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Only a week left before Zhongli graduates and Childe doesn’t like how time passes by so quickly. Even with the help of the twins and Paimon when it comes to confessing, he still feels like he wouldn’t have enough courage when it comes to the real thing. There’s a difference between practicing with someone else you know versus the person you dearly love.
And… he messed up again for the 100th time.
Rehearsing for a confession is a pain, there’s Aether trying to not hold back his laugh and is trying his best to act like Zhongli, Lumine wanting to smack his back after failing and Paimon who keeps on laughing every time he stutters. Childe knew there’s no way that he would confess to him the day before his ceremony. Even letters, if you asked him how many times he tried to write one he would just point at three huge plastic bags filled with failed attempts of love letters for him. After a few hours of confession rehearsal, Lumine seriously lost it with Childe and whacked him with her paper fan for how many times possible. “Are you seriously giving up already?” she asked him. The male was looking down on the ground, too afraid to reply. Paimon and Aether both looked at each other before looking back at Childe. The blonde female sighed once more before picking up her bag. “Tartaglia, you only have a few days left before his graduation ceremony. I keep hearing rumors that right after the ceremony he would be leaving the country soon for college. It would be a while before he returns and who knows, he may have already found someone when he comes back here,” she says before leaving his room.
Paimon followed Lumine silently, however Aether was left behind, slowly approaching Childe. “Do you want to practice again before I go?” he quietly asked. There was no reply from him as Childe covered his face with both of his hands because he felt like he was about to cry. The blond male sighed before silently walking out of the other male’s room, leaving him alone.
If he had the courage to confess sooner the two of them would probably be a thing right now. He really hates it.
Days went by so fast before he knew it, it was already the last day of school. A lot of the students were happy, he could even hear them enthusiastically talk about their plans for the summer and their plans for later night. Childe sighed to himself, he really chose to spend the last day of school going with his friends to the mall rather than going to Zhongli to confess. This decision probably would haunt him for the rest of his life and he was so damn willing to accept this fact and die.
He was already a good distance from the school and was walking behind Lumine, Aether and Paimon who were talking about what they plan to order at Wamin Restaurant. Childe’s mind was just filled with Zhongli that he couldn’t even think of what he would like to eat for their last day of school outing. It was just then he finally came to his senses, that he just had to confess to Zhongli right away before it was too late. The male quickly shoved his bag at Lumine and said, “You guys go on ahead, I still have unfinished business to do.”
Three of his friends, dumbfounded at what their child did, just stood there as they watched him run back to their campus.
Childe ran as fast as he could as he silently prayed that Zhongli would still be there, finishing up the last of his student council work. The male passed by a lot of the remaining students on his way to the student council room, so there was indeed a sign that he would still be there. As soon as he reached the door to the room, he was panting so hard and his heart was beating so fast. Hopefully, his decision of running back to their campus would be worth it and that he would come out as a taken male right after this. Childe’s hand slowly reached over the sliding door of the room and slowly opened it, being greeted with Zhongli sitting on the president’s chair, doing the last of his work.
“Tartaglia, I thought you left already with your friends?” Zhongli asked, looking up from the paperwork that he was doing. The brown haired male gulped for a moment and took a deep breath, trying to remember what he had practiced with Lumine, Aether and Paimon a week ago. He slowly walked up to his desk and looked at him in the eye, hoping that the words he had wanted to say before would come out of his mouth.
Zhongli looked at him in confusion but patiently waited for what he was about to say.
“I… love you Zhongli. I have always had from the very start.”
Childe was blushing red at those words, he may have done it but what could be his upperclassman’s answer? It’s either he would earn a heartbreak or earn a boyfriend at this rate. The male silently stood there as he stared at his crush’s dumbfounded expression but that dumbfounded expression turned into a smile which made him confused.
The upperclassman stood up from his chair and leaned closer to his dear underclassman, lips touching and Childe couldn’t fucking believe it. Zhongli was kissing him AND HE COULD DIE HAPPY ON THE SPOT. The two stayed there for a while, indulging in the kiss that he started before pulling away. Childe was dazed. The feelings that he had hidden for so long were finally returned.
Zhongli chuckled, “I was told to do that to the person that I love and I honestly thought I’d never get to do it,” he said.
His eyes widened as he started to cry, he really couldn’t believe it. Is this even real life at this point? There’s no way this would be all a dream. The upperclassman let out his hand, “I think I could make time for my boyfriend. Don’t you think so?” Zhongli smiled.
Childe nodded and grabbed his hand, “That would be lovely, Zhongli.”
The two then leaned in for another kiss afterwards.
Childe was now in his third year.
Zhongli may be thousands of miles away for college, he promised that he would always come back during the summer and winter break to spend time with him but as for the time being, their only exchange will be through online messaging and sometimes, handwritten letters. The decision of running back to school was honestly the best thing that he had ever decided since it earned him a boyfriend right after and god how happy Childe was when he introduced him to Lumine, Aether and Paimon as his boyfriend.
Maintaining long distance relationships may be hard but not for the both of them but he believes that their love for each other would never be underestimated.
Smiling softly to himself as he held the letter in his hands today must be a wonderful day for him.
He looks forward to the day where he could hug him in his arms again.