Wish it was that easy, Simon

I read Wilhelm's message over and over. What was he going to say?

Sara peeked at my phone, "Is it Wilhelm?"

"Yes," I said, "he has to make a statement today. I am so scared."

"Don't worry. He will do the right thing," Sara said. I nodded and leaned my head on her shoulder.

"There, um, there is something I have to tell you actually," she stuttered.

"Yeah," I said, looking at her curiously. She seemed terrified of something.

"Well, August, he um," she paused, "he knew that you were working for Alexander."

"I wasn't working for him," I spat, "I was just trying to save my skin but...how do you know that?"

She went quiet. I blinked, wait.

"I had told no one about this except Casper, you and Wilhelm," I murmured, "this means..."

"I told him," she choked out.

A sharp pain seared across my chest, "You did?" I shook my head, "No, no that can't be true."

"It is," she said.

"Why?" I asked, my voice cracking. My own sister had betrayed me. My twin.

She could not say a word.

"You had been acting defensive for him lately. And he also agreed to give us rooms here after you asked him." The pieces were coming together. "What has been going on behind my back, Sara?"

Sara wiped away a tear from her eye, "I don't know how it happened," she sobbed.

I sucked my lips inside, "Traitor," I said, my voice dripping with hatred, "you are disgusting Sara."

"Don't you dare tell me that while you are here bringing the monarchy to its knees and ruining the nation's heritage. All thanks to you, Wilhelm has probably lost his remaining family as well," she said bitterly. Her words pinched just at the worst spot.

"Don't you- I love him okay!" I shouted.

"And I love August!" she shouted back.

I shook my head, "Wow. My own twin has turned against me."

"You have no idea how many other people have turned against you. Your 'closest friends' apparently.".

"What do you mean?" I said frowning.

"Who do you think got proofs of your and August's exchanges?" she asked, "Casper, your roomie. Also he was the one who tipped off August that you were involved with Alexander in the first place, so August pulled out the whole story from me."

My world was crumbling to pieces.

"Why would he do that?" I said. Nothing made sense anymore.

"Money, dear brother," Sara said sarcastically.

So, he had helped me out of guilt.

"Fuck," I said, fisting my hands in my hair.

"I've told you so many times to not trust people easily. Deal with it yourself now," Sara said, standing up and stomping out of the room.

I stared blindly at the door out of which Sara had just walked out. I didn't know who to believe anymore.

I opened my phone and stared at Wilhelm's number. Are you worth trusting, beautiful boy?

Yes, he is a little voice in my head replied.

There was a knock at the door outside. God, who was it now?

"Hey Linda," I heard a familiar voice.

"Hello, you two," I heard my mother's voice, "long time no see huh?"

"Yeah, we have kinda been busy," another voice said, "how is Simon?"

"He is coping well," Linda said, her voice dropped an octave, "you can see him, he is in his room."

Ayub and Rosh walked into the room. "You've forgotten your old friends man,” Ayub said, smiling.

"Sorry," I said, rubbing my eyes, "I've been so so...I don't even know what to say."

"Busy with loverboy?" Rosh said.

"You could say that," I said, grinning.

"We tried being angry with you for not messaging or calling us for so long. But we failed terribly," Ayub shrugged, "We heard about the photos going viral and came rushing. Couldn't help it."

I looked at the both of them. Their simple faces were so much better than everything in Hillerska combined. I got on my feet and hugged them both, "I love you guys so much. Thanks for being here for me."

"Aah, man of course," Ayub said and Rosh gave me a fist bump, "Loyal to the gang forever."

"So, tell us how are you coping with the photos going viral? What happened?" Rosh asked.

"Oh, we did that on purpose," I said, "I was ready for it this time."

"Oh?" Ayub said, shocked, "this means that Wilhelm is coming out on his own will?"

"Well," I shrugged.

"For you?" Rosh said, clapping a hand on her mouth, "oh my god, this is so cute."

I punched her arm.

"For real, man, you have found a jewel," Ayub said. My face went warm. "Look at you Simme," Ayub said, teasing me, "Simms is blushing."

Both of them laughed as I buried my face in my hands, "Cut it out you two."

"Okay, okay," Rosh said, "Ayub stop."

"Yeah, sorry," he said, barely able to stop laughing, "I can't help it."

"He is giving a speech today evening," I said, and suddenly the air went sombre, "I am so terrified."

"Don't worry, Sims," Ayub said, rubbing my shoulder, "everything is going to be cool. Wilhelm knows what he has to do."

I nodded, "I hope so."

We went silent, lost in our own bubbles of thought.

"Let's play video games like good old times, yeah?" Rosh said, breaking the silence, "We can catch up with each others lives along with it."

I nodded, smiling, "Yeah. Yeah, that would be great."

...

We were having dinner together that night. Sara had still not returned home and mom was getting worried.

"Where is she?" mom asked.

"She will be home," I said simply.

Mom must have caught a whiff that something was wrong so she did not mention her again.

"You could stay for a sleepover," I said to Ayub and Rosh.

"Yeah, that would be amazing," mom joined.

But our conversation was left mid-sentence as a ping went off on Ayub's phone. "It's out," he said.

My heart palpitated anxiously as Ayub began reading out the news.

"The Prince has not made any clear statements about the boy with him in photos, however he has shared his views as follows: 'I am giving this statement regarding the rumours going around again and there is one thing I want to make very clear, my personal life makes no difference to my official duties as a Prince."

"As for the people talking about their worries regarding the monarchy, if a law sabotages a person- no, a whole group of people- is it the law that's at fault or the people? A law that has been inscribed in no book, but has been created purely out of words of the common folk and misconceptions? With this, I hand over the argument in your hands. I have nothing more to say.'"

I swallowed, moisture in my eyes.

"Shit," Ayub said, scrolling down, "the comment section is not looking very good."

I closed my eyes, Sara's words reverberating in my head.

All thanks to you, Wilhelm has probably lost his remaining family as well.

I sucked my lips inside. A soft hand placed itself on my cheek and I buried my face in mom's shoulder.

"Shush," she said, "everything will cool down soon, don't worry."

"What is going to happen to Wille mom?" I sobbed, pain shutting out every other emotion in my heart.

"He will glow," Rosh said, "coming out makes people the strongest they have ever been."

I hope so, Rosh. I hope that so badly.