The Alchemists

They did bar hopping at Clarke Quay and then walked to enjoy the beautiful river views glittering with lights. Finland drank a lot and her eyes began to get droopy after drinking away at the bars.

"My God... my head feels very light..." Finland sighed as she placed her cocktail glass on the table.

"Let's go home. If I drink one more glass, you will have to carry me home," she said with a sleepy voice.

"It's okay, the important thing is that you're happy," Jean said calmly. "Are we going home now?"

"Yes, but let's not go to Rose Mansion. The staff there would be shocked to see me so drunk. Let's go home to your apartment," Finland said.

"Alright," said Jean. He paid for their drinks and then took Finland out. They walked along the river, then turned north. Robertson Road was located not far from there.

"You walk very slowly," Jean said later. He then carried Finland on his back and walked faster to his apartment.

"You're a good person, Jean..." Finland said when she was piggyback riding Jean. "I'm very lucky to have a friend like you. If there is another life, I want to be your sister or your wife."

"You have become like a sister to me in this lifetime, Finland." Jean replied, "You can also be my wife in this life, if you want."

Finland, who was drunk after so many cocktails, didn't quite understand Jean's words, "Wife? You mean to marry you?"

"Yes," said Jean. "As I always say, if that house you're staying at is haunted, you can always come back to Robertson Road and stay there." He turned to Finland, "If Caspar hurts you or if he is not treating you well, I hope you will come back to me. I will treat you well. I will take care of you and put your happiness first."

Finland nodded.

"Caspar treats me well. You don't have to worry about me." Finland touched Jean's cheek and shook her head, "But thank you for stating your feelings for me. Sorry I can't be with you."

"I know."

Jean said nothing more after that. Finland soon fell asleep on his back. When they arrived at his apartment, Jean laid Finland on his bed. He then laid beside the girl and hugged her as usual.

"Good night, Finland."

Jean, who knew Finland very well, knew that Finland never received hugs, support, praises, and love from her parents and other people. He had become used to embracing Finland and showing his care and support at any time. He also told Caspar to do the same, so that Finland could slowly learn to open her heart to love.

Jean saw how much Finland had changed during the past week, and he assumed that Caspar had something to do with it. He was happy to see his friend happy, even though that means he could never be with her as a lover. He knew that deep inside he loved Finland, but he never openly expressed it because he was afraid of ruining their friendship.

Finland was Jean's only best friend, and so was he to her. They were even closer than family. If they tried to take a shot at love and the relationship didn't work, then they may lose not only their only friend, but also their only family. Neither Finland nor Jean wanted to take such a risk. Nothing compared to the relationship they currently had with each other.

***

Finland woke up with a terrible headache when the sun was already high. She had to wait for a few minutes before she was able to gather her thoughts.

She just remembered that last night she and Jean went bar hopping (moving from one bar to another) and they had a lot of different cocktails. Jean was very familiar with the night life, but Finland was not, and after the fifth bar she almost fell asleep that Jean had to carry her home.

When Finland came out of the room she saw that Jean was reading a magazine on the living room sofa. The man wore dark blue framed glasses that made him look very exotic.

Imagine a handsome man sitting on the couch with a magazine in hand and sunlight faintly illuminating from the curtain opening behind him.

Finland was mesmerized and quickly captured the moment in front of her with her phone camera. Jean looked as if he were pictured in a magazine. This human being was indeed very beautiful; no surprise he was so famous, thought Finland.

"Since when did you wear glasses?" Finland asked as she sat on the sofa next to Jean. She showed him the photo she had just taken. Jean took off his glasses and frowned.

"This photo can't go out to public," he threatened - but in a not serious tone. "I'm near-sighted. Ugh... I'm not even that old yet."

"So, you are wearing plus glasses? Just like a grandpa..." Finland said in a teasing tone and laughed.

"Eh, everyone will age eventually, and their eyesight will diminish. Last year my eyes were still 20/20. Just a few months ago I had to wear glasses." Jean put down his glasses and magazine on the table and went to the fridge. "Do you want some orange juice? And maybe something to eat? We can go to the cafe on this building..."

"I want orange juice." Finland received a glass of orange juice from Jean and drank it all at once. She saw the time on her phone, "It's 9 o'clock in the morning. I will just call in sick. I can't go work now, it's too late."

"Smart girl," Jean said, patting Finland's head like to a child. "Don't work too hard. Remember what I said?"

"Don't love work too much, because work won't love you back," Finland answered.

"Come on, let's just be lazy at home today. There's a new Netflix program that I want to show you. I know the director. But let's have breakfast first."

Finland nodded. She called-in sick to the office because… well, she did feel a severe headache, but she did not tell them it was because she went bar hopping last night with Jean.