Work Text:
[21:32] 09836123123: Hey
[21:32] 09836123123: Msg me back when you can
Cyno rolled his eyes. The next time he saw Al-Haitham, he was going to wreck the man. The asshole had managed to write Cyno’s number on the wall of every popular hook-up spot on campus. These messages had been non-stop for weeks now.
[21:33]: I have a boyfriend.
It was the easiest response. It was a lie, and it bothered him that it was generally better received than ‘no’, but he didn’t have the energy to change the world.
Bzzt bzzt
The frustrated groan that escaped him could probably be heard throughout the pokey student flat. Armed with a snide remark, he opened his phone and--
[21:34] 09836123123: Congratulations.
[21:34] 09836123123: Which part of the powerpoint should I do?
Cyno read the message two, three, four times.
He threw his laptop open, mouse shooting to his emails so he could scroll to the pinned message--
To: Cyno [ [email protected] ]
From: Tighnari [ [email protected] ]
Subject: Botany Assignment
Hi,
I’ll be working with you on the botany project this semester. I think using our phones would be easier, here’s my number: 09836123123
He stopped reading, recognising the number currently lighting up his screen.
Staring at the ground, he pleaded with it to swallow him.
“Cyno?” Collei asked, from the other side of his bedroom door. “You okay in there?”
“Yeah…” Cyno managed to choke out.
“...you don't sound okay.”
“I… just told Tighnari I have a boyfriend.”
“What?!” She all but yelled, “ Why?!”
“It was an accident!”
She threw the door open, rushing in just as Cyno opened the chat with Tighnari again. Reading over his shoulder, realisation lit up her eyes.
“ Ohhhh you thought it was--”
“Yeah.”
“But actually, it was--”
“ Yeah!”
Collei laughed, long and hard.
“Are you going to help me or just laugh ?” Grabbing a pillow from the bed, he launched it at her.
“How do you expect me to help you, Cyno?” She snickered, catching the pillow easily and sitting on the bed beside his desk.
Cyno pulled his legs up onto his desk chair, elbows on his knees as he rubbed his face. “I don’t know, what do I say to him now? You know him better than I do!”
“I don’t think my knowing him is going to be remotely helpful, you said what you said--”
Bzzt bzzt
Cyno nearly jumped out of his skin at the new message notification.
[21:35] 09836123123: Hello? I’d like to get started on this sooner rather than later, I have another two projects due as well.
“Oh, yeah, he does!” Collei confirmed, reading over Cyno’s shoulder again. “He’s taking like 3 extra classes this semester.”
“Collei, I have no idea how to tell this man--” He sighed, rubbing his face. “I can’t think. What is the least weird way for me to backtrack here?”
“I got it.” Collei said, with complete conviction. Reaching across, she took the phone from him.
Cyno watched with apprehension as she tapped away, phone held up to her face so Cyno could only see the back of it.
“What are you writing?” He asked, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“I’m working it out… you know what, you tell me everything you want to say, like super bluntly, and I’ll convert it into casual speak for you.”
Cyno sighed, stretching his legs out and resting them on the mattress beside Collei.
“I don’t have a boyfriend. I lied, because of that dumb prank Al Haitham played and I-- I don’t know how to tell him that I don’t give a shit about botany and I’ve been playing the system all semester to make sure we ended up as project partners because I think he’s amazing but I’ve got no legitimate way of talking to him. Like, at all. Except through you, obviously. But I’m not going to use you as a wing-person, that’s beyond lame.” He huffed a sigh, “How’s that casual speak conversion going?”
Collei smiled, offering him back the phone.
“I think you’ll approve.”
[21:37] : [video message]
Cyno’s jaw dropped.
“ COLLEI--!”
Bzzt bzzt
[21:38] 09836123123: why didn’t he just ask me out
[21:38] 09836123123: is that still collei? Or cyno?
[21:38] 09836123123: cyno why didn’t you just ask me out you weirdo
“I can’t.” Cyno threw the phone back at Collei. “You did this, you deal with it!”
Collei cackled, tapping away at the phone while Cyno caught his breath. He grabbed the bottle of water on his desk, chugging half a litre before Collei prodded him with the phone again.
“You’re welcome.” She smirked.
He snatched the phone from her--
[21:39] : cyno’s having a breakdown he didn’t know i was gonna send that
[21:39] 09836123123: collei there’s this thing called consent
[21:39] : i know im sorry i just got really sick of you both mutually pining like idiots so i made an executive decision
[21:40] 09836123123: i mean yeah thats fair
[21:40] : you’re really asking why he didn’t ask you out when the poor guy’s been bringing you honeyed dates all year like what else do you want him to do he was pretty obvious and you gave nothing away
[21:42] 09836123123: give him back his phone collei
[21:43] 09836123123: cyno?
[21:44] : hello
[21:45] 09836123123: firstly, i am serious about botany so you better pull your weight on this project
[21:45] 09836123123: secondly, are you free for dinner
Cyno grinned broadly, saving the number.