Lukas would spend about fifteen coins to find something nicer to wear in one of the shops. It was a second-hand shop, and by the end, he had a new pair of breaches, a new shirt, and a new longer coat. In pairing it with a hat, he would look like your average working man.

Upon finding The Chicken Feed, he would notice another man, wearing a cap. Lord Alik had styled his hair so it looked much shorter, and he wore a drab brown outfit. This man was not Lord Alik right now. He was Boris. Upon meeting Lukas, Boris would shake his hand.

“Thank you for meeting me here,” Boris said.

“It’s my pleasure,” Lukas said.

Lukas would be served a chicken plov. With the rice and the vegetables, the warmth would give him a lot of comfort. Besides. With soup being the most common meal at the dining hall, Lukas was glad to have a break from it. Meanwhile, Boris would order some chicken stroganoff.

The restaurant workers would yell at each other in the background, especially as other customers came into the restaurant, looking for food. A line had formed as people waited to order. Meanwhile, the owner would line the workers up, scold them thoroughly, and send them back to work. Boris winced.

“I hope screaming and shouting serves as good background for a first date,” Boris said.

“It’s alright,” Lukas said. “The food here is amazing, and it’s just nice to eat anything other than soup. And if I have to have certain types of soup one more time… which I feel bad for saying.”

“Perfect for a cold Spring day,” Boris said. “But how have you been?”

“Much better now,” Lukas said. “My work at the palace seems promising. I would like to keep my grades up, though, and it’s quite tough.”

“Aren’t you doing quite well?” Boris asked. “From the rumors I’ve heard.”

“Yes,” Lukas said. “I just feel bad. Like I could be doing a whole lot better.”

“I get it,” Boris said gently. “It’s hard when you’re working under certain people. And the expectations.”

“Exactly,” Lukas said. “How have you been?”

“Well, things are alright so far,” Boris said. “Am trying to pressure certain people into approving certain legislation, but so far their response has been to try to cut me off somewhat.”

“Because you can’t listen to someone’s opinion if you don’t accept it,” Lukas said.

Boris chuckled. “That’s what they think. I mean, if you don’t discuss certain problems, are they actually there?”

“Well, no,” Lukas said. He then punctured a piece of meat. “Just try to avoid looking when things get much, much harder.”

“Yes,” Boris said. “How’s your artwork going?”

“Well, so far, it has been decent,” Lukas said. “I started a new painting, but I still have a lot of work to do. It’s my first large painting in a long while.”

Boris smiled. “Good. I’m glad. I can’t wait to see it.”

The two would continue to discuss their lives. Lukas would discuss his coursework frequently, but then afterward, Boris would continue his own discussion. As Boris would talk, Lukas would mesh his face onto his hands while looking into his eyes.

After finishing their meal, Lukas and Boris would slip out of the restaurant. The satisfaction from the food would leave them both satisfied.

“Hey,” Boris said. “Thanks again for meeting me. You’re a rather fascinating person, dear Lukas.”

“Thank yourself,” Lukas said, giving a playful laugh. “I couldn’t say no to a free meal. Although your company was what made it special.”

The two men would part ways, and Lukas would find himself walking away with a warmth inside him he couldn’t understand. Even when he had dated Irvin at first, he had never felt quite like this. He had been flattered, and at one point, he had been interested in the man. But the connection with Boris–or Lord Alik–had been far more real.

In just a short span of the day, Lukas had found a new job, and he had confirmed his interest. While he had only had a mere crush on Lord Alik before, his night with the man had blossomed his feelings in a way he couldn’t describe. The gentleness and the ease, and the way he had taken Lukas’ jokes had left Lukas with a new sense of satisfaction.

Of course, there were the moments where he compared Lord Alik to Irvin. In those moments, Lukas tried to quell his fears, but he couldn’t. Even if it was a mistake to pursue Lord Alik romantically, he could be certain it was one he was ready to make.

Upon arriving back at his dorm, he would find another letter from Irvin. He had not written back to the man, and yet Irvin had the gal to send something back to him. His heart raced.

Dear Lukas,

I am so sorry for everything I did to you, and I am sorry for the way I treated you in our last relationship. In the past few weeks, I have grown to miss you, and your warmth. Please come home. I promise I will change for you, and I promise I would do anything to get you back. I was just looking at an old painting of us, and it reminded me of all of the good times.

I hope that, once I show my changes, you can find it in you to forgive me. Please. For the sake of my mental health. I am losing my mind because of you.

Love,

Irvin

Lukas would crumple up the paper. In finding the part of the library with a fire, he would then throw the letter into the fire. A part of him, in spite of himself, had a reply in mind, telling Irvin of everything he had accomplished over the past few days. Even still, Lukas didn’t care for any of it.

He had not gone to the library to study that night; only to dispose of his ex’s attempt to get him back. 

A part of him supposed that crying would be a decent way to respond, but at this point, he merely felt numb. A few months ago, during another attempt, he would have listened to the man. But now, he had found the strength to resist him. He should have been proud of himself, but all he had felt instead was anger. Not toward Irvin, but toward himself.

He had allowed the old relationship to go on for far too long, and he had payed the price for it. And now, as he had ended it, he still payed the price. With Irvin sending that message, there was a bit of desperation. Lukas knew, from his previous attempts, that Irvin hadn’t meant anything he had said. Irvin, at this point, likely hoped Lukas would bend the knee to him again.

I threw that letter into the fire, and I will continue to throw his letters into the fire. Either way, I will never stop trying to get away from that man.