Chapter Text
Beep.
"Y/N, forget about me."
Beep.
"How can I forget you when you made all those empty promises?!"
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
"HWAH—!" You wake up to your alarm clock beeping quite loudly. "Gods, I am NEVER gonna buy an alarm clock as loud as you ever again." You get out of bed in a sitting position to reach your noisy alarm clock and you turn it off. With a deep sigh, a couple of stretches and yawns here and there, you try to remember the dream that you just had before you woke up. "Forget you, huh? Guess that worked since I don't even remember who the hell you are at all." With one final yawn, and one long arm stretch, you get out of bed and head towards the bathroom. After taking your sweet time showering, you decided to have one final look at the clock. Oh shit. You were absolutely, and HORRIFYINGLY late. Upon the realization that you were utterly late, you quickly ran and opened your closet doors with brute force to get a set of clothes and changed immediately, you grabbed some cookies from your refrigerator and shoved them into your mouth, not even caring if you had crumbs all over or if you wanted more. What matters is that you make it to class, NOW.
After locking your apartment door and wiping the crumbs off of your face, you ran as fast as you can to reach your bike and pedal your late ass all the way to the University you're currently studying at.
Tevyat University. A very famous school that produces wonderful, talented, and skillfull students. Most of the students that once attended that school are now well-known figures of society. You've always wondered how you even got to be able to attend this University. Well, if it weren't for your parents, you would've never even stepped a foot on it's grounds.
After pedalling for what felt like hours (which was actually just a few minutes since you live nearby), you park your bike and run like Sonic through the quiet halls of the building. Running up stairs and making different turns, you finally reach your classroom. You inhale and exhale deeply with nervousness coursing through your veins, you knock gently on the door.
After knocking a few times, the door finally opens to reveal a slightly irritated professor. "Ah, well look who has finally decided to join us for today's lecture."
"Sir Zhongli, I am really sorry, I woke up really late but I didn't intend on skippi—" before you could even continue what you were saying, your professor, Mr. Zhongli, interrupted you with a "That's nice to hear now please join us as I do not want to delay our lesson any further." With your face as red as Santa's clothes, you shyly entered the classroom and headed to your assigned seat.
"Now that everyone is here and no delays seem to be of mind, let us continue discussing our lesson about the First Mora.."
———
"Haaa, finally class is done! I've never felt so free before!"
"You make yourself sound like you didn't wake up late AND arrive late." Ah, here she is.
"Lulu! I had a terribly weird and long dream that's why I'm so late, you have to believe me!", "It rather sounds like you got too caught up with your shower concerts and forgot it's a monday." She said with a sly grin.
Lumine Viatrix, a beautiful, smart, strong, witty, and sly girl with gorgeous golden hair and golden orbs for eyes that shines in the day and glows in the night. She's everything every girl or woman strives to be. She's as popular as the Pop Idol Barbara, only in the school of course. So many people are captured by her ethereal beauty, I mean — who wouldn't?
"But this time i'm actually saying the truth, Lumine! I really did have a long dream." You explained desperately.
"Oh ho ho, what WAS the dream, may I ask? Ehe.", "Venti, I swear if you don't drag your ass back to the music rehearsals that you're supposed to be having right now, I'm telling Diluc!" Lumine shouts at the obviously-not-bothered wind boy.
Barbatos Venti, the music major star. The short boy with twin braids, aquamarine eyes, and navy blue hair. With his melodic songs that bring tears to even the toughest of the tough rocks, with his poems that touch hearts of even the heartless — many people look up to him, hoping that someday they would be able to reach the height of his talent. Until you actually get to know him, you'll find out that he just wants to get free lunch in exchange for a short song.
"Auw, you guys are no fun! Well, see ya tehe!" You and Lumine watch as he exits the classroom while doing little twirls here and there. Now that Venti has left, the classroom now only consists of you, Lumine, and some other students. You turn to look at Lumine, who seems to be occupied by her notes.
"Please don't remember, please don't remember" , you practically chant those words in your head hoping she doesn't remember what happens if one of you is late. But alas, the Gods don't seem to favor you as Lumine turns to look at you with a deadpanned stare that makes you shiver with fear.
"You know what you need to do, right?" 8 words. 8 words that make you want to hide in a box. You sigh deeply before saying, "Fine, where do you want to eat?" With that sentence, your best friend's previously deadpanned face now turned into a face of happiness and excitement.
"There's a new café around the corner, I heard their cake tasted good, we gotta go try it!" Lumine exclaims as she pulls your arm towards the half-crowded hallways of the University. It's always been like this with you two, since you were toddlers, Lumine and her twin brother were always the ones who conversed with others, the ones who socialized and made friends. You were an introvert but you could hold a conversation with a stranger at best. You've always wondered what would've happened to you if you hadn't met Lumine.
But how did you meet Lumine? Your memories are foggy and they feel incomplete, but you still remember how Lumine her and brother rescued you from being one step closer to an overdose. From being one step closer to death.
As you were lost in your thoughts, you didn't notice that both of you were already nearing the café.
"Did you hear about the new transfer student?"
"Yeah, I heard he was cute!"
"Isn't he like, famous or something?"
You walked past a bunch of girls gossiping, as usual. A transfer student, huh?
---
"Aaand we're here!" Lumine excitedly pointed at the newly built café. It was decorated with cat stickers, flower-like decorations, and it had a nice, soft vibe to it. You both enter the café through its transparent, yet somehow white doors. Upon entering, you inhale deeply.
"Whah! What smells so good in here?" You say placing both of your arms on the sides of your waist, posing as if you just won a fearsome battle.
"I told you, their cake is said to be delicious. Now, stop looking around like a lost pup and start ordering! I'm starving!"
Your golden best friend urges you to bring out your wallet with a grin so wide it makes her look like she wants to eat you. With a grunt, you depressingly bring out your wallet. After you ordered and paid for both of your cakes (and your cup of coffee), you and Lumine sit down at a spot near the windows at the back. You watch your best friend as she happily devours her cake while you take a sip of your coffee and bring out your notebook.
"Mm, hwhat are ywou dowhing?" You almost howl with laughter as you see how Lumine has cake crumbs all over her face and how she still likes to talk with her mouth full.
"Careful Lulu, you might attract flies." You teased with a playful tone, you watch with amusement as she struggles to speak properly with her mouth full.
"Now to answer your question, I am studying." "EHWAT?!" Lumine shouted so loud her words bounced off from the café's white walls, your face turned red from embarrassment.
"You? Studying? Are you sick today?" She swallows the one last piece of cake in her mouth and drinks some water. "Yes, yes, you're shocked because I finally decided to take my studies seriously blah, bla blaah, now can you please let me get to the point?"
"What point?" Suddenly, a very annoyingly familiar voice chimes in, "Hey girlies, are you guys eating cake without me?", "Childe leave us alone before I beat the fuck out of you."
"Oh please do, Lumi!" The tall ginger named Childe begged teasingly, "Do not call me that!" Lumine protested.
Childe, the flirt, the fighter, the rich boy. He was a tall and quite skinny guy with copper coloured hair and deep blue ocean eyes. As far as you know, he's rich AND loves fighting. He regularly invites the twins to spar on a daily basis, making both of them avoid him — on a regular basis too.
You watch closely as they both bicker and throw insults at each other (Childe is mostly throwing a bunch of flirty remarks). As they continue to bicker, you peacefully eat your cake and write down some notes from the lessons earlier. You finished eating your cake and writing but to no one's suprise, the lovebirds are still arguing and flirting here and there. "Wow, are they really that inlove?" While you choke out a laugh at their humorous argument, you can't help but feel a sting of pain in your chest with a mix of envy. You wondered what it would be like to fall inlove again, after all, love was such a hard thing for you.
"Hello? Y/N to Tevyat? Are you still here?" Lumine interrogates you while waving her hand infront of your face. "Huh? What? Are you both done flirting?" You ask her after snapping out of your thoughts.
"Childe left a little while ago and also, we were NOT flirting, well he was the one flirting, not me.", " You sure? 'Cause it looked like you wanted to kiss him, mua mua—oW—!" Just as you were about to finish your sentence, Lumine pinched your lips shut, "Ah, ah, ah. Who are you to judge if I wanna kiss him or not? You haven't even had your first kiss yet!" She said knowingly. Lumine has always known everything that had happened to you, everything. Meaning she also knew about your hopeless love life. Suddenly, it was almost as if a lightbulb turned on inside your head, "Maybe I should ask her about my dream earlier." But you dismissed that thought. Whilst packing your things and leaving the café you notice a few students running towards the main gate. Those few students later turned into crowds. All rushing to the same spot. Confused, you turned to look at your best friend, as she saw your puzzled expression she replied with, "Something must be happening near the main gate, huh probably a fight, it's best if we avoid it." And avoid it you both did. After you both bid a few 'bye's and 'see you later's, you decided to take the long path to your next class since the shortcut was near the main gate (and you wanted to avoid it due to Lumine's words earlier). As you were walking, you can't help but think about what your best friend said.
"Who are you to judge if I wanna kiss him or not? You haven't even had your first kiss yet!"
She was right, as far as you can tell you hadn't had your first kiss yet, let alone a proper love interest. You let yourself get lost in your thoughts again and while doing so, you failed to notice the short figure approaching you.
"Hwua—!" With a loud thud, you fell on the floor and landed face-first. Quickly snapping out of your thoughts and trying to assess the situation you're in, you turn to look at the perpetrator who bumped you.
"What the fucking hell do you think you're doing?" You ask loudly, loud enough for your words to bounce through the walls of the quiet hallway. To your suprise, the boy kept on walking, as if you hadn't just shouted. "Hey, you! Shorty! Shorty with the purple hair and ugly haircut!" And with those final words, he stopped in his tracks and looked in your direction.
You couldn't recall much, but as far as you remember you were just calling him "shorty" a few seconds ago, so how did he manage to tower infront of you in just a few seconds?
"What did you just call me?" The short boy asked, annoyance lacing his words, to which you replied with, "I said 'what the fucking hell do you think you're doing?', Shorty."
To your suprise, he fell silent. A few seconds passed and he finally spoke, "Well, what did I do?"
You couldn't believe it. The audacity of this man to ask what crime he committed JUST AFTER committing it minutes ago.
Before you responded, you stood up and gathered your scattered notes and books and arranged them. You held them near your chest and said, "You bumped into me so hard you scattered my things and made me fall face-first. It hurts, y'know?" You look at him intently, waiting for an answer but to your shocking dismay, he just scoffs. "Is that all? Brat, go to the nurse's office if it hurts."
You stared at him, wide-eyed, mouth slightly open from shock. Did this fucking minion just call me a brat? Him?! He's probably even shorter than me! "Who the hell are you calling a brat when you've got the attitude of a spoiled kid?" You bark back, clutching your things tightly, anger and irritation was flowing through your veins.
He scoffs, "The fuck you calling a spoiled kid? If anything, you're the kid here." He spat.
"You don't even look 5'4, you don't have the right to judge my height when you look like a dwarf." You decided to fight fire with fire, except instead of fire, it's just a bunch of random insults.
He scoffs again and turns around before saying, "Mind your manners, bitch." And with that, he left.
You stood in shock, trying to proccess what the hell you both were doing just a few minutes ago. "That god fucking minion called me a bitch...I've never seen something so full of shit before." As much as you hated that short stack of anger issues, he seemed quite familiar. You felt like something was missing, something you forgot. And thats when it hit you: you were late to class again.