Chapter 7: The Laugh

Chapter Seven

The air felt different once Lena, Jay, and Cris had left. The front door closed behind them with a soft click, and the echoes of their awe-struck voices still lingered in the luxurious space. Zed, Khalil, and Lotus remained in Zed's room, their laughter rising as the trio processed the evening's spectacle.

Inside the room, which could have easily been a palace suite in its own right, the atmosphere shifted. The walls were adorned with expensive art pieces, the floor was polished marble beneath their feet, and the windows were large enough to show off a breathtaking view of the sprawling estate. Zed's private sanctuary was an embodiment of wealth, a mix of modern luxury and refined taste.

Zed leaned back in his plush, leather chair, crossing his arms behind his head with a smug grin. "Can you believe their faces? I thought they were going to faint when they saw the cars outside" he said, his voice dripping with amusement.

Khalil, lounging on the couch with his feet propped up on the coffee table, chuckled. He still felt the residue of the luxury they had just experienced, and he couldn't help but gloat. "They looked like they'd just stepped into a dream. I mean, that room, the china, the cars, the helicopters… It was too much for them. We probably ruined them for life"

Lotus, who had been leaning against the window, staring out at the vast grounds, turned slowly to face the others. His expression was unreadable, but the faint smirk on his lips suggested he was enjoying the scene more than he was willing to admit. "They were so damn lost in it"

Zed snorted, shaking his head as he stood up and walked over to his desk, where several of his prized flutes were displayed. "I almost felt bad for them. I don't think they've ever seen a place like this before. It's hard not to laugh at their reactions, though. Their faces when they saw the helicopters... priceless!"

Khalil grinned, his golden eyes flashing with mischief. "And Lena, especially. She had that 'I-can't-believe-this-is-real' look. She was practically drooling over everything. The cars, the china, the view… She wanted to touch everything, like a kid in a candy store" He shook his head.

Lotus's voice cut in, cool, and detached as always, though there was a trace of amusement in his tone. "I don't think she expected us to show them this side of us or maybe, deep down, she knew we were playing them the whole time"

Zed shot him a sideways glance, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, definitely. I could see it in her eyes. I'm guessing it was either admiration or pity... or maybe both"

Khalil rolled his eyes. "Please, they were just jealous. All of them. They tried to play it cool but I could see the envy written all over their faces. It was like they couldn't believe they were in a place like this, let alone talking to people like us"

The trio shared a laugh, each one enjoying the satisfaction of having shown the poor kids a taste of their world, knowing full well they would never be able to experience it in the same way. The excitement of the night, and the contrast between their lavish lifestyle and the modesty of the guests, was still fresh in their minds.

Zed walked over to the minibar in the corner of the room, pouring himself a glass of whiskey. "You know, I almost wish we could have seen them try to replicate the kind of life we live. They can barely handle the basics, let alone the luxury. Imagine them in a situation like this, all the time. They'd never make it"

Khalil raised his glass in agreement, his mischievous grin never fading. "You're right. They wouldn't last a day in our shoes. The constant attention, the pressure... it's exhausting at times but they wouldn't know the first thing about it"

Lotus leaning against the window let out a soft laugh. "They were so starstruck that they didn't even call us out about playing with them. They let us so they can at least pretend for a moment that they could belong"

Zed turned toward him, intrigued by Lotus' perspective. "I think they were too wrapped up in the experience to even care"

Lotus's gaze remained distant, his thoughts drifting to the poor kids' faces when they saw the helicopters, the awe, the jealousy, the envy. "They may not have known at the moment but they'll wake up tomorrow and realize it wasn't real. It was all just a show and deep down, they'll hate us for it"

Khalil laughed, a dark edge to his voice. "Good. Let them hate us. As always, the unfortunate will continue hating the successful as if their hatred will give them a penny or pay their bills"

Zed gave a slow, knowing smile. "Exactly. Let them think they could have it but the truth is this life isn't meant for everyone. They can admire us, they can dream about it, but at the end of the day, they'll always be on the outside looking in"

The trio fell into a brief silence, their laughter still hanging in the air, as they savored the feeling of superiority that had come with showcasing their world to the poor kids. But deep down, there was a tinge of something else—a recognition that, for all their wealth and power, the divide between them and those they had just shown off to was as wide as ever.

Lotus spoke first, breaking the silence. "Tomorrow, they'll remember tonight. They'll never forget how it felt to walk through this place, to see things they'll never own and they'll know it wasn't meant for them"

Zed nodded, clinking his glass with Khalil's. "Let them admire us but it's their place to stay in their world. Our world... it's not something they can step into"

The conversation shifted as the trio continued to bask in their superiority, content in their shared understanding of the night's events. But for all their mocking and laughter, there was a small, quiet realization among them: the world they lived in was a gilded cage, one they were born into but one that they would never let anyone truly touch.