MOVED

When Crewel announced that the day’s class would be a joint session with some underclassmen, Azul tried to hold in his excitement. There was no need for Jade and Floyd to know that he immediately knew it was your class that would be joining his own (or rather, he didn’t need to confirm it with them, for certainly they already knew.) Of course, he made sure his uniform was prim and pressed, his lab coat spotless, his safety goggles loosened just enough that they wouldn’t leave an embarrassing outline on his face once the day finally arrived. As Crewel explained the experiment and mentioned choosing partners, Azul’s eyes immediately flew over to you - only to find you also looking right at him. Almost imperceptibly, you smiled and nodded before ducking your head back down to look at your notebook. A giddy warmth flooded through Azul, though he wasn’t certain if it was from you or the general prospect of being sought after for voluntary partner choosing. Wrestling with the thought distracted him for the rest of Crewel’s explanation.

The experiment went along smoothly. You were quite the bright student, and on the more difficult areas you knew how to follow his instructions well. Azul was ecstatic to answer any of the questions you had, eager to look intelligent and capable when you needed him. It was almost…easy, talking to you this way. Yes, the day truly did start as a dream.

But then you asked to see his notes.

“I know yours are probably more detailed and advanced, but I think I must have written something down wrong? I don’t know, I just…would appreciate it,” You explained almost bashfully.

Still riding the wave of feeling dependable, Azul didn’t even think twice. He slid his notebook over to you with what he sincerely hoped was a charming (if not confident) smile. “Certainly. For your stellar performance today, I won’t charge you in return.”

You laughed quietly. “Oh, thank you-” Your words cut off in a high pitch, and Azul looked down at his notebook.

He felt so confident because this unit was easy.

It was so easy, he spent the review sessions doodling in his notebook.

He was doodling your name in little hearts the entire time.

Almost instantly, the suave facade Azul worked so hard to create and keep began to shatter. A large part of him wanted to snatch the notebook away and offer to look over your own notes yourself. Another large part of him wanted to stammer out a pathetic excuse and curl up in a ball, never to show his face again. His brain short circuited with the radical options he was weighing - a moment later, he simply choked out a strangled cough and looked away, busying himself with reorganizing clean beakers. Azul was certain his face was beet red.

You didn’t say anything to him, an Azul couldn’t even tell if you were copying down his notes or if you had just left. You probably left. After all, now that you saw he was nothing but a child who drew hearts on his notes and woke up early just to make sure his already-perfect uniform was even more perfect, you definitely didn’t want to-

He felt the edge of his notebook tap his back, but he didn’t turn around. Other students began filing to their seats while some finished the experiment or cleaned up, so you did the same, pointedly avoiding Azul’s gaze. Grimacing, Azul steeled himself and picked up his notebook, scanning the page and planning on scratching every heart out.

Then he noticed, in the space made between two separate paragraphs, a brand new heart in blue ink rather than black. The sides were asymmetrical, and there was an attempt at some kind of minimal shading along the edges. In your handwriting, written in blocky print, was your name followed by ‘+ AZUL 4EVA’

Quickly slamming his notebook shut, Azul turned bright red again, hurried to his seat, and refused to speak to or about you for the rest of the day.

Jade - in the kindness he gives you, no strings attached(?)

Give me a free Mostro Lounge drink once, shame on you.

You thought it was strange, that much Jade could tell. At first, you insisted he got the wrong table, only to shrink back when he acted offended over your insinuation that he couldn’t do his job. Once he assured you that he meant to place the drink on your table and walked away, you stared at the glass for a long time, almost as if you were expecting it to move. Your furry companion looked from you to the glass before going off on a tirade Jade couldn’t quite hear, undoubtedly saying something about how suspicious he was. Ah, well. It wasn’t Grim he was trying to charm.

Give me a free Mostro Lounge drink twice, this is getting weird.

The second drink arrived less than a minute after you finished the first, taking both you and Grim by surprise. You looked as if you had something to say, but you remained silent. Jade simply smiled and assured you that you could beckon him over if you found yourself in need. This time, as he retreated, he knew you were watching him. This was a more entertaining game to play than he thought.

Give me a free Mostro Lounge drink three times, I think I’m silently agreeing to some horrible murderous plot and I need to find a way out of my fate NOW.

“No more after this, please,” You finally said once the third one came around, right as you were finished with the second one. Beside you, Grim looked as if he was physically biting his tongue, knowing that deals were frequently Jade’s goal yet pained at the thought of denying free food. Jade nodded.

“Were they not to your liking, Prefect?” He asked, taking the empty glass and setting it on his tray. You blinked up at him twice.

“No, they were fine, I just-”

“Just fine?” Jade brought his hand up to grip his chin thoughtfully. “I thought for sure they were catered to your tastes.”

“They were great, but- catered to my tastes? And how’d you know exactly when I was done with each one?” You finally looked him in the eyes, almost daring him to admit he was watching you the whole time. 

He was, of course. But why would he just tell you that?

“This is the second time you’ve implied I cannot do my job. Should I allow you to file a formal complaint?”

You fell silent, your gaze dropping to the table thoughtfully. Grim harrumphed at him, trying to intimidate him in your stead. A few tables away, Jade noticed someone debating getting his attention and promptly blocked them out.

“I didn’t order these. What will they cost?” You cringed at your imagined price.

“Nothing. On the house.”

“That is definitely a lie.”

Bending at the waist, Jade brought himself to your eye level and placed the tray in his hand on your table. His hand gripped the table’s edge, effectively trapping you in your booth. “Is it so hard to believe that I favor you so? I simply wish to keep you in the lounge. I quite like seeing you around.”

“You- what?” 

“Ah, but now if you decide you want another drink, you’ll have to ask me for exactly what you want,” Jade said, allowing his voice to drop teasingly. If you were flustered before, Jade wasn’t sure what to call this level of bashfulness. You were shrinking into your seat, eyes averted, trying desperately not to let him know that he had successfully planted the ideas he wanted to in your head. “Don’t let it scare you, though. If it’s for you, I don’t mind an extra expense or two.”

He left you then to tend to the other tables. Maybe now he’d be in your mind as often as you were in his.

Floyd - in the sudden predictability of his moods

There was a rumor floating around the open-air halls of Night Raven College: Floyd’s unpredictable mood swings were becoming, well…predictable! The student body was torn over how to react. Some were thrilled, as they thought dealing with Floyd became infinitely easier if one knew when to catch him. Others were terrified, for they were sure it meant the end of days was coming. As for the two closest to him…they were more inconvenienced than anything else.

There was one major trigger for Floyd’s moods anymore, and it was the Ramshackle prefect. If Floyd was with them, he was in a good mood, excitable and energetic and eager to do most anything if he could drag the prefect along on his adventures. If Floyd wasn’t with them, he was moping around campus. In truth, this didn’t make him any easier to deal with, not when his thoughts refused to budge from the magicless student.

Floyd didn’t care about the dirt he had kicked up. He just wanted to find his shrimpy.

Usually, he could find them lurking in their last class, or watching one of their friends do their club activities. Other times he ran into them by a stroke of luck. Sometimes, though, Floyd couldn’t find them at all, each spot he found without the prefect only worsening his mood. It usually ended with him giving up and collapsing in the nearest convenient place until the prefect came to find him. 

Which would explain why he was lying face-down on a bench with Jade and Azul standing behind it, one watching him in amusement while the other tapped his foot impatiently.

“How much do you think it would cost to hire the prefect to follow us around all day?” Azul asked, only half-expecting an answer.

“What position is opening? Would we employ them in the lounge? Or were you thinking you needed another assistant?” Jade responded. Beneath them, Floyd groaned out a disheartened, ‘Shrimpyyyyyyyy…’

Azul’s eyes followed the length of Floyd’s long body hanging over the seat of the bench on both ends. “That depends. Are babysitting wages higher or lower than those positions?”

Something caught Jade’s attention from one of the upper hallways. “Ah, this brainstorming can wait another day. Look who’s here to save the day again.”

Like an elastic band pulled too tightly, Floyd spun around and pulled up his knees so his legs were no longer stuck beneath the arm of the bench. After he crashed off the bench, he skipped merrily your way while Jade and Azul waved up at you. Not having seen Floyd leap into action, you walked to the concrete wall and leaned over, waving back cheerfully. Seconds later, Floyd ran up behind you and picked you up, laughing as Grim leapt off your shoulder to escape him.

Azul stopped Jade before he could move to join the two of you, holding out a small slip of paper. “Will you give this to him? Maybe he’ll be more productive now that they’re around.”

Jade smiled and bowed, both respectful and condescending at the same time. They both knew  the chances of getting Floyd to divert his attention from you was low. “Of course.”

Azul watched as Floyd swung you around for a moment, a part of him pleased that you seemed to enjoy Floyd’s company as much as he did yours. Jade approached the two of you and offered Floyd the list, briefly explaining something. After looking at it for a moment, Floyd ate the paper - literally ate the paper - before either of you could think to stop him, and Azul sighed heavily as he took that as his cue to leave.

Scarabia

Kalim - in the little ways he finds to be selfish

The light was quickly fading from the Scarabian horizon as the sun hid itself beneath the desert sand. The heat still clung to the earth, soothed only by the faintest breeze rushing in through the open-air lounge. Kalim leaned on the table in front of him, looking up at you with completely unhindered adoration as you spoke. His eyes were drawn to every little movement - your hands tousling your hair, tugging on your ear, gesturing gently in front of you. The way you shifted your foot, careful with the impact as you willed the pins and needles away. All the other Scarabia students had cleared the mess from the meal a while ago, leaving the both of you alone with a slumbering Grim. If Kalim had been paying attention to anything but you, he might’ve heard Jamil comment on how this was the longest he’s been quiet, ever.

To be entirely honest, Kalim wasn’t entirely focused on what you were saying. There were other things grabbing his attention: your movements, of course, and the soft melody of your voice. Kalim wondered if your ears were pierced, and which of the earrings he had would look best on you. They’d all look good. He’d have to give a few pairs to you before you left.

Whether you noticed he was startlingly quiet or just ran out of things to say, you eventually trailed off and stared at Kalim while he stared at you. He wasn’t subtle at all with his gaze, and it had long since stopped being unnerving. Clearing your throat, you watched him blink to reality before saying, “It’s getting late. Grim and I really need to go over the latest unit in Crewel’s class before tomorrow, so…”

“No!” Kalim suddenly said, sitting upright in a flash and grabbing your wrist. His grip was feather-light, but the panic in his eyes almost warranted a true emergency. “Uh, don’t…we don’t want to wake up Grim! He’s sleeping so soundly.”

“Oh, please,” You said, affectionately rolling his eyes. “The only person who can fall asleep easier than Grim is Leona.”

Kalim didn’t smile at your quip like you thought he would. Instead, his eyes darted around frantically, clearly searching for another excuse to keep you around. He didn’t know why he felt so urgently to make you stay, especially when you had things to do at Ramshackle. If he found out he was the reason you failed an alchemy lab, he’d feel absolutely awful. But he also wasn’t one to hold himself back from what he wanted, and what he wanted was to be plastered to your side at all times.

Or, at least, to spend another hour with you.

“Please stay,” He finally asked, settling his gaze on yours. “I really like talking to you.”

“We’ll talk tomorrow,” You tried to reason with a shrug. “If you keep me much longer, I won’t have anything left to say to you!”

“You could tell me the same story on repeat. I’d love listening to you all the same.”

He let go of your wrist then, propping his chin in his hands like a child awaiting a story. Kalim’s earnest words sent a nervous feeling fluttering in your chest. To hide your embarrassment, you turned your head away and watched Grim twitch his ears in his sleep.

“Maybe…Grim would appreciate the extra nap time, wouldn’t he?” You asked. Kalim clapped excitedly and scooted closer to you, your legs now touching. Trying to hide your embarrassment by clearing your throat, you asked, “Uh, where was I in my story…?”

Jamil - in allowing himself to fantasize

“This question is rigged against me specifically, you know.”

Jamil leaned to look over your shoulder, scoffing lightly when he saw in bold ‘WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS?’ “Even Kalim can answer that by himself.”

“Kalim doesn’t have his fate resting in the hands of Crowley,” You huffed, crossing your arms and leaning against the back of your chair. “I have no idea if he’s ever going to find a way for me to get home. When he does, do I get a choice to go through? What happens if he doesn’t? Do I have to stay here at the school until he figures it out, or can I just kinda wander the world with no idea how anything works?”

Jamil nodded, only half-listening as he scribbled down a few of the steps he used to solve the alchemical equation on his paper. The ‘show your work’ rule was more of a burden than a help for him, but he needed to get all the points he could if he was free to bring his averages up now. 

“What if I just write something completely crazy?” You mused, staring up at the ceiling. “Maybe I really do want to join a wolf pack or something. How would Trein know?”

All you got in response was a quick exhale, which was close enough to a laugh to satisfy you. “Seriously, though. Where do you see yourself in five years?”

“That’s the question, isn’t it,” You grumbled. Jamil let you fall into a thoughtful silence, glad for the opportunity to finish his own assignment in peace. Your ramblings were pleasant to listen to, but he still appreciated a moment to focus. “What would I have to do to be with you?”

Immediately, Jamil stiffened, pressing down with his pencil so severely he ripped a hole in his notebook paper. He didn’t let you ask what was wrong, and instead tilted his head so his hair fell over the side of his face in a protective barrier between the two of you. “Don’t say such careless things.”

For as much as Jamil found himself admiring your quick wit, he really wished you could have kept your mouth shut. “Oooo, how about I say, ‘In five years I see myself mooching off the riches of Kalim’s family while I figure out how to court his personal retainer.’ That’s not far more personal than Trein intended, right?”

“Quit it.”

“Maybe, ‘I see myself working alongside my beloved-”

“Stop.” Pulling his hood over his head, Jamil turned his body even more away from you and stared at his notebook. You had plenty more teasing remarks in your arsenal, but you laughed underneath your breath and decided to give him a break.

Jamil heard you writing a few seconds later, but he refused to look. He knew that if you could see his expression, you’d see something worse than embarrassment - a foolish smile at the mere thought of being someone important to you. When did you decide to get so bold all of a sudden? 

His lament was interrupted by a paper sliding over his hand. Glancing down, he had to will himself not to throw the paper back at you. There was no saving his pride with this one.

If I should be so lucky, I hope to be able to explore the homes of the friends I’ve made at NRC. I hope to visit the gardens of the Queendom of Roses, the evening glow of the Sunset Savanna, and the festivals of Scarabia….all with the people most important to me.

“Hopefully he understands that I have no government identity and am relying solely on networking to get anywhere after this,” You said with a shrug. 

“Looks good,” Jamil said quickly, sliding the paper back and still refusing to look at you. He didn’t want you to know that he was reading between the lines; whether from your teasing or your genuine intentions, he couldn’t help but wonder what it might be like to take you to one of the festivals himself, to guide you through the crowds with your hand in his and nothing else to worry about except which stall to visit next.

"jesus fucking christ, chuuya, where have you been?" not exactly the welcome chuuya was expecting from his significant other, although it is to be expected since chuuya arrived at 3 in the morning when he promised he'd be home at 8 pm.

"can you not, right now? im tired." he calmly says as he starts taking off his coat and shoes at the door way. you approach him with an annoyed expression, "can you stop looking at me like that?"

"stop looking at you like what? like you didn't come home on time without even a single call or text? i was worried, chuuya!" you say, watching chuuya shrug off the last of his coat, scoffing at your words.

"what do you want me to do? text you while im in a middle of this emergency meeting? it was important and you could've waited."

"oh, so your job can't wait but i can? it's like the mafia's more important than i am. " you felt offended by his words. you could've waited? you didn't even expect that he'd be having that stupid meeting.

"it is! it was just an emergency meeting that i needed to go to, so i went and that's why im late. it's not even a big deal, y/n." he walks past you to grab one of his wines from the wine fridge in the kitchen. you could only stare at him with disbelief, thoroughly processing his words. did he really say that the mafia is more important than you?

you knew he's loyal to the mafia, and you knew that when you decided to be with chuuya. you were never really mad at him for staying out late when it was for his job, but you were worried sick. he could've been gone through anything during that time!

"its "not a big deal"? i know you're busy and whatever, but you promised you'd be home and i expected you home!" you followed after him, watching him pour himself a glass before drinking it all and pouring another glass as if he was a thirsty man who crawled across the dessert just to find water.

"well aren't you so childish, huh? at least i'm doing actual work! you're here just laying around doing nothing, and you couldn't even wait a few fucking hours."

"excuse you? you're the one who told me to quit my fucking job!"

"yeah, i did, and you probably should go back to that stupid little job, huh? you can finally be of use for once." he replies, staring at you dead in the eyes with no remorse for what he just said. you could only shut up and stare back at him, not believing the words that crawled out of his mouth. to make matters worse, he added on, "go do that little drawing job you do for a living, maybe it'll be better than staying here waiting for me to come home like some fucking dog and whine all the time."

not only does he insult your job, which you worked hard to achieve, he calls you a fucking dog. tears had already started forming in your eyes, the burning sensation of it being held back. you didn't have the voice to reply or the energy to move, you stood there completely still, trying to hold back your tears.

"what, you're just doing to stand there? finally decided to shut up?" he laughs sarcastically, sipping from his glass again as he looks away from you, "it's better when you're quiet and not bitching."

you could only mutter a small "what?", the waiver in your voice signifying your impending tears. the whimper and shake in your voice fell on deaf ears, he just scoffs and shakes his head.

"didn't you hear me? or are you just that stupid? i said it's better-"

"i heard you the first time, you fucking asshole!" the tears finally fall as you slam your hands on the counter, raising your voice. the ache in your heart only begins to spread more as you sob, feeling your knees grow weak as you hold onto the counter. your boyfriend could only stare at you in shock, finally starting to realize what he'd said.

"y... y/n, i-im sorry, i-" he tries to approach you and hold your hand but you flinch away, stepping back a few steps away from him. he feels his throat close up and heart fall down to his stomach, he feels like an absolute jerk.

"don't fucking touch me." you hold your hand against your chest, slowly backing away from the man you thought would never hurt you. the man who promised to never hurt you.

"baby, i didn't mean to-" his voice waivers noticeably when he sees you try and hold back the already overflowing tears streaming down your cheeks, "please."

you could only shake your head in response, continuing to inch away from him as you aggressively wipe the tears from your face.

"i don't think we should be together right now. i-i need to go." your voice comes out shaky and breathless, contrasting your statement as if you're not confident that you should be apart. in reality, you needed chuuya. you always did, and even if he's the one who hurt you, only he can put you together again.

chuuya's head begins to shake in the middle of your sentence, rushing to grab your arm despite you backing away from him. his grip on your arm was tight but not enough to hurt you. he can't hurt you anymore than he already has.

"don't go, please" he pleads, feeling his own tears form as he looks at you. you wanted to scream, push him away from you and run, you wanted to slap him across the face and yell at him, you wanted to hold him in your arms and tell him how much you loved him. you can't move as he wraps his arms around you and rests his hand on top of your head, burying his head in the crook of your neck.

"i'm sorry. i-i... i'm so sorry." he hold his tears back, convincing himself that he's not worthy of being vulnerable after putting you through so much.

"d-don't..." you hit his back with your loose fist, not really hurting him. this only makes chuuya hug you tighter, whispering soft apologies against your ear. you couldn't hold back the burning sensation that built up in your eyes that was spread out through your fingertips and chest. the cries and whimpers escaping you hurts chuuya more and more, feeling your fist hit his back over and over again.

"y-you think you can just s-say things like that and ... and expect me to forgive you? "stupid little drawing job"? do you think that lowly o-of me? huh, chuuya?"

nothing could amount to the pain continuing to grow in this chest as you let out your own wails and sobs on his shoulder, choosing to shut his mouth and listen to you.

"all i-i wanted.... all i wanted was to know.. if you're safe..." you sniffle and whine, your soft punches slowing down and choosing to grip his undercoat instead, "i know.. i know how much your job means to you... but would it hurt you... t-to just tell me if you're not coming home early?"

chuuya knows it's not that simple. it's not as simple as a "i'm coming home late, don't wait" text, it's so much more than that.

of course it's more than that.

"i should've told you, i'm sorry, love." honestly, that was all he could say. there was nothing else he could say better than "i'm sorry" or "i should've been better" because that's the truth. he is sorry and he should've been better.

even if this never really happened before, you know chuuya has been working on your relationship. more specifically, having time for it. sure, at the end of the day he's coming home to you and that's it. no going on dates or having a day off to stay and snuggle at home, no breakfast in bed together after a long night, no nothing. just you waiting for him to come home.

you knew about this when you went into the relationship, and you thought it'll be okay because you had your own job, but chuuya had asked for you to quit your job because he makes enough for the both of you. secretly, he just wishes for your safety as your job required you to go to different construction sites and offices now that you're somewhat associated with him, and you agreed.

"j-just "sorry"? is that all you can m-manage to fucking say?" you push him away but not enough to make him tumble over. he only stands a few inches away from you but doesn't try and initiate any physical contact to respect your boundaries.

"i don't need your stupid apologies! i don't need to stay at home and have everything handed to me by your stupid money!" pushing your finger on his chest accusingly, unable to stop the words coming from your mouth or the tears falling from your eyes, "i need you."

the rest of the night (or day, it was 3 in the morning), chuuya spent holding you in his arms. every time you wanted to say something, he'd listen to you. every time you wanted to leave, he'd pull you back and tell you to stay. he knows you need your space and time, but he can't let you leave him in your current state.

he tucks you into bed as you couldn't protest any longer when he picks you up, sliding next to you after. with the strength left in your body, you bitterly face the other way, making chuuya sigh quietly.

"y/n, can you look at me?"

"..."

"baby, please. just look at me so i know you're listening, okay?"

"i can listen fine from here. i don't listen with my eyes."

chuuya holds back another sigh, not wanting to express anything less than the utmost patience. you've put up with him for so long, it's only natural for him to reciprocate it.

"sweetheart, just look at me."

it takes a while for you to respond, but you decide to give him a chance anyway.

chuuya's eyes brighten in the most adorable way possible the moment your eyes meet his, making you curse yourself internally for feeling giddy about it. this is a serious moment.

he hesitantly caresses your cheek, giving you any moment to flick his hand away, but it never comes.

"there you are," the soft drag of his thumb across your cheek soothes you a bit, "hey."

"what?"

"i.. i love you so much."

the way he says it with the most sincere yet fragile voice you've ever heard makes you want to forgive him on the spot and even apologize for making him feel like he had to be vulnerable.

"a-and i'm so proud of you. you're doing so well, not only for me but for yourself. i'm glad that you're standing up for yourself and what you deserve. you're right, i should've called you or text you, or better yet, i should've just come home."

he holds your hands gently, pressing your knuckles to his lips softly.

"the mafia means a lot to me, in a lot of fucked up ways, but the mafia isn't the only thing that means a lot to me now. you're here, and god i'm so glad you're here, so i should give time for you too. whenever you call, i should be there. whenever you need me, i should be there. you're the light of my life, and i can't bear the thought of you not being it."

the tips of his lips turn into a soft sad smile as he wipes a stray tear on your cheek. you didn't even realize you were tearing up until he did.

"t-took you long enough, dumbass." was the only thing you could reply, making him chuckle as he tucks your head under his chin.

"you can go back to your job, if you want. i'll be home earlier than 8 PM starting monday."

"monday? chuuya, it's thursday.."

"it's friday now, love, and i'm calling later so i can stay at home for the weekend."

you look at him excitedly, causing a small flip inside his heart. if he knew you'd be this cute, he would just call in sick every weekend.

"really? you'll do that?"

"of course i will. where did you wanna go? we can go see the eiffel tower, i heard they had good wines we can try. or maybe you want to see the windmills in the netherlands? or-"

"or, we can just stay at home." you smile for the first time that night, pressing a quick kiss to chuuya's cheek, "let's just stay at home."

the flustered man could only nod, pouting when you giggle at his red face.

"i love you, always."

"as you should."

chuuya grumbles but doesn't complain, not wanting to force you to say it back, but you can tell that he wants to hear it too.

he's lounging by the sofa, curls of dark hair sprawled on the cushions. his face is obscured by an eye mask, fashioned in a cute design you wouldn't expect him to take an interest in at all. if you took a picture of him right now and printed them as merchandise, you're sure they'll sell like hotcakes, but a selfish part of you wants to keep this sight to yourself.

yes, because... because you've been crushing on him since forever!

you've seen his growth as an actor as far back as five years ago, when he only just started his career! he made the perfect mysterious pretty boy male lead, and the romance film he starred in was such a good classic! but he didn't get typecasted, no no. he went beyond his pretty boy persona to work in other productions, where he acted as the crazed antagonist in a horror movie. that, too, eventually became a classic film for any horror movie fan. his murderous glare is just too damn scary!

he's excellent in action-packed movies as well, there's never a need for stunt doubles with him. you've seen his behind the scene clips, and they're just awesome. he doesn't speak much in interviews, his replies clipped and hardly substantial, but you try to catch each piece of precious footage.

oh fuck i shouldn't be here. you snap back to your senses and reach for the doorknob, but the creaking sound of the door prompts xiao to twitch.

a pale hand drags down the eye mask to his chin, and his dazed golden eyes pin you in place.

“...who are you?”

it's a simple question, but it's like you're trying to prove your innocence to court. you begin to ramble, introducing yourself in a series of stutters, and explaining how you got to his room. you insist you aren't there to peep on him and it was a complete accident.

“...so you entered my room by mistake,” xiao summarizes your ten paragraphs-worth of explanation into a single concise sentence. he doesn't look angry, but doesn't look pleased by your presence either. “it's fine. i could guess the staff was too busy to show you your room.” he sits up properly, fixing his hair messy from his nap. “you're the journalist, right? i look forward to working with you.”

rather than a job, filming feels more like a reward. you get to see xiao everyday, get to talk to xiao even if it's just you commenting on the weather, get to eat with him in lunch breaks (you're seven seats away from him but that counts, right?) and get to act alongside him-

and xiao is the second male lead. you get to act romantic scenes with him. you get to act lovey-dovey with xiao in a police uniform because he's a policeman in this show.

each brush of your hands together sends your heart racing in a speed too fast to be healthy, but as an actor, you're expected to keep your composure and deliver your lines properly.

(the makeup artist is always wondering why you look so red on screen when she swears she didn't put much blush on you, though.)

“don't you need to ask something of me?”

you blink innocently as you peel off the heavy costume, the last scene for the day finally wrapped up. xiao must be feeling hot too because he's also wearing a huge coat in the middle of summer—his face is beet red.

“ask you for something...?” your cheeks burn bright. “oh no, was i too obvious?”

xiao awkwardly looks away. “you could say that.”

how mortifying! you fan your face, hoping your makeup isn't too melted. you already feel like an idiot, no need to look like one.

but xiao already thinks you're stupid. no turning back now.

“o... okay... since the cat is out of the bag, then...” you pull out a pen and a piece of paper, holding it out to him. “please give me your autograph!”

“...what.”

“i've been your fan for the last five years! i don't know who ratted me out, actually i'm about 87% sure it's childe, but since you know-”

“wait- what? five years?”

“.........if that's not what you're talking about, then what is?”

“no, i thought you wanted me to ask me ou-”

he seals his lips at the most crucial moment, horrified at himself. “sorry. i'll ask you another time.”

... and then he walks away. just like that.

“xiao, what about my autograph?!”

“forget it!”

“why all of a sudden?!”

二 ; childe, the scandal magnet

notorious for the massive number of scandals under his belt, it's a surprise to find ajax (with a stage name of childe) in the set of this major production. you're advised by your manager to steer clear of him and avoid unnecessary contact to prevent sullying your reputation, but you can't deny his acting prowess—he shines on the stage, a performance you can't tear your eyes away from.

he's incredibly versatile, capable of taking on any role and absorbing the character to make it come to life, almost as if he is its incarnation.

it starts as a simple game before actual practice, each actor asked to draw lots from pieces of paper scribbled with different roles, and given an accompanying script to base off of.

everyone laughs when childe, ironically enough, draws the “womanizer who cheats on his lover.”

unfortunately, you couldn't laugh along with them because you picked the “lover” role. your incredible (read: atrocious) luck astounds you.

it goes just about as well as everyone expects it. childe, seemingly in his element, plays the part of a perfect scumbag. it's easy to hate him like this, all flamboyant gestures and empty promises of “you are my one and only.” his performance inspires you to try harder, and so you raise your voice, your passionate screams of indignance almost sounding heart-felt, like you truly are experiencing a severe betrayal.

when childe sweeps you into his arms, whispering platitudes dripping with honey, you're nearly fooled into forgiving him.

it's hard to get yourself out of the role when the director ends the scene, satisfied with the act. childe's expression returns to its usual lazy grin, a far cry from the smug smirk prior, and he pats your head to wake you up. “nice work. i really felt like i was getting scolded by an angry girlfriend.”

dazzled by his brilliance, you barely have enough coherence to return the compliment.

your awe doubles when he performs his next act.

much to xiao's horror, he picks the “dying younger brother” role, a direct accompaniment to childe's “grieving older brother.” they make an... interesting pair, but they're also professionals, and the scene they perform almost makes you weep real tears.

xiao lays limp on the floor like a lifeless doll, and childe cradles him to his chest, delivering his lines with sobs and cries that sound too real to be an act. his heart-wrenching wails bounce from the walls, going straight to strike your heart. his voice cuts through the air, demanding your attention, as if telling you to keep your eyes on him and to never look away.

it's nothing like the sleazebag character he was playing twenty minutes ago, and you have to remind yourself your scripts are only given once you've drawn lots; he had a maximum of five minutes to read through it, process the information, decide how to deliver his lines, and visualize himself performing it in the best way possible.

like this, he doesn't look at all like the scandalous man everyone makes him out to be. he's just an earnest man who's good at pretending to be someone else.

it's terrifying to think about. did he ever act like his true self when the cameras stopped rolling, then? was he just playing the part of a “good co-worker” when he was talking to you earlier? was the whole “scandalous womanizer” image something he set up for himself? a reputation he deliberately made to attract the media's attention? it isn't unusual for actors to cause drama as a publicity stunt, after all.

no, that doesn't make sense. no matter how desperate, nobody would like bad rumors circulating about them. as much as your name is spread around, it also goes hand in hand with distasteful gossip. childe is plenty famous, even before the scandals began popping up, so he never really needed them and they would only further ruin his image...

...on the contrary, if there's anyone getting famous from those scandals, it's...

...the girls he supposedly hooked up with?

rather than making those scandals for fame, doesn't it make more sense if those girls fabricated stories and took advantage of his reputation?

it's no secret that meddlesome paparazzi and hardcore fans obsessively pry into celebrities' personal lives. if they sniff a hint of dating scandals, they don't stop digging. furthermore, once the media releases information to the public, people will take it as fact. in actuality, it doesn't matter what's true or not; what the public wants to believe becomes the “truth.”

if the people deemed it plausible, if they thought “childe would definitely do something like this, so of course if the girl says they hooked up in the dressing room, they did”...

...even if childe denied those claims, nobody would believe him. not even you. you didn't think about it until now. in fact, at the very beginning, you already had assumptions about him, devouring the media's lies.

childe laughs when you apologize to him. it was certainly a shock when you suddenly knocked on his door, then the instance he opened it, you began to bow deeply, nearly slamming your forehead to his chest.

“i'm used to it, don't worry.” he smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. “you were so stiff around me, it was pretty obvious what you thought of me. but you didn't have to apologize.”

“no, i do! i was being disrespectful!” you insist, taking him by surprise when you grab the lapels of his jacket. “you're nothing like what they say! i'm sure you've been through a lot just because everyone keeps saying whatever they want, without thinking of your feelings... and everyone laughed that one time we played the acting game... i... i can't take back the time i've spent being suspicious of you, but i want to change that!” you stare directly at his widened eyes, determined. “i want to know you better, ajax!”

the use of his real name stuns him and for a moment, all he can do is gape at you.

then he narrows his eyes, his lips shaping to a firm line, and he tugs you inside the room.

a yelp unwittingly escapes your mouth when you're pressed against the door, his arms caging either side of you. his expression is unfamiliar now, unlike anything you've ever seen before; uncharacteristically stern, harsher around the edges, spiteful gaze boring holes into your skull.

“you want to know me better... some pretty words you just said. what do you actually want?”

your breath hitches when his hand caresses your cheek, but the striking glare he's giving you makes you think he wants to sink his nails deep into your skin instead.

“this isn't the first time someone tried to approach me, you know. what, you want to be friends with me? you're going to ask if i can invite you to my house? then you're going to tell people how i took advantage of you while you were sleeping?”

“what- no! of course not!” you yell, face heating up just by the thought of it. “nevermind lying to the media, i don't have the guts to sleep over a guy's house i barely even know!”

his expression falls to a deadpan. “oh. my bad. you're quite pure, aren't you. of course you wouldn't.”

“that's what makes you believe me?!”

the arms caging you falls to his sides as he walks away, leaving you dumfounded. “right, right, sorry for scaring you. can't you let me off easy? it's pretty hard to trust someone when you're in my position. if i treat you to dinner, will you forgive me?”

“i... i came here with good intentions... now i feel as though i was harassed...”

his usual smile falls on his face, like he's a completely different person from the man who trapped you just seconds prior. “what do you think about seafood? i'll let you eat as many crabs as you like. i really am sorry, promise. if you were saying the truth earlier, then i'd be glad to know you better too, [name].”

you give him a look. “...if they saw us entering a restaurant together, wouldn't that attract rumors?”

“hm? is everyone so narrow-minded they think anyone who eats together is in an illicit relationship?”

the answer is no, so you eat as much crabs and shrimp as you want to your heart's content. you're getting your food's worth for that fright he caused earlier. childe isn't complaining anyway, only impressed with how much dishes you're practically inhaling.

in any case, it isn't a date. there is no ambience or heart-pounding romance of any sort. not when you're overtly taking advantage of his money and childe's taking ugly pictures of you mid-bite.

but then, of course, the media takes note of it; the topic of your outing is brought up at an interview, to which you fret and panic because you were never popular enough to be interviewed before, and they're asking if you're fucking childe, of all things-

“what are you talking about?” childe pops up behind you, unhelpfully wrapping an arm around your shoulders as if he wants to add fuel to the fire. he chuckles, tilting your chin to lean closer to his face. “i'm just pursuing [name]. nothing's happened yet. unless [name] wants to...”

you take it back. he's definitely at fault for having this many scandals.

三 ; albedo, the male lead

the first day of rehearsals, the protagonist of the drama isn't even there.

to your astonishment, nobody complains about it. twenty minutes into practice (most scenes skipped due to the protagonist's absence), the director gets a call and excuses himself outside. less than a minute after, he informs everyone the star of the show won't be able to make it.

the actors trade unsure looks, wondering what the hell is going on, but the rest of the staff remain unfazed. the director notices and explains, “it's albedo. his busy schedule can't be helped. his manager called me to let me know his flight got delayed.”

and then it makes much more sense.

albedo is well-renowned in the film industry, an extraordinary talent who first came into showbiz three years ago. it's not at all a long time, but it's long enough for him to receive countless awards and bountiful movie offers—he was just born for the stage. if anything, this drama is lucky to have him in it, not the other way around. a late arrival for a rehearsal is nothing. he could probably disappear for two months without telling anybody and when he comes back, the director would beg him to act for the drama for twice the pay. (an exaggeration, but you get the point.)

and... you're expected to partner with him? you? a speck of dust compared to the sun that is albedo? you have to match his brilliance and not look like a turd beside him on screen? you have to be equals with him and- and you actually get to- you get to hold hands with him, kiss him, and- those couple stuff? everything? his fans would murder you if your mother doesn't kill you first! you know she likes his movies a lot!

the fourth day of rehearsals, he finally comes to the set. not with an air of arrogance or excessive pride. he just exudes confidence, strutting to the room in an elegant poise you can't hope to replicate. he gives his sincere apologies for the inconvenience to the staff, all polite bows and offer of recompense.

“but there's no reason to worry,” he declares, gaze steely. “i won't make any more trouble for you.”

he refuses when the director suggests taking it slowly and instead goes straight to practice. but it doesn't look like he needs any of it at all.

as if he's been here all along, he falls into place with the other actors, not a single awkward pause in their scripted conversations and everything smooth sailing. he delivers a flawless performance, like the cameras are already rolling and he's practiced for tens of thousands of times already, not read through a portion of the script in the car ride towards the set.

there is one thing he's struggling with, however.

“you're too stiff with each other,” the acting coach comments, frowning slightly at the two of you and cutting the scene short. “rather than bickering, it's like you're actually arguing, and that's not what we want to portray.”

you blink, exchanging a look with albedo, and look down at his collar you're still gripping.

maybe you do look like you're trying to strangle him instead of pulling him closer to your face for some good ol' sexual tension.

originally, the characters you play didn't get along well in the beginning of the webtoon; the genius detective didn't like to rely on others, conceited enough to believe he can solve the case on his own, hence seeing the journalist as a hindrance since they kept pestering him to let them help him, and he help them in turn so they could work together. the detective didn't deem them “useful” for the investigation, and it was only much later that he (begrudgingly) admitted the journalist can be helpful... sometimes. thus officially starting their partnership for the investigation, and later on, partners in the romantic sense.

there were quite a lot of bickering scenes before the actual romance commenced, and you're struggling with finding a delicate balance to that—where exactly do you draw the line between petty squabbles and severe disputes? how do you show the chemistry between these two characters while butting heads in every instance? the enemies to lovers trope is harder to act than it seems.

“try to get familiar,” the director suggests. “you're stiff because you don't know each other well. you're too shy to touch or get closer. why not leave early and go on a little date by yourselves to fix that?”

“is that really okay...?” you say, unsure. besides being hesitant to leave earlier than the rest, you're also nervous to be alone with your co-actor.

“if he says it's fine, then it's fine.” albedo shrugs, starting to walk towards the dressing room and tugging you along. “but if we're going outside, we should wear disguises. it's also fine if we borrow some of your clothes, right?”

“of course, of course~” the director indulges him. “have fun, kiddos.”

as it turns out, albedo is a master of disguise. he doesn't even have a wig or anything but you almost can't recognize him clad in casual attire. he also almost looks like a stylist while figuring out what outfit to give you, and you're left in awe when you look at yourself in the mirror wearing clothes you wouldn't normally pick out yourself but they look really, really good on you, and they do a good job changing your image too. not that you think anybody would recognize you anyway, unpopular and all.

“where do you want to go?” you trail after him on the way to the bus station, always a step or two behind. albedo makes a humming noise, subtly slowing his pace to match your strides.

“why not just go wherever our feet takes us?” he pipes up. “as long as it's not teeming with people, of course.”

so with zero preparation at all, you do just that. you stop by a bookstore, with you showing him around the comics section and him adamantly insisting the plain hard-cover literature he's picking up is a thrilling epic that will definitely pique your interest, [name] stop yawning-

you pay a visit to the arcade, where you find albedo is clumsy with his feet and can't play dance dance revolution to save his life, but also unnecessarily adept with claw machines because he has a little sister who loves getting stuffed toys. you compete over who gets the most points in the basketball game to decide who pays for dinner, end up in a tie, and move on to a zombie shooting game. you win by a narrow margin and albedo tells you so, but you point a finger at the results and tell him to cough up the cash. then you play around in the photo booth using the craziest filters, and you take the liberty of pasting stickers everywhere.

dinner is a simple affair. albedo looks ready to go to some michelin star establishment but you introduce him to a sushi restaurant that's relatively cheap. he's impressed by the way you swipe at the conveyor belt so quickly. okay, so you may look like an utter glutton right now, but it's fine. not the first time you embarrassed yourself in front of a co-actor.

lastly, you stop by an ice cream shop to get gelato. your appetite is “awe-inspiring,” as albedo put it, but you argue there's always room for dessert.

“will this actually help us, though...?” you sigh, eating a spoonful of gelato. “i don't understand the difference between bickering and arguing.”

“we've done it the whole day,” albedo reminds you, using a tissue to clean the residue of cream on your cheek. “we'll do just fine.”

you stare at him in disbelief. “...is this also one of your habits from taking care of your sister?”

“ah. you could say that.”

just as albedo said, filming goes a lot more smoothly. the playful air is a huge improvement compared to last time when they said you looked ready to beat him to submission. the romantic tidbits are coming along well, too, spun between action-packed scenes where you're pressed against albedo in a slim locker to hide from the murderer lurking nearby or sweet slice of life moments outside of the investigation.

at last, the confession scene is upon you. just a while back, the two main characters got into a full-blown argument; the detective was irritated by the lack of progress in the investigation, and deduced his feelings were distracting him. he decided to keep the journalist at arm's length, never allowing them to go close. of course, they didn't react well to this, and so they pester him again, but the argument became heated and it eventually peaked to “you're an inconvenience to me!” which led them to separate ways.

the journalist, desperate to solve the case on their own, approached people who seemed to be in the know. they were nearly pulled into bed by an attractive yet suspicious man, who's genuinely interested in the journalist romantically and used intel on their younger brother's murder as leverage, but they get interrupted by the detective pounding on the door.

he dragged the journalist out, thoroughly upset at the notion of selling themself, but they deny the accusations and claim they were tricked.

the argument stretched longer, the both of them airing out everything they dislike about the other, but the detective accidentally slipped and confessed his real feelings. the journalist, who never thought of him that way, was frozen on the spot.

it's a long scene requiring much preparation. aside from the amount of lines you have to memorize, there's also a hotel suite you have to borrow for the shoot, the cameras they need to set for the “dragging” scene that has a lot of movement, the really awkward half-bedroom scene you have to act with your co-actor, and the fact that you have to take the confession scene before the sun completely set.

it's truly a busy day. anxiety plagued you the moment you came out of the makeup room, knowing what comes next.

but it's a job, and one especially you couldn't afford to slack on. the kind-of-but-not-really-bedroom scene goes without a hitch, but albedo interrupts you a tad bit too early; the top of your shirt is barely unbuttoned but he's already storming in, ripping you out of the other man's grasp.

the director doesn't chide him for it however, and he drags you out of the hotel as planned. you're a bit frazzled by the suddenness of it all, clothes still rumpled, but it adds on to your acting and your stuttering questions make the scene look more natural.

albedo's fury seeing you in such a disheveled state seems almost genuine, too.

“why are you acting like this?!” you pull your wrist away in an effort to make him let go, as described in the script, but albedo refuses to. an improvisation, perhaps? but now of all times...? “you didn't care about me before! are you trying to be nice now? didn't you say you were sick of putting up with me? you hated me for being stupid, right? guess what, then! i was stupid enough to get almost taken advantage of! if you're just going to lecture me, let go. i don't want to hear any of it. i already know how much of a fool i am.”

you're supposed to back away now, but he doesn't let you do that either. for one step backward, he takes two forward, nose nearly brushing with yours in the close proximity. your face heats up in a combination of confusion and embarrassment, your ears barely registering his lines.

“...never listen to me. you always go off on your own and i still think you're a reckless idiot. you're noisy and brash and you annoy me to no end,” he says in one breath, staring deeply into your eyes. “but seeing you with someone else annoys me even more. to the point i'd abandon everything just to get you back.”

“w...” your throat is incredibly dry. “why would you...”

“whether i like it or not, you've become important to me. i love your stupid laugh and your stupid smile. i love the way you look at me, and i don't want you to look at anyone else. you drive me crazy when you put yourself in danger because i don't want to lose you. i want you so badly that i want you to only think about me, spend time only with me, only love me. i-”

you're fairly certain this is nowhere near his lines in the script.

“i love you so much that it scares me.” his voice trembles as his hand lifts to cup your face, something that finally bears semblance to the original scene. “it was wrong of me to say those horrible things. not just last time. i've been terrible to you, and no amount of apologies can make up for it. but i ask only one more chance.”

his finger hovers at the corner of your lip.

“[name], won't you only look at me?”

you gape like a fish out of water, unable to reply. you're trying to remember your lines, flipping through the mental script in your head, but the director's “cut!” pulls you back to reality.

albedo blinks, getting himself out of the role, and he lets go of you reluctantly, the heat of his fingers lingering on your skin.

“the scene was good, but you said the wrong name.” the director laughs. “it's alright. we can still shoot where we last left off. return to your positions.”

as told, you go back to your previous position. you give a furtive glance at albedo, whose cheeks flare in humiliation. he's probably never done such a rookie mistake before. there's no reason to be that flustered about it; you've made the same error plenty of times.

“i apologize. i won't do it again next time.”

(if he's going to confess, the least he can do is make his own lines for the occasion.)

next episode ; unavailable. preview →

四 ; ayato, the cannon fodder

五 ; scaramouche, the best friend

六 ; thoma, the former male lead

today was another day of jade and floyd withstanding his constant fawning over you before moping in his office like a grump. floyd was at the end of his wits by that point. it was a never ending loop of sulking and he was sick of it. so can they really blame him for slipping a drop of truth potion in his morning tea? in fact, they should thank him for putting an end to it

the effects were interesting. azul wasn’t aware of what had happened until he saw you in the hallway and boldly proclaimed how pretty you were. every individual within vicinity turned their heads, wide-eyed and jaw slacked. he then realized there was something wrong. and with a bit of sleuthing done, he concluded it was the work of magic

he avoided you like the plague, always walking in the opposite direction and hanging in areas you don’t frequent. it hurt to see you upset by his actions. he didn’t mean to, but it had to be done or else he would’ve made a fool of himself in front of you. it was when the day drew close to an end did he decide his pride wasn’t worth destroying his chances with you

“if i tell you...” he paused, wringing his fingers to ease his nerves. “if i tell you how i feel when i’m around you, would you laught at me?” he released a shaky breath when you reached out to hold his forearm, squeezing it lightly as an attempt to comfort him

you shook your head, signing he could trust you. “no, no. never. i care about you, azul. you do know that, right? whatever it is you want to say, i promise it won’t change anything, especially how i see you.”

azul stayed silent. you didn’t press him for an answer. you knew he needed some time to find the right words to communicate his thoughts. in the end, it was worth the wait. “i-i can’t help but smile as if everything is going to be alright when i’m with you... i can’t seem to get you off my mind and i don’t think i want to... what i’m trying to say is...” he took your hand in his, forcing you to look up at him. “i feel something i’ve never felt with anyone before but you and i believe that i‘m... i’m in love with you.”

“azul, i… i didn’t know you felt that way about me.” his grasp went slack. you inwardly cursed at yourself for your poor phrasing. you made sure to tighten your hold to prevent him from slipping away. “i’m glad you told me because i, uh, i feel the same way.“

he stood frozen. were his ears deceiving him? was he hearing things. he snapped out of his reverie when he felt you pull him closer until he was fully enveloped in your embrace. his body heated up at the contact, especially when you guided his arms to wrap around your figure. “thank you for reciprocating my feelings,” he whispered into your ear

kalim al-asim

an itty-bitty mishap happened at the laboratory during potionology class. the table behind him grabbed the wrong component to finish their potion and it erupted into a huge mess that effected the surrounding tables. it brought him and a couple others at the clinic and the idiots behind it assigned to cleaning duty for a whole month. the nurse didn’t detect any symptoms him and instantly cleared him

it went under everyone’s noses. not a single person, even jamil, suspected a thing since he didn’t act any different after the incident. the truth potion showed no effects since he already spoke his mind. there wasn’t a filter to remove when there was no filter in the very beginning. it only became strange after jamil spotted a pattern in his behavior when you were with the dorm leader. kalim made shameless advances towards you in the past. however, this is on a new level

“i like being around you,” he confessed out of the blue, “i like it when you’re happy… i like your face too… have i complimented your beauty yet?” jamil cringed. he quickly went over to where you two conversed and steered him away, far away, before he dug a deeper hole for himself

though, his attempts worked. it sadly didn’t guarantee to be a success every time. maybe it was fate playing its games, but no matter what area they went, they kept bumping into you. when kalim recognized you on his way back to the scarabia dorm for the last time, he immediately ran in your direction whilst jamil spoke to a certain octopus

he tapped you on the shoulder. “c-can i speak to you?” he beamed, keeping all of your attention focused on him. “sure. uh, what is it?” you tilted your head. it took everything within him to not coo at how cute you were

“i‘ve been having these unusual feelings whenever i’m around you,” he admitted, garnering a few gasps from your friends who watched, “i feel lightheaded when you’re near. when i see you, i feel this fuzzy, strange feeling inside my chest and... and when i hear your voice, it calms me down and makes me feel at ease. oh! also when you smile, i—” before he could finish his sentence, a hand pops out of nowhere then covers his mouth, effectively silencing him

jamil excused, “i apologize on behalf of his behavior today. please don’t hold it against him. an accident happened earlier during potionology class. and based on what i heard from the nurse, the effects will wear off by tomorrow morning,” then pulled him away. even from a distance, you could still catch kalim animatedly waving farewell

the very next day, you get a series of knocks on your door and find none other than the one and only dorm leader of scarabia standing behind it with a sizeable, and most likely expensive, bouquet in his hands... and jamil’s.

“i’m really sorry for what happened yesterday. i-i, um, i must’ve made you uncomfortable with all of the things i said. please forgive me?” you were frazzled. too many things were happening too fast, you barely found the words to respond. unfortunately, from his perspective, your silence came off wrong. “don’t be mad at me anymore!” he begged, “i’ll do whatever it takes to earn your forgiveness if that’s what you w—”

“kalim… kalim? kalim!” you called, bringing him out of his stupor. “i was never mad at you,” you chuckled, “i was just taken aback by the grand gesture—that’s all.”and it brought a radiant smile to his face

“what wonderful news! this deserves a feast!”

“kalim…” you drawled. he pouts at your tone. “he did me a huge favor by agreeing to let me borrow his jacket. it was freezing cold back there.”

his shoulders visibly drooped, as he mewled, “why didn’t you ask for mine then?”

“because we don’t share the last class, silly.” you offered a tiny closed-lip smile, and kalim’s pout deepened. he wasn’t satisfied with your response. he’s your boyfriend, it was his job to take care of you :(

good luck dealing with him. kalim will proceed to pester you for wearing another boy’s jacket in lieu of his. what was special about this one? his was softer and sewn better. he went as far as to propose he gets you a custom piece if the design of his jacket didn’t fit your style

“we’re together now, though!” he stood right in front of you and removed the garment then extended it to you. “please return his and wear mine instead?” his eyes practically begging for you to say yes

“how bold,” you laughed, “i wasn’t aware you had a possessive side, kalim.” the tips of his ears carried a red tinge to them while he steps forward to rid the article off your figure. “hush, you talk too much,” he playfully chided

“the pot calling the kettle black,” you teased, tugging the sleeves till it rested perfectly past your palms. your boyfriend cooed at the adorable sight and gave you a pat on the head

this moment served as the catalyst for kalim and his not-so-subtle practice of leaving his jacket, or clothes in general, inside your closet to prevent any similar incidents to occur in the future

azul ashengrotto

“ne, azul. staring is rude,” a familiar voice calls from behind. a faint snicker follows, entertained by the sight of their octopus friend and his current internal turmoil

azul wrings his fingers. he averts his eyes to the floor below. was it obvious? he asked himself, surely you didn’t catch him. the twins did have a proclivity to mess with him after all. “i wasn’t staring at y/n!” he hissed, silently praying nobody heard him

“fufu, jade didn’t even say any names!” floyd cackled, receiving a few curious glances from the other tables. azul stiffened under the new attention casted on them, which only made floyd laugh harder

when azul finally acknowledged his crush on you and accepted his romantic interest in you, he vowed to not ruin his chances by making a complete fool of himself in front of you. in present time, he dangerously teetered in that territory with his sulking

to be fair, you did try to ask him if you could borrow it earlier. while you weren’t upfront, even the densest individuals understood your efforts. at the time, azul blue-screened when you popped the question. seeing his reaction, you didn’t continue and played it cool by asking another classmate too

it wasn’t until you left did it sink in. ever since then, he was down in the dumps. he wanted to cry. he couldn’t believe he missed the opportunity to get close to you. it was debasing! he was a business man. it was in his nature to be an opportunist. he felt like a total moron :(

azul hated himself for unwittingly pushing you towards another boy. he knew it meant nothing, yet it still left a terrible taste in his mouth. it was an internal battle between logic and emotions, and there was no telling which will win

as soon as the class ended, he took a speedy departure out of there then hid by a corner in the hallway. his heart leaped at the echoes of footsteaps approaching him. thank the seven for their mercy because you simply walked past him. withal, his day wouldn’t be complete if the leech twins didn’t bother him by taking their teasings up a notch

“my, look at what i found, jade!” floyd said in a sing-song voice, “a bastard octopus!” jade, who stood beside him, asked, “why are you hiding there? you look… weird.”

“i’m not hiding… i’m merely passing time until the next class,” azul dismissed, and crossed his arms. the twins didn’t buy it. floyd taunted, “it’s koebi-chan! he’s hiding ‘cuz of koebi-chan! i say we tell them to end his suffering,” compelling the dorm leader to lunge at them to prevent any further movement