Chapter Text
“miss?”
“yes, Lance?”
“will I have a soulmate someday too?”
“Of course Lance! Definitely! You’ll get to know them when you both turn 18”
“how?”
The teacher smiles fondly, “well, when you are 18 years old and if your soulmate is also 18 years old, then whatever you write on your skin will also appear on their skin, so you can talk to each other that way”
Lance tilts his head and looks at his best friend Keith, who is currently holding his hand and standing by his side as he talks to their teacher.
“writing…like you write to your girlfriend miss?” he asks while pointing at her arm, which had a grocery list written on it
“yes! You see, just like I talk to my girlfriend through our soul link, you too will be able to talk to your soulmate one day!”
Lance nods hesitantly. The teacher looks amused by his curiosity. Well, most kids have many questions regarding the subject of soulmates…so it's not really a surprise, but it’s always entertaining.
Keith watches this whole interaction between his best friend and their teacher. He had the same doubt honestly, but he was too shy to ask.
He squeezes Lance's hand, just a nudge to ask the important question they discussed earlier.
“oh yeah! Uhh, miss?”
“yes?” she smiles down at them
“umm, what if…what if I start liking someone before I meet my soulmate?”
“oh” her gaze turns a little sympathetic, “well that is also okay dear, even if you like someone before knowing your soulmate, that is completely okay, because although our society encourages you to be with your soulmate, there is no law or compulsion that you have to be their partner, or date them or marry them. So don’t worry, just be with someone who you like.”
Lance’s whole face lights up at that answer and as soon as he faces Keith, he finds a matching expression on his best friend’s face.
“AWESHOME!!” they both exclaim with wide grins.
“Then I’m going to marry Keef miss!! I don’t need a soulmate!!” Lance declares to his teacher. Keith just smiles brightly and nods in agreement.
The boys get confused when their teacher bursts out laughing, after a few seconds, she finally says,
“oh my gosh you two are adorable”
This time Keith speaks up, “don’t laugh missh! We are sherioush! I am going to marry Lansh !” he huffs
Their teacher giggles at that response,
“of course dear! I’m just happy for you, am I invited to the wedding though?” she asks smiling fondly at the two boys.
They both look at each other and reply in unison
“YESS!!”
4 years later
It happens on 3rd December 2011.
When Lance was 11 years old.
He gets separated from his best friend.
The one guy who truly understood him. The only guy who never judged him for anything. His first friend in fact. Keith was the one who always paid him attention. When Lance’s family moved here, Keith’s family had been new to the neighborhood too. They practically grew up together, and went to the same kindergarten and middle school.
Their bond was special. And Lance hasn’t forgotten their promise of marrying each other, it might seem childish, but he knows ok? He knows Keith is the only one he’s gonna love. Even though they are just kids, deep down he knows that they are meant to be together. So why?
It was so unfair. But now Keith was leaving.
“why? Why do you have to leave?” he asks trying not to let the tears fall, fists clenched on his sides. They were standing in their secret hideout, a small tree house in Lance’s backyard. Lance was shivering, partly from the cold and partly from anxiety.
Keith looked guilty and almost as heartbroken as Lance.
“I don’t want to leave Lance, trust me, I hate this as much as you do! But I don’t have any other option, my dad got a much better job in Japan and I’ll have to go with him…”
Keith noticed that Lance wasn’t holding back the tears anymore, so he takes both his hands in his and looks him in the eye as he says, “I promise that I will never ever forget about you, I will always call you and send you gifts and text you! I promise! I have something for you, keep it safe until we meet again”
Lance just stared at him as he grabbed his bag from the corner and took out a red scarf. He stared at Keith when he wrapped it around him. Didn’t say anything until Keith was done and took a step back.
“This scarf…it’s a special scarf, my dad gave it to my mom when she was with us..” Keith sniffed as he held onto Lance’s hands again, “she gave it to me before…you know…”
Lance shakes his head,” I can’t take this Keith, this means too much to you!”
“you mean a lot to me too! so just keep it ok? Keep it safe until we meet again, I trust you” Keith smiles with misty eyes.
Fresh tears fall from Lance’s eyes as he nods and pulls his best friend in for a hug.
“Promise me you’ll meet me again..”
“I promise” Keith whispers as he pulls back and joins their pinkies.
And then he leaves.
And Lance? He never sees him again…for twelve years at least.
It’s not that Keith didn’t keep his promise, he did call him all the time, they exchanged gifts on their birthdays, they texted each other too, but after two years, the number of calls reduced, the texting was non-existent…and after five years, just birthday wishes through text.
It’s not like they broke their promise, it’s just that...
Life happened.
They didn’t have anything in common anymore, they didn’t see each other anymore, so naturally, even though they didn’t want to grow apart, they kinda did.
But Lance knows that despite Keith’s absence in his life now, he will always remember his best friend with a fond smile on his face. He still had that scarf, even after twelve years. It’s something really precious to him. Something he will always cherish.