Chapter Text
Grian decided that Valentine's Day was stupid the moment students started flocking into the hallway just to catch a glimpse of the announcement board.
It wasn't even subtle. The bell rang, and suddenly the corridor was full of students, raised voices, and people craning their necks and standing on their tiptoes as if the board might disappear. Grian regretted not taking the long way round.
The hallway was swarmed with people, making it nearly impossible to navigate without being pushed and shoved. Someone bumped his shoulder. Another stepped on his shoe, muttered a distracted apology that didn’t actually slow them down in the slightest. Grian grimaced and tried to angle himself sideways, slipping through gaps that kept closing just a second too fast.
“Excuse me--” he started, then stopped when no one even tried to hear him.
A backpack swung into his arm. He hissed under his breath and took an involuntary step back, nearly colliding with another student who looked just as irritated.
“Seriously?” Grian muttered, mostly to himself.
For a brief, tempting moment, he considered retreating. Waiting it out. Reading the rules later, secondhand, through rumors and half-correct explanations passed between classmates. That would be sensible. That would be smart.
Well.
He wasn't.
“Sorry, sorry--can I just--” Grian said, slipping between two taller students who were too busy arguing over a colour to stop him.
The board came into view.
A Poster. Red chalk. Pink borders. With big, bold, and cursive lettering decorated with hearts so lopsided it almost looked intentional.
In thick red font, the poster read:
VALENTINE'S WEEK SCHOOL EVENT
In celebration of Valentine's Day, all students are invited to participate in this year's themed event!
THEME: Gesture of Colour
HOW IT WORKS
- Any appropriate gift may be given
- Gifts must be wrapped, tied, or presented using a single dominant color.
- Color choices determine intent.
Gifts may be:
- Anonymous or open.
- Can be given more than once.
- Exchanged inside or outside school hours.
Participation is optional!
(Participation is HIGHLY encouraged)
Grian snorted quietly at that. He squints his eyes to be able to get a better look at the bottom of the poster.
COLOR MEANINGS
Red - I love you
Pink - I like you
Blue - I admire you
Orange - Please go out with me
Yellow - You make me happy
Green - Notice me!
Black - Marry me
Note: These sentences were chosen according to yesterday's voting.
These events are nothing more than just ways to humiliate yourself in front of your crush. Grian thought bitterly.
“Who the hell voted for black?!” a student somewhere behind him shouted.
The whispers soon got louder as people started to voice out their thoughts about the upcoming Valentine's event.
Well, Grian didn't bother to stay.
He wanted to get this over with these shenanigans. The bell had rung twenty minutes ago, and he was still trapped and stuck in this mess of a crowd. He has no time for this! He's a busy guy. With a heavy sigh, Grian shoved his way back through the crowd. He was able to get away after a few minutes of being pushed around and shoved.
Fresh air felt like freedom. Finally.
After a few more steps, he spotted a familiar figure by the school, gates. One he would be able to recognize anywhere in any crowds.
“Mumbo!” Grian called out, lifting a hand to wave.
He walked the last few steps and stopped in front of the taller boy with a mustache, bending slightly as he caught his breath. In between pants, he added, “Have you seen the hallway? It’s packed!”
Mumbo just smiles, entirely unsympathetic. “Ah,” he said, adjusting the strap of his bag, “that would explain why I immediately left.”
Grian straightened at that, narrowing his eyes at him. “Did you skip class?”
“Of course not!” Mumbo protested, raising his hands defensively. “I simply managed to get off of school grounds before the poster banner was even taped to the board.”
Grian narrowed his eyes, then lightly punched Mumbo’s shoulder--not hard enough to hurt, of course. “And here I thought we were supposed to wait for each other.”
Mumbo laughed, “In my defense, you probably wouldn't waited for me if you were in my boots!"
Despite himself, Grian snorted. They stood there for a moment, laughing and giggling, watching as the crowd gradually thinned as people scattered. Voices fading as people headed for buses, bikes, or waiting cars.
A few students still lingered by the gates. Some sat on the school bench, scrolling through their phones, or just chatted by the school gates.
“Look, there they are!” someone shouts from afar.
“GRIAAAAN--!”
He froze.
That voice was unmistakable. Grian closed his eyes for half a second, already bracing himself for whatever may come.
Mumbo stopped talking mid-sentence, turning slowly. “Was that--”
“Unfortunately,” Grian said with a sigh, “yes.”
“PEARL, WAIT UP--!” another voice followed, trailing behind the first.
Grian turned just in time to see them sprinting toward the gates.
Pearl reached them first, waving an arm like she was trying to flag down a helicopter. Her hair was slightly messy, and her breathing was slightly off. Scar followed a few steps behind, almost tripping over absolutely nothing.
“There you are!” Pearl said as she crossed her arms over her chest once she reached them. Her eyes flicked between Grian and Mumbo. “Scar and I searched the whole school for you two!”
Grian snickered, “Did you not see the flock of students at the announcement board? I barely escaped alive.”
At the mention of the announcement board, Scar perked up instantly. “Oh, oh! Did you guys see the poster?”
Mumbo shook his head, “I left before they even taped the poster.”
Grian shot Mumbo a glare at that, still holding a grudge for leaving him. His gaze goes to Scar, and met Scar's expectant green eyes staring back at him.
Oh.
Right. He was expecting an answer.
“Uh--yeah, I saw it.” Grian answered, way too quickly.
Mumbo had the audacity to snort, holding back a laugh. Grian immediately shoved his shoulder, leaning in just enough to hiss, “Shut up,” under his breath. His face went a tad red, he was sure of it.
Pearl tilted her head, smile sharpening. “So,” she said innocently, “Who are you going to give a gift to, G? Someone special?” Pearl asks in a tone that very much indicates something with no good intentions whatsoever.
Grian looks back at her, “Well, I bet you're going to be giving something to Ge-”
Pearl clamped a hand over his mouth before he was able to say anything more that might expose her little crush on a certain someone. “Don't.”
___
“Bye, Mumbo!” Pearl called out, waving her hand.
They stayed at the sidewalk as Mumbo headed up the short path to his house, the three of them having walked him back since they were neighbors. Well, almost. Close enough that it counted.
Mumbo fumbled with his keys, shoulders hunched slightly, clearly eager to get inside before anything unnecessary was to happen.
“Mumbo!” Grian shouted suddenly.
Mumbo froze, one hand still on the doorknob. He turned just enough to glance back, one eyebrow raised in question.
“I love you!” Grian added, loud and unapologetic.
A group of kids playing in the yard next door snickered and laughed immediately, pointing and whispering at what was happening.
For a second, Mumbo just stared.
Then he flushed, ducked his head, and bolted inside, the door slamming shut fast and loud.
Pearl burst out laughing immediately, hands on her stomach. “Oh my god, you’re terrible.”
Grian giggled, satisfied, shifting his bag higher on his shoulder. “He's fine.” Grian turned and started walking, “Come on, let's go.”
Pearl fell into step beside him, still shaking her head. “One day,” she said, “he’s going to stop answering your calls out of spite.”
“He won’t,” Grian replied easily with a smirk on his face. “He loves me too much.”
Scar snorted and jogged a step ahead of them, then slowed so he was walking backward, hands tucked behind his head. “So,” Scar said, drawing the word out, “do you always yell confessions at people in public, or was that just a Mumbo-only thing?”
“That was nothing,” Grian said, rolling his eyes. “I didn’t even blow him a kiss.”
“Yet,” Pearl added.
They kept walking, the street settling into a quiet, late afternoon. The air had cooled, and the sky was dimming and becoming darker.
Pearl clears her throat, breaking the comfortable silence, “So, what do you guys think about the Valentine's event?”
“I think it's stupid.”
“It looks fun!”
Grian and Scar answered simultaneously.
Pearl sighs at Grian's answer and gives him a pointed look before turning to Scar, “You planning on participating, Scar?”
Scar shrugged, still walking backward. “I mean, why not? Everyone's planning to participate.”
Pearl shot Grian a look. “Almost everyone.” she muttered.
Grian suddenly found the cracks in the pavement fascinating. He studied them like they might reveal the secrets of life if he stared hard enough.
But that didn’t stop Pearl's gaze from burning into him.
He understood the hype for Valentine's, he really did. It was a day when people could confess and tell their feelings to their special person. And the events were there just to make things more fun and entertaining.
“It’s optional,” he said, sighing. “And unnecessary.”
Scar laughed under his breath. His smile softened--not teasing this time, just curious. He slowed his steps, still walking backward, eyes focused on Grian like he was waiting for a different answer.
“You’re really not planning to join, G?”
Grian’s throat went dry.
He opened his mouth, closed it again, then shrugged. “I don't see the point.”
Scar nodded once. “Okay! How about you, Pearl?” he returns to his spot beside Pearl.
The conversation continued, settling into the space between them. Pearl watched the exchange from before with narrowed eyes, deciding to say nothing, but Grian could feel her gaze like a spotlight.
Their house came into view a few minutes later.
Pearl exhaled through her nose. “Right,” she said carefully. “Well. We’re almost home.”
The familiar shape of the house grounded Grian instantly. Pearl sighed in relief as they reached the gate. “Finally!”
She fumbled for her keys, already half turned towards the door, while Grian shifted his bag and let his shoulders relax for the first time since leaving school.
Pearl glanced back over her shoulder and waved. “Bye, Scar! Don’t get lost!”
Scar laughed, lifting his own hand in an exaggerated wave. “No promises!”
Grian followed Pearl’s lead, offering a brief wave of his own. “See you, Scar.”
They both turned toward the house and Pearl went in first.
Grian stopped in his tracks.
He glanced back over his shoulder. “Scar?”
Scar was standing a few steps away from the house, rocking back on his heels, the streetlight catching in his hair and throwing soft shadows across his handsome face--
What.
“Yeah?” Scar said.
Grian opened his mouth like he was about to say something. Then he paused, throat closing in just for a fraction.
“If..” he starts. Then stops.
Grian released a breath he didn't even realize he'd been holding. “Would you still accept a gift,” he asked hesitantly, “even if it's not up to your…expectations?"
Scar blinked, then smiled, small and genuine. “My expectations?” he repeated, a little amused. He shrugged. “Yeah. Of course.”
He tilted his head. “I mean, if someone went out of their way to give me something and even thought about me,” he trailed off, then smiled again. “That'd be more than enough.”
Grian looks at Scar, scanning his face and trying to read something out.
Grian swallowed. “What would you want?”
Scar blinks at him. Once. Twice. That confused expression when he's trying to understand something.
Then he brightened as if it finally clicked.
“Oh, oh! Maybe you should give flowers. I heard girls like those!” Scar grins. “Or guys.”
Scar shifted his weight, hands tucked into his pockets. “Why?” he asked teasingly. “You planning on giving a gift to someone, G?”
“Don't push it.” Grian said immediately. Too quickly. He cleared his throat. “Besides, I doubt the person I'm interested in sees me the same way.” Grian says with a wistful smile.
Grian knows it's stupid to get his hopes up.
Scar hummed, clearly curious but not pushing. Scar tilts his head, his smile was genuine. “Well,” he said, voice warm, “for what it’s worth, I’d accept anything from you, G.”
The words landed harder than they had any right to.
Scar turned on his heels and waved cheerfully, “See you, Grian!” he soon disappeared down the streets of the neighborhood.
Grian stood frozen on his porch, face red and burning.
From inside, Grian could hear Pearl barking out a laugh. “What was that?!” she shouts from across the room. Grian groans and went inside, shutting the door.
Maybe, just maybe..he'd consider participating.