The Alchemists

"I'll take you to Caspar..." Jean said. He gave a sign to the others, "I'll go straight to the car. You wait for me there."

Jean and Finland walked back to where they left Caspar. Jadeith, who saw them approach, escorted them to the table where Caspar and Aldebar were chatting and enjoying their wine chatting.

"You are back?" Caspar asked. He quickly stood up and opened a chair for Finland, then signaled for a waiter to come. He then asked Finland in a soft voice. "What would you like to drink?"

"Red wine or champagne, whatever," Finland answered.

"One champagne for me," Jean said.

Caspar turned and looked at Jean in surprise. He did not remember offering Jean to sit and drink with them because he knew that Jean had to leave with Billie's group.

"Don't you have to go?" he asked.

"Soon," Jean answered. "I can't leave without congratulating my best friend on her wedding."

Just then the waiter arrived with a tray of drinks.

Jean immediately took two glasses of champagne and gave one to Finland. The girl was very surprised and almost dropped the glass given to her.

"Jean... I… we… uhm..." She was lost for words.

Jean knew that Caspar and Finland were married!

Jean tried to smile but his eyes couldn't lie. Finland couldn't bear to see Jean's sad eyes like that. She knew that Jean was upset because she kept the information about her wedding in the dark and didn't involve him in one of Finland's most important moments in life.

But of course, the kind-hearted Jean wouldn't let Finland feel guilty. He clinked his glass to Finland's and then drank his champagne, trying his best to smile.

"Congratulations. You should have told me that you were going to get married. I wanted to be the one to let you go at the altar..." He placed his glass on the table and grabbed Finland's hand very tightly. "I wish you all the happiness in the world."

Jean let go of his arms and then greeted Caspar.

"I leave my best friend to you." He paused before continuing, "Never make her cry."

Caspar already decided that he would not make Finland cry again, even if Jean hadn't told him. He thought about the time when he jokingly used Famke to intentionally make Finland jealous. The girl was very angry because Caspar made her cry and the consequence was that she didn't pick up his phone call for days while he was in Seattle. Caspar didn't want to take the risk anymore.

"I know," he answered shortly, but his face was friendly. He then remembered something and asked Jean, "Did you hear what Katia said?"

"Yes," Jean answered. "But I didn't want to discuss it in front of them. Of course, it's a shame for me to consider myself a friend of Finland when I don't even know she's married."

"Jean... forgive us," Finland said in a hoarse voice. "I was going to tell you in Paris..."

"It's okay, Finland dear. I understand. You must have good reasons." Jean shuffled Finland's hair and smiled when she saw Caspar's jealous stare. "We can talk later."

"How much did you hear?" Caspar asked urgently. "Did you hear everything?"

Jean shrugged.

"That you and Katia have been together for 50 years before you finally started dating Finland?" he asked nonchalantly, "Yes, I heard that."

Instantly, Caspar and Aldebar's faces changed. Finland immediately turned pale. Apparently, Jean heard everything. Why did he not react at all??

"Did you hear that?" hiss Finland. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I don't think I have the right to ask. If you want to tell me, you will. I'm not the type of person who wants to know other people's business." Jean smiled casually and then excused himself, "Billie is waiting for me. I have to go now. See you in Paris on the 16th."

He walked away, leaving the three people out of words. They still couldn't believe that Jean had heard everything, and he wasn't even curious about how Caspar and Katia could be in a relationship for 50 years... when the both of them still looked very young.

"Your friend knows our secret..." hissed Caspar, staring at Finland. "No ordinary human can know of us."

Finland immediately placed down her glass and held Caspar's hand.

"I'm also an ordinary human and I know your secrets... You can't do anything to Jean. You promised! Besides, it wasn't his fault," she said immediately.

She looked at Caspar with a determined look. Caspar knew that if he had an argument with Finland about Jean, Finland would now choose Jean. He couldn't take that risk.

Finally, he just sighed, and looked at Aldebar.

"What should we do?" he asked. Aldebar shook his head while playing with his glass. Caspar sighed again. "You do not know?"

"Let's talk tomorrow. It's almost new year. We'd better enjoy the party and think about it tomorrow. I'm sure Finland's friend isn't dangerous." Aldebar signaled the waiter to come with another drink.

"Jean isn't a threat. He isn't dangerous! You can't do anything to him!" said Finland.

Caspar could only nod. He would decide what to do with Jean tomorrow morning. Tonight, he would leave the matter be; he did not want to make Finland angry. Not now.