Work Text:
Fu Hua’s 4:00 AM alarm rang; however this morning it was of no use. She was wide awake hours ago, although it would also be a safe choice to say she never ended up falling asleep. A slice of sunrise slipped from under her shut window blinds, slightly lighting up her pitch-black room. With her sense of anxiety and dread, she slid herself out of bed, turned on the light switch, and walked up to her calendar pinned on an old bulletin board. She crossed out yesterday's date and stared at today's box. February 14th, Valentine's Day, it read.
As she thought about what was to happen this day, her mind couldn’t help but come back to one person.
Kiana Kaslana.
Immediately she shook her head aggressively as if to shake Kiana out of her head. Embarrassed that she even thought of her, Fu Hua ran into the shower to freshen up before classes started.
Hot water dripped down her back as she stared at the wall. All she could think of was Kiana. The way that her smile lit up a whole room, her addictive laugh, her everything.
And once again, no sooner than she had those thoughts, she shook her head in embarrassment.
Fu Hua stepped out of the shower leaving wet footprints behind. She gave herself a stern smile staring into the mirror. No day is an exception to look sloppy, even holidays. She put on her uniform, as crisp as always, and tied her smokey blue hair into a tight ponytail, all while trying to push away her anxiety.
She was used to pushing away her feelings in order to not freely display her weakness which, no matter what she felt today, this was not going to be the day she quit that cycle.
Right before she left her apartment, Hua didn’t forget to grab a tiny little box with a tag that reads “For You! To: Kiana.”
—
As soon as Fu Hua walked through the door of Himeko’s classroom, her eyes scanned the room in search of Kiana. “She’s probably going to be late again, isn’t she.” Hua thought to herself.
The bell rang with still no sight of Kiana, Fu Hua sighed to herself. She had no idea how Kiana lived without a single thought in her mind.
Ms. Himeko had already begun to call out roll call and no later had she been able to call out the Kaslana girl’s name, the door had swung open with such force anyone would have thought a hurricane had hit the school.
"Speak of the devil.." Himeko smiled and eyed the slightly hideous heart-antenna headband Kiana was wearing.
"HERE HERE, I'M HERE," Kiana announced out of breath.
She huffed and puffed her way to the seat right in front of Fu Hua’s desk, also located in between Mei’s and Bronya’s.
“Do you like them?” Kiana beamed, pointing to her headband, “I forgot where I placed them last night so I spent my whoooole morning searching. Eventually I found them behind the couch..”
Bronya stared at Kiana, “No. Kiana idiotka,” She gave her answer.
Between history and Fu Hua’s every other subject, classes passed quickly that day. All day she had wanted to come up to Kiana and give her the gift Hua had spent all night making. But somehow she could not find the confidence to walk up to her.
It’s not like Kiana was scary. She wasn’t terrifying to talk to at all. In fact, she was slightly more stupid. Hence Bronya’s nickname for her…
—
Throughout Fu Hua’s hunt for Kiana during their lunch period she eventually discovered her harassing Mei. That came without surprise, as Kiana clung to cute girls like superglue. Fu Hua stepped closer to listen into the ruckus she was causing, and determined the cause of harassment was over food. Again, that came without surprise.
“BUT MEIIII, I DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO MAKE LUNCH TODAY,” Kiana argued. “DO YOU WANT ME TO STARVE?? YOU KNOW I CAN’T COOK.”
“You’re just stupid,” muttered Bronya, pulling out a thermos filled with fresh borscht.
Kiana crossed her arms, glaring at Bronya. She suddenly turned around to face Fu Hua and threw a quick wink before rushing over.
“HUA, do you have anything for me to steal?” Kiana pouted. Fu Hua felt the box in her tote bag, hesitating to take it out.
Before Fu Hua had the chance to reply, “Subject Kiana has proceeded to harass others.” Bronya remarked, adding a spoonful of sour cream to her borscht. As Kiana ran to throw punches at Bronya and prove herself innocent, Fu Hua smiled slowly, backing away from the mess.
—
The day had passed, evening had fallen, and Fu Hua gently swung from a set of swings right outside her apartment. Holding the tiny little box, she carefully brushed her finger against the name tag where in neat cursive writing Kiana’s name was written. She smiled thinking about how she had stayed up the previous night preparing a box of sweets and a letter for the girl she so dearly loved.
A chilly snowflake fell on her shoulder marking the start of the night's snowfall. She stood up, brushing the cold off herself before she noticed a figure skipping in the distance. Fu Hua got up, slowly walking closer towards the mysterious shadow until she was able to make out a girl with two braids. Her heart beat sped up as she realized who it was.
“Hi, Fu Hua!” Kiana smiled brightly. Fu Hua observed Kiana’s sweet azure eyes, her comforting smile, feeling her face go red. She quickly looked down to avoid eye contact, and noticed that she was still holding the box.
“Well, it’s probably time for me to go on, nice seeing you,” and Kiana began to skip on, flashing yet another quick wink.
“Kiana wait,” Fu Hua suddenly grabbed onto her arm. Kiana turned around, confused.
“This- is for you,” Hua shoved the box into Kiana’s hands, turning her head away so Kiana wouldn’t see her red face.
“Oh? For MEEE,” Kiana giggled, looking at the little heart shaped box. The snow started to fall even harder, covering everything in bright fluffy white. It was completely dark outside, with only one street lamp shining, lighting up a chunk of the pavement.
“Kiana..” Fu Hua began, “I-“
And before she could even start what she was going to say, Kiana grabbed Fu Hua and kissed her. She stepped backwards in shock, face redder than ever.
“Fu Hua, I like you too.” Kiana grinned, before skipping off once again. Fu Hua continued standing there in shock, fingers tracing her lips wondering if what just happened was true.
She continued to stand there, snow covering all of her until she began to walk home smiling to herself.