we didn't notice you glancing at his paper. Planning your future together already?"
The group burst into laughter. Eli flushed red, waving his hands frantically. "Wha—No! I wasn't—I mean, I was just curious!"
Kai only smiled, the corner of his lips lifting in quiet amusement. "Maybe one day," he said softly, "I'll tell you what I really mean."
Eli's heart skipped. He looked away quickly, gripping his pen a little too tightly.
The bell rang, ending the discussion, but Eli's mind lingered on Kai's words. What's important…? Why did it feel like Kai wasn't talking about a career at all, but about him?