His Choice

⚜ TWENTY FIVE ⚜

Edited

---(Name this line?)---

My mind is totally blank at the feel of Jake's lips on mine. They're warm and soft like melted chocolate. I've never been kissed before. It feels nice.

I'm so enchanted by Jake that I forget that I'm mad at him for a moment. When the initial shock wears away, instead of falling for his charm and kissing him back, I raise my hand and bring it down across his cheek as I sharply pull away.

Crap.

I stand frozen as I watch him wince as he rubs his cheek. I can't believe I just slapped him. Panic rises in me - I didn't mean to actually slap him.

Before I can open my mouth to apologise, Jake mutters, "I suppose I had that coming." He gives a wry laugh and avoids looking into my eyes.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have slapped you. I just-" I fall over my words in a clumsy apology. "You can't just kiss me to make it all better. These are people's lives we're talking about. My life. The one I have to go back to the moment I'm booted from this farce of a social season."

"No, I'm the one who should be sorry," he says and looks back up at me. He doesn't look mad, he genuinely looks apologetic. "I did not mean to offend you."

Now it's my turn to laugh wryly. "I don't know why I'm surprised. The upper-sectors have always turned a blind eye to the labour trade by making themselves out to be our saviours," I snap as I take a few steps away from him. I always thought that to be true, but the sheer amount of hurt that draws on Jake's face has me second-guessing. "Don't misunderstand me, Jake. I have no doubt that you'll be a great king to those you know need your aid, but you'll be turning your back on the lower-sectors if you refuse to understand how they're suffering." I pause. "Sorry, I should start to sugarcoat these things," I mumble, not sure myself how much I mean it. I feel bad, but it needs to be said.

"No. I don't want everyone tip-toeing around me." He smiles sadly as he looks into my eyes. I see the fear in his. And it's clear as day to me, I don't know others don't see it, he's scared he won't be a good king. "Will you help me understand?"

I pause to relish in his words then I sigh. "I don't blame you for not realising, it's painted out to be a good thing. But it's not. You're not our saviours. It's all for you, so you can make more money. Most Upper-Sectors refuse to see it for what it actually is. Yes, we're so poor that working for nothing in exchange for someone else's roof over our heads and food in our belly is worth it, and we're grateful. But you've set it up that way. You've already decided that we'll amount to nothing so you don't give us the tools to make a life of our own, to save up for a house. There's no hope of moving up the chain. Some labour houses force you to stay and work, but most know that you're stuck there."

"What do you mean 'stuck'? Surely, they would draw the eye of law enforcement if they were holding people against their will?" Jake says, a deep crease in his forehead.

"They don't need to. Where would we go? How would we feed ourselves when we have no income or savings. That's what you're missing." I take a step closer to him and take his hand when I see the frown on his face. Just from the look, I can tell that he understands.

"I'm sorry," he whispers and looks away from me as if he were ashamed. I step closer again and just hug him tightly. He takes a few seconds to respond, but eventually, he wraps his arms around me in return. "I'll keep my promise. I'll make it better there and find an alternative to the trade."

"Thank you." I smile and look up at him.

"You're truly amazing, you know that?" His arms tighten around me as he gazes back at me. "I've never met anyone like you. So passionate. You enlighten me and challenge me. You've already made me a better man and king."