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It’s late. Around 4 A.M in the morning and He Xuan had no chance of sleeping. Tossing and turning with slight frustration, time passing on as she didn’t catch a blink of sleep yet.
She sighs, laying on her back as sleepy eyes stared up at the ceiling. It had been a while since He Xuan had trouble falling asleep but lately, it’s been four nights in a row and she was restless. Only getting through the day with coffee and energy drinks but those could only do so much.
Everyone she knew is asleep so it’s not like she had a chance of bothering them. Not that she wanted to, she’s quite the suffering in silence type.
He Xuan yawns, rubbing at her face to invoke any signs of sleepiness to get her much farther than a few minutes in deafening silence.
“God fucking dammit.” He Xuan curses to no one in particular, checking the time in the process that only added to her disappointment.
Instead, she unlocked her phone and opened messages. Clicking on the person she actually wanted to speak to and sent a text.
It wasn’t long until He Xuan received a reply, almost immediately after that she didn’t have time to shut off her phone to stare endlessly at the wall.
Nor could she answer because in that moment, her phone rang.
He Xuan answers, placing the phone next to her ear as she tries to not sound like she hasn’t slept in decades. “Hello?”
“ A-Xuan? Why aren’t you sleeping yet? You always reply to my messages in the mornings.” Shi Qingxuan’s voice was filled with mild concern, heavily wide awake though it’s expected. They always had such an odd sleeping schedule.
“I, uh, can’t fall asleep. It’s pissing me off.” She replies straightforwardly, not needing much of an explanation really. Why else would she answer a phone call at 4 in the morning?
He Xuan heard a bit of movement on the other end, a pen click and rustling paper. “ Have you tried taking melatonin or anything?”
She did. She had and melatonin simply isn’t for her. Any methods to sleep is any or every method He Xuan has already done, the result the same. “Doesn’t work. Are you studying?”
Shi Qingxuan hummed for a bit, “ I am. Mid terms but nothing I can’t handle! Say, A-Xuan? We can stay on the phone until you fall asleep.”
He Xuan cracks a light smile, shifting onto her side, “You’re going to have to talk though. I’m too exhausted to speak right now.”
“I wouldn’t have let you spoke anyways. Your health is important, A-Xuan. But you can maybe hum??? Or do any sound of acknowledgment just to let me know you’re still up.”
He Xuan complies, only humming in response to indicate she was going to do exactly that as she let her partner ramble on about whatever they thought about.
Since they met, He Xuan always loved hearing her speak. The way you could feel the excitement or enthusiasm radiate off of them, how even their eyes sparkled with interest and the bright smile they had.
Shi Qingxuan never brought it up but definitely noticed. Not minding at all as He Xuan is the perfect person to talk about anything with if she likes you or, well, tolerates you.
So Shi Qingxuan seemed to be focused on their work as He Xuan heard faint typing on a keyboard and pen scribbling on paper, mumbling here and there about how they never understood mathematics and that it was the bane of their existence.
“ I mean seriously, who decided to add so many complicated formulas and steps to numbers? Numbers of all things! That are supposed to be simple.” They sigh, He Xuan offering a light but tired laugh.
“ Oh! I completely forgot to tell you. I was talking with A-Lian today and we’re deciding to attend a concert by campus. You have to go. No ifs, ands or buts, ma’am.”
He Xuan’s words slowed, like sleep was finally catching up to her as she spoke, “If it’s you asking, I’d always go.”
She was dozing in and out of consciousness so she hadn’t heard the flustered sound of Shi Qingxuan nor the sudden noise of objects clattering.
It’s not a rare thing He Xuan was affectionate but she often did so wordlessly. He Xuan wasn’t one for much conversation if it doesn’t interest her but wasn’t at all entirely silent either.
Physical touch it is.
Not a day goes by that He Xuan never held Shi Qingxuan’s hand, kissed their cheek, keep them close by her side or shared food with them. (Which shocked almost every one of their friends when He Xuan actually gave someone else food without a death stare or threat.)
It was their thing and what a sweet thing it was.
Though times like these, Shi Qingxuan had the mistake of forgetting that He Xuan could be quite the flirt, albeit tired but details.
“That’s why they always have me relay plans to you, A-Xuan.” They laugh, the beautiful melody of their laugh lulling He Xuan further into unconsciousness, “ Besides any place isn’t enjoyable if you aren’t there.”
He Xuan exhales slowly, “I’m…struggling to keep my, um..my eyes, uh, open.”
“That means you’re falling asleep, silly. Close them and relax, okay? You’ll be out before you know it.” Shi Qingxuan lowered their voice, as if speaking loudly even over the phone would wake their partner.
“Will you still be on the phone?”
“ Of course. I’ll be on it until we see each other in the morning for class, A-Xuan. Sweet dreams.”