2074

Alexander sighed, breathing in the fresh clean air of the countryside. It wasn't as nice as it had been as a kid, pollution having spread everywhere over the long years of his life, but it was far nicer than anything he breathed in in the huge megacities he was used to living in.

He'd been in the country for roughly a year, having taken a sabbatical. He worked as a farmhand, which was exhausting, but far more relaxing than a stressful office job. The CEO job had stressed him out too much and he needed a break from it all, not just the job, but the city as well. They were growing too cramped, too busy, and it was only stressing him out more.

It was his day off and he'd decided to go into the small town nearby with a couple of the other farmhands and his boss’s son. None of them really knew who he was, for which he was grateful for. He'd congratulated himself a few times over the last year for not really wanting to make many tv appearances, all they wanted to talk about was how old he was.

He hadn't told his new friends his real age either, having learned very quickly since Philip died that new people would only give him pity when he told them he was over a hundred. Instead, he told his newest friend that he was thirty-five and hadn't found his soulmate yet. For him, it was refreshing to not be seen as lonely or someone to pity but seen as just like everyone else.

"You good, mate?" a man, Isaac, asked with a laugh.

"Yeah," Alexander replied. "It's just... Really nice out here."

"Still used to that big city air, huh?"

"I guess so," he said. "My grandparents used to live in a small town, and I used to visit them when I was a kid. Forgot how nice it was."

"You'll get used to it," Isaac started. "Then you'll move back to the big city and miss it like crazy. That's what usually happens."

"I'm not surprised, this place is amazing," Alex said wistfully. "Anyone would miss it."

They were waiting for one of Isaac's friends, Amelia, to come and pick them up. They sat on the steps of the porch, staring out at the driveway. The ranch he stayed in with Isaac and his family was nice and cosy, something different to what Alex was used to. He stayed in a small room with light green walls and a single bed, and he loved it. He hadn't brought much stuff with him, just clothes and a few of his favourite books. He'd figured he would be extremely busy on the farm and wouldn't have much time to do anything else.

A car rumbled up the dirt driveway, kicking up dust as it went. Amelia waved and honked the horn, a huge grin on her face. Alexander caught sight of one of her many friends in the passenger seat, someone by the name of Lucy if he remembered correctly. He and Isaac stood and waved back, making their way over to the car when it slowed to a stop.

"Hi Alex," Amelia said cheerily as he opened the door of the car. "I'm assuming Isaac hasn't told you what we're doing today?"

"Nope, but I’m not surprised," Alex replied, strapping himself into the seat. Isaac had a strange habit of never telling anyone what the plans were for any outing. All he had told him was that they were going out for dinner and drinks with friends. He didn't know where they were going or who they were going with.

"Of course not. Give me a second," she said. Alexander waited while Amelia programmed in the address for the restaurant into the car's computer and pressed a button, the two front seats swiveling around to face the back. The engine started, the autopilot kicking in and the car slowly making its way back down the dirt driveway. "We're meeting a few of my friends and Isaac's for dinner to celebrate the return of Isaac's best mate, Jaden."

Alexander had heard of Jaden a few times. Isaac liked to tell odd stories of their childhood on the farm and their activities as teenagers and young adults. From the stories, the young man seemed wild, always traveling to whatever place caught his fancy. Alex didn't know where he had gone this time around, but he was sure he would hear plenty about it during the night.

The trip to one of the few restaurants in the small town near the farm was a decent one, filled with excited chatter. Alexander didn't contribute much, happy enough to just listen. He'd sometimes forgotten what it was like to be young and hopeful, granted the three of them were nearing fifty. Amelia and Lucy were soulmates, but Isaac was yet to find his. Although if Alexander had anything to say about it, he was sure that the pretty new waitress at the restaurant was it.

Alexander stared out the window, watching as fields of wheat and crop turned into small buildings and proper roads. The country towns hadn't upgraded as quickly as the cities, which had started releasing hovering cars a few years back. Only the rich could afford them for now, but soon enough they would become common place everywhere.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't realise they had pulled up to the restaurant until Lucy tapped his knee and smiled at him. "Are you okay?" she asked in her soft voice.

"Yeah, just zoned out for a bit. I'm all good," he assured her, following the others out of the car.

"Everyone else should already be inside," Amelia told them. "I was running a little late today. Mostly because someone was taking forever with their makeup." She gave Lucy a fond smile.

"Hey, you like when I wear makeup," Lucy replied, her long curls bouncing as she walked. The couple began to bicker among themselves, leaving Isaac and Alexander to wander behind. Isaac said nothing to him, instead staring into the restaurant with an excited grin on his face. Alexander wondered how long it had been since he had seen Jaden.

The restaurant was as busy as it usually was on a Friday night, most of the tables filled with happy families. Alexander recognised a few of Amelia's friends sitting at a large table towards the back, all of them nattering away at a man whose back was facing him. Alex could only assume that it was Jaden.

"Jaden!" Isaac called, rushing away from Alex and the girls. The dark-haired man turned in his seat and grinned when he saw his friend, jumping from his seat and engulfing him in a hug. "It's so good to see you!"

"It's been too long," Jaden agreed. "You should have come with me."

"You know I couldn't." Jaden only shrugged, pulling away from the other man. By that time, Alex and the girls had made it over to the table and were greeting everyone. Amelia let out a loud yelp when Jaden wrapped his arms around her, laughing and hugging him back.

"Oh," Jaden started when he pulled away from Amelia, staring at Alexander in confusion. "Hi there. You're new."

"Yeah," Isaac said. "This is Alexander, or Alex, he's one of the new farmhands. Alex, this is my best friend, Jaden."

Jaden stuck out his hand and Alexander got his first good look at the man. Like most people who worked on the farm, he was big and broad shouldered, with huge hands that made his look like baby's hands. He had dark hair and even darker eyes, matching his tanned skin. Alexander shook his hand, trying not to wince at the strength of his grip.

"Nice to meet you," Jaden said. "You look kinda familiar though, are you sure we haven't met before?"

Jaden had probably seen him on the news a little. As much as Alexander tried to reduce his public appearance, he did have to show up sometimes. "I don't think so. I've only been here a couple of months. I probably just have one of those faces."

"Yeah, probably," Jaden replied, eyebrows furrowing as his stared at Alex's face. He couldn't help but feel a little nervous under such a dark gaze, but he shook it off.

Isaac pulled him away, leaving Alex to find a seat. He sat next to Lucy, who smiled at him shyly, she never did seem to be one for big crowds. He always found in comforting to sit with her, it meant he didn't always have to make conversation, and that there was someone else in the same boat as him. He used to be the friendliest person around, getting along with everybody, but now he mostly preferred to be on his own.

The conversation carried on without him, even Lucy eventually putting her two cents in when asked. He was content to just listen as he had in the car. He didn't know Jaden, he'd just been dragged along because Isaac had wanted him to be there.

"So, newbie," Jaden started after the waitress had taken their orders. "Isaac said you’re from the city. What was that like?"

Startled at being spoken to, Alexander took a moment to gather his thoughts. "Cramped," he answered. "Way too busy for my liking. I needed a break from it all."

Jaden let out a soft hum. "Most people say that actually," he said. "Makes me wonder why they live there in the first place."

"More job opportunities for me," Alex said. "Not much out here for someone with my qualifications."

"And what would those be?"

Alex faltered, feeling all eyes on him. He hadn't really spoken too much about what he had done in the city in fear that they would figure out who he was. "I have a master’s in engineering and technological production."

Jaden's eyes widening and he let out a little whistle. "Impressive," he said. "And yet, you're working on a farm."

"Like, I said, I needed a break."

"Can't blame you." Jaden said and smiled at him. "Have you ever been traveling? It's a really good escape from life."

"Um, no," Alex replied, even though it was a lie. He had to go to many different countries in his role as CEO, and he loved it. He had loved going to Europe, travelling by train across the rolling green fields, the sunlight bouncing of each blade of grass, making it look like a field of bright emeralds. "Haven't really had the time."

"You should. It's very freeing, just wandering the countryside with nothing but a bag on your back. Not many people do it now, but it really is worth it," Jaden said, a dreamy smile on his face. "Japan is a really nice place for that once you get away from all the big cities."

"Is that where you were?"

"Yeah, but to be honest I did spend a lot of my time in Tokyo and the like," he replied with a laugh. "How could I not?" The others laughed with him and for the first time Alexander realised that every single one of them had been listening to their conversation. He shrunk back, pressing his back against the hard plastic of his seat in the hopes that it would take him far away from the conversation. He hadn't realised just how bad his social anxiety had gotten.

He didn't really want to get close to people again, not when he knew that they would die long before he would, and he would have to watch it happen. He didn't want to see it again, he already had three times with Sarah, Philip, and Thomas, he didn't want to add to that number. But he couldn't help it, he needed to be around people, to make friends, to not be as alone as he felt he was.

He looked up at Jaden, who was frowning at him, eyebrows furrowed in concern. The expression quickly faded when Amelia began to speak, asking about any potential guys or girls he had found on his trip.

"Nah, not really," Jaden answered. "I mean, I had my fair share of fun while I was there, but I did check every now and again. Nothing yet, but I'm not too stressed. I'm fifty-one, I've got time."

"Most people would have lost hope by now," Lucy said quietly.

Jaden shrugged, making Alexander frown in confusion. "What's the point in giving up? I'm going to find them sooner or later, I'm meant to. On average people find their soulmate between thirty and fifty, but that's average. But there's always outliers and people who are just a tiny bit out of that range. That's probably going to be me. I don't mind. Gives me more time to travel."

Alex was in awe at the response. He didn't know how the younger man could have such an optimistic outlook on life; Alexander himself had lost that optimism a long time ago. Despite it, he was glad to see that there were still people who didn't mind not having a soulmate yet, who could deal with the loneliness. Or maybe Jaden didn't feel it like Alexander did.

For the rest of the night Jaden went out of his way to talk to Alex, with the excuse that he wanted to 'get to know the new guy'. Alex found that he didn't actually mind too much and enjoyed talking to the younger man. When they eventually left the restaurant and headed to the bar down the road, Jaden stayed at the table with him, chatting away about his travels.

It was almost relaxing, talking to someone for hours without ever growing bored. It reminded Alex of the early years of his friendship with Sarah, before they drifted apart. He could feel himself very quickly growing to like Jaden and for once decided to just let it happen. He wasn't going to try and push the other man away because of what might happen in the future.

Jaden was only going to stay for a year before he went off to do a cross country of Australia. By then, Alexander would be back in the big city and would probably never see the other man again. He could afford to make a friendship in the small town. It wouldn't be a lasting one, but it would make him happy for the short time he was there, something he desperately needed.