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At first, Lumine loved each little gesture and trinket he’d give her.
“Aww, thank you!” Lumine would say with a bright smile, accepting each miscellaneous gift.
She would slowly unwrap the paper around the gift just like she knew he liked her to do, and then show him what he got her as if he didn’t know. The paper was always a lilac purple, and it’d always make a crinkle crinkle sound when Lumine touched it, no matter how gentle she was.
He’d hug her from behind, enveloping her in his lovely scent--it was a sweet, musky, and addictive smell. Lumine had once asked him what the scent was, and he gave her that signature smile of his, telling her it was a precious flower dear to him.
Her favorite color used to be lilac purple, and her favorite flower used to be any given by him. Her wardrobe had many different hues of whites, yellows, and purples. “They go so well together! The two colors compliment each other, just like how we do,” she used to say.
He’d randomly appear from around the corner with a bouquet of flowers--of lilies, asters, and cecilias. “For the pretty lady,” he’d say, presenting the flowers with a flourish. They’d also be wrapped by the lilac paper the little trinkets were.
Lumine used to find it endearing how when he cooked for her, he’d present it on a dish along with a note written on a lilac-colored lily petal. They’d say cute little things like love you , or you shine like a golden light, or how was your day? She would read each note with a smile, beaming up at him when she was done reading.
Lumine’s room had eventually filled up with the trinkets he got her, with the lily scent that accompanied everything, with the memories of days they had spent together. She was so engulfed in his scent that people told her she always smelled of lilies; Lumine would just respond with a slightly surprised look. But she hadn’t used any lily-scented products. She’d eventually give them a smile and thank them, anyway.
Before she knew it, Lumine’s days were always full of him . He’d always be there with his lilac, and his lily. One day, he suggested that she move in. Lumine didn’t know why, but the thought of saying yes sent chills down her back, so she politely declined. He had immediately dismissed her, saying it was fine if she wasn’t ready. Lumine had thought it was fine.
Even without living together, he’d always be by her side. He’d always greet her as she stepped out the door, and he’d walk her to work. He’d check in on her multiple times throughout the day, as if he was worried she’d suddenly disappear. As if he didn’t trust her. He’d then walk her home after work, and would stay very late, to the point where Lumine would be practically asleep when he left.
At first, Lumine loved how thoughtful, how caring he was. She loved how he’d worry over her and treat her like a princess--what girl wouldn’t? But of course, all things tire over time, and that was what he worried about.
He loves how Lumine tries to treat everyone with kindness. He loves how when she smiles, it’s almost as if his whole world just lights up. He loves how she pouts when she’s thinking really, really hard. He loves the way she tries to help with things she’s clearly not up for, yet still wants to attempt to do. He loves when she clasps her hands in excitement, and how she has stars shining in her eyes. He loves her. Maybe that’s his issue--he loves her too much.
But he was scared that she’d stop loving him. He was scared that he’d lose Lumine, just like he lost something important in the past. He was scared of how he’d act after Lumine. All these fears caused him to be overbearing.
He’d pop up in every aspect of Lumine’s life, be it a new hobby or place. One can imagine how that’d make her feel after some time--at first, it’s lovely and sweet, but it soon becomes a sickening sweetness and annoyance. To put it shortly, Lumine felt backed up against the wall. The one she fell in love with was not this man.
The last time she even remembered having genuine fun with him was on his birthday, two months ago. They had gone to the Angel’s Share, and had shared hushed whispers late into the night at home. But now, she could hardly remember what he said to make her smile so much her cheeks hurt the next day.
The trinkets that she used to love? They feel like a desperate attempt to win her back with materialistic objects. Lumine only feels the slightest twinge of guilt when she pockets the trinkets without unwrapping them; his expression looks so pitiful she can hardly keep from cringing.
That flowery smell of his? It was once sweet, but now, Lumine gets a headache from how suffocating and sickly it is. She hates it. She hates, hates, hates how no matter how many times she tries to wash it off, the scent still follows her everywhere, it still fills her nostrils, and it presses down on her.
Her favorite color used to be lilac purple. What a pity, such a perfectly good color ruined by him . Her wardrobe is full of every color but purple. When her friends ask her why she has a plethora of colors for a closet, yet no purples, she jokingly replies, “I’m allergic to purple.” Oh, how she wishes it were true.
Those little lilac-wrapped bouquets that he’d give her randomly? Now, they’re embarrassing , and creepy . Lumine can’t help but feel extremely annoyed and uncomfortable when he pops up out of nowhere with a huge flower bouquet to give to her. She pulls him to the side of the sidewalk, and hisses at him. “We’re not even dating anymore, why are you still doing this? We’re over, and have been for months . How did you even find me? I moved from Mondstadt to Liyue to get away from you .”
He just smiles the biggest smile ever, as if his only purpose is to get Lumine to look at him. “You looked at me.”
Those lovely meals he used to cook for her? Today, when Lumine comes home to the smell of food cooking, she screams. She calls the cops, telling them her address, and how someone broke into her house. And he has the audacity to reach a hand towards her then pause midway, as if he’s reconsidering. He’s in the wrong, not her. She doesn’t even see the handwritten note he was going to put on her plate that says I still love you .
Lumine can't help but look down on him slightly. This is the man she once loved with all her heart? How was her heart so blind?
__________
“Good morning, Officer Jiayi. Report of anything happening before you sign off from your shift?” Sergeant Fengyan asks.
“Good morning, Sergeant Fengyan. Must say, it was quite the silent night. There was only one call throughout my shift; one of home break-in. I’ve written up the report for you to review--forgive me if I’m breaching protocol, but I must say, it’s a real pity that Mondstadt’s former Captain is the criminal in this. Comes to show how truly anyone could be a bad person, eh?” Officer Jiayi says.
“Former Captain from the Mondstadt branch? If I am remembering correctly, you must mean Capt--I meant, Kaeya Alberich? Tch, what a pity.”