Prince's Gamble | HAOBIN

7. Happy Memories

Zhanghao smiled as Hanbin led him out to the castle gardens where they were surrounded by beautiful blue and white roses. A small white table sat under an archway where vines creeped all over it. The table was occupied by a small stack of croissants waiting to be eaten. 

"Croissants?" Zhanghao laughed as he saw the pastries. 

"Uh.. yeah." Hanbin replied, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I wanted to repay you for the time you comforted me." He smiled. 

Zhanghao rolled his eyes, "What do you mean? I just sat there and gave you a squashed croissant. Does that count as comforting someone?" He raised an eyebrow at Hanbin. 

Hanbin laughed, moving to sit down at the table, Zhanghao doing the same. 

"I'm an expert in croissants now." Hanbin said, a serious expression on his face. 

Zhanghao laughed in response, "Is that so?" 

"Mhm. Ever since you gave me that croissant, I haven't been able to stop eating them on and off, trying different types and flavors. My servants don't even have to ask me what I want when I ask for dessert anymore." Hanbin laughed. "Here try some." He held out a croissant to Zhanghao. 

"Just know, I have my fair share of croissants too and will be judging this fairly." Zhanghao narrowed his eyes at Hanbin. 

"Trust me, this one." Was all Hanbin said before handing the croissant to Zhanghao. 

As Zhanghao took a bite, he didn't want to show the fact that it was indeed very good, and he was amazed Hanbin had somehow managed to find a croissant of such quality in their small Kingdom. 

"So?" Hanbin said, still looking for a reaction from Zhanghao. 

Mouth full, Zhanghao held up a thumbs up, "Approved." 

Hanbin laughed, "Wow, approved by Zhanghao must mean they're good." He said before taking his own croissant and eating too. There was a small silence while they ate before Hanbin swallowed saying, "I need a drink." waving a servant over. He mumbled for the servant to fetch something before she returned, placing two cups filled with dark brown liquid on the table, bubbles fizzing in the drink. 

"What's this?" Zhanghao pointed to the drink in the glass cups. "Some fancy royal drink?" 

"This," Hanbin pointed to the drink, "Is one of the best drinks ever." He said before taking a sip. 

"Does it have alcohol in it?" Zhanghao squinted at him. 

"No no." Hanbin chuckled before Zhanghao held the drink up to his mouth and took a sip. 

His face scrunched up as if he had just eaten a whole lemon, lips pursed before he managed out a, "My god it's like it's burning my throat." making Hanbin laugh once again. Zhanghao smiled before his eyes welled up a little at the pain. 

"You swallowed it too fast, didn't you?" Hanbin grinned. 

Zhanghao nodded. 

"What would you rate the drink?" Hanbin asked him. 

Zhanghao paused to think before saying, "It weirdly tastes not that bad but for the burning part—a zero." He said, which made Hanbin guffaw.

"So what is it? Like what is it called?" Zhanghao asked Hanbin.

Hanbin thought for a moment, "Hm.. I don't actually know what it's called." Hanbin replied, a confused look on his face. 

"Then let's make a name for it, our own name for it." Zhanghao suggested. 

Hanbin nodded his head in agreement, "Okay then." But then silence erupted again as they racked their brains for some sort of name for the drink.  

"How about Zero Cola?" Hanbin proposed. 

"Zero Cola?" Zhanghao said, "What's the meaning behind it?" 

"Well.." Hanbin started, "Zero for the rating you gave it before, and then Cola which means happy memories* in Latin." Hanbin said.

*it doesn't actually mean happy memories lmfao but I couldn't think of any other meaning behind why he would choose the word help

"Okay, Zero Cola it is." Zhanghao smiled. "Let's always drink Zero Cola together." 

Hanbin didn't say anything in response but just nodded and smiled, gazing at Zhanghao with content. He didn't know how much time had passed, but within days he felt closer to Zhanghao than most people in his life. He had needed that. But now he didn't want to let him go. 

—

Hanbin's time with Zhanghao had stretched longer than he thought it would, but Matthew wouldn't mind. Walking into the library, Hanbin scanned the premises for his friend. After finding him sitting at one of the long tables amongst the tall bookshelves, Hanbin made his way to him. 

"Oh, hey hyung." Matthew smiled after seeing Hanbin. 

"Hey." Hanbin greeted in response. "Did you find anything?" He asked Matthew. 

"I did..." Matthew said, nervousness in his tone, "But I don't know if we should be messing with this, hyung." 

Hanbin shook his head, "Just show it to me first." 

Moving the open book he was reading, Matthew placed it in between the two of them. Hanbin's eyes scanned the pages, Mind Manipulation, Protection Charms, Strength Enhancement, Teleporting Spells...

"Do you think these would actually work?" Hanbin turned to Matthew. 

Matthew shrugged, "I don't know, magic hasn't been used in over hundreds of years."

"Hm.. Well there's only one way to find out." Hanbin said, flipping to the page titled, 'Strength Enhancement'. There on the page were directions to draw a symbol. Picking up a quill, he copied the loopy, circle-like symbol onto the back of his hand. Hanbin didn't know if it was his mind playing tricks or if the symbol really did give a small flicker as he finished the last line of the symbol. 

Bringing his hand up above his head, Hanbin brought it down onto the table with force, echoing a loud bang throughout the library. He only hoped the librarian didn't come around when he saw Matthew's startled expression and they both looked at the table which was now split in two.