Your Coffee Scented Photos

“Will you take another photo of me again, soon?”
Albedo, a simple barista that works at a cafe nearby his college seems to notice the same photographer he bumped into walking inside at his work hours everyday. And as predicted, the photographer named Kaeya Alberich is interested in taking his photos for modeling in exchange for breaking his camera lens.

Notes:

a/n: i never expected myself to take upon writing this out of nowhere but my brain juice had to be squeezed at some point so, hope y’all enjoy it :,} also, there’s a lot of cussing here so yah.
small heads up; my grammar isn’t really that good so pls don’t bully me ;-;

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

Albedo disliked certain holidays.

From Valentine’s to Halloween, the male just didn’t seem to have a liking towards these sorts of events that others celebrate when the calendar hits the date. Let’s just say he just didn’t get the benefit of it. However, since the cafe he works at is focused on ‘fitting the aesthetic,’ he had no choice but to oblige in creating decorations and such since the cafe manager keeps loud mouthing to their workers about apparently keeping the business low and not knowing how to attract the customers.

Albedo didn’t nor did he ever care. He was just your average introverted college student working at a part-time job to make money in order to provide himself in his dorm room and pay off to whatever items he needed in projects and such. Like a normal straight-A student would, Albedo studies hard, trying to divide his time for work hours and classes, even time for naps—he had it all on his time chart. And with all his hard work, all of his assignments return with a 100% score.

Although, even if this was a daily schedule for him to score 100 every year, month, or day that passes, Albedo…feels nothing at all. Even with all his friends complimenting his works, he would shrug it off, saying it was nothing and that he just studied for it to be it that way. Aether would say the only time he’ll see Albedo smile was when he was walking his little sister Klee home from elementary. Despite all of that, Albedo was just…Albedo.

His parents were…not strict on him, however Albedo was strict with himself to become a child he wants his parents to expect. And so he did just that. He did his own chores at an early age in elementary, he already knew how to count and learned the alphabet at age 3, and in high school he had a job which was a barista at the current cafe he worked at till college.

But, even with his boring personality, everyone agrees on one thing when they hear the name ‘Albedo’ on his college building. They would all agree for him to be ‘good looking.’ A lot of girls and boys would often send him gifts, love letters, and unexpected confessions out of nowhere when Albedo heads off to class. He wouldn’t say he’s irritated by it, after all, he knows feelings have to be let out somehow but the thing is…this happens almost every week. He was getting a little tired of being called Mr. Popular by the higher-ups.

He’s sick and tired of this routine of his all and all over again, running like he was a hamster on a wheel that never ends no matter how many times he runs. He was someone you would find boring, a passing high-grade student in both chemistry and science. And a simple barista from a small cafe.

In the cafe he works at, is also where his two friends Aether and Sucrose would work at. The only two people he can gladly call his friends despite being so popular around the campus. He swore to always have their backs and—well, not always but when they really needed it for sure.

Like right now.

“What?!”

“Please, Albedo, I’m really sorry but Aether has a high fever right now and I’m afraid he can’t make it to his shift today,” the tone in Lumine’s voice seems frantic, and a little serious about her twin brother’s condition. “It’s just for now I promise!”

“Huh? Well—uh, why’d you ask Sucrose or Amber instead? I’m just headed off to buy materials for my project and—

“Amber and Sucrose both have classes right now and they’ll be late if they decide to take over. Plus, I already asked them earlier and they both told me they can’t soo…”

Albedo’s brows furrowed in frustration, pushing his forehead with his forefinger and thumb together as his eyes fluttered shut. 12th of July, Albedo will never forget this day. The day where his life went to complete goat shit. Great, out of all days when he can just casually buy stuff for his next experiment for chemistry classes, Aether just had to be sick now. He had a feeling this would happen though since yesterday his friend apparently decided to eat three bowls of spicy ramen along with one of their seniors in college; Itto. And also run through the rain after not bringing an umbrella. He was dumb, as always. “Fine,” he spits out, a little annoyed. “Just for now.” the male added.

“Thank you so much! Again, I’m so sorry for the inconvenience of this. I promise I’ll gift you something this Valentine’s Day!” Lumine cheers behind the phone, a smile creeping up her cheeks. Albedo shakes his head, his feet skipping to another direction instead of the way towards the store he was supposed to head to, “No, it’s alright. I don’t celebrate valentines, and Aether’s a dumbass sometimes I can understand.” Lumine chuckles through the phone, “Ahahaha..! Yeah…anyways I’ll be checking on Aether’s condition now. I’ll call you when he’s feeling better.”

“Sure, take care now I got his shift.” Then the call ended there. Nice fucking job, now he has two shifts for the day instead of munching on his packed lunch sandwich for his break hours. Fucking great. Albedo wanted to kick a boulder right now. He was too stressed about this. ‘Guess he has to contact his mom to pick up Klee for him instead. Looking at the time on his watch, Albedo panics a bit. “Shit, his work shift starts at this hour…” he murmurs to himself before he didn’t hesitate to not start running.

At the road, peoples’ eyes turn on his running figure, probably thinking of what caused him to act this way as he was running away from somebody. Albedo hated running, but this was the only way for him to arrive faster in order for him to make it to his shift. Well, Aether’s shift to be precise. The road wasn’t vast, the figures of citizens blinded the areas, it causes the male to become confused for a bit due to the number of people around. There was no holiday going around, but there was a small festival celebrated around the corner of the road he was running in. This has to happen out of all this, ughhh…he was pissed. He would’ve been kicking Aether in the face right now for having a fever if he could. And when he said he was confused about where he was running, Albedo wasn’t kidding.

He even bumped into someone holding an expensive camera.

Landing down on his back, the others that surrounded him ignored both him and the man that Albedo accidentally bumped into. Of course, this had to happen…he already felt embarrassed. As Albedo opened his eyes, he quickly started to grab his stuff in a hurry while saying the phrase ‘I’m sorry all and all over again. Grabbing the expensive canon camera from the side, he hands it to the man he bumped into, “Here, I’m really sorry for bumping into you I’m just in a hurry right now—

“Beautiful.”

Albedo stopped muttering, eyes wide a little. What the hell did this guy just say? He was sure he probably didn’t hear that correctly, the road was loud after all. “I’m sorry what?” He questions, eyebrow cocking up. The guy realized what he had just said, and covers his mouth with his right palm, waving the other one around. “Ah— I’m sorry I didn’t mean I was just…”

“Correct me if I’m wrong but did you say beautiful? I couldn’t hear well I apologize,” Albedo asks next, head tilting sideways in curiosity. He has heard others say that to him plenty in numbers of times but this was the first time he had heard it from a new stranger. A male also. The man shakes his head, smiling nervously as he stood from his position, “I- well, yeah, it just blurted out of nowhere I’m sorry,” he says before grabbing the camera out of Albedo’s hands, blowing the dust off the lens and rubbing the dust off from the body. The stranger frowns, sending a small sign to Albedo somehow. “Ah, shit. The lens is broken.” He hears the man say.

Albedo’s body tensed. Great, his day just got even worse from now. First, it was taking over Aether’s shift along with his instead of buying items for his project (which he somehow was aching to do), now he had to pay some stranger for breaking their lenses. What’s next? Will he probably accidentally murder someone during work hours inside the cafe? He has a feeling he might, though, no doubt. The other problem now was that he was getting late.

The male cursed underneath his breath, the stress growing onto him. What kind of apology could he say now for breaking someone’s property? Ugh, what a headache, “Fuck...listen, man, I am so sorry for breaking it, I-I just didn’t know where I was running, there are so many people around, right now and—

His sentence was cut off as he hears the man laugh behind the loud chatters of each individual on the road. Embarrassed, all Albedo could do was brush the back of his neck and look away. He can’t look straight to this guy’s blue eyes.

The man’s tanned skin was also gorgeous, Albedo might be mistaken as this man for some kind of model. Other than the guy's charming looks, Albedo had a thought of what this guy's profession might just be just by looking at the expensive camera he's holding. "Ahahaha...! No need to apologize it's fine," the man says, now looking right at Albedo who has been staring at him the whole time. This guy right here was a sweet talker he can tell, from his smooth tone in his vocals, the white-haired male can tell he probably had tons of girlfriends in the past. But that was merely just a small judge of prediction. Albedo knew he can't just judge that quickly from a random dude he bumped into on the busy road. Albedo counts the time that was running...oh boy, how is he going to pay now? The money he was saving was supposed to be for his dorm rent and for his school projects. There is no way he had to pay for those damn lenses right now whenever he's in a hurry. Ahh...he felt his anger coiling up right now in his mind...

"Hello? Sir, are you listening?"

Fuck he forgot about this guy.

"Huh??" Albedo snaps away from his thoughts. "Oh, I'm really sorry, sir but I'm really just in a hurry right now..! I'll pay for your lens soon I swear..! Goodbye now..!" Albedo tells him before he continued to run off, completely ignoring the guy's calls. The man watched as he runs off, a surprising look has worn on his face before it shifts into a grin. A small chuckle escaped his lips. "What a strange guy..."

As Albedo continued to run towards the cafe, he bumped into a few more people here and there then...he made it. Just a little on time. Panting on his knees, Albedo immediately enters the cafe and ran straight to the changing room. The line on the counter was currently being served by Eula and Noelle, thankfully. Eula batted an eye on him, giving the 'why are you even here?' or 'where’s Aether?' look. By afternoon hours, the college students that study in the same college as Albedo mostly come here to the cafe to either hang out with their friends or just type on their laptops to finish their long essay projects. He knows some of the people that walk by inside, that one music kid Kazuha Kaedehara along with Xiao were both hanging out on one table, sipping on their lattes with their instruments in hand as they chattered. And Yanfei who was with Hu Tao on one side having a small chat while Yanfei was fastly typing on her laptop as Hu Tao talked and babbled loudly. He usually sees them all here, and he's used to their presence.

Upon entering the changing room, Albedo's eyes met along with Venti who was currently on break. The male was munching on his overpriced chicken sandwich which Albedo can tell he bought from Subway. "Oh hey, why are you here early?" was the first thing the male says to him while scrolling on his phone feet up the desk. Albedo ignores his question as he walked towards his changing locker on the side and swung it open. Venti grinned, he can tell that Albedo felt troubled at the moment. "Woah, you're fuming right now, what hooked you up today?" he teases, and an irk mark appeared right at Albedo's forehead. God, please give him the patience to not punch this guy in the face. "What hooked me up is my bad mood so don't talk to me," he replied, and Venti laughed.

The guy was always like that so Albedo was used to ignoring him. He was often an annoyance, but when it comes to helping staff, Venti was a real honest worker and a cheerful individual. Albedo has some respect for him still. After tying the green apron around his waist, Albedo walks out of the changing room, ignoring Venti's sentence; "Be careful not to punch couples at the counter!"

Walking over to the cashier where Eula was at serving the customers, she looked right at him, her right arm landed down her hip. "Now what are you doing here? Isn't it Aether's shift today?"

"He's called in sick. I'm taking over his shift for a while," Albedo replied as he started to make the customers' orders. Eula reacted surprised a bit, though she went back to what she was also doing before. And then the entire cafe started to get busy as always. Time passed by, the cafe's customers were decreasing one by one as Albedo quickly serves the drinks as quickly as possible to serve to them. It was a little hot inside of where he was serving, a good thing he wasn't wearing the sleeved uniform for the day, or else he would've been slime goo stuck under the fridge other than the kicked ice. The whole cafe employees were as stiff as he was, just a normal workday loading into their pants as a daily routine to do. Saving money was in Albedo's mind right now on what he was having for dinner today. As his day continued to run, the bells that were tied near the cafe entrance ringed, signaling an entered customer arriving. Sighing, Albedo looked at the entry's direction- before his eyes met against a certain person's familiar blue pupils. Ah, shit..

It was the same stranger he bumped into earlier at the road...and the same canon camera he was holding into. Fuck, fuck, fuck...When the man spotted him, he smiles before waving in his direction. That grin reads evilness, Albedo can tell. He’s done for, he doesn’t even have cash in him right now, dear god..

Slowly, he slumped down the counter before yet again, Eula notices his odd actions. "Albedo, what in the devil are you doing?" she asks the male who looked terrified. Albedo looked right at her before standing right back up, "It's uh...its nothing, I-I'll go start serving the cups..." he whispers to her before running at the back of the staff room. Eula rose a brow at him, yet she turns back around to spot a good-looking tanned man standing right at her at the counter. "Good afternoon, lovely," he greets, and Eula greets back with a soft smile, "Good afternoon to you too, sir. What would you like for today?"

The man looked right over the menu, a finger resting against his chin as he thought of what to order. "Hmmm.." he hummed. "I'll have an ordinary cup of coffee. And probably a bagel with cream cheese if you may," he requests, and Eula nods her head. "Of course, sir. One cup of coffee and a bagel coming right up. Would you like that in a teacup? Or…?” The man smiled over from his shoulder, coming along with a wink in Eula’s direction, “I’ll just take a plastic cup, please.”

“Right…Uhh, Albedo..!” Eula called right up to the male. Shrieking, Albedo came out of the staff station and tried to avoid eye contact with the stranger as possible as he could, even when his nerves were building right inside his guts right here in there at the moment when he could feel the man’s eyes on him.

“Here is your change, and you can wait for your order right over there. Thank you so much for buying,” the light blue-haired woman tells the other, telling the man to move over to where Albedo was making his drink. Thanks a lot, Eula, now the tension in his mind just added up. With a visible frown, Albedo prepared his drink and the bagel on a plate before walking over to the dark-blue-haired male who had a smirk of a Cheshire Cat. Grabbing the marker on the side, Albedo looks over to him. “What will your name be, sir?” He tried his best not to stutter there at the moment.

The man smiles, “Kaeya.”

Albedo looked back at the cup whilst writing the name ‘Kaeya.’ He swallows a lump from his throat. So, that was the stranger’s name? Kaeya? He wasn’t sure if he was only using someone else’s name but…

“Here’s your coffee and bagel, sir. Have a nice meal,” Albedo hands him over his order as Kaeya thanked him softly. “Thank you so much uh…Albedo?” His tone sounded as if he had said his name wrong. Albedo stretches a forced smile from his lips, tapping his finger down on the counter as if he was counting down his patience. If only name cards didn’t exist. Though, he tries to keep his composure down.

“Yes, sir. That’s my name,” he introduces so awkwardly. Kaeya nodded his head up down before taking his order then smiling back at him, “Alright, Mr. Albedo, meet me at my table right after. I wanna talk,” then he left to sit down on one of the sides. Albedo felt a weight on his shoulders. Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck…he was fucked.

Did he even have any cash with him right now? The cash was for his dinner for the later night but, guesses say he has to hand it over to pay up for his debt. Ah…if only he wasn’t such in a rush earlier then none of this would’ve happened…if only he stopped Aether from being such an idiot and obliged to Itto’s stupid request for those goddamn ramen noodles he had to pay for the other day and probably shared an umbrella with him then maybe none of this would be happening. He sighs, a hand on his forehead before he looked back at the stranger.

Click!

Albedo hears the sound of a camera clicking right when he looked over to where Kaeya was at. His eyes widened opened as he saw the camera facing towards his direction, and as it slowly slide down, Kaeya’s face appeared, smiling right over at him. Oh, his anger just added up. What was this guy thinking? Taking a pic of him with no permission.

“Albedo do you somehow know this gu—

“Excuse me for a bit, Eula I need to talk to him,” Albedo cuts the female off, eyebrows furrowed down in annoyance before he stomps off to the cocky photographer Kaeya. The fuel that was boiling inside his chest was in heat, and Albedo just couldn’t take more of it when the male was already stressed enough for the day. He did not like it when someone takes his photo without asking first. It bugs him…because it happened to him countless times.

As he made it to Kaeya’s table, he gradually placed his palm down, being careful not to smash his coffee away along with the damn bagel he ordered. “Hello, excuse me,” Albedo greets. Kaeya looked up to him and grins, “I see I finally got your attention. Please, do take a seat.”

huh? Albedo was bewildered. “Excuse me? Take a seat? You just took my photo without permission, couldn’t you just wait till I’m done?” he tells Kaeya, a little pissed. He just wanted to get this over with without starting a huge argument. Kaeya calmly takes a sip out of his coffee cup then intertwined both of his hands together, as he places his head on top of them, a sweet smile coming in together. Albedo was starting to get sick of that smile of his. “Didn’t I tell you earlier to visit my table after? I just wanna talk real quick that’s all.”

Albedo scratches his head in frustration, looking over to the counter to see if Eula was watching. Yep, she was indeed looking right at him, eyes glued to his figure. This time along with Noelle and Sucrose who had just arrived. Looking at the blue-haired male, Albedo sighs, “If this is about me bumping into you earlier and breaking your camera lenses then…I am truly sorry, ok? I’ll try to find a way to either pay for it or replace it I don’t know…whatever you want between. But taking a photo of me without my consent is not it, sir Kaeya.”

The man in front of him chuckles, “I like how you call me sir Kaeya. Call me that from now on.”

Albedo snatches a chair across him, sitting down before he opened his mouth once again, “Just get straight to the point, sir Kaeya, what is it you want from me in order to pay?”

Kaeya smiles again, “Simple. I want you to model for me for my latest photoshoot.”

huh???

Albedo was silent for a moment before speaking, “Yeah umm, no—sorry, but I have to decline your offer.”

Kaeya frowns, “But didn’t you just say you wanted to pay back for the lenses you broke? I mean, I’m not saying it’s your fault it’s just that these lenses are quite very expensive.” Albedo let out another heavy sigh, clearly done with this guy’s antics. He just wanted to rest now that’s all. Also, he had to start studying earlier since exams are coming up again soon. “Look, once again I’m very sorry for accidentally breaking your camera lenses, but I’d rather payback for them rather than…modeling as an exchange,” he explained to Kaeya. “Besides, I don’t have any…any kind of modeling experience so…”

“You sure? Modeling is easier than buying an expensive canon lens~” Kaeya had a cocky aura around that sentence of his. “Just to remind you camera lenses for these cost a hundred dollars.”

“I’m sorry—A hundred?!” Albedo was practically yelling already. Good thing he didn’t catch much attention from other customers who were talking to one another. Causing a ruckus is the last thing the white-haired male wants to do before dying. Kaeya nods, “Plus, they’re canon zoom-in camera lenses so make that a thousand dollars. Two.” Kaeya raised a peace sign.

“Two-thousand?!” The amount of money like that was both his project and dorm rent combined. Mix with the food he buys for himself. Sitting down back on the table, Albedo was never more surprised. Rich people…are scary.

“You’ve gotta be joking…is there at least a cheaper option? Something I can afford?” He asks, low-key sounding a little desperate in front of Kaeya. The male across him shakes his head, “I’m afraid the cheapest option is only lower than 90 bucks. It’s either that or just model, which is easier.”

Albedo started to feel a little hazy, fuck this life of his, he wants to die. “Please don’t do this to me, sir Kaeya, I swear I never had a single experience with modeling, I’m terrible at it.”

Now it was Kaeya’s turn to sigh, “I’m afraid those are the only options I have for you. I can’t think of anything else better now, can I? Let me say this again, I’m not telling you to model for me as in professional model stances, I’m saying like—just pose for me because the theme I’m supposed to be doing for today is an educational profession.” Taking another sip of his cup of coffee, Kaeya looks back at Albedo who was being a little worried, “I’m not forcing you either, buddy. I can't just let these lenses stay broken. But it’s simple, I promise to you. All you have to do is strike simple poses for me, either studying, reading, or even writing. Very simple, right? Better than paying for lenses like these.”

Albedo looks away for a moment, thinking of a decision to choose before going to an agreement with him. He’s a random guy he just met, how can he trust him so easily? This guy was probably a creep—he can’t just go with him. “Are you a photography student, somehow?” Albedo questions him. Sitting up, Kaeya fixes his tie then rolls his sleeve back to cool his arms a bit. “Let me introduce myself again. My name is Kaeya Alberich, 27 years old. I’m a professional photographer. My job is to take the best photos I can around the world. And that includes people like you.”

Albedo took his time before he replied, “Albedo Kreindeprinz, 21. I’m a college student. I’m currently studying both chemistry and alchemy.” He introduces, taking his hand out to him. Kaeya took it and they both shared a small handshake. “Well Albedo, have you finally made your choice?”

As silence abrupt their conversation, Albedo took his time to think of a choice for him to make. It was either that or pay his whole life allowance for fucking canon lenses. If only time could go back and he could fix himself of not running into this odd stranger right here that was surprisingly good-looking after taking a look at his attire for like- three times. Rolling his eyes, Albedo sighs one last time, “How many photoshoots do you need until our deal is over?”

Kaeya smirks, “Ah, straightforward, aren't we? Just a few, then I’m ready to roll out.” Albedo nodded his head as he stands up from the table, carefully fixing his apron before looking back right over to the pretty photographer, “Then, where shall we meet? And when will we start?”

“You’re an interesting one. Don’t worry, let’s start next week. Just give me your number and I’ll message you when our deal will eventually start.”

Albedo wasn’t sure if what he was doing was right but…if it was only for Kaeya to shut up about paying for his stupid lenses then, he’ll do whatever it takes. Grabbing his phone out, Albedo and Kaeya both exchanged numbers before the two separated for the day.

“Looking forward to working with you, sir Kaeya.” Albedo murmurs to him, one last time as he turned around to face the photographer. Smirking, Kaeya lays his head on his fists, before speaking back, "Also looking forward working with you, Albedo."

****

Albedo finds himself a bit distracted during one of his classes.

He wasn't really sure why, it was probably the cold breeze in the room or either the person's snores who was sleeping below his table. Or it was just him continuously chewing on his pen and notes in hand. When Albedo usually acts like this, he starts to think that he might've forgotten about something back at home but when he looks back, it was just literally nothing at all. He wasn't really sure what was stressing him out so badly like this other than the pile of projects he had to finish. Three days have passed after he agreed to Kaeya's deal involving those canon lenses, and never has he been more stressed. Also yesterday, Aether finally returned from his sickness and Albedo hit the poor guy on his head as a 'welcome back' sign for pissing him off in taking over his shifts. Pushing his hair back, he can hear a few whispers coming in his direction and from the left, yet he just ignored them. It had been almost 40 minutes since the class started and Albedo started to feel a little dizzy. Was it something he ate last night? All he had was a plate of mac n’ cheese for dinner.

That's when his mind ached. Fuck, what was up with him? He's not acting like his usual self today.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed loudly in his bag. Albedo couldn't hear what the teacher was explaining when he snapped back out in reality. Looking over his bag, the male looked at the notification text that popped out from the screen. He was expecting it was either Aether or Sucrose who had messaged him but no...it was this guy Kaeya. A sigh escaped his lips. Not now, man, not now. The message on the notif bar reads: Hey! idk if you can see my message but how does next saturday sound for a meet-up at starbucks? i have a few reference photos that you can look at so you would know what pose to strike when i take your photo. you can choose your destination of where you think is a perfect area to take photoshoots. in that case, ill be leaving the area choice to you ;) let's meet next saturday, 11am :)

The male says nothing but turned his phone off and laid his head down on the table along with the heaviest sigh he let out for the day. His mind just went in another direction other than the class topic. Destination choice up to him? He wasn't an expert at these but there is one girl he knows that is a complete expert at modeling careers.

When classes ended, he went straight to the theatre club to ask Yunjin about what he was supposed to do in that situation. He never really considered Yunjin as a close friend or just a friend, he would just like to see her as acquaintances. Aether was the one who introduced her to him one time at a party Albedo was eventually forced to join one night since apparently, he's 'studying too much inside his dorm room. Not like he cared at all, all he did at the party was drink a few fizzy drinks and eat the free food at the food corner while trying his best to avoid couples doing the nasty inside the bedrooms. Still, just like holidays, Albedo had a more huge dislike towards house parties. Nothing was worse than getting his dick soaked with some random stranger who was horny in a crowd dance.

At the stage where Yunjin was finished performing at, Albedo ignored the other students who were staring straight at him. "Yunjin...!" he calls, and the girl looked over to where he was at. "Oh, Albedo..! What brings you here?" she questioned, putting her stick down on the side. Adjusting his bag, Albedo tells her everything she needed to hear in order to give him a few tips. Yunjin hums over his explanation, "Ah I see...so you're supposed to model for this young man named...Kaeya, was it? In order to be a payment for breaking his expensive camera lenses. And now, you want advice from me to where would be a perfect model place to fit a school-themed photoshoot?" she repeated everything he had explained. Albedo nodded nonchalantly.

Yunjin giggled, "I never knew you were that type of person to do that much just to pay something back to a total stranger, senior Albedo," she laughed, and Albedo looked away from embarrassment. "However, since it is a school-themed photoshoot that you'll be posing in, perhaps you can try at a local library or either at your home?"

"M-My dorm room? No way I'm not letting a total stranger into my dorm room, I can't just trust him fully that much yet," Albedo was certain on what he was saying. He had a point, he just met this guy three days ago and all the communication he's ever had from him was from the cafe table and through messaging. And today was the first message he had ever received from that guy. Yunjin places a finger on her chin, giving a second thought about it, "You do have a point about that. But sadly that's all the destination advice I can give. I'm not a total expert when it comes to themes like that but I can say that you got it, senior Albedo. Try to think about the aesthetic you can give out to that man's little photoshoot project. Your mind will be able to approach it, just like how I got into opera so easily," the girl explains with such grace. Albedo hums in reply, "Sure, I'll try to take your advice then, Yunjin. Sorry for distracting your rehearsal practice."

"I don't mind, it's quite alright. Just try to stay relaxed and you'll be able to get there once the room in your mind is completely free."

Maybe Yunjin was right about that.

Lately, Albedo hasn't been getting his mind free from school-works and he thinks that could be a bad sign for him, kind of overworking himself indeed. As he walks outside just thinking about it, maybe the photograph project was a way for him to at least take a break for once in his life during college days. Even if the twin siblings convinced him multiple times to come with them to have a small vacation on a beach, he would always decline their offer. But when that stranger convinced him to do so, he never hears himself agreeing so easily once in his lifetime. How strange, but it isn't really, he was only trying to pay back what he broke for being a bit too clumsy on the road. As his shoes rustled on the rough road, clear orange skies and puffy cotton candy clouds dancing around, he can hear songs he would listen to every day, even with no earphones nor headphones on. Albedo would often just sing it out with a small whistle coming right out from his mouth. The Platters were one of his favorite 50's music groups. A classic he loves. Maybe one day he'll meet someone with the same taste as he has. That would sound so nice. He never realizes that he was thinking of something else other than his studies as he walks towards the cafe.

****

"You're out of your fucking mind, aren't you, Kaeya?"

Kaeya laughed loudly once he hears his brother spit that out to him. "A fucking college student? For breaking the lenses that you bought? I mean, that seems fair but the guy is just a college student, don't you think you should've let him go instead?" Diluc asks the male who chugged down another glass of wine in his hand. Kaeya shrugs his shoulders, "You're right about that but, it's a better way for paying back, don't you think? I would've let him go but in exchange, he can only pose for me in a few photoshoots so that my job for the theme is done. Besides, all he has to do is model, not much of a big deal anyway, nor will it harm him." Diluc facepalmed. His brother...is a total dumbass. "Kaeya, you know you have the money for the lenses, right?"

"Me? Of course, I don't, why would I still ask the fellow for an exchange payment then. Do you see me as someone who would lie, Diluc?"

Diluc frowned. "Yes, I would."

Kaeya gasped, dramatically, both of his palm at the area of where his heart was located, “Ouch…! I think I hit a nerve there at you. Fine, maybe for you, but I wouldn’t really just lie at a young college student that I just met, would I?” Kaeya spoke, and Diluc decided to just ignore him.

Diluc and Kaeya were brothers, not blood-related, but adopted brothers. Kaeya wasn’t really the type of person to talk about his childhood, although all he could do say about was that he and his brother had a rough past before the two separated to do their own careers.

As much as Diluc disliked his brother, he was still concerned about what Kaeya’s actions was during their time away from each other. With a grunt, Diluc looked away to continue cleaning the counter of the bar where he worked at, “Just, don’t do anything sketchy to the kid…I know your antics, Kaeya. Don’t even think about tricking him.”

“Wow you really do see me as a bad guy, I’m hurt, dear brother,” he responded, and Diluc rolled his eyes, arms crossed. “Whatever, you’ll be meeting up with him next Saturday, right? Do you even know where to take his photos at? Did you even pick a perfect location, already?” The red head asked. Kaeya finished his last drop of red wine of the tip of his tongue, placing the glass down, gently. “To be honest, not yet. I decided to let him do the picking.”

Diluc raises his brow at this, “You made the guy do the picking? And here I thought you were more in proceeding caution when it comes to your ideas,” Diluc pours his brother another drop of wine down in his glass. Kaeya shrugged his shoulders, a small laugh leaving his lips, “Well, if you see me in that way then I guess I have no choice but leave you to it. But as I repeat, I’m merely only trying to help myself in finishing this project so I can finally rest early and…drink champagne in my balcony with a lovely friend to company me…seems like a dream, don’t you think?”

“Leave me out of your world of wonder, I have plenty of shifts here in my bar and if you’re only here to distract me then I should kindly ask you to leave,” Diluc sounded a bit cold in the vocal of his tone that Kaeya couldn’t help but just laugh like always. “What made you that serious about this, Diluc? I was just kidding of course, I wouldn’t dare to do anything to distract you now, would I? You really do see me as some kind of bad influence.” Diluc didn’t reply as he continued only watching brother finish his glass then leaving the payment in the counter.

“Don’t drink too much now, I’m not giving you a ride home.”

“I was about to leave anyways, thanks for the drink, Diluc…” then Kaeya stood up from the chair, grabbed his bag then left the bar without even saying goodbye nor a wave to his red haired brother before leaving off to the night.

****

Saturday, 11:03am

Great, he arrived just in time.

Looking over at his watch wrapped around his wrists, Albedo looked from left to right to see if Kaeya was any around inside Starbucks. Today was thankfully- Albedo’s rest day, so he can basically do whatever he wanted for now before his original shift at the cafe he worked at returns.

Time skipped quickly, Albedo couldn’t really remember what he had told Kaeya about the deal they both made regarding the lenses he broke from the damn expensive camera. It wasn’t much of a big deal honestly but where he was at right now made it seem like it. The destination the male picked was where Yunjin suggested. The library and…his dorm room.

He wasn’t sure why he agreed to pick that place, even though Kaeya was still a total stranger to him. However, Albedo thought that his room represented the perfect room for a college student studying for exams, and since the theme was school-themed, Albedo thinks that this was the perfect place for the photoshoot. He texted Kaeya about it then the two texted each other for the agreement this Saturday.

And now, Albedo was patiently waiting at one of the tables. He was wearing a light-brown shaded turtle neck, along with a brown coat and some white pants that were tied to a black belt wrapped around his waist. He looked like he was ready for autumn even if it was still September on the calendars, despite July ending a day ago. Albedo doesn’t know if this attire of his would fit the theme but he was sure that he looked amazing in it. With Yunjin’s advice (which was telling him to relax), he can make it.

After a few minutes passed, the sling door opened, and Kaeya finally arrived along with somewhat a new camera in-hand. Albedo waved over to him to catch the man’s attention. With a small smile, Kaeya calmly walked over to where he was at and took a seat across him. “Good day, sir Albedo. You’re here earlier than me.”

“Don’t you have extra lenses? Also, I thought we agreed on 11am sharp, sir Kaeya,” Albedo replies, and Kaeya chuckles. “Still calling me sir Kaeya as promised. I’m touched. And, this is my brother’s camera. I just had to borrow it for a while.”

“Are we gonna take the photoshoot now or what?” Albedo was getting straight to the point, already. He just wanted this over with. As Kaeya took one last grin over to the male’s direction, he grabbed his phone out, proceeding to open his photos then showing Albedo a photo of what seemed to be a student smiling over their desk while reading. Leaning close to see the image well, Albedo rose a brow in confusion, “Is this what I’m supposed to be posing as?”

Another laughter erupted out of Kaeya’s mouth, “No, silly. We don’t wanna steal people’s ideas now, can we? What I’m saying is that this is what we’re exactly going to pose as. Not reading, just for example…you taking notes or…reading while taking notes.”

“You’re not making any sense.” Albedo was a little irritated. Scratching the back of his neck, Kaeya smiled awkwardly, “I’m sorry. I just don’t know how to explain it but, just like what this student is doing, we’re going to take shots of you doing school stuff or whatever. To make the theme fit.”

Albedo had an ‘o’ shape curled around his mouth in realization. “Ahh, I see. I understand then…it’s not that hard after all.” He smiles a bit. Huh, and here he thought he was going to do some showy poses in order to look like one of those models in a magazine. Nodding, Kaeya looked at the phone and swiped to let Albedo see the other photos, “Just like what these students are doing, we’re going to do exactly just that. But since I’m a photographer, I’ll see if I can adjust it a little better to make the scenery behind you look gorgeous.”

Kaeya didn’t stopped swiping to the left even if Albedo wasn’t paying much attention to his references since he basically got it already. Kaeya’s gaze didn’t even bother to look where he was swiping or to where to stop. In fact, the white-haired individual that was having both stares at the screen and at the photographer seemed like he was going back and forth to a direction. So far, Kaeya swept far enough for Albedo to see a picture of him, shirtless in front of a mirror. One of his free hands were touching on his chest, face not visible due to it hiding behind the camera (the latest iPhone probably), and the background behind his bedroom with dim lighting. Albedo could tell he was taking a mirror selfie, just…

He didn’t know he had a fucking six pack

“Umm…” Albedo pointed his finger over the photo. Kaeya cocked an eyebrow up and looked over to where Albedo was pointing at. Ah, fuck.

“Ah shit…!” Kaeya was quick to stumble the phone clumsily on his hands as he quickly exit out of the photos and turned his phone off, leaving Albedo with a questionable look on his face. “I-I am terribly sorry uhhh…you weren’t supposed to uhhh…see that…” he was stuttering on his words, pushing his hair back nervously. Albedo, who basically saw the photo, only reacted nothing—only pure awkwardness came between them before Albedo broke the silence. “Was that you?”

“What? No, nah…ahahah…yeah, that was me, sorry.”

“No, it’s quite alright. It’s just a mirror selfie anyways nothing much Ummm…” Albedo felt his lips zipped locked before he could even say another word out of his mouth. Silence. Well, this was…an unexpected outcome. Albedo didn’t expect a hypothesis like this but.

As the chatter around Starbucks continued to erupt loudly, the scent of coffee aroma around the air, Albedo opened his mouth once again, “Sorry, odd question but do you uhh…have tinder or something?”

Kaeya smirks at him, “Wow, do you really see me as that kind of person? Of course I don’t. Unless you…?”

“Oh no I was just curious because that pic looks like something you would see as a profile on tinder…sorry for judging…” Albedo felt like a total dick right now at the moment.

Another laugh once again. “You’re really an interesting one, aren’t you? It’s fine, honestly. Not like I take the compliment of looking like a flirt online on tinder and being one of those guys who just randomly use their good looks to charm women, but at least you know that I’m good looking.”

“What the hell are you even talking about?” At the moment he knew, Albedo completely lost his mood when this guy just starts talking. It was tiring, he just wanted to head home and…fucking rest his eyes and sleep more for a while, he did not wake up at 9 in the morning just for this. With an anxious laugh, Kaeya brought out his camera and replied, “Ahaha…sorry, uhh…about the photoshoot, shall we go now and begin? I’m sure you already know what to do.”

“Oh, yes. Let us go,” rising up from the table the two were sitting at—Albedo and Kaeya both left Starbucks without another word leaving from them (however, Kaeya had to turn back soon after realizing he wanted a cup of coffee first before heading out). When the two made it outside, Kaeya brought out what seemed to be car keys from his pocket, and Albedo instantly knew where they were going to ride. “We’re riding your car?”

“Mhm. Why? You don’t want to?”

“No, no just asking. Sorry if I sounded rude,” the male placed both of his hands to warm inside his pockets. Kaeya, who was clicking the keys to unlock the car, opened the passenger door and leaves a space for Albedo to enter. “Hop on, let’s drive to the nearby library.”

“You know taking the train would be more easier…”

There was luxury written in Kaeya’s smile, “True, but the car would be more comfortable.” Albedo sighs, he wasn’t wrong though. These days, transportation like taxis and trains have been a real bother to Albedo due to either their smell or scenery. Trains are some of them, the last time Albedo took a train to school was when he was moving out from his home for college. Alice suggested he finds a house to rent but when the dorm rooms existed in his college, Albedo insisted that the dorm rooms in there would be more better. The problem was he was supposed to pay for the rooms, which sounded a little unbelievable.

However, in Kaeya’s car…it did seem more relaxing than the other cars he rode in, (His mom, Alice’s car one time when she was fetching Klee to preschool). The car had a unique smell that Albedo couldn’t quite describe. It was…fancy? Smelled like what rich people would sniff on every day. Almost scented like a hotel room Albedo would sleep in with his family for a vacation spot when he remembered his elementary times.

“Are you ready?” Kaeya asks, adjusting the rearview mirror to see his figure from behind. The white-haired male nods his head in reply, fastening in his seatbelt. “Alright then, a huge public library would be great for the shoot. Let’s roll,” as the engine started, Albedo leaned over the window as the car moved—watching the scenery behind the windowpane move. It was…a quiet drive. If only Albedo didn’t choose to have a small chat on the road then maybe Kaeya would’ve had kept his mouth shut. The radio was turned off the entire time so of course, the two had to say something at least to keep the atmosphere lively.

“So uhh…”

“Hm?”

“How long have you been a photographer? Did you somehow go to photography classes or…?” Albedo wasn’t quite sure why he asked that question to him all out of nowhere. Shifting in his seat with one hand on the wheel and one on his thigh, Kaeya huffs out a breath, “To be honest, I didn’t even want to take photography. I only took it because my father thinks that it would be a great option for me after making me hold a camera for 10 minutes and…snapping random photos. I was 14 at that time so….” Kaeya responded, keeping his eyes straight to the road.

Albedo tilts his head, “Is that so? What do you originally wanted to become then?” He asked. Kaeya wasn’t clear of why this guy behind him was interrogating him out of nowhere but it was better than playing the radio. “Hmm…I’m not sure what I wanted to become, either. I guess photography was the only choice I had,” he replies, and Albedo nods. “Started taking photography classes in high school then here I am.”

“I see…”

“How about you?” Albedo lifts his head to see Kaeya smiling over at him in the mirror. “Why’d you decide to take and study chemistry and alchemy? Is there something that…sparked an interest to you over your head?”

he asks, and Albedo stayed speechless for a few minutes. That…was a bit of a difficult question to answer, but Albedo knew he knows the exact reason why he started to take the difficult course for his schooling.

His mother was a former scientist, and as she retired to become a housewife after she met Albedo’s father, she had both him and Klee. Alice started to teach them all what they had to know about science and here he is, interested to know more. He was originally planning to become an astronaut since that’s what he loved when he was young but, he moved on to become either an alchemist or scientist just like his mother. “I like science and alchemy. But I decided to give chemistry to go for a while, that’s why,” he replies.

Kaeya hums, “Oh, so you were curious?”

“Not…really curious as you can say. Just…interested. I’ve basically studied science my entire life so there’s nothing else I needed to know. Just both alchemy and chemistry next is what I need to consume in my brain.” Albedo was looking out of the window as he says that. “But now it seems like I’m here to become a model for a photoshoot.”

Kaeya laughed like always, “Ahaha…don’t stay too mad about it, we’ll get over this soon since I also have to return this camera to my brother.”

“You don’t say…”

“Hey, if it’s bothering you much then maybe paying me back for the lens can be better.”

“I-I was only joking…!” Albedo says, and the laughter from Kaeya’s mouth was louder.

When the car made a stop at the public library, Albedo exited out first, brushing the small bits of dust out of his outfit before looking at the place he was at right now. It was…a really big public library. Somewhere he’d never been in before, he can tell. He notices a lot of college students entering the place, some of them might even be straight-A students like him. He huffed out a breath, as he felt a tap on his shoulders. He turns around.

“What are you waiting for? Let’s head in,” Kaeya tells the male, his hand holding the camera tight. Albedo listened, and the two entered the library with ease.

Inside the library, Albedo could hear the flipping pages of books, small whispers, and pen writing on paper. It was a quiet area like it’s supposed to be. The atmosphere around was peaceful, something that Albedo would definitely love. The area was exquisite, the young man felt like he was entering the Victorian era in just mere steps. Upon entering, Albedo followed where Kaeya was heading towards in order for the photoshoot to finally commence. Despite the area being in Albedo's liking, the fact that the two were supposed to plan to take photos in this quiet and introverted-like place seemed a bit like they were going to disturb the people inside. Besides, the click of Kaeya's camera was a little too loud. "Aren't we supposed to ask permission first before taking photos?" Albedo questions the male standing beside him who was fixing his camera. Kaeya only hummed as he fixed the camera's lens. Another canon branded one. How rich is this guy's family exactly?

"We're only going to take a few photos, anyways. It won't bother them that much, don't worry," Kaeya reassures Albedo who looked at his camera. Nodding, Albedo looked around the area. It was a huge place but he noticed that there were so few people inside. Around 20 people he thinks. It upsets him a little how these days people prefer looking words from their devices rather than a book that wrote history in just pages. "Alright, let's find a place first to take our first shoot. Come with me," Kaeya calls, and Albedo walked by after. The two arrived at a place where only a small amount of people were in on the side. The huge shelves that stand tall on the side caught Albedo's attention towards the science book section, making him stop his tracks. Oh man, he badly wanted to read right now.

Maybe picking the library was a little bad idea. Albedo wanted to ditch Kaeya a little for a while but that would be a bitchy move. "Alright, Albedo, here...go stand right to this shelf right here," Kaeya called him over. Obliged, Albedo forced himself to look away and walk next to Kaeya. "So I just stand there?"

Kaeya let out a grin along with a giggle, "No not just that, silly. Here, pretend you're picking a book out of the shelf..." Kaeya explains, and Albedo understood the pose. Taking his jacket off, Albedo slowly placed it on one of the chairs and stood next to the mentioned shelf. Taking a random textbook out from the area, Albedo focused on the book and posed. "Go ahead now, my arm will go numb," he tells Kaeya, not looking at him. A few minutes passed yet Albedo can only spot Kaeya with a finger sticking to his chin. What in the hell was this guy doing studying him? He sighs, "Hey what's taking you so long?"

"There's something missing."

"Huh?"

Out of nowhere, Albedo spots Kaeya pulling something out of his pocket-which were glasses, "These would do the trick," he says. Slowly and gently, Kaeya slides the glasses behind Albedo's ear before pushing some of his white strands back, leaving him a little stunned. Due to it, it made the white-haired male's heart skip a few beats. What the hell was that? "There we go, better," Kaeya smiled, and Albedo adjusted his glasses a little. The lenses on the glasses didn't have any clearer visions. They were merely only fake glasses on his eyes to make the photoshoot better he guessed. "Do I really have to wear this?" Albedo questioned. Kaeya nodded before preparing his camera to take a photo, "Trust me, it's perfect. Alright, stay in position like earlier."

Albedo repeated the same position as earlier. As he stretched his arm out towards a random book, Kaeya prepared the camera. "Alright stay there that's perfect, perfect..." He repeats, and Albedo freezes. After a few shots, Albedo feels his arms numbing a bit. Shit, how many snaps did this dude even took? If he were to be honest, being a model at this type of pose when someone as charming as Kaeya takes a photo of you…it’s kinda awkward. He can feel his stare behind those unbroken lenses. The photos he was taken in were usually just school photos or forced to be in photos by his relatives or friends. There was one photo in his house where he was asleep with his newborn baby sister in his arms, and when Albedo would like to look back at it he felt warm. He just didn’t know what to feel when he sees himself in a professional photographer’s shoot.

"Ok next pose. Grab the book and let's sit down," as always Albedo followed Kaeya to the table with no people occupying the space. It was perfect. Sitting down, Albedo opened the book to any page and pretended to read using one hand to keep the book wide open. Kaeya went back to the shelves and grabbed a few more books and messily placed them down on the same desk Albedo was in.

Albedo slowly finds himself the random book he pretended to read. He places the pen (that Kaeya handed over for him for the shoot) and placed it near his lips, pretending that was he was studying on the table. Another click of the camera, and Albedo was slowly dozing off a little. Right now in Kaeya's point of view, Albedo absolutely looked fucking gorgeous. He knew he had picked a perfect model for this shoot. "Beautiful..." he whispers behind the camera.

****

The photoshoot went pretty well. Picture after picture that Kaeya showed to the male was absolutely perfect. Even Albedo was in love with them. "You really are a professional.." Albedo tells him. Kaeya felt proud at that moment, "I know right."

The two shared small talks with one another, trying to explain what edit would be good for the picture to become an absolute masterpiece to the eyes of the one viewing. As much as Albedo hated to say it, however the plan Kaeya shared to him was an absolute genius. He remembers Sucrose telling him and rambling random ideas up to him during one of their chemistry classes, but with Kaeya—when the guy opens his mouth, he decided to consume what he’s got to say, whether idiotic or wise, he listens.

Kaeya excuses himself for a while to use the bathroom, leaving Albedo on the desk, flipping random books open. What a day, he felt like he was having fun in a while. With his fist supporting his head from falling down and his other hand holding the book, his eyes look up to see the pen Kaeya used for his photoshoot earlier, almost rolling down from the table. Immediately, he grabs it. Upon grabbing it (and bored), Albedo places the pen on the hem of his lips, balancing around. He takes the fake glasses off his face and placed them on top of his forehead. Those glasses itched a bit, quite annoying you can say. He predicted you can buy one of those on a dollar store somewhere around a small corner.

Ah, he wants to head home right now at the moment. And probably see his little sister. He pushed his hair back and leaned back on the chair, adam's apple showing off a bit on the outside. He's exhausted a little. All they ever did was take a few photoshoots, why is he so tired all of a sudden? "I want to eat something..." he murmurs to himself. Maybe a cup of latte would be nice...or even tea...that would warm him up a little. He remembered the roasted fish and curry his mother would serve to him all the time when he returns crying from elementary in 3rd grade. How embarassi-

Click!

Albedo jumped from the sudden sound. Scurrying up on his chair, Albedo looked to where the sound came from, and within that direction he sees Kaeya, holding his camera directly at him. He sighs while Kaeya laughs. “You look stressed."

"I am," Albedo returns the statement. Sitting across him, Kaeya snaps another photo without permission before laughing once more. "Sir Kaeya please stop that, I wanna rest for a bit," Albedo tells him, a little irritated. Kaeya ignored him and continued taking shots. He thinks it was hilarious. An irk mark appeared out of the guy's forehead—his anger fuming a little like a kettle. "I said stop," Albedo repeated. Still, no obliges. Standing up straight from his chair, Albedo leans over, and tries snatching the camera away from his hands, but Kaeya refused to get it close to his touch. "I said stop..." Albedo almost yelled, Kaeya places a finger to his lips, hushing him down. "Shhh...! You don't wanna start a ruckus at a public library now, do you?" he teases him a bit. With a few huffed breaths, his patience snapped like a cord and Albedo stood away from his seat, walked towards Kaeya with no hesitation and tried to snatch the camera away.

"H-Hey..! You don't wanna break another pair of canon camera lenses now do you...?" Kaeya mumbled to him, laughing a little as Albedo reaches for the camera.

"I said to stop taking photos I wanna rest..!"

The two were becoming a bit loud, almost causing a ruckus that Kaeya predicted to might start. People on the sides were beginning to give them the looks. It didn't take long before the two started chasing each other around the library when Kaeya really didn't stop. Now, rumors say the two were immediately kicked out of the library and weren't allowed to go back inside for two days. And those rumors were true as Kaeya and Albedo both stood outside the complex.

For a few seconds passed, a peal of loud laughter erupted out of Kaeya's mouth, making Albedo flinch from his sudden outburst. The fact that they're both outside of a library makes it even embarrassing for Albedo. "O-Oh my god...bwahahahaha...!" Kaeya laughs. And he didn't even think to stop. "We just got kicked out of our picture area, why are you laughing?" Albedo almost yells at him. Wiping a tear-off from his eyelids, Kaeya slaps Albedo's back, gently. "You really are something...I like- wait no, love your vibes, Albedo," he tells him before opening the car on the side. Albedo stands there, yet again speechless. No words dared to exit out of his slips. That...was the first time he heard someone ever say that to him.

"W-Wait...we're not going to continue the photoshoot here anymore?" the young adult asked the man now entering the car. Kaeya cleaned his camera's lenses before opening the car's door, "We just got kicked out, of course not. Come on, that's enough for the day. Let's grab lunch," he tells him before entering in. Albedo followed, but this time he sat beside Kaeya on the front row.

"Where do you wanna eat? My treat, of course," Kaeya questions as Albedo fastened in his seatbelt. "Uhhh...does Starbucks sound great to you?" he says, and Kaeya nodded. "Not sure if we can grab big lunch there at Starbucks but sure thing, Starbucks it is. You in your seatbelt now?"

"I'm good now. You can start the engine now don't worry." Albedo replied and this time Kaeya obliges. The drive to Starbucks only took a few blocks away from where the public library was located at. And the small talks the two had along the driveway were actually enjoyable. Albedo never had a conversation before that he enjoys and didn't bother to continue with. At Starbucks, Albedo bought cookies and a cup of latte while Kaeya had black coffee and...a bagel. Albedo never liked big lunches. He would take those snack-like bites instead whenever he’s hungry even though he was a bit frail. Kaeya shared what the next photoshoot was going to be with Albedo, and as Albedo listened, he never realized how close their faces has been. But he didn't mind. He never minded it at all.

He shared his passion for alchemy with Kaeya, and in return, Kaeya listened attentively. When in conversations, Albedo would find every topic shared to him by his friends a little boring. He didn't want to become mean but he was only trying to be honest. Only the twins interested him a little, and that was it. But...he wasn't sure why a total stranger he met a day ago got him so into the topic they're having. He wouldn't say he already enjoyed his company with Kaeya, however, he did like his day with him.

At the end of the day, Kaeya drove Albedo home back to his place without hesitation. So much for the first day of their project deal thingy...it was fun. "Thanks for the ride," Albedo tells him as he stepped out of his car. Kaeya shoots him a beam, "No problem. Message me once you've arrived safely, k?"

"I'm not a kid anymore, don't worry," Albedo calms him down before tucking his jacket in his arms. Closing the car door, Albedo waved goodbye to him before walking away.

But then...he stops, feeling like an adrenaline popped right at his body. "Ah...! Sir Kaeya wait...!" his feet turned around to run back to the vehicle. And the prayers become answered when Kaeya stops the car and slides the window down, "Is there something else you have forgotten?" the blue-haired man asked. Panting on his knees, Albedo leaned down to reach the windowpane, throat a bit scorching from drinking too much coffee for the day. Why would he even ran back for just a total stranger he met days ago? Looking up, he says with a tired breath, "Will you take another photo of me, soon?"

Leaves blowing off the tree branches, road silenced like quiet afternoon loneliness, Albedo felt sweat dripping down his forehead. He did, he said it out of thin air. To expect this was gonna happen on his first day with him. With a smirk, Kaeya replies, "Of course I will, silly. Those aren't the only photos I need after all."

****

"I bet a million bucks you are secretly dating someone that we don't know."

"No I am not, please leave me alone."

Aether was up to some of his stupid questions again with Albedo during their shift together at the counter at work. While Eula and Amber were currently both on break for a while, Albedo and Aether had both turns to take care of the counter while Venti and Mona both takes their orders. One reason why he desperately wanted Eula better on the counter with him, number one because she never teases him about his personal life that he never wanted to share, and number two she stops Aether every time he teases Albedo in any way during work.

Even if Aether’s attitude was mostly like this all the time (the only person he can blame was of course, Itto—), Albedo was absolutely used to that presence coming from his lack of energy.

“If Lumine were here right now after her classes she would bet the same thing, too,” Aether tells him, propping his arm to rest his head on. Albedo scoffs, “Whether it was you and Lumine who said it, I would absolutely still have the same answer,” he made it sound like an important hypothesis. Smirking, Aether hums. Doesn’t he have the time to stop? Maybe Albedo shouldn’t let him see Itto anymore. It’s always the seniors who influence Aether. He wasn’t even sure if Lumine knew about this.

“Albedo, you’re somewhat different today.”

“Heard of it countless of times today.”

“Because you are different today, did you get another free sample from your favorite ice cream store? The place where Chongyun sells them while his aunt…you know, goes about to work?” Mona decided to hop in their conversation for a while. It never usually hurts a bug when someone who isn’t close to Albedo joins in a topic he’s sharing with a person, Albedo never seemed to care at all—but this time he was a little bothered. Why was everyone so chatty with him all of a sudden?

“I’m…fine, just normal. I don’t have any idea what you guys find different in me, but my body temperature and behavior is all fine if you ask me,” he responds to Mona who only looked at him from near the cashier in front of her. The girl cocks her brow up, “True if you view it yourself in that way. But…this morning didn’t you noticed you were…how should I put this…hazy a little?”

Albedo blinks twice at her statement. Was he hazy earlier? He doesn’t quite remember entering the cafe looking like a drunk coming out of a bar. Although since everyone was basically saying it to him this day, there must be something going on in his head. “Oh, was I? Sorry, I did quite a lot of things earlier during classes and…I woke up a bit early to do my schedule, you know?” what the fuck am I saying?

Albedo’s daily schedule; first thing in the morning he wakes up around 4:20am, brushes his teeth, takes a shower, does his face wash routine, dresses up in comfy clothes and studies over his table. When there’s available breakfast around his room he only makes coffee then continues studying, making his presentation. Around 5:10 in the morning, he changes his outfit and goes out to jog until 6:00, despite being already frail. Albedo would plug his earphones on before he does, that is. At 7:00 after finishing his works from yesterday, he takes a small nap and at 7:30, he brushes his teeth once more, changes his outfit, brings his bag and heads off to class at exactly 8:00 in the morning.

Tidy. That’s what he likes to be in his everyday life, even if they were always the same. Batting his eyes down on the counter while Aether went off to make some drinks for the customers on line, Albedo couldn’t help but think about what was bothering him so much. He had another photoshoot again with Kaeya the next coming day, and here he was not bothering to do anything, to even text him about it.

This wasn’t his day. And he was frustrated about it. Maybe he missed something earlier on his schedule? He wasn’t frank about to think about it, Mona wasn’t wrong when she says that he’s hazy today. The bell rings again from the entry, and when Albedo lifted his head up…his jaw dropped. Speaking of the devil, it was Kaeya. Not now, please, not now… he was basically begging to the gods. He did not want to see him right now when he’s close to breaking down the entire cafe shop down.

He groans whilst covering his face with his hands, ahhhhhh he was not in the mood. “Welcome!” Venti greets, a friendly chirp coming out of him. Mona waves only. Kaeya smiled at them, his camera hanging out from the guy’s neck as it swung. It was still his brother’s camera which Albedo can tell with the not broken lenses. Couldn’t he just easily ask his brother instead to pay for those lenses? What’s modeling gonna do to pay for those things anyways?

“What would you like for today, sir?” Mona questions out in the blue. Kaeya turns his gaze right straight at Albedo who flinched. Aether got to notice this, and so did Venti who looked over to the male’s direction. “I’m just here to talk to your co-worker over there. It’ll only be real quick, I promise,” Kaeya explains, Mona tilted her head in confusion. “Uhmm, sure go ahead, sir. Hey Albedo!”

Fuck.

“…this guy’s calling for you..!”

Was evaporating for humans out of nowhere true? Because if it is, Albedo would love to be one of those victims at the moment. Lifting his head up, he sighed, “Hey.” A tired ‘hey’ is what you like to call it based on the expression on the guy’s face and the tone of his vocals.

Kaeya waved at him, “Hey.”

Ah fuck, he feels like he’s going to cramp. Walking towards him, Kaeya (still with his cocky expression drawn on), placed his hands on the counter where Albedo was at. “I need to uhhh…have a chat with you, real quick.”

“Is it about regarding the photoshoot again, because if it is, don’t worry I know about it,” Albedo could feel the laughter about to erupt out of Kaeya’s throat when he says that. And he was right. “Silly as always. No, it’s different now. I decided to do something better…” Kaeya replied, and Albedo raised a brow. “Huh?”

“People are evesdropping—but hey, just follow me to that table for a while, let’s talk about my plan,” the older one whispers to him before walking away. Albedo looked over to his co-workers. Mona, Venti, and Aether were all staring at him, expressions known nonetheless, yet this time Aether was absolutely bewildered. “I’ll be right back real quick,” was what Albedo told them before following behind Kaeya. Mona hummed, her palm right back to carrying her face, “Who the hell is that guy?”

“Don’t know, but he looks like…I don’t know either.”

At the table, Albedo like always—sat down from across from the photographer, next to a window that views the city from the outside. The ac that was usually blowing everywhere was not really direct with the air from this angle in the cafe, Albedo would like to call this spot the ‘lonely one’s

“Get straight to the plan, I have a shift going on right now,” Albedo spoke. Kaeya brought his phone up, and showed the male a picture of a school. Albedo cocks his head to the right as he looked at the pic. It was a high school that was also nearby his college. He wouldn’t say he went to the school (since his mom decided to sign him up in art class that time), but some of his co-workers did. “What about this picture?”

“Alright so, yesterday one of my friends called, she asked how the pictures were going and I said they were going brilliantly well, I of course, showed them the pics we took last Saturday, and then she out of nowhere decided to rent us a classroom for our next picture take. And this is the school she chose for us,” he explains, and Albedo smiled a bit, “Hmm…she did?”

“She did.”

“That’s excellent to know uhh…but I don’t really get why she has to rent it out for us. It wasn’t really much necessary,” Albedo let out his answer to Kaeya who looked very proud. A shrug in return, “Don’t worry, Rosaria knows her stuff about this, trust me, once you get to meet her she’s a bit of a cold but quite relaxed person like you.”

“Relaxed, huh? Well…” Albedo stretches, “…looking forward then. When’s the next photoshoot, sir Kaeya?”

Smiling, Kaeya replies, “Saturday is our day for photoshoots. I’ll be here then to have my break hours.”

A sigh escape Albedo’s lips before standing up from the chair and fixing his apron, “Alright then. Update me if you have something to say about. Also uhh…do you wanna order something?”

“Yes, I’d love a cup of coffee and toast please.” Kaeya requests, and Albedo nods his head before walking away.

****

Wow, the place seemed fucking deserted at Saturdays.

When Albedo stepped out of the car, the grass below immediately tickled his feet with his eyes only paused and fixated at the school in front of him. Snezhnaya High, one of the most top tier schools in all of Teyvat. Rumor says that this school never lost a winning streak in sports and math competitions. The principal, was a bit strict with the high school manner rules, so of course as any principal would, they become straightened for their students to become as perfect as they can be.

“You look sparkled,” Kaeya tells him from behind. Albedo nodded his head, “Uh-huh…this…is the first time I’ve set foot on this school…did your friend really had to rent this place out? How did she even manage to?” he tells him, and Kaeya sighs, “I’ve had a talk with the principal…and boy was she strict. Good thing she still has heart in her chest, but she only made us rent one classroom to use so let’s get going.” Opening the trunk, Albedo helps Kaeya grab the camera and other stuff needed for the shoot outside and headed off to enter the campus.

The two had a rough time convincing the security to let them in, and after calling the principal they eventually did. The place was huger than Albedo didn’t expect it to be. Almost 5 floors with 15 rooms each. The pictures of the teachers were everywhere in the halls, and the trophies were displayed from side to side. Albedo was awed of how this school look liked. So professional and so…silent. He can’t imagine how this look liked when all the students are in.

Kaeya luckily found the classroom Rosaria rented for them, and after unlocking the door, Albedo was the first one to enter the classroom. “Science,” it reads. They were in the Science room. The male’s eyes started to scan around the place.

“Help me set these up, will ya?” Kaeya asks, and Albedo snapped back to place. Rushing to his side, the two set up the lights and cameras to its place. Since the area they were in didn’t have any good source of light and the room light was quite dim, Kaeya was glad he brought extra lights for shoots, or else Albedo would’ve been looking a shadow mask by now.

12pm, the two started of what they always do. Kaeya brought out a box from his set and Albedo’s face was lightened a little more with powder and Kaeya did his hair along with the glasses worn on his face. With his professor-like attire, Albedo felt like a painter. “You look perfect, now grab this chalk and try to write any scientific data you can.”

“Wait what? What do you mean try to write any scientific data you can?” Albedo questions, looking puzzled. The board that sticks to the front of the classroom had lots of leftover chalk dust spread around despite how big it was. It was almost as similar as the chalkboard Albedo sees in his class. Kaeya nods his head, “You know science, right? Uhh…how about this, write down the science explanation of gravity.”

“You mean Newton’s law of gravity? The formula?”

“Yeah yeah…! That one whatever…just write what you know and pretend you’re explaining in front of the classroom,” the excitement in Kaeya’s tone was already enough to convince Albedo to do it. Shrugging, he proceeded to hold a textbook on one hand, and a chalk on another—before beginning to write on the board Newton’s law. And as he started, he tried his best to remember what he knew about the formula and wrote it down on the board as Kaeya begun to take photos, the light almost blinding his sight.

He stayed in the same position until he finishes writing the formula Kaeya asked for earlier. Until the two stopped with the photoshoot, the both of them decided to have a break before continuing. Kaeya went outside to make coffee (of course) as Albedo stayed inside, exploring the classroom more. The walls were decorated with pictures of different scientists and some trophies displayed on the shelves, along with the picture of the teacher framed from behind. Ink and enigma, the room smelled like ink and enigma. It wasn’t an art room, however Albedo was bewildered why the room didn’t smelled like a bomb of a chemical substance.

’Do the students perform an experiment here in this room or…?’ Albedo was thinking, finger on his chin as he observed the small experiment bottles placed properly on its place. Turning around, he walked over to the chart that was hiding beside a thick cabinet filled with brooms and other cleaning materials. Checking there, he saw the names of the students and their daily schedule checked next to their initials, almost like a attendance chart. “These names are kinda familiar…” he whispered before walking away to sit next to the window pane.

Well this just bored him. There was nothing interesting in this ‘science room’ at all. He was expecting something from this school but…he just sighs. He’s dissatisfied. And bored out of his mind as always. As he looked out, palm resting at the side of the pane and his head sticking out to feel the air bristle through his hair…he saw a butterfly pass by him, white as the flowers blooming near the school garden. Albedo was mesmerized. Finally, something caught his attention.

“Well hello there…” he whispers to the insect that slowly and gently rested down on his fingertips. Moving his hand calmly in order to not startle the butterfly, Albedo observed its wings as it flapped. “Extraordinary…as divine as you are, I always wondered how the first caterpillar was able to be made to be as beautiful as you…” he murmurs to the insect that seemed to react a little. He let out a soft smile, “You seemed to be complimented by that…”

Click!

The familiar sound of a camera surprised Albedo, causing to turn his head and look over to the side where the noise came from. “Sir Kaeya…!” Albedo mumbles, only loud enough for both of them to hear. When the white-haired man looked back over to the butterfly that sat on his fingertips, it sadly flew away from the loud and sudden startle from Albedo himself. A sigh escapes his lips. A disappointing one. “It’s gone…” he mutters with an upsetting tone. He can hear Kaeya snicker from the sideways, and Albedo was quick to shoot him a cold glare at his direction.

“Here you go with the sudden camera snaps again, Sir Kaeya.”

“Apologies on my behalf but I just had to,” Kaeya replied before dropping his camera down back on the table, and grabbed two mugs waiting from behind the door he was in front of. Coffee. Albedo could just recognize the scent from far away, it was a strong one probably. “I brought us some coffee, c’mon let’s have a break,” Kaeya spoke to him before sitting in front of Albedo on the window pane, handing him his mug.

Albedo let out a small ‘thank you’ as he grabbed the mug away from Kaeya’s hands. Hot. The coffee was hot from the touch as it naturally did. The scent lingered around his area, letting out a coco aroma in Albedo’s nostrils before blowing it to cool down, and took a small sip. Kaeya went straight to drink it, total opposite. From the blue-haired male’s position, he was sitting a bit far from Albedo. Right leg propped up as his other free arm rested on top of his knee, back leaning against from behind with his other hand holding on his cup of coffee.

“You should really make a signal when you arrive back.”

Kaeya rose a brow, “What do you mean?”

Removing the mug away from lips, Albedo locks his blue pupils onto his, “You know…a signal to tell you’re there or when you’re back. You often startle me these days when you come in without notice, and the only signal you give me is the sound of your camera snapping,” Albedo explained before taking another sip. He wasn’t wrong though, ever since the deal, he seemed to notice Kaeya entering the cafe more and more frequently from the day they met, and after the first photoshoot they took together in the public library. Kaeya was basically a normal customer from now on, half of the cafe staff knows him from Albedo himself.

Kaeya laughs, “I’m sorry, then I’ll try to look for another signal…uhh, how does making a bird chirp sound feel like, eh?”

Albedo gently shoved his shoulders as he chuckles, “What do you mean make a bird chirp sound as a signal? You’re weird, sir Kaeya.” Kaeya chuckles back, “You’re the only person that sees me weird, Mr. Albedo.”

Woah, somehow Albedo felt a bit lighter as Kaeya gave him that short reply. A feeling like he floated a little then went back down in place. That was…odd. “Is that so?”

“You know, it’s really hard to be yourself when you’re with the people you look up to so much. You just wanted them to see how you’re the right person for them to be with, or to show them that your skills are no match for no other. It just gives you a hard time spilling out your true colors to them without thinking they’d view you negatively unlike before…” taking a sip out of his mug, Kaeya continued as he looked out of the window. “I had somewhat similar experiences. Although I’m really not the type to share it now, am I?” He says as he looked straight to Albedo who was listening.

“No uhh…I understand it’s fine, you don’t have to share it if you’re not comfortable with it,” Albedo says as he waved his hand at him. He’s a little confused. What’s with this sudden story telling Kaeya was giving to him? It was certainly out of the blue for him to start talking. Sighing, Kaeya smiles over at him, “Albedo, do you know why I really wanted you to be in this photoshoot project with me?”

Albedo hummed, “Because I broke your expensive camera lenses?”

Kaeya shakes his head, laughing a little, “Not only that, silly. It’s because I found you to be the perfect model for this. You’re…divine, beautiful, the perfect one I’m looking for,” he says, and Albedo cocks a brow up. “Uh-huh…is that so? Well, thank you I guess…?” Albedo honestly expected that answer.

“You seemed like you’re used to these sorts of compliments already, eh?”

“Yeah uhmm…I got called by a lot of teachers and students with it, you know? It’s becoming an ordinary thing now for me.”

“I see…but has…?”

“Yes, sir Kaeya, strangers compliment it to me as well…” Albedo was rolling his eyes as he answered. Kaeya laughs again, “You’re tired of it?”

“Basically.”

“But have they called you, joli garçon by any chance?” Kaeya was acting cocky, he can feel it in the air. Albedo sends him a frown, “You just changed the language of the word pretty in French, sir Kaeya.”

“Ahh, why did I even bother to try tricking the beautiful genius? It means pretty boy, silly.”

Albedo tilts his head, a little surprised. Kaeya looks at him with a slight smirk on his cheeks, “You’re a pretty boy, Albedo. You know that, right?” Albedo rolled his eyes once more, “Listen, I have to go home early today to continue studying for my exams, so can we just please hurry up?”

Kaeya puts his mug to the side, “You have exams coming up? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Well it’s because I…just want this photoshoot to get over with, ok? I have so much things to focus on other than this…” Albedo felt like smashing his mug right now….he was right and truthful, he just wanted to head home already at the moment even though they started a minute ago.

Kaeya frowns, “Hey, I’m really sorry, ok? Here how about this…” standing up and landing down on the floor, Kaeya grabbed Albedo’s hands in his, and helped him get down from the window pane, “How about this…you study first for your exams, then later on after you’re done with the studying and with the exams, we continue our photoshoots, what do you say?” He made it sound like another deal. Albedo pulls his hand away, gently, “But…the exams are only a month away, anyways? It’s fine really. We can still continue every Saturday, it’s not like there are a thousand photoshoots, right? Besides, I broke something expensive from you and—“

“Albedo.”

Albedo stopped from muttering once he heard a serious voice coming out from Kaeya himself. “I want you to focus on yourself first. Worry about this photoshoot problem after your exams are finished, k? Since it’s only for a month, I can continue planning for us and I’ll wait for you. I promise.”

Fallen colored leaves coming from the trees enters through the window pane as the curtains danced to the side, leaving a breath of fresh air enter the classroom. Despite the wind blowing his hair, Albedo was only able to answer nothing else. Kaeya sends him a warm smile, “Don’t worry. Don’t pressure yourself with this, Albedo. I’ll wait till your focus is over.”

“But the exams are only in October,” Albedo replied.

Kaeya shoots him a toothy smile, eyes closed as he spoke, “Focus on your exams, Albedo. After this, let’s meet again during Autumn season. Or Halloween to make it better during the holidays.” Albedo swallows a lump down in his throat.

“Come on, let’s finish this photoshoot then you should be ready to head home. I’ll go buy you Starbucks too if you want,” Kaeya added as he walked back to the area they were now supposed to be at. Looking at the man’s figure, Albedo didn’t utter out a single word except for a small ‘okay’ escaping pass by.

For the first time in his life as he step foot into this world, Albedo felt like he had something to look forward to in holidays.

****

Kaeya wasn’t lying when he said he’d see Albedo everyday.

After the last photoshoot before Albedo decided to focus first on his exams, he’ll see his photographer walk in everyday during his work hours at the cafe he works at. It wasn’t strange, after all this was a daily thing now to him and his co-workers.

He even memorized Kaeya’s orders in arrangement, which was coffee and switch to switch side meals or desserts. Coffee, was always his choice no exceptional, even Mona and Eula already knows what he wants to have for a drink whenever he walks in.

One time Eula whispers to Albedo, “This guy friend of yours seems to be ordering coffee everyday, isn’t that bad for him or…?” To which he replied he often texts him that too much caffeine may affect his health but Kaeya says that he’s used to it and he doesn’t really drink coffee everyday.

There were times when Albedo would go on break, he would enter his lunch area and text Kaeya even though he was only in the cafe, typing in his laptop like he had another job other than photography. “Is it Kaeya you’re texting?” Aether questions. Albedo nods, eyes still sticking on his phone as he typed back a message. “But he’s only outside, how about you go talk to him there, instead?”

“Don’t wanna. Besides, I’m enjoying my break right now if you can’t notice.”

He just won’t admit that he was lazy.

This happens almost every week when September rolls, when the cafe would close, that’s when Albedo would see him departure off after a long day of chatting with him regarding about the next and previous photoshoots they’ve taken.

Amber had a small dislike towards Kaeya since she thinks he’s wasting space for the other customers waiting to be seated while he stays there for almost the whole day. “What in the world is he even typing on his laptop?!” He hears Amber complain to Eula once—who smiles at her, “Just leave him be. I’m sure Albedo is only the one who can talk to him about it.”

“I don’t know everything about him, Eula.”

“Still, who else is more close to him more than anyone else here in this cafe, Albedo?” she was not wrong. Because of him, everyone seems to know Kaeya who slouches around in the same table everyday, waiting for Albedo to approach him and have a chat, ask how his studies were going and so on.

As much as Albedo was uninterested with his topics from time to time, he loved looking at the photos Kaeya took of him during his Saturdays.

”I spy with my own little eyes, something that has a spark between.”

Everyone would answer, ”Albedo with that man over there.”

Today, was unlike any other day. Friday, September 27, this time, Noelle was bed ridden sick due to the heavy rain pouring, she accidentally stayed under the rain for too long based on what Eula said—so, the manager landed the keys to the hands of Albedo. It was his day to close the cafe. Because Noelle was the most responsible one out of all other than Amber, she was always the one who closes the cafe at closing hours. Also was last year’s title ‘employee of the month.’ Albedo has respects for the girl.

By 8:46pm, Amber and Eula both headed off for the night, leaving Albedo left to clean the counters and tables around the now dead silent cafe. He didn’t mind actually if they left early, in fact—he quite liked it, since being alone was sort of his forte. As he finished mopping the floor, the male quickly looked around to see if anyone else was inside other than him. The cost was clear. Slowly, Albedo dragged his phone out of his pocket and dug through his music playlist on Spotify. The first thing his eyes spot on was The Platters. His favorite..

Shuffling the playlist, Albedo hummed along with the tune as the heavy rain continued pouring down in the heavens, wetting the window panes from left to right—darkening skies and cold temperature. Ah, how he just adored it. If only he could spend the last moments on his Earth like this…he would already be so happy.

Even if the songs he played were only 50’s to 80’s classics, Albedo enjoyed them more than anyone else. His mother was the one who introduced them to him, and when he listened to The Platters for the first time, he felt like his ears just got baptized. Blessed with holy grains from the gods themselves. It was basically love at first hear. And until today, he still listens to them like right now. He knows all their songs and albums—he was a big fan.

When the song Samson by Regina Spektor finished playing from his music playlist, another piece started playing from his phone. Smoke gets in your eyes by the Platters. Great timing. Albedo sung along, “They…ask me how I knew…my true love was true…”

He was mostly the silent type who doesn’t often sing along to some of his songs, but these days while he studies, he felt like singing a tune from out of his mouth. An incomplete symphony…is what he would tell himself. The rain continues to pour down while Albedo wipes down the tables one by one, spraying them then using a clean cloth to wipe it as sparkling as it can get. As it got heavier, he swore he could hear a slight thunder in the background.

Strange. He swore he watched today’s weather forecast and said it would be only a little rainy. “Looks like the temperature is rising…” he whispered, stopping his actions as he looked outside. The raindrops completely covered the window panes with liquid—he did not want to wipe them off today while he was in a hurry.

Albedo couldn’t even hear his own music from the rain. Though, he remembers there was a speaker somewhere in his bag that he had brought. Sucrose was the one that gifted it to him. When there’s time for himself, Albedo wanted to make sure he spends it, peacefully. He left the cloth on the table for a while to grab the speaker until…

Thud!

A loud knock was heard from the glass outside. Turning around—a little surprised, Albedo sees someone peeking through. And what do you know…it was Kaeya. The blue-haired male stood outdoor, completely soaked as a smile was wipe across his face. “Albedo…! Let me in…!”

’What the fuck?!’

“Sir Kaeya…?!” He exclaims in astonishment. Kaeya waves again, “Hey! Let me in, please…! It’s cold…!”

“Wait—what are you…???” Albedo cuts his own sentence off as he face-palmed, an annoyed groan erupts out as he stopped his music, before walking over the entrance and letting the soaked friend of his inside, lending him a towel also to dry himself. Well his day apparently got ruined (a bit), Albedo just wanted to listen to his music all alone for a while. And oh god Kaeya smelled like a rain bath. Kaeya looks at him, towel over his head and a goofy grin on his face. “Hey…” he greets.

“Hey…” Albedo greeted back along with a tired sigh. “What are you still doing out?” He added to ask him, grabbing the towel Kaeya uses to dry himself. Kaeya chuckles nervously, “Ah…it’s a long story.”

“Just dry off and stay here with me till I finished cleaning and close the shop…” Albedo tells him as he walked back to wiping the tables. Kaeya sat down on one of them, placing his laptop down on top and sat down peacefully as he continued drying himself. As usual, his camera was luckily inside of its case and not hanging from his neck—or else that would be the next thing that’s broken other than the lenses that Albedo hated.

He wasn’t talkative like always, the younger male seemed to be shooting glances towards him in seconds just to catch him only typing on his laptop with a stern expression. He seemed busy that is…’guess one of his ‘bosses’ gave him a lot of work at the moment. Only the rain echoed as the sounds inside the cafe, and the typing of the keyboard coming from Kaeya’s laptop created noise. Albedo continued cleaning until he can go home and close the shop.

’Mop the floor, wipe the tables, take out the trash, arrange the dishes…what else am I missing…?’

“Albedo.” The mentioned male turned his head to Kaeya who had called him. With a signal, Kaeya tells him to come over there and Albedo did. Walking straight to him, drying his hands off first on his apron, Albedo stood by his side. “What is it?”

Kaeya pushed his laptop to his sight for him to see. When Albedo looked, it was the picture Kaeya took the time when they were both in the classroom his friend rented just for the shoot. He sees himself, writing on the chalkboard—and underneath the post, almost 800k likes. Albedo’s mouth widened ajar, “700 thousand likes just for a simple photoshoot like that?”

“Not only that but when you scroll through the comment section…” as the older male opens it up and swiped his mouse down, Albedo leaned closer to take a look. A lot of compliments…a lot. And not just ordinary compliments, some of them were only saying he looks ‘pretty,’ ‘beautiful,’ ‘hot,’ and other words that fit him. Some of the comments even asked what his name was and if he has an account on Instagram. “Even my boss was surprised when he saw this post got a thousand likes. I even got a thousand followers in one day.”

“So are you only taking photos of me because you wanted online fame?” Albedo questions, looking at him. The white-haired seemed afraid, anxious a bit. Kaeya laughed it off, patting his back gently, “Of course not, silly…! Why would you think I’d do that? Besides, I don’t always go online on Instagram, so online fame isn’t really my thing.”

’I hope so…’ just when Albedo was trusting him a little.

“My boss wanted to hire you for modeling but…I told him you were still a student studying chemistry and alchemy in college. I didn’t give him your name, though, don’t worry.”

“Really? I appreciate it then…”

A small silence drifted between the two, as Kaeya only continued typing down. “How’s your studies? Are you actually focusing on them?”

“Of course I am. I never failed in an exam after all,” Albedo responds as he turned around. He hears Kaeya hum—“…is that so? Good, good…by the time October’s around the corner and your exam’s are finished…let’s take another round of the last photoshoots so our deal is over, ok?”

Albedo’s grip tightened around the broom he was holding. “Ok…” he replied, nonchalantly.

As the male continues the fix the area, leaving Kaeya alone on the table on the side for a while, Albedo grabbed his phone…and went onwards to playing his music. He wasn’t sure if Kaeya would have a liking towards the playlist he made, but he didn’t mind at all playing it on the small speakers. Quickly, he pressed on shuffle. “Do you mind if I put on some music for a while?”

“Go ahead I don’t mind,” Kaeya says, his face still glued to his laptop screen. The first music started to play on the speakers as Albedo went forward to getting his work done for the day—grabbing the broom and continued with his sweeping to the counter. The small tension between him and Kaeya seemed to be…decreasing. Perhaps the air around wasn’t pushing around too much for them today as their communication at the moment was immediately cut off.

He seemed busy, Albedo had no ideas why though he is busy. Work these days are just loaded after all in the month of September. As the calm and chill music coming from the speakers continued to play, Albedo had already finished grooming around the corner of the cashier.

‘This area is finished, alright…now the last place…’ the white-haired male scans his head around to look for any remaining dirt laying around the cafe. He made sure his work was done well before leaving to close the shop or else the next day he would have another earful. Like going through thick piles of gum all together, Albedo had a hard time trying to approach the place without him feeling heavy all of a sudden. He was too tired at the moment. Stopping at one place, he let out a sigh, pushing his hair back.

Kaeya was well to notice this behind his back. “Hey, you ok?”

“Huh? Yeah I am…just feeling a little stiff, that’s all..” he answers back to Kaeya whose face was still painted with concern. “You sure? How about you take a little break for a while?”

“No, no, it’s alright I’m used to feeling tired like this its…quite normal for me now—

“That is not a good sign and it is certainly not normal for you to always feel tired.”

“Like I said it’s ok—

However in an instant, a new music started playing on Albedo’s playlist, making Kaeya place a finger between his lips to silence him in order to recognize the song playing behind the background. A soothing tune, something that felt like this is how it felt floating in the celestial heaven.

“I thought no one really listens to songs like this these days in our generation except for a few elderly people..” he hears Kaeya whisper, body almost moving along the slender rhythm. He was now humming along; “Earth angel…earth angel…will you be mine? My darling dear, loved you all the time…I’m just a fool…a fool in love with you…“

Albedo just stood there, absolutely paralyzed of how someone like this man would actually know songs like this from the past. “You…you know this song, sir Kaeya…?”

“Why of course, it’s a classic…I knew about it after watching all the Back to The Future trilogy in DVD that my father brought back home when I was young. It was love at first hear let me tell you…” Kaeya spat out as he looked to where the speaker was sat. Albedo nods his head as no other answer can escape him.

“And while we’re at it…how about dance with me, hm?”

‘What?’

“I beg your pardon?” The male was perplexed with Kaeya’s sudden suggestion that came out of nowhere like a pair of arms.

With one last laugh, the older male grabs Albedo by the hands and pulled him closer up to a dancing stance, one hand in his, while one other landed on his hip—holding him like a fragile being. Albedo shrieked, heart beating loudly in his chest as he tried to breathe well, “Hey…! What are you…?” Kaeya didn’t hesitate to not reply back before the music had another loop of its main chorus.

Thus as Albedo knew it, he was moving along with Kaeya’s footsteps onto the floor like a pattern. Fear struck through him as thoughts such as ‘ What if I accidentally step on his foot?’ or ‘I might trip somewhere, I can feel it,’ started erupting in his mind. The more thoughts that piled up in his head the more heavier Albedo gets within himself. He was always so calm, but why wasn’t he calm right now?

Kaeya’s voice cuts his pondering off as Albedo hears him sing with the melody floating around. It was the chorus…the chorus started again. “Earth angel, earth angel…please be mine. My darling dear, love you all the time…I’m just a fool…” in the captured moment, Albedo felt the photographer’s eyes turn down to him. He wasn’t sure how it reads, was it kindness? Teasing? Or something else he doesn’t know? With a smile, grin reaching from ear to ear, Kaeya sung whilst looking at him, “…a fool in love with you…”

There was these…tiny moments in Albedo’s life where he just stays put and be silent in situations he never wanted to be in. Sometimes or often, he’s complicated of what he should always originally feel about one thing. It was a mix of emotions that was difficult for him to decide which one was he feeling at the time. In this situation, hand in Kaeya’s and one landed down on his broad shoulder, Albedo felt…mesmerized. His eyes lifting up to the male staring right down on him. No matter how gently Kaeya moves and continued to sing along, the younger one only looks at him, and him only.

No matter how his grip tightened around the blue-haired male’s hand, Albedo’s eyes were frozen on his face—lips mouthing out the lyrics of the song they were dancing to. Breathe, he breathes with the air they both shared between them. The space that had separated their chests started to pull in a little closer than before.

Holy shit. He’s feeling a little nauseous, oh god. Kaeya was swinging the two of them around like they were in a ball, elegantly and exquisitely. Who knows where the guy learned that? He was probably raised in a wealthy household, Albedo doesn’t know much about him after all. To be fair, neither did Kaeya know so much about the male. They’re equal.

Although, why did they act like they do? What brought them so much to connect so quickly like magnets? Unanswered questions revolves around them both…but in every minute as they stare deep into each other’s eyes, it had a feeling like the answers they so wanted to know about each other was right there.

As the last chorus of the song played—speakers interrupting with a short low battery warning announcement, both of them neither let go of the position they were in. They stood there, frozen in place as if they’re waiting for another song to burst out to continue slow dancing to.

With a soft small smile drew across Kaeya’s face steadily, he whispers, “Hey..”

Stunned, absolutely stunned in place. What is this odd emotion circulating inside of his body? Light blue eyes staring right back deep into his beautiful irises—Albedo whispered back, a little more softer, “Hey…”

****

Albedo finds himself losing focus in school.

When October finally made it through his calendar marker check, Albedo kept slapping himself to pull himself together since exams were only a day away, and he had also a day to study. Regardless of his shift at the cafe, he asked the manager if he could excuse himself for a few day offs in order for him to remain in the center of attention on his studies.

And when he thoughts that his manager was heartless, he was surprised he actually agreed for him to do so. ‘Guess he has a room for his heart after all.

Albedo was at class at the moment. Even if it has yet to come to an end, his thoughts were still stuck at the wall, thinking of what he should study first afterwards right as his class finishes. Precisely, he still had a few projects to finish and a few more books to pull open to read, he guessed that he can get to the bottom of this easily. Right off the hook. “Class, please pay attention since this topic will be quoted in your exam the following week. I want to hear no complaints when your scores are lower than your self esteems,” he hears the professor yell.

“Other than that…your own words will be able to express of what you feel after you take the exam. This is college, everyone, not a high school drop-out test, and if you want to pass, pay attention and listen closely,” she added as the entire class said nothing and stayed quiet.

“I’ll take the silence as a ’Yes, ma’am,’ reply. Back to the topic…!”

With his pen twirling around his fingertips, eyes darting down on his (scattered) notes, the male slowly drops his head down on the papers, huffing out a sigh before pulling it back up and letting himself stretch. What a day…who knew how fast time paces whenever you’re doing something. Albedo would like to call this one specifically; distraction, since his head had been floating for the entire day.

And as a (sort of) overworking college student who spends most of his time studying on his free hours, it felt a little…great…he felt lighter? It was like his body was torn away from ropes he didn’t mind escaping from. A technical cord that was cut silently from his wrists. It had been a great new feeling.

As the bell had finally rung, Albedo cleaned his desk, grabbed his notes, bag and walked off to grab a snack before heading out to his next class. He felt like having a…granola bar for a while, because of his lack of eating that he does for himself he didn’t mind having a small snack during classes. There was a vending machine nearby, maybe he could waste a few bucks on that.

When he exited outside, a familiar voice echoed his name through the hallways—grabbing his attention. “A-Albedo! Hold on!” the voice screamed. And as he turned around it was one of his close friends, Sucrose. The female was hurriedly adjusting her glasses back up to the hem of her nose, hair a bit messy (Albedo would’ve guessed she had forgotten to brush it again this morning) and the bag hanging from her shoulders looked like the hook was about to rip out and break.

Albedo stopped his tracks and waited for her to become more closer to his presence. “Sucrose, hey. What’s the matter?”

“I-I was calling you from class…” she responded, panting a little. “But you didn’t hear me.”

“Oh? Did you? Sorry, I couldn’t hear you there, I apologize…” Shit, he was out of it today—what in the hell.

“I-It’s alright, Albedo…! I don’t mind. Besides, you’re focused on trying to study for the nearby exams, right? I’m in the same page here as well,” she spoke, pulling her books close to her chest as she walked beside the male who also walked by as quiet as ever. “Despite the exams, I had a talk with Amber this morning and…” Sucrose stopped from walking, pulling her bag off her shoulders before pulling open her bag’s zipper and grabbing a few papers out from it. “She said this was from the sir Kaeya guy from the cafe. You know, the guy who walks in almost everyday?”

Albedo grabbed the note from her hands and read the letter silently. ’To my good friend, Albedo, today come meet with me at 10pm at your cafe’s entrance, it’ll only be real quick since I won’t be visiting your cafe this afternoon due to business matters with my family. I’ll take you somewhere exciting as a thank you back for the photoshoots and as a good luck sign for your incoming exam ! ;) don’t worry, it won’t involve coffee scented photoshoots with you like always, — sir good looking kaeya.’

He…can feel himself crack a little smile. This guy…he wants to punch him for some reason.

“Albedo? W-What does the letter say?” Sucrose questioned her friend. Hiding his smile behind the back of his palm, Albedo clears his throat and folds the letter back into his pocket, “It’s nothing much, just a small invitation. Honestly, he should’ve just texted me instead. Him and his old antics…” he giggled a bit, making Sucrose jump in surprise. Who taught this guy how to laugh? She swore she never heard him laugh before.

“I’ll go now. Thanks for the letter, Sucrose. See you.”

“W-Wait how bout the—!

And just like that, Albedo was walking away farther from the girl. Sucrose couldn’t help but sigh. “…the next presentation for our project…” she murmurs to herself before also starting to walk away.

For somewhat reason, there was this itch in his head that started to move throughout his entire body. A feeling of…tiny excitement that lingers through himself. He wasn’t exactly sure why, but this never happened before. And he was looking forward to it.

Even when the hallway wasn’t vast, Albedo did a few skips here and there until he had reached the vending machine outside the campus.

****
10:02pm

It was cold, very cold.

Albedo knew winter was close to arrive after autumn, but since his exam is about to start next week, the signs were all over the weather.

As he walked, he could feel the wind kiss through and bristle on his hair. In spite of the streets being crowded by walking by workers heading home and groups chatting idly loudly, Albedo continued to walk towards the cafe he worked at to meet up with Kaeya.

He couldn’t believe he was actually going to relax for once after a full week of studying for the damn exams. If he could of at least showed himself a little bit of sympathy for his health then maybe he wouldn’t have been looking for tips online on how to sleep early. Taking deep breaths, Albedo wiped the dust off of his shirt and looks over to the now closed cafe shop. Kaeya was there…he was honest. And as always, cocky with his signature smile.

Albedo waved a towards him, and he waved back at him across the street. Looking from left to right, the male made sure no cars were crossing before he walked across the street to meet with Kaeya who had been waiting. “You’re early.”

“Made sure I wouldn’t let the genius wait here for long, first,” Kaeya replied, and Albedo rolled his eyes, a smile begging to be stitched to his face. “So? I was planning to study but then my friend had to lend me a note, saying you wanted to meet up with me here after the shop’s closed.”

“So you did received it.”

“Texting me would’ve been easier, you know?”

“That would ruin the excitement now, would it?” Albedo shot him a frown. “But hey, you chose to hang out with me other than studying. So does that make me special now~?”

“Oh shut up, we knew each other for months. C’mon, where are we headed?” He dug his hand right through his pockets whilst looking away from the older male who chuckles. “I’ll lead the way like always, sillybedo.”

“Oh god, not another nickname…” the white-haired man mutters in slight distress.

Kaeya was in joy when walking with Albedo through the great night sky. Stars were countless, heavens dark like a pond at midnight struck, space that had moved them from each other when the leaves passed through them, and the cold breeze rustling from their hairs, the both of them had a small chat along the way to where Kaeya was taking the male. “A…get together party?”

“With my old high school mates, yup. I wanted to take you there so you can meet my bestest buddies,” Kaeya says, also pushing his hands down his coat pocket. Albedo hummed, but there was a hint of concern in his face regardless of being flattered to be invited to a get together. “I…you shouldn’t had brought me here, y’know? This is supposed to be your get together, why even bother to bring me?”

“It’ll only be real quick, I promise. I know you’re not fond of group parties but this is the only time I get to bring you to events like this so…? Is that good?”

What an excuse that doesn’t even make sense…classic Kaeya…

As they arrived, Kaeya immediately swung the door open, and an earful blast of noise erupted out of the room. Loud, they were all so loud. The scent of alcohol and smoke exited everywhere out as they entered inside. The loud chatter and mugs clinking to one another filled the void, and Albedo swore he felt like throwing up. “Hey would you look who’s here! It’s fine Kaeya Alberich!” A yell surfaced from the side. Kaeya laughed.

“Kaeya my guy! How’ve you been!”

“Hey oh my god, is that Kaeya!?”

“Shit, my guy, you grown taller!”

“Kaeya who’s the new dude?”

The greets where everywhere they went, and the stares Albedo had in exchange. Kaeya only waved and greeted back to the hellos he got from his old classmates, Albedo wasn’t sure of what he was thinking, but it could’ve been the dash of nostalgia. This adult world…it seemed regular for those around. Men in suits and matured outfits, females who laugh loudly as they chat like always, this was something that had been so similar to his college life when going out with friends.

When they finally found the table, Kaeya patted the seat next to him where Albedo gently took a sit down. “Kaeya, fucking finally you made it. And who’s this young fellow you’re with?”

The table smelled like cigar buds and strong alcohol along with a lot of food. The lady who questioned had an odd look on her face when Albedo sat down beside her friend. “Ah, Albedo, this is Rosaria. The one I told you about before who rented the school classroom for our photoshoot.”

“Oh wait a goddamn minute. Is this…?” Rosaria raised her finger and pointed it at Albedo who flinched due to her sharp nails. Kaeya nods his head, “Mhm. Familiar even in person, right?”

“Holy shit it really is you…” a whisper exited out of her lips. “You’re that kid from his photoshoots, am I right?”

“Uhmm…yeah, that’s me.”

“Holy hell, you really do look similar from your photos…I thought your beauty was edited…” Rosaria made it seem like a tease more than a compliment, regardless of how she did look cold in person. Albedo had an awkward grin over his face. “Well, the name’s Rosaria. Nice to finally meet you in person,” the woman says, before lighting up her cigarette. Albedo nods his head, “Same here. Nice to also finally meet you, too.”

“Kaeya, you said his attitude was somewhat similar to mine. I don’t hear any insults from him.”

“Are you actually really expecting insults from him? He just met you, c’mon now. You’re more colder than this guy, Rosaria,” Kaeya tells her, and Rosaria shoots him an even colder glare. “I’m only like this because someone like you is out here trying to piss me off.”

“I haven’t even done anything…!”

“Ehem…” Both Rosaria and Kaeya turned around to the male who grabbed the two of their attention. Albedo sighs, “I really don’t care about how are attitude’s supposed to be but if you guys are here to argue then I should be going now.”

Rosaria’s eyes flickered a bit. “Woah….never mind. I like this guy, already.”

“Are you actually fucking kidding me?”

“Alright…!” A hand slammed down on top of their table, feet bringing up to step in and Albedo was quick to back away a little due to astonishment from the sudden action coming from Kaeya’s close buddy. As a glass full of beer was raised in the air, Rosaria yells, “…bitches, let’s make this a night to remember…!”

”Fuck yeah!!!!” he swore, the scream that echoed in the entire room felt like it could also be heard from outside the restaurant. As Kaeya also raised his glass in the air along with his mates, the sound of glass clanking to one another altogether was loud in the room.

As much as Albedo hated saying he didn’t like to drink, the male couldn’t help but pour himself a glass to calm his nerves down from all the partying and karaoke going around in the room. Just like holidays, Albedo disliked events. He actually regretted coming over to this place instead of studying. He felt like punching himself in the gut right now as he poured another cup.

“Kaeya you never told me this guy drinks,” Rosaria yells through the loud crowd as Kaeya laughed, “Don’t you worry about him, Albedo knows how to control his drinks. Isn’t that right, Albedo?” He asked the male who was definitely now a little hazy in place. He nodded, “I’m…I’m fine…”

“Be careful now, kid, we don’t want to cause any trouble for you.”

Albedo listened. Because in the end, it was Kaeya who became the drunk one.

The guy was tipsy all over the area, chuckling and giggling like an idiot—fawning over Albedo with his nonsense slurs that he spits and the stupid jokes he made. It sort of ruins the night.

12:09am, was the time they headed home.

Rosaria helped Albedo carry the guy with their shoulders as support outside from the restaurant. He was heavy, really heavy. The male could feel Kaeya weight beneath his light shoulders. And added that Kaeya was slinging tipsily between them, along with whatever song he was singing a drunk manner that neither of them understood.

“Listen, kid, I have to head home early for a bit, is it ok if you bring this guy home without me? I’ll go tell the directions for the cab driver.”

And just when Albedo thought he could go ahead and rest for the day.

“Sure, I got him.”

When Rosaria called for a ride, it arrived within 7 minutes—not too long. It was more quicker than what Albedo expected. Swinging the door open, Rosaria pushed the drunk individual right inside of the car, and waited for Albedo to hop in before telling the driver the directions of his home.

“I’ll be going now, stay safe. Also, his keys are always in his pockets—don’t forget now,” Rosaria told him before closing the car door shut and waited until the car drove away far from her sight.

Minutes felt like hours on the driveway. Not only is Kaeya the one feeling hazy but so was Albedo. Let’s not forget he also drank a little on the party (he was not supposed to be in but was dragged). As the lights that flicker on the streets run fast past his eyes, the weight of Kaeya’s head was quickly shifted onto his left shoulder, causing the male to turn his head to him.

‘He’s passed out.’

“You dumbass…” Albedo whispered, before looking right back at the window frame. He was okay with this, he was always okay with this. As long as it was with him.

****

Albedo definitely had a hard time carrying Kaeya out of the car if it weren’t for the driver who helped him to drag him outside towards his apartment complex. Adjusting his shoulders, the white-haired male muttered a small ‘thank you’ to the driver before digging his hands in Kaeya’s pockets to pull out his keys.

The apartment he lived in was quite…luxurious. It was quiet, it was big. It was modern looking. Although he wasn’t sure what his room would look like inside of his home but hey, who was he to judge so quickly? Clasping the key through the lock, Albedo immediately pushed the door open to reveal a big spaced area, containing different plants and lighting inside of his house.

Flicking the lights on the side, it seemed like the entire room lit up from one button. ’Woah,’ this place was a different breed alright. Albedo could smell the wealth just from taking a step. There was no upstairs floor, so Albedo simply dragged Kaeya inside to find his room.

Upon finding his bedroom, he was quick to toss Kaeya on his bed, and calmly sat down beside him, taking measured breaths as he shoved his jacket off of him, along with him fixing his tie, pulling it away a bit off his top. That was quite the challenge, Albedo could’ve swore he thought he was about to collapse along with him.

“Nghh…I-I’m not done…” he hears Kaeya slur in his sleep. Standing right back up, Albedo tidied up a little in his place, washing his hands, grabbing a cup of water, hanging his jacket, and cleaning the guy’s room before fixing Kaeya’s position on the bed.

’There, all better.’

The older male looked a little more cleaner. Except for the clothes…he was still in his party attire. Even if Albedo wanted to badly change his clothes to some kind of pajama, he just couldn’t find the courage to do so. ’He’ll change in the morning so it’s no big deal,’ he thoughts to himself, before proceeding to also lay back down beside Kaeya on the bed, turning the lamp on.

He felt Kaeya turn beside him. Albedo sighs. If god would to be given one chance for Albedo, it would be making him look right back at Kaeya’s sleeping face. And that wasn’t a chance he wasted when it was given right to him. As he turned to face Kaeya, their noses…touched. And he could feel Kaeya’s pupils piercing right through him.

“Sir Kaeya…!? You’re awake?” Albedo jumped, but he was quick to be pulled down right back on the bed. He was bewildered when Kaeya’s grip tightened around his arm. “W-Wait you’re…”

“Don’t…”

“Huh?”

Looking right up, Albedo had a feeling his eyes were meeting the stars he had seen at the earliest midnight. Kaeya whispers to him, “Don’t go…just yet…” The grip tightened harder, before the pressure in Albedo’s arms finally softened when Kaeya quickly went on top of him.

The younger one was stunned. “W-Wait, sir Kaeya you’re drunk, please go back to bed…”

“I’m…I’m not drunk.”

“Yes you are…!”

Silence came after. Kaeya had a heavy breath, scent of booze surrounding his smell before he muttered, so seductively….”Then…would a drunk person…say I love you?”

Ex fucking cuse me?

“What are you even talking about!? Get off me!” Albedo was struggling to get off him at this point, but Kaeya’s grip strengthen a little on his wrists. What was going on? He was drunk, that’s why. Oh god, Rosaria should’ve just dragged his ass home instead. Please, please, please…

“Albedo, look at me.”

He regretted listening. Since those were the last words he heard before a finger cupped his chin, and his lips were met with another.

Other than the taste of alcohol met with his tongue, breath hitching and teeth clashing with one another, Albedo swore he could also taste the bittersweet flavor of coffee on his lips. So bitter but so sweet. So…intoxicating…

As the grip on his wrists removed, Albedo hands slowly…wrapped around his neck…almost asking for more. It was intense, he could feel his vocals whimpering in Kaeya’s mouth. Why? Why is he like this? This was not the time for this…it was getting too…he was getting too much.

“I said…get…off of me!”

Kaeya was automatically pushed off roughly by Albedo, cheeks burning red and a small drool stained on his bottom lip, using his thumb to wipe it away. Albedo quickly dragged himself far from him, arm covering his mouth and his cheeks glowing the same color as Kaeya’s. Red. They’re both flushed. “Why…why did you…?”

The silence was so loud Albedo could hear the crickets from outside the window, wind blowing and leaves brushing along with the dead-quiet noise they left. Shifting his posture, Kaeya moved a little closer to the other one. In which Albedo back offed until his back hit the bed’s frame.

“Stay away…”

“Albedo.”

“I said stay away…”

Steadily, Kaeya’s hands grasped around Albedo’s pale ones, a tender touch holding against his fingertips as they softly started to intertwine with one another. This…felt weird. He wasn’t sure how he was so ok with this earlier even after…

“Albedo, are you…angry?”

“What kinda…? Yes, I’m…I feel strange about this, why are you…what’s gotten into you?”

He could spot Kaeya’s eyes widen a little, realization hitting into his sight as he began to back away a little, leaving Albedo quite demented by his uncertain actions. “I…I’m sorry..” Kaeya uttered, almost sounding really obvious he was apologetic by his tone (adding that he was looking down). The other male looked below on his toes, curling them up a bit as he felt their breathing increased up in the unwieldy atmosphere. “I just…don’t understand…” Albedo says. He was confused. What…just triggered inside of the photographer to…say things like that out of the blue?

Kaeya nods his head. “Of course you don’t…”

Measured stillness echoed the bedroom. Crickets ongoing chirp and the loud silence banged through their ears like a tamed lion. Slowly, Albedo fixed his outfit, “If…that’s all you have to say then I should be get going—

“W-Wait don’t go…!” The sudden exclamation from Kaeya broke the loud tranquility in the room. Albedo stopped on his tracks, wrists once again stopped by the other’s palm wrapped around it in order for him to freeze in his place. His breath shakes, Kaeya opened his mouth, “…please, just stay with me. I don’t wanna be alone again in this place…” he pleaded.

Albedo was astounded. With his eyes read the word ‘begging’ and his entire body shivering, what other else choice does he have? And as much as he disliked saying it, but he did quite felt a bit hazy at the moment after drinking two glasses of alcohol earlier at the get-together party. Walking back home with just his phone and empty wallet, what else should he do but just stay?

“Fine…” he answers. “I’ll stay…just for the night.”

He wasn’t in fact sure if anything in what he said pressed the final button for Kaeya’s excitement, however he did know that his answer made him totally happy. As Kaeya smiled, he grinned from ear to ear, “I’m glad…I’m so glad…” he returned before falling back down on the bed, eyes shut and body now back to being still.

Albedo sighs. Although…he couldn’t help but smile. Also laying gently down on the bed, cushion making a soft plump noise in the process, the college student faced the man in front of him, sleeping and snoring like a baby after afternoon’s milk. He sighed another time, eyes adoring Kaeya’s features as he slept. The nose that crinkled a little, the eyes that he finds somewhat lucky to be stared at, and the lips…that took his and was the first one…to be his so-called first kiss.

He admired Kaeya for a while, laying in front of his side on the fluffy bed. Why did Kaeya kept calling him pretty, when he was the one who was prettier in his view?

It’s odd how everyone view things differently on how you see them even without telling they’re either faking their personality or simply that’s what they’re like. Much to Albedo’s amuse, he always saw Kaeya as someone who was flirty, a smooth talker and nothing else rather than a person who lies beneath a layer of charm. Like said, who was he to judge? Not much to interpret however Albedo wouldn’t mind finding out who Kaeya Alberich truly is. Someone he’ll remember in his mind? Or in his heart?

With his fingers gently touching his own lips, to where Kaeya had kissed him with his tongue, Albedo just had this urge to…kiss him again. He was bewildered with himself. But yet again…the guy is (possibly?) drunk, he wasn’t sure whether Kaeya would remember all of this…but….

“Hey…”

“Hm?” Kaeya actually responded back in his sleep. He never knew he was a lighter sleeper after all.

“Can…”

Argh, fuck

“…you hold me?”

Now that question came out of the blue. Sure, very uncommon for him to ask, but just by wanting to feel something new after that unexpected kiss, there was something else he needed to explore. With his breath hitching a little, Albedo watched as Kaeya slowly moved his arms open, making space to crawl in between them inside. He was surprised.

“C’mere…” Kaeya spoke, “…I’ll keep you warm…”

He swore he felt his heart jump out there right at that moment. Moving close to his side, Albedo swooped right inside his arms, before Kaeya closed the space between them. Warm. It was so warm. So, this is what the feeling of ‘cuddling’ was like, huh? How strange. Humans have such ways to make one feel like either inner piece or inner agony. Albedo never would’ve thought that this…was such a nice feeling. He didn’t feel like backing away, nor did he felt like escaping the hug he was in. He felt like wanting to stay there forever until death knocked on his doors.

Cuddling, another epitome to feel or to be loved by someone. A type of affirmation that grants people to think they are important to that one person. And that is the person who is hugging you close to them. ’Albedo, are you in love?’

He wasn’t sure either.

But right now, he just needed to be at peace. ‘What are you really feeling, Albedo?’

Loved. He just felt loved.

As he quietly pulled up the blankets to cover both of them, Albedo watches as Kaeya slept, before he too closed his eyes for bed.

****

Albedo woke up at exactly 4:37am.

His head as still aching a little, yet however, when he did in fact wake up—he was still in Kaeya’s sleeping arms in his bed. And here he thought that they would’ve been separated by now. Was he thinking wrong when he thought he’ll be torn apart from the grip while in sleep? As he stood up, hand on his forehead and the blanket beneath him sliding down on his chest, Albedo looked around the room.

Nothing changed. Still the same potted plants, picture frames, desks, cabinets, and bed. Not like he was expecting anything to happen but…maybe he was feeling also a bit delusional. Looking over his phone, the time reads; ’4:37am’

’Shit, I gotta get ready for my classes…’ He thoughts to himself before standing up. He brushed his hair back, slowly escaping Kaeya’s arms as he climbed down from the bed.

Yawning, Albedo was quick to wash his face, clean up the remaining items, grabbed his things, then was prepared to leave the place. He didn’t think much as he heads out of the door and locked it from behind, thus he began to walk back to his dormitory—not thinking of looking back.

He wasn’t gonna lie, his eyes were still heavy—lack of sleep he suppose. They did arrive at Kaeya’s apartment by 12am after drinking a lot, so of course at 4 in the morning he’d still be drowsy as fuck. He rubbed his eyes, trying to keep up on the road he’s at. Damn it, maybe he should’ve just stayed there till morning. ’Oh for god fuck Albedo, there is no time to think about shit like this right now. The exam is this Monday, keep your head and your shit together.’ Exhaling his breath out, the male calmed himself down, and continued walking back

He was very familiar with the street, in fact this road was nearby the apartment party he went last year with his friends (to which he would rather not mention which party to). The billboard sign plastered next to the office building at the road screamed nostalgia when Albedo remembered the moment Venti got too drunk he tried climbing on top of it during the party. Disaster struck quickly, and that was enough for him to decline to go to more college parties.

When Albedo finally made it to his college dorm rooms, the first thing he did was flop straight to his bed and kicked the door shut. He couldn’t believe he got up early just to head back to this small room.

4:43am, it reads. Albedo slowly shut his eyes once more.

****

9:25am

“Oh! Mr Albedo!”

“Ah…ms. Lisa…”

“You’re here early as usual…” The professor gave the male a soft smile, hugging her documents close to her…chest. “…but I’m afraid you still have to wait till classes start. Are you going to head to the library?”

“Ah, yes, ms. Lisa. I was thinking of studying first before I head to class. Reading a few books is what I tend to do always so…”

She chuckles. “Ahahaha…! I see, studious as ever, mr. Albedo. I’ll head off to open the library soon so wait here while I grab my keys, ok? You can walk around first if you’d prefer that,” She says, opening her office door. Albedo nods his head obediently. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Ah, before that, Albedo, I wanted to tell you…”

“What is it?”

Gently, Lisa fixes her files and documents for a moment before answering back, “It’s about the presentation you did last Thursday. About alchemy?” She questioned, gesturing her hand as she was about to open her door. Albedo stood straight, fixing his posture before replying back, “Ah, yes. Was it…alright, ms. Lisa…?”

A bead of sweat dropped down his forehead, fingers slowly tapping on the side of his thighs as his eyes were only on the female professor in front of him. Maybe there was a few mistakes on his last presentation that took his blood, sweat, and tears to finish. Also bringing out an all nighter on that damn presentation.

“It was amazing, Albedo. You never sieze to impress.”

’Oh thank the fucking stars…’

Albedo thought this year’s presentation was a little off due to his current distractions. “And because of that, I had to contact the other teachers who were experts at alchemy if they bothered emailing you and publish you to a place where you can easily present your output to the other alchemist experts, I’m sure they’d love your work, Albedo. You’re a genius,” Lisa complimented. Albedo bowed a little, showing small gratitude to his professor. “Thank you so much for thinking so, ms. Lisa…”

“If you have the time, please do contact principal Varka if you’re interest to go visit the alchemist official research lab near Qingxin valley university. There’s a professor named Zhongli who can tour you around the place I heard.”

“Oh no umm…I..I’ll be fine in here don’t worry,” Albedo clutched his bag, stepping away a little to head to a different direction after this conversation. Man, it sure was a little hot today for October. Did the temperature suddenly rise or…? ‘Guess he has another experiment to write a hypothesis down for. Lisa caresses her own cheek, one free hand still holding her documents close to her in order not to fly away in the place, “You sure? You’re really smart, Albedo. But I’m not forcing you to go of course, I’m just saying that your talents are something as worthy for the recommendation.”

“I’m flattered. Though…I’m already fine in what I’m doing. No need for those fancy tours or whatever. Studying hard is what I’m truly fond of doing, I’m used to this, ma’am.” He tried his best to not stutter at that moment while Lisa looked at him with pure curiosity. Resting her head near the wall, Lisa sighs. “Albedo, you know I worry for yourself, right? One of the most smartest students here in your college, straight-A in every subject you take while also nailing your tests…” she continues, “…but somehow just by looking at someone as dedicated to your school works like you, I can’t help but wonder if you’re stressed about something…either tired or overworked…”

The male blinked twice. Lisa carried on, “…also these days, you seemed…distracted. I notice that in some of my classes, you were dozing off. Not like I don’t want you to doze off however it was just strange for me. I start to think you’re distracted about something or..someone these days but…oh who am I to judge? I’m your professor, I have some rights to worry about my student…although if you have anything you wanna spit out on your mind, I’m always here to talk, alright?”

’Please do talk to me.’

“It’s fine, ma’am. No need to worry, I’m alright. Just thinking about how my next presentation will go.”

’I’m confused on how I’m feeling, it’s weird.’

“Your decisions are all up to you, Albedo. Once your mind has cleared, everything will explain itself as neat as it can for you to understand.” Lisa slowly opened the door to her office, glancing at Albedo once more as she sends him a smile, “Good luck, Albedo. I’ll be in the office or in the library if you ever need me.”

He rubbed his fingers together, clasping both of his hands behind his back. “Thank you, ms. Lisa…” he replies as the female professor finally entered the room and closed the door shut behind, leaving Albedo standing.

Tired. He’s always been tired. With this academic status of his going on into his college and the photography deal he had with Kaeya (now along with this strange, warm feeling he had with the male yesterday after the get-together party) How was he going to focus on these things one by one all by himself? Maybe if only he’d be more careful with his actions, not get his attention away quickly like the wind.

‘Fuck, I need coffee.’ He pushes his hair back as he thoughts of it. Coffee…heh, Kaeya would order those all the time—wait, fuck, no. He was not thinking of that guy. Albedo slapped himself back to his consciousness. Bleugh, what was with him? Just by thinking of him…the kiss kept lingering in his head like a fog.

No, no, no…keep it together, Albedo.

His lips that tasted like booze mixed with coffee was so compelling he wanted to feel it one more time, oh how he would savor himself just to try it again…

This time he used two of his hands to slap himself back to reality. ’Woah, calm down, Albedo, you’re losing it.’ Ahh…his face was heating up. He used his hand as a fan to access some air into his red face. What the entire fuck was that?

Gah, he’s thinking like a girl. Is this how their imagination runs after a first kiss? He’s heard similar experiences from his friends or strangers from the cafe. One time he even saw a couple kiss from the back chairs…it was a new feeling to see how they’re comfortable with it on public, yet for Albedo it’s just…

And just as Albedo thinks he’s done with calming himself down, his phone vibrates in his pocket, causing the male to wince in his place. Shit. His hands quickly dug inside his left pocket pouch, bringing his phone outside and looking right over the message notification that displayed on his lockscreen. Oh fuck…

1 new message from Kaeya Alberich

‘Right now…? Really?’ damn, was he feeling a bit unlucky. He didn’t want to be rude, either. What should he do? This was some terrible timing.

Breathing in, he opens the message;

Kaeya: hey

Kaeya: about yesterday night umm

Kaeya: im so sorry about it, i didn’t mean to barge in your personal space like that. I hope u can forgive me

Albedo says nothing, but stares at the messages with a straight face. So, he wasn’t drunk after all. The thought of it just made him flushed again. With his fingers now typing back a response back at the screen, Albedo sends the message.

“no, it’s alright. don’t worry I’m not that mad…anymore that is”

Another sigh

Kaeya: ah shit i messed up, m rlly sorry. Hope we can still talk through this

Kaeya: but still I can’t blame anyone but myself. It’s fine if you’re still mad or uncomfortable. I just wanted to apologize.

Idiot. He was an idiot, too.

Kaeya: can you still continue the last sets of photoshoots? not like today just yk…as we planned.

He types back. ”Sure. Not a problem at all. A deal is a deal anyways, the exams are almost near so it’s close.”

Kaeya: ah great to hear :)) good luck on your exams mr. Albedo.

Kaeya: 🥳🥳🥳

Ahh fuck…he was smiling upon reading the message…and he couldn’t stop.Looking around the area, he can see the students now entering the building, all with their friends or by themselves walking straight to their classes or continue to hang out around the hallway. Shit, classes are going to begin soon. Covering his smile with his palm, Albedo tossed his phone back in his bag and scanned the place, before giving himself a small stretch, then walking to his first classes.

Behind the office curtain, Lisa who had been gazing at his actions the entire time gave herself a grin, palm covering her lips in correct predicament. Jean notices this, “Ms. Lisa, what are you staring out there?” She questioned. Lisa chuckles, now letting go of the curtain, “It seems like our top student Albedo is in love.”

“What?” Jean was bewildered. Lisa laughs. ”Falling in love is dying by the cupid’s arrow. It seemed like our genius got shot right in the heart, ms. Jean.”

****

Everything was evolving…so fast.

One moment when he remembers waking up at the age of 5, then he blinked and he was now a college student.

One second passes. Then two.

Every moment that his hands were left to cherish, every feeling he has pumping inside his veins…he remembers feeling all of them…because of him.

Albedo counts the calendars, checks the events that Kaeya loved to go out along with the intelligent male, and even wondered how Kaeya would think if he were to take his situation. He felt like a different person, still floating in the empty space of the universe. The exams were finished, and as always in 1st place, Albedo’s grades were remained undefeated in the test scores.

When the last photoshoot with the photographer happened, they decided to do it at a science lab in his college complex. It was Albedo who decided the destination. Since it was their last day to take photos together after all…

The last time he’ll hear the word, ‘perfect’ from his mouth when the camera shutters in his view. It…saddened him a bit. However it also made him delighted since that meant the payment for his canon lenses were over, and his life schedule could go back to normal. Why did it still hurt?

“Hey…what’s wrong?” his voice whispered to his ears like the wind. There was…something soft about how he says it. Even if he knew Kaeya was more into the teasing side, this was ever the first time he saw such a concerned face on his look when he turned to him. New. There was always something new to discover. Recorded in his mind, but this etched to his heart.

“N-Nothing…I was just wondering what you’ll be doing after this…photoshoot deal of ours is over…” Albedo explains, palm dropping the textbook down onto the table. In Kaeya’s view, he fount it absolutely adorable seeing Albedo this limp over for once as a model.

His coffee scented photos he’ll miss. Albedo knows that when the time ends, everything he used to do ‘normally’ from before starts to begin running like a machine once again.

In Kaeya’s response—he says so gently, “What if I say I wanted to continue hanging out with you after this? Even after this deal?”

There was sugarcoat in his sentence. But what did Albedo else have to say when the answer sparked like stars in his eyes?

October: as autumn started, Halloween decorated designs started to scatter around the roads of the streets like plants roaming out of their seeds, Albedo and Kaeya hanged out at a nearby park with coffee in their hands which they bought from Starbucks. “Why do you think the leaves turn red?”

“That’s a stupid question. I thought someone like you would know the exact same answer,” Albedo says, before taking a sip out of his coffee, scarf that wrapped in his neck blowing from behind. Kaeya chuckles, “Well, I heard a legend, why leaves turn red. It’s because most at these times, the leaves used to be women, waiting for their husbands to return back to them almost a thousand years ago. And when they never returned back, they turn limp, weak and frail. Until their red negativity is seen out from the body. Every October, these ‘leaves’ would still ache till today, turning red as they remembered them and they would never forget their loved ones.”

“That turned darker than I expected…”

“I know…” Kaeya responds. “It’s surprising how a single person is able to make one weak with love.”

November: Even after Halloween ended, Kaeya still suggested that they should wear costumes outside and visit a cat cafe nearby the city. Albedo was able to quickly decline this silly idea of his, but with the power of puppy eyes—he managed to say yes to his ‘smart’ offer. He dressed simple, like the professor from PowerPuff girls, and Kaeya as a character from Pirates of the Caribbean.

The time arrived where the two made it towards the cat cafe, Albedo only sat on one side, eating while Kaeya played with the cats crawling up on him and the other male. “They’re so adorable…I knew it was a good idea to visit this place, it’s raining cuteness…!” Kaeya sounded like a 6 year old talking to a cat. But Albedo somewhat finds this…hilarious.

December: Snow. Albedo loved snow. Including when he just spends his days relaxing inside the library or his dorm room, a non stop pile of studies launched on top of his desk while he watched the first drops of snow fall down into the sky. He would often question; how it feels entirely to watch the first snow drop down on the land for the first time…with someone who sits by your side.

Kaeya said it’s a heart warming feeling, in fact he even mentioned once how he watched the snow fall for the first time in his eyes along with his brother, when they were both just 7 years old. “Even if we gone our separate ways, I still feel like he watches these snowdrops fall with me,” he hums, twirling the teacup in his fingertips. Albedo nods his head, “I watched it with my little sister, also. Genuinely, at times like these when she sees snow scattered around our house, she would pull me outside to play with her or…build a snowman.” A sigh after. “Snowflakes rain, don’t they?”

“You sound like you really adore your little sister,” the older male says with a tint smirk on his cheeks. Albedo…smiles, not even bothering to look over to his friend who sat across him from the table, “I do. She’s one of the best things life had offered to me.”

“What about me?”

“Pardon…?”

Leaning in on the desk, Albedo backs away a little as Kaeya’s face inches closer to his, devilish grin spawning onto his face like a spell that twirled in his self. “What do you feel about watching the first snow fall with me for the first time?”

Albedo never got to answer.

January 1: Albedo will never forget the first day of the first year when this happened so suddenly.

After he greets his family a happy new year, (hearing Klee’s voice made his heart delighted to see she was still the Klee he knew), Albedo’s colleagues and friends all yelled “happy new year!” very loudly on the top of the buildings. The New Years party was one thing he never missed in order to make “college memories.” And in these types of situations, there must be a lot of drinking, right? Well, yes. And surprisingly as much as anyone did not wanna believe, Albedo drank at the party.

And it wasn’t just a glass, he almost took a whole bottle.

They didn’t know what’s gotten into their friend. Aether and Lumine explained when they both fetched to get Albedo for the party, he was still acting normal. The genius they knew from college was still in his normal state before, they didn’t know what drove him to drink this much other than the other parties he attended.

When the party was over, Albedo was knocked out like a skunk on the couch. Eula knew she had to contact one person in order to get his ass back to his dorm room, and since Aether and his twin was far too drunk as well, she decided to call no other than Kaeya.

For someone who was close to Albedo, knew him from the cafe for years along with Venti, Eula knows who Albedo befriends with. And that includes the cocky photographer. She wasn’t quite sure if she could hand her trust over to him, yet it was for the best (based on how Albedo talks so much about him all the time). The taller female (who was sitting beside the knockout Albedo on the couch), tapped her finger onto her thigh, waiting for Kaeya’s number to pick up so she could tell him to pick this guy right out of the narrow building.

When he picked up, Eula was quick to inform him about the current situation and how his friend here fainted from drinking a little…too much. They were perplexed of why Albedo would go out of character and drink almost half a bottle of booze by himself (even yet he wasn’t the type to drink), and why he would talk so much for the day. It was like that person wasn’t even Albedo at all.

“The party had finished, and no one is here to drag Albedo back to his dorm room. Almost everyone here is knocked out apparently and I’m far too busy at the moment to clean up this place,” Eula uttered through the phone. Kaeya laughs, “Why of course. Thank you for informing me, Eula—that is very thoughtful of you. I’ll be over there to pick Albedo up so please keep him there while I arrive.”

“Don’t mention it.”

He arrived at exact 2:47am.

Eula opened the door, and the lights from inside her house after the party was now dimmed to more brighter features to see more well in the area. In fact that there are still a lot of trash to pick up, plates to clean, floors to be mopped and rooftop garbage upstairs to be swept, Amber and both Bennett offered to help along, so it was alright for the young woman.

He sees Albedo all knocked out over on the huge couch—hair messy, lips leaving a small drool and his blouse a little unbuttoned. Definitely, not the kind of look he’d see the male have before in any other way in his life of knowing him. “Man’s got bananas in the party. No one knows what’s gotten into him but, I hope he’s alright.”

Kaeya looked over to Bennett who signaled him a beam. Smiling back, Kaeya sighed before picking the white-haired male up off the couch, both of his arms swaying on top of Kaeya’s shoulders and feet carried by the older male while he slept. Eula walked over first to get the door swung open for them, “Be careful on your way back. You know where his dorm room is at, correct?”

“No worries. I got him.”

A wave was all the goodbye the light blue haired female could give to Kaeya as he left the building to fetch Albedo home.

It felt like it was going to rain for some reason. Even if it’s snowing. They’re beautiful, it was beautiful. Kaeya loved snow, because snow reminds him of his favorite genius’ hair.

“Snowflakes rain, don’t they?”

That sentence Albedo told him a long time ago still floats into his head like a bubble while he lets Albedo lay down in the backseat. Entering the car afterwards, Kaeya just sat there on the wheel for 6 minutes…watches as Albedo slept so heavily. He needed that sleep, he knows. College was stressing him out, he could sense it in his aura a long time ago…so, so long time ago.

When the engine starts, he wished his eyes could only focus on the male in slumber. But the roads were vast…and he needed to keep his attention on it. Even if the streetlights were getting a bit annoying, shining so bright he thought they were going to make him blind, Kaeya kept driving until they reached the dorm rooms.

It took them a while to get there.

As they arrived, Kaeya gave Albedo a piggy back ride on his back like before…his head laying on his shoulder like a baby after daycare. The keys were swinging in his pants like a locket, so Kaeya got to notice they were there so easily.

He swung the door fully opened—leaving space in-between the gaps as he walks in carefully to not wake the male up. His dorm smelled nice…like a vintage, classical and 80’s styled room he just straight walked into. It was bland on the outside, however the decorations were on another level. Laying him down on his bed, Kaeya slumped next to him before releasing a heavy sigh.

What a way to celebrate the New Years. The silence inside the room was eerie. It almost ringed into Kaeya’s ears just by hearing absolutely nothing in the area. Albedo’s papers and notes were scattered all over his studying desk, made it seem like he was sort of a neat person when learning and reading. Kaeya never liked reading, but if Albedo insisted him to he’d definitely will.

He sat his body on the ground next to the bed to give Albedo the rest of the comfortable places. Just by staring at his pretty face was already enough for Kaeya to feel at ease alone with just him. It was an odd feeling to one’s self, but as Kaeya would love to recall all the memories he had, he would read he and Albedo’s only.

What was even more strange when he didn’t even noticed of how long he was staring at Albedo at the moment. To his heart that ache alone, was he able to tell Albedo the truth soon before time runs for the both of them? Whatever it was, Kaeya would always and will…break the impact for himself. He wouldn’t let this world bend his ropes because they told him so. To the path that leads him to be happy with his life, that’s what his heart wants.

But…what if this was not right? What if all of this thinking he’s doing was an incorrect destiny he wasn’t supposed to choose as a path? He’s tired of overthinking. He was always tired of overthinking these difficult decisions all the time since he had to. If only…life would give him one choice..could’ve it been easier?

He hears the bed beside him shift. Kaeya immediately watched as Albedo sat up, hair all tangled and messy with his eyes still a little closed from sleeping. What a nice nap he supposed. Kaeya smiles, gripping the male’s hand tighter in his fingertips, “Well look who’s finally up.”

“What? What…what time is it?” Albedo was sounding a little puzzled as he rubbed his eyes. Chuckling, Kaeya stood up from the floor and walked over to grab Albedo some fresh water for him to drink. The floor made a creaky noise as he stepped more steadily—probably a perfect way to see if somebody was inside the dorm room uninvited. As he poured the water on the glass, Kaeya began to speak, “Eula called me. She told me that you were passed out on her couch.”

“Was I? Oh Jesus, I have to apologize to her tomorrow then…” the white-haired male covered his face with his two hands, already feeling sheepish of what he’d done. “I never knew you were a heavy drinker.”

“I’m not I swear. This was the first time I drank so much…I didn’t know why I didn’t stop…”

“You still drunk?”

“No…I am not drunk anymore, sir Kaeya. It sucks when you’re feeling numb.”

“Welcome to the adult world, buddy. You’re growing,” Kaeya replies before handing the glass of water for Albedo to drink. “Here, drink some water.”

“Thanks,” was all the other responded as he gulped down the liquid in the glass. As Albedo gulped it all down, he could feel Kaeya’s eyes fixated on him. Strangely, he didn’t mind it at all. The glass was empty by the time he stopped to take a breath, Albedo placed the empty glass on his table side before he looked right at Kaeya, with eyes so evident that he wanted to place his lips on his right there at the moment.

“What’s with the look?”

“Can I kiss you?”

Kaeya made it sound easy for him. But to Albedo, he felt a whole 50 shades of red cover up his face like a flag. The silence around the room was clear. Far too clear. Sighing, he shifted closer to Kaeya on the bed, eyes now looking with one another.

“…sure.”

That was the last sentence he heard before he was pushed back down on his bed, head hitting the pillows as his breath hitches—as Kaeya finally pulled his chin to access into his mouth and tongue before slowly kissing him in the process.

It was a slow and gentle kiss. It was quiet when their eyes stared at each other for a flash of a moment then closed after they feel their lips meeting one another. Albedo kisses back, hands ghosting over his blue locks as they made out silently on his bed.

More...he needed more.

The friction rubs beneath his lower area. Kaeya’s rough fingers brushing his hip, gripping in the process as the kiss started to get a bit…freakier. Pushing his head down more on the pillow, he could feel his tongue lapping in the other one’s mouth, making him feel heated up within the position the two are in.

“S-Sir Kaeya…”

“Kaeya.”

Albedo looks at him, confused. As Kaeya looked down on him with a grin, he spoke, “Just call me Kaeya from now on.”

And the two went on with their kisses. It went on for so long that the air on Albedo’s windpipe was slowly decreasing—needing for air that flows. He wasn’t sure if Kaeya felt the same, but he probably did.

When the two broke apart, a small string of saliva followed by their separation. Kaeya stared at Albedo’s beautiful light blue pupils—eyes now filled with passion and love, his breath moving steadily in his chest. When Albedo looked at him so weak…god, who knows how he’ll wreck him?

“I thought you only wanted a kiss, you ass.”

“Oh yes I do…” Kaeya’s left hand caresses the white-haired male’s cheek, thumb rubbing in his mouth as he could feel his hot breath fanning over the finger.

“…but I want you more…”

It was as if a whirlpool of butterflies came and spread everywhere inside the pit of his belly. Albedo has never seen this condition before raise to him. You know, ‘butterflies in your stomach’ type of situation. A New Year’s party..and he was starting the year with the gorgeous photographer on top of him, wanting him, needing him.

“It’s strange…you’re like the camera I hold,” says Kaeya, fingers slowly dripping down to unbutton Albedo’s blouse. The male’s breath hitched in response, feeling his cock twitch.

“I don’t want this to end,” Kaeya adds, voice as hush as a whisper that it sends shivers down Albedo’s spine. “I can’t get away from you…”

He sounded teary, like he had a hard time to breathe. Was he just going to say I love you out of nowhere now? Albedo hopes this I love you will sound more better than the ones he’s been receiving at university. Yet Kaeya…

Kaeya looks down at him, and smiles. It was tender, something he wished was permanent to look at forever. His gaze softened.

“I feel like I’m alive. Like I’m breathing. Whenever you’re holding me I’m not escaping, I’m finally living.”

Oh.

Oh..

So this…is what a beating heart from love feels like? From an adrenaline? Albedo’s eyes widen slightly, and nothing else came past his lips before their mouths smashed together, removing every piece of clothing.

****

There was a little soft feeling about the way Kaeya caresses Albedo’s cheek in the morning.

When the sun rays shone through the window curtains, Albedo’s eyes were awoken by the feeling of someone’s hand rubbing against his bare ass. He never knew the day would come where he would lose his innocence. So odd but…pleasurable. Of course the feeling was like it…however other than feeling strange it was…so good.

With his eyes meeting with pure blue in the morning sun hitting his face, he hears Kaeya laugh, a tender grin spread on his cheeks. “Good morning, genius. Don’t mind if I smoke a little, do you?”

Albedo blinks twice, his hand holding against the palm that was caressing his cheek. The feeling of affection when the sun rises was even more better. Based on his hypothesis, when one person had a feeling of love in themself, the significant other must also contradict whether what they’re feeling for that person was love of the opposite attraction.

He watches as the smoke evaporates away from Kaeya’s mouth, head laying on his muscular shoulders while his eyes only focused on the older male laying next to him. He felt tired…still so tired from the night before.

“It’s funny, y’know?”

“Hm?” Albedo raises his head a little to face Kaeya with much curiosity.

“It’s funny how you told me before you weren’t so interested in relationships and shit like that. Then here we are…same bed, naked…a little aching from what happened…” Albedo’s cheeks heated up a little when he mentioned that.

“Tell me…what really made you drink so much yesterday in your New Years party? Was it something you were overthinking about or…?”

Now this is what he exactly hated. Honest talking…he couldn’t help but bury his face on Kaeya’s chest after he questions that. Whether it was in interviews or normal chatting conversations…it made him feel so nauseous.

“But hey, it’s alright if you don’t wanna talk about it I understand,” Kaeya admitted. “I had my fair shares with super drunk story tales to anyways. It sucks to have everything around you pressure you like you’re the responsibility to bear them. So making yourself feel numb is a better option to run away from them, don’t you think?”

’Yes, I so do…’

“It’s a lovely thing to think about, y’know? You and me…watching the world turn into shit together while we lay here like teenagers got laid for the first time in high school.”

’Except we’re not…’

“We should just…run away from our responsibilities here, don’t you think? Just you and me…”

’I would love that...’

As much as he would like to say those things to Kaeya…Albedo’s eyes slowly teared up. Liquid forming into his eyelids when he sees Kaeya smile at him so…purely. He felt like he was being saved by a light that never guided him. When Kaeya notices this, he dropped the cigarette between his fingers and sat up, Albedo now crying in his arms.

“Hey, hey…what’s the matter? Why are you crying?”

Kaeya’s thumb brushed the tear away his eyelids, touch so soft it just made him tear up more at this point. He opens his mouth, breath shaking, “…go…”

his voice was inaudible for someone to hear—causing Kaeya to be puzzled on what he said.

“What’s that?”

Albedo looked at him in the eye, sight becoming blurry due to the tears in his eyes. “You’re going away, aren’t you?”

Both of Kaeya’s hands that were holding onto Albedo’s shoulders slowly slides down on his side, a word of defeat slammed to his face. No way.

“How…?”

Rubbing the rest of his tears off his eyes, Albedo took a time to calm his composure down and took a deep breath. 8:39am, the time where Albedo remembered they had this conversation after new years. It hurts to see them talk to each other like this, realizing that time can’t walk back for the two, and it just had to be like that until the day of death arrives. If he only knew the words that were coming out…would’ve it been easier for them to speak up the truth to each other like this?

“Do you know Jean…? Jean Gunnhildr?”

Kaeya nods his head quickly. Albedo continued, “I…overheard her conversation yesterday with ms. Lisa before I left to the science lab with my friend. She says that she knows who you are and…” it was hard for the male to continue, but somehow he just let his emotions go off.

“S-She just said that you told her you were planning to move and…it just…shocked me, why are you going that far away from here?” Albedo sobbed, voice now cracking into tears while Kaeya just watches him with nothing to say about his evidence. “…why didn’t you tell me any of this?”

Kaeya says nothing. And that just gave Albedo the reason to break down even more. As tears added up to his eyes, Albedo immediately wrapped his arms around the male, his arms forcing them to hug tighter as a grip to let him stay with him and not let him away.

He sobs so silently in his arms, voice shaking when he spoke, “Don’t go…please don’t go“ he was practically begging him to stay. “You don’t have to do this…let’s just run away. I’ll go anywhere with you.”

“It’s not that easy, Albedo.”

“I don’t care..just don’t leave me alone…”

If only things could last longer. He was ok with the both of them living in this kind of complex, as long as they had each other that’s for sure. But the world wanted games. They wanted challenges. Just one last time…Albedo begs. The hug that they would think wouldn’t be their last…became their last….

When one day, Kaeya Alberich….disappeared.

No note was left, not even a photo Polaroid on his usual cafe table or anything that reminded Albedo of the photographer he met on the road. His payment for the camera lenses were finally over. Not only will he not schedule for Saturdays anymore…but he now lost contact with the photographer he felt love towards for the very first time in his boring life.

The hamster wheel now continues. Albedo was back to feeling…nothing.

Everyone who were friends with him grew so concerned for the male. Aether could barely ask him anything else due to his excuse, “I’m busy, go away.” Even Eula couldn’t even break the ice that was covering his words to tell the truth. Nor could Amber or Lumine. They all felt sorry.

A week became a month, and a month became a year.

Albedo didn’t hear Kaeya for now a year. But when the month passes by, everybody did their best to fix the shattered pieces of Albedo’s heart back in place, and when it finally did—Albedo told everything that happened. His friends were all so supportive and caring, Aether suggested he should take a day off in order for him not to overthink much, and maybe they could hang out after classes. Noelle gave Albedo treats since he wasn’t packing his own lunch unless it was just bread and cheese and some bottled water.

Amber was kind enough to clean and close the cafe for him when Noelle went home early, and Venti even shared his sandwiches with him (he clearly ignored the half bitten apple handed over to his hand).

Another year passes, and Albedo finally graduated in his college degree. Everyone else did. His parents and even Klee came to watch his speech on stage, and boy if you knew Alice was crying a lot like a baby. She was so proud of her son. Klee hugged her brother a lot, and the family went out for a small vacation at a swimming resort hotel in order to congratulate Albedo for finishing college.

It was a lot of fun. After a year of not seeing Albedo grin, he smiled so much at this vacation. Alice was also happy for him…he moved on. She was happy…so, so happy.

****

As another year flew by the book, Albedo woke up one day…currently now working as a scientist at a nearby lab along with his friend Sucrose. It was a pretty hard job, for all the emails he had to send and all the research he had to finish writing down for his next assignment, but he’ll admit the job was more worth it than working at the cafe back at college. What was more surprising is when his college professor Lisa now works at the same science lab with him. She was an expert, definitely.

Aether and Lumine were both wandering around the world together, traveling in every country. They were both currently staying at Poland (they’re both vloggers is what Albedo would like to call it). Eula and Amber were still working at the cafe along with Mona, Noelle became a waitress at a very expensive restaurant, and Venti now had band rehearsals at a studio who makes soundtracks. Everyone went their own path. Their own decisions were left for them to make. And Albedo knew that what they’re doing is just right.

His life was going smoothly, unlike before in his college life…a lot happened. There were these memories he wanted to forget, every single bit of it. Yet again these memories help him grow stronger. It helped him rethink of what he should’ve done at those moments where he was so clueless. He grown up.

He was in his science lab when he thought of that, Sucrose went off to grab some coffee and doughnuts for the two so Albedo was left alone to finish some of his remaining projects he needed research on. This year, their current projects were discovering something new about the plants that were found to be currently growing out of nowhere, (these were informed by the senior scientists who were called by a local family to check the plant out growing from an unknown soil in their yard). Albedo was luckily assigned for the task to gather research and study it closely, so in the moment—he did nothing but focus on that project. And that protect only. “That’s strange…I thought these two weren’t supposed to be compatible…” he places his finger on his chin when he thinks, looking at the two test tubes on the desk.

The silence was quickly erupted through the male’s thoughts when the phone rang from the room. Cut his concentration off so now he had to calm his nerves down a little. Albedo sighs before walking over across to answer the call—eyes still clearly focused on his desk. Picking up the ringing telephone, he answers, “Hello, this is Albedo speaking how may I help you?”

There was no response. Albedo thought this was another prank call. A sigh escaped his lips once more. “I’m busy at the moment, so please who is this?”

“Albedo?”

The male’s eyes lit up. Heart shaking and breath trembling. That voice…he hasn’t heard of that voice for years. His grip over the phone tightened…anxiousness building up in his body. He can feel his breath shaking over the phone. No way…this couldn’t be…him right? Slowly, “K…Kaeya…?” He uttered the name. The name he hasn’t uttered for so long. The voice over the phone chuckles, that chuckle made his heart pump faster. He missed hearing it so much…

“Hey, you…how are you doing? It’s been forever since we talked, huh?”

“Uhh…y-yeah, it’s been so long, I’m doing fine actually uhh..I finished college and now I’m starting my life again as a scientist.” He couldn’t hide the excitement in his vocals.

”W-Wow…you finally achieved your goal, huh? Great job in graduating. Didn’t know you work at the same science lab with Lisa. Ah, you still sound the same.”

Albedo bites his lip, fingertips playing with the telephone wire that swings to the sides. What else should he say? No shit, it’s been years since he heard of Kaeya. Nor was he ever updated of where he was at or what he was doing. His status was kept unknown to his knowledge for so long…just hearing him made him…brighter for now. And for the years he waited for him. Clearing his throat, Albedo spoke up, “Uhmm…thank you. I uhh…hope you’re doing fine there too wherever you are…” he laughed, and Kaeya hummed through the phone. “I’m great actually. I just called since I needed to talk to Lisa about some manners here. I’m in France right now, actually.”

’Oh..’ his vessel of excitement dropped down a little. That…

“Oh wow. I didn’t knew you were…that far…” Albedo replies. Kaeya chuckles, “Yeah…I’m sorry…”

“No need to be….”that was a lie.

”No, I can’t be not sorry. I left you there all on your own. The fact that I didn’t even leave a single note, nor did I message…I’m an ass, Albedo.” there was honesty in his voice. But Albedo knew what he was feeling was a deep apologetic manner. If he knew he would feel this way, then why did he still continue to do it? Was he running from someone? The thought just drove him mad a bit. This conversation was straight to the point…what was even the point of calling for Lisa when Kaeya points this out of nowhere?

“Kaeya like I said it’s—

”No, I am not taking that as an advantage from what I’ve done.”

“Then…!” Albedo rose his voice in the lab, and he never even noticed this. He was frustrated. “…then why did you still went on with it? You didn’t even tell me why you had to go…! Kaeya you…” ah fuck, he was about to cry.

“…you ass”

”I know…”

“If you’re gonna say you didn’t want to tell me because it’s going to hurt me then congrats, you just hurt me more with the lies you put between,” Albedo told him, a hint of anger rushing through his voice. Kaeya says nothing. “What’s sorry going to fix, Kaeya? It already happened.”

”I know. There’s nothing I can do about it. I hurt you…and I’m still…so sorry…” The atmosphere that grew between the both of them demolished down…Albedo took a deep breath to calm himself from screaming in the lab. But how can he calm down like this? He felt like he’d been fooled. Sighing, he let go of the telephone cord that twirled around his finger, sitting down next to the white wall he leaned on. “I’m sorry for raising my voice…”

”No you don’t have to. I deserve a lecture like that anyways….”he hears a huff of a breath right after that sentence. Smoking. The guy was smoking on the call. ”I always hide a lot of things. Like I said before, it’s hard opening up to the people you love in order for them not to view you negatively.”

“You didn’t had to think that with me…I want to hear you out in everything…whether it’s dumb or wise…I always listen, right?” Albedo explains, trying his best not to cough a sob right there at the moment. Kaeya nods, “Yeah. But I still feel like it.”

The minutes have rushed. And the quiet series of echoes that flew across their phone took over the conversation. Nothing to say, nothing to hear, and nothing to look through. The both of them were speechless. Something they had never done to each other before. Albedo didn’t feel like dropping the call, either did Kaeya. They just sat there, listening to the wind the blew on the signal.

“Do you…”

”Hm?”

“…still have the photo you took of me for the first time?” The question came out of the blue, however he needed to know so dearly if he still held onto it.

The censored noise buried deep beneath the area, Kaeya’s stillness made Albedo nervous for about what he has to say next.

“Of course I do. And it was as beautiful as the day I took it…” Kaeya whispered to him.

“Beautiful...” that word he repeated almost left a flower mark in his tongue, something that sweetened the way he said it so quietly and still. “…beautiful. That’s…the first word you ever said to me, right? The first time that we met on that noisy road…”

”Yes. And I never regret saying it…I never regretted calling you divine. You are the most beautiful person I know, Albedo. But…”
a sudden pause lifted the tension they created. Albedo was waiting for the response but no voice seemed to grab his attention. What was wrong? Was there something Kaeya desperately needed to tell Lisa before him?

“But what, Kaeya?” He didn’t like where this was heading to. With a click of the tongue, Kaeya sighs. And the scientist…wanted to turn deaf of what he heard. He regretted picking up the phone.

”I am…engaged. And I’m getting married soon.”

…

“Oh…” don’t break down, Albedo. Don’t you even fucking dare. Don’t fucking cry…His breath shakes, eyes trembling on the floor when he felt the room around him and the time that runs in the clock stops. Everything…just…stops. His mind, his body, he felt like he was about to faint in any minute. No, no, no…this wasn’t true. This was…too much. There’s no way this can be true—

”Albedo? You still there?”

’Shut up, I don’t wanna hear your voice. I want to drop the damn call I don’t wanna feel like this now…oh god, not now…’ he tries to speak, but his tears were stopping him little by little. The sniffles he was about to pop out in his voice when he wants to try and reply back. This was too hard. Why did he feel a cord tangle in his wrists and even on his throat? What was going on with him? Why did it hurt him so much…?

“Con…” a second passes, “…congratulations. I’m happy for you, sir Kaeya.” the tears now went non stop in his eyes. He couldn’t hold back any longer. This…he was in so much pain. “As long as you’re happy with it, then I have no problem.”

”You’re a terrible liar. Are you crying right now?”

Ah fuck, he knew…Though it was that obvious he can tell.

“I…I’m not crying, you wish.”

”Albedo. Let me explain.”

“Kinda busy, so I don’t wanna hear any of it. If you want to call Lisa she’s currently on break. That’s wonderful news, by the way. I wish every success for the both of you,” everything about him begins to shake. “ I have other more stuff to do, so if you may excuse me—

”Albedo, please…!” the yell caught the other male off guard before he could even drop the call. ”Please…let me explain, just for a minute…”

The clock hour struck to 3pm. Albedo hugged his knees a little tighter. “You got 2 minutes.”

”2 minutes for you to listen…” Kaeya took out another breath, straitened his posture then continued. ”Albedo, I just want you to know. Every moment that I shared with you, will be the best moment I ever had in my life. But…there’s just this something that didn’t fit with me so well…no matter how I wanted it to be with just you…I just can’t.”

Albedo wipes the tears off his cheeks as he listens. ”It’s like we’re two puzzle pieces trying to fit in. No matter how we think of a way to fit in whatever relationship we had…it wasn’t going to work or end well. And…you’re too…amazing for me, alright? It’s just…this type of love…isn’t for me..”

“It should’ve had..” Albedo says, nonchalantly.

“Yeah…but it wasn’t still going to work. I owe you a deeper apology, you know that? I wasted your time. But being in that time with you will be the greatest and most exciting moment I’ll ever have in my life. And I don’t regret saying that. None I don’t regret. I originally always wanted to run away with you. We could’ve always made it. Albedo…” another pause broke the chamber sentence. Albedo fully stayed still in his position. Even as much as he didn’t want to hear Kaeya’s voice anymore…he needed a full explanation. Or last words he’ll tell him before he’ll be officially taken away from him. Forever. Just three…words. And he’ll be alright.

“I will forever cherish you. No matter where, no matter when. You are the only one I will cherish for my entire life. I wish I could take a photo of you for the first time again,” his sentence weren’t just 3 words, but an entire promise. Choking back a sob, Albedo murmurs through the phone, “I…want to see you right now. I wanna see you…one last time.”

“You don’t have to. As long as you remember me, that’s already enough for me.”

The scientist nods his head, smiling as he covers his mouth with his palm. “I’ve always missed you. And I always thought of you. But sometimes I need to realize not everything stays forever. Nothing lasts. If it was you and me only in this world, it would. I loved you, Albedo. But I’m sorry.”

“I know. I love you, too. This is goodbye, is it?”

”Who knows? There’s always another life where we could meet,” With the last cigarette blow came out, Kaeya pushes the smoke out of his fingertips and breathes in. Standing up straight, Kaeya looked over the balcony and sighs, “Hey…”

“Hey…”

“Never forget about me, ok, silly? Because I will never forget about you,”

Albedo let out a tender laugh, one last time for the other male to hear before he leaves with someone else in his life. “I promise I won’t.”

”You have a wonderful life now, Albedo. Make new choices, find someone who will actually run away with you. There’s a lot of picks, you know?”

“But I wanted to choose you…” he couldn’t bare the pain to not be truthful to Kaeya. If this was his talk with him…one last time, then being honest would be a definite. ”Goodbye for now, Albedo. Let us meet again, soon…when everything is ok.”

Just like that, the call drops…and so did Albedo.

Placing the telephone back in place, hears someone running inside from behind, a panted voice along with the sound of plastic wrap being rubbed.

“Hah…! Albedo, I-I’m really sorry you had to wait long. The line was crazy earlier…there was a small fight between the worker and a customer at the donut shop so I decided for them to finish until everything is…” Sucrose stopped her words when she spotted Albedo sitting on the floor, back facing her. She frowns, her fingers pushing the hem of her glasses up, “Albedo? What’s wrong?”

The female was a little feared. She knew when Albedo was either upset or angry, he would tend to throw something at a nearby wall. And boy, she doesn’t want that happening now. Not after she already witnessed drama earlier at the doughnut shop she stopped by during her break.

“Sucrose.”

Her body stiffed when Albedo called her all of a sudden. She stammered, “Y-Yes? Is there something wrong?”

Turning his head towards her, hands removing from his cheeks, revealing his puffy red eyes that reads “sadness,” Albedo smiles softly, while Sucrose was confused. “What expression…is on my face, right now…?” Is what he questions.

Sucrose stood still, the paper bag that she holds in her palm gently placed it on the ground—being careful on the hot coffee inside of the packaging to not fall down. She walked over to him, placing her hand over his shoulder. “Albedo…what happened? Why are you crying?” She never saw him cry for once. Not for a long time that is.

“Ah, I’m crying yes. Research studies that crying is a way to let out endorphins and oxytocin. Natural chemical messengers to relieve from emotional distress…and uhh…” Albedo huffs out a tired breath, while Sucrose only watch him slowly multiply more tears in his eyes. What was going on with him?

“Albedo…”

“Not another word please I just…” the tears that won’t stop falling down. It was heavier than anyone else he could imagine. “I just…need a hug, Sucrose…a want a hug…”

His sobs quickly took over his words, coughing up in the middle of his sentence. It hurts, it hurts…everything hurt. Sucrose slowly wrapped her arms around the male, patting his back as she tried to shush him down—not minding the tear stains on her shoulder as he continued to pour more.

He was back to this feeling again. This emotion of agony of love. It was so painful. It happened once and now it was happening twice. He didn’t like it one bit, but it was normal. This was normal, the hypothesis he collected from before claimed that these type of scenario stereotypes were bound to happen at least once in life. As much as he didn’t like it at all.

It might take him a little while to recollect the pieces of his once again shattered heart. However he knew it won’t take long because he was never alone at the first place.

Kaeya wasn’t wrong. His thoughts weren’t wrong. Albedo agreed even if he refused to believe it. The red rope that tied around their pinkies weren’t connected at all, it led to another destiny for them to seek. They weren’t supposed to be for one another, nor were they supposed to be led and fascinated to one another like this. Their relationship was padlocked. And he declined to remember any details of the happening.

But he keeps his promise. He will never forget Kaeya.

When he was fully back in his feet again, he decided on staying home for a quick vacation because after all, he was always isolated inside of his laboratory. It distracted him, made him feel secure from the reality for a while as he thinks. It had always been like this for now.

He wished falling asleep was easy. Eula would often call him to check up in his state along with Aether. It made him so easily to forget. Yet, there was one thing that made his tasks difficult.

Watching the small patter of rain on his window still, Albedo loved taking naps on his living room after hours of research processing and alchemy experiments in his garage. And the thing he loved about napping is when he dreams and would pray to the gods he would just live there instead.

Dreams were vast unlike this world he hated. He dreams standing on a tall grass floor, the soft greens tickling his feet as the wind blew across his face. When the sound of a familiar click! echoed in, Albedo was quick to turn his head to find Kaeya, holding the camera to his face before slowly putting it down, a soft smile adorned on his cheeks. How he missed seeing that smile…

“Hey…”

He wished dreams lasted forever. He wished the red ropes were made for the both of them. He always never believed in wishes, but when Kaeya entered his life he finds himself wishing to whatever existed.

He laughs so cherry. And with one last smile at the male that stood afar from him in the fields, Albedo utters back…one last time…

“Hey…”

Notes:

a/n: SO UHHHHH I JUST WANTED TO SAY THIS STORY TOOK ME A WHILE TO FINISH (i was basically stuffing my mouth with dumplings and listening to photograph by ed sheeran while writing this story—) some inspo here is from the movie ‘call me by your name’ one of my favs pls watch it if you haven’t yet—also, how i wrote this story so terribly is because im not tHAT CREATIVE WITH WORDS,,, I WAS IN A RUSH TO FINISH THIS STORY. BUT NONETHELESS TYSM FOR READING!!!!

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