everything / was beautiful

( ` surely enough, bit by bit, earlier’s unease begins to ebb. giving way to something more familiar. a sense of comfort shared only between the two of them. something akin to home. reminiscent of? no, definition of. what is her home, her world, even, without jiang kai? she had spent the better of four years trying to adjust, finds, unsurprised, it’s not the same. ) “then?? you can’t blame me for knowing it... since it’s literally been the same—and don’t you speak on fahrenheit’s name, they’re talented...” ( ` emphasis on that, somehow the memory of being teased about stanning for visuals only resonated heavily for that split second. but as with everything else. steady waves of nostalgia that washes over, takes her under, just for a brief moment, back to ages of youth. ) “yeah—why do you sound so doubting? why would i lie?” ( ` but it is, wholeheartedly. albeit nothing she won’t come forward with later. much later, when she’s already settled in. and when sharing reasons behind her dramatic escape feels... easier. funny, when did it start getting difficult to talk to him? ) “look... i’m better now, i’ve mastered maneuvering my body, i learned how to do a cartwheel too— you don’t have to worry...” ( ` ish. she’s sort of better. clumsiness comes sparingly, by now, she’s more so convinced it’s a luck thing. still, she knows a spiel when she sees one, and doesn’t resist much in his inspection process. ) “thanks, ma... and it’s not my fault you’re weak against spice... i thought it was pretty good.” ( ` cracks a grin at the recollection, tickled by the mere memory itself. ) ( ` sits idle for a second while she buffers a proper response, fingers twitching occasionally between his. like this, it’s too easy. falling back into the ease of their relationship is too easy. ) “no! i’m perfectly healthy, thank you—you’re soooo dramatic, seoul really changed you!!” ( ` jests, hand lifting to grasp onto his to pull downward with a small huffy pout. ) “hey...you’re sounding ungrateful, did you not enjoy my superficial souvenirs? i thought they were all cute.” ( ` turns her nose up and away, sniffling quietly before she moves, leaning over the couch to pull out the backpack she’d kicked under the table earlier,. ) “and——it was a limited edition globe! honestly if you had been there to begin with...” ( ` trails off, barely masking it with a small (obvious) cough. her head shakes slightly, damp curls bouncing off her shoulders—best to discard that thought. ) “regardless—you need to learn how to be a connoisseur in fine souvenir items, kaikai.” ( ` curls her tongue at the nickname, attention turning to the bag sat in her lap, digging through it carefully. ) “did you even put up anything i got you or did you just dump it?” ( ` she wouldn’t be surprised if he dumped it, honestly. ) “wait,” ( ` almost.why did she stuff so much stuff in here? ) “got it!” ( ` what she displays proudly (real proud, smile broad as the sun and all) is nothing special. in fact, it looks (and actually is) like nothing else but mere airport souvenir. namely, a black tshirt with the words 我❤️北京 printed on it. clearly nothing a last minute gift. ) “no need to thank me. i know you love it.” ( ` 🤠🤠 )

( ` she’s nervous. the longer silence lingers between them, the longer doubt seems to get the best of her. if her presence had been wholly un-welcomed after all. how long has it been? she can’t properly remember. but she’s—it’s—always like this. (not to speak on how this has become an always for them, that itself belongs to an entirely different (upsetting) tangent altogether). but after so long, even if the boy that stands before her strikes as familiar as the back of her hand, there’s lies a certain air of something between them. misplaced. oddity she cannot name. this is them now, huh? ) “uhhhuh, realistically i guess i’d cry if you did—your go-to for anything is still tian fuzhen’s birthday huh? you’re never ever going to change it by now. and—” ( ` pause. take a breath. ) “i told you, i wanted it to be a surprise... and i was allowed off since, you know,” ( ` find a lie, find a lie. ) “i submitted my finals project early.” ( ` beams up at him, satisfied enough with her own answer to allow the topic to pass (hopefully). pausing only when he shifts. ) “eh?” ( ` stills obediently, line of vision lowering alongside him. notes the trivial details: collar of his shirt, color of his hair, broad of shoulders. more importantly, the point of his ears protruding. here, a dull buzz of excitement. slow in growth with the way mischief strikes, has her reaching out, fingers pinching the very top of his ears lightly. hehe. ) “i’m not going to trip—you’ll catch me anyway.” ( ` not the point, she knows. so she doesn’t dwell, slides her fingers downward over the curve of his ears, tugging lightly before she lets go. meeting his eyes once more with a toothy grin once he stands. ) “yes, thank you. i said surprise, remember? and i did but—” ( ` moves impulsively, reaching out to intercept his hand, sliding her fingers around us with a good tug and a bright expression. ) “cmon,” ( ` pulls him over to the couch, settling down with one leg tucked under her knee and the other hanging off the edge, twisting properly to face the boy sitting next to her. their hands remain, laced loosely in her lap while she raises a finger, wagging playfully. ) “now, now, dou jiang tongxue, what do you want first huh? a good hearty heart to heart with your long-time bestie or superficial souvenirs from beijing?” ( ` food. she hopes he’ll pick food. )