Chapter 4 The days following the speakeasy outing became an exercise in compartmentalizing.   Back to routine.  Elias pushed the image of Julian, the easy laughter and surprising connection, into the back of his mind,  alongside the lingering sting of the transaction. Work was a welcome distraction, the routine a comforting balm against the messy tangle of emotions. (How a case affected him?) Yet, a restlessness gnawed at him. An inexplicable urge to break free from the confines of his carefully constructed life.   One evening, while browsing travel websites – a habit he usually indulged only as a form of escapism – a picture caught his eye.  A hiking trail snaking through the lush mountains outside Taipei, the promise of breathtaking views and solitude pulling at something buried deep within him. He could almost hear his mother's voice, a mixture of concern and disapproval, "Elias, you were never the outdoorsy type..." True, but perhaps it was time to change that narrative. The memory of Julian's card flickered through his mind. Could it be that...simple? Could he pay for the company, the courage to step into the unknown? It was a ridiculous notion, filled with a thousand uncertainties, but the spark of excitement was undeniable. Hesitantly, he pulled out his phone, navigating to Julian's contact in the Line app. His finger hovered over the screen for what felt like an eternity before he typed a message: "Ever done any hiking?" The screen of Elias' phone buzzed with Julian's reply.  It was a single word: "Hiking?" followed by a string of question marks. Elias chuckled, a nervous tremor in his laugh.  He typed back, "Yeah, crazy, right? Ever done it?" Moments later, Julian's response arrived. "Actually, no.  My line of work doesn't see much demand for...healthy activities."   The amusement in his voice was laced with a hint of surprise.  "But then again," he continued, "there's always a first time for everything, right?" Elias stared at the message, a warmth blossoming in his chest. It was more than just a yes; it was a subtle shift in their dynamic.  He took a deep breath and typed, "Great!  There's this trail I found..." ...They found a relatively flat clearing halfway up the trail and paused to catch their breath.  Elias slumped onto a sun-warmed boulder, his chest heaving slightly. "You're in better shape than I thought," Julian remarked, a wry smile playing on his lips. He leaned against a nearby tree, taking a swig from his water bottle. Elias managed a weak grin between gulps of air. "Don't get cocky," he quipped. "We haven't even reached the hard part yet." He unzipped his backpack and fumbled around inside, producing a slightly squished granola bar and another water bottle.  "Here," he offered, extending them towards Julian. "Refuel.  You look like you could use it." The look of surprise on Julian's face was almost comical.  "You... brought extras?" he asked, his eyebrows raised. A faint blush crept up Elias' cheeks. "Well, I figured someone might need it," he replied, a touch of defensiveness in his tone. Julian accepted the water and granola bar with a grateful smile that transformed his entire demeanor.  There was a gentleness in his eyes that Elias hadn't encountered before. "You really are full of surprises, aren't you, Elias?" Julian remarked, munching on the granola bar. "This thoughtful client routine is quite the departure." Elias shrugged, a flicker of warmth settling in his chest. "It's the least I could do. You might be used to this kind of thing, but believe it or not, some of us were never the outdoorsy type." Their shared laughter drifted through the mountain air, erasing some of the invisible lines that had defined their relationship so far.  Elias felt a sense of satisfaction in the act of caring, of providing something unexpected for Julian.   It was a simple gesture, but it felt significant, a small step towards breaking down the rigid roles they usually played. — The final push to the summit was grueling, lungs burning and legs protesting with each step.  Yet, when they finally reached the rocky outcrop, the view that unfolded before them made the exertion vanish.  The city, far removed from its usual cacophony, resembled a child's intricate model–clusters of buildings like toy blocks scattered across the lush green plain. Elias felt a wave of accomplishment washing over him, a sense of release as he took in the breathtaking panorama. Sunlight glinted off Julian's watch as he lowered his arm, the exertion of the climb fading from his features.  Gone was the polished facade he wore in the city. Today, he was dressed in breathable hiking shorts and a lightweight t-shirt, revealing the sculpted physique beneath. There was a vulnerability in his disheveled appearance, a glimpse of the man beneath the carefully cultivated persona. "Wow," Julian breathed, the word escaping him with a touch of genuine wonder. "I wasn't expecting this." "It's pretty incredible," Elias agreed, sharing Julian's awe.  A breeze stirred, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth, a welcome respite from the smog-filled air of the city. He fumbled in his backpack, pulling out his phone. "We need to document this," he said, a touch of childish excitement in his voice. They took turns snapping photos of the landscape, capturing the sprawling city, the lush green mountains, and the winding ribbon of the hiking trail. "Now, a photo together," julian declared, setting the camera timer.  "To commemorate this adventure." Elias laughed, his eyes sparkling with amusement.  "Alright, adventurer. How should we pose?" As Elias stood stiffly beside Julian, a feeling of self-consciousness washed over him. He never did well in photos. "Relax," Julian said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.  He gently shifted Elias' arm, placing a hand on his shoulder. "There," he said, "that's better. We're conquering this mountain together, remember?" The light touch sent a ripple of warmth through Elias. He glanced up at Julian, and for the briefest moment, their gazes locked. The camera clicked, capturing the scene: the two men against the vast backdrop, a hint of a shared smile on their faces. They stood in silence for a moment, two solitary figures against the vastness of the landscape. The usual hum of conversation felt unnecessary. Something about the shared effort and the unexpected reward was forging  a different kind of connection between them.  For the first time, Elias felt seen by Julian, not as a client, but as a person. Julian turned towards him, the afternoon sun casting his face in a warm glow.  "You know," he began, his voice laced with a hint of self-mockery, "this is a first.  Usually, my clients aren't so into breathtaking vistas." A jolt of guilt washed over Elias, a reminder that the foundation of their connection was still a paid transaction. "Yes, well," he began, feeling a blush creeping up his neck, "not everyone's idea of fun..." Julian cut him off with a quick laugh, a glint returning to his eyes. "Oh, don't get me wrong! This is a refreshing change of pace," he paused, his expression thoughtful. "You keep surprising me, Elias. Not sure if I should be worried about that professionally. (Fall for you)” Elias felt a strange mix of satisfaction and unease.   Julian's words were a subtle push against the boundaries of their arrangement. Was he testing Elias, gauging whether his unexpected request for a hike was a sign of more to come? Or was there a flicker of genuine interest in his words, something that went beyond the usual client and escort dynamic? Before Elias could decipher Julian's intent, the man surprised him further.  "So," Julian began, his voice hesitant, "does the breathtaking scenery make you reconsider…other options?" For a split second, Elias was frozen.  Yes, the hike, the view, the easy way they existed in each other's company right now— it all made him crave more, a connection that went beyond the physical. But the reality, the reason they were here in the first place, came crashing down on him. Yet, instead of the shame or embarrassment he might have expected, Elias found a strange feeling bubbling within him.  It was a defiance, a refusal to be slotted into the neatly defined box Julian had placed him in. Elias threw his head back and laughed, a genuine, unrestrained sound that echoed through the crisp mountain air. "Julian," he said, a newfound confidence lacing his voice, "you really think that's all I brought you out here for?" Julian stammered, a blush creeping up his neck.  "I...well, it wouldn't be the first time..." "Relax," Elias said, stepping closer.  "Today, the view is enough.“ With that, he turned to walk further along the ridge, a sense of liberation coursing through him.  He didn't know what the future held, but in that moment, standing on the precipice with the city shrinking behind him, the possibilities felt limitless.