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It was growing on him, that feeling once again. Unfamiliar to the redheaded Housewarden... Maybe he should ask someone?
And these thoughts constantly racked in Riddle's mind as that was replaying over and over in his mind -- 'unusual feelings when I'm around him, maybe I should just ask Trey' -- he should simply put this aside for now, it would be better in the long run, as he had many better things to do right now than to worry about some silly feelings. Those that were unknown to him; of course. He had no idea how to identify them and he would just figure it out as he went, and if he really needed to get work done, then these thoughts needed to be blocked out by something, but...what? What could he even do to block it out with? He only slightly knew how to use music apps because of Cater teaching him about it, so he decided to use his phone, trying to --- figure out how to open the app at first before going to turn on music using the headphones gifted to him. Sound was better than silence, even though he hadn't been exposed to music before, so he wasn't exactly sure how to do it until Cater had taught him to, but that was always a good thing, he thought. Whatever, now to focus on homework.
"You think Riri gonna eventually realize his feelings when he's done with his homework lol?" Cater asked Trey, looking at him across the hallway. Because of that, he was kind of screaming across the hallway. and there wasn't much he could do about that. He knew that Riddle had feelings for that farmer boy that resides in the Pomefiore dorm -- pretty much being the only thing he knew. It didn't matter though, Cater would probably pry a bit to try and get an answer out of their Housewarden.
"I don't know that much, he's pretty naïve about things like this," Trey sighed, pushing up his glasses before turning his attention to two students who had been gossiping about the rumored crush that Riddle has on the student who is a year below him. It was surprising to hear, but he simply gave them a gaze that told them to stop; Riddle's room was nearby and there was one thing that he didn't want Riddle to hear. That. Specifically that. Trey was actually unaware that Riddle was listening to music, since Trey had no idea that Riddle knew how to listen to music, even though Cater was very capable and could -- no, did teach him how to do that. Trey was honestly grateful for their dorm tech savvy; it was very helpful to have him around. If it wasn't for him, Riddle may have not been able to text Epel.
Sometimes, Epel was invited to join in on their Unbirthday Parties and he always looks so happy when that happens; which, probably, gave Riddle an idea... Maybe he should invite him over for a walk in the garden and to stay for dinner? That would probably be the best thing he could do to talk to Epel alone. Why did doing his homework even spark this idea...? Maybe it wasn't even the homework, perhaps it was something else. Oh well! It was time to put his homework away now. With that, Riddle rose from his desk chair after turning off the music and putting his phone in his pocket after removing the headphones from the port.
"Should I ask Trey now?..." Riddle pondered to himself, a sigh that was drawled out escaped his lips. This was so frustrating, honestly... He didn't know how to go on about this, but he had to ask him about what he was feeling! He knew he'd been in his room for about a half hour, but now he walked to the door that went into the hallway and then he went out into the hallway, walking down them at a quickened pace to attempt a search for his childhood best friend.
The search so far wasn't going too well. He had checked Trey's room, the kitchen, the dorm's library, the garden, the Hedgehog pen, the flamingo farm, but where was Trey? He hadn't been anywhere he searched so far; being confused as to where Trey disappeared off to. It was honestly surprising how his friend chose to pull a prank like this. Wasn't it childish to play a game of hide and seek? -- in your own dorm, no less -- Whatever, Riddle would find him eventually, he hoped.
"Treeey?" Riddle finally hollered out, calling for him. He wanted to find Trey, and fast, or else this butterflies in his stomach would turn into frustrated bees because he wouldn't have the answer as to why he's been feeling ill lately. Maybe that wasn't the case, and that's not the conclusion Riddle wanted to make. He didn't want to conclude that it was sickness, because this is not what it felt like.
Riddle really needed him to show up soon, this was getting frustrating. He didn't have the patience for this! Sevens, where was he?!
"TREYYY!!" He yelled, clearly more agitated and red in the face now because of how he hadn't been given a response and that's when he saw the greenette by the mirror to the Hall of Mirrors.
"Ah- Riddle... Did you need me?" Trey seemed embarrassed that Riddle had gotten angry over not being able to find him... wait-- was that even what he had concluded? Probably.
"May we go somewhere more seclusive? I need to ask you a question. A specific... question." Riddle spoke anxiously, before looking up at his friend, who had a friendly smile on his face, nodding in response to the redhead's question.
"Of course. Follow me." Trey started to walk to a more secluded area of the dorm, but Riddle overheard the Freshman fighting over who was going to feed the Flamingos.
"Heyy!!! Juice! I wanna feed 'em this time!!" Ace shouted at his boyfriend, trying to pull the Flamingo feed from his grasp.
"No fair! This was my assigned job this week! You can't just take it! Besides, you're not w-wearing pink!" Deuce looked away, flustered. He was so used to his boyfriend calling him Juice so often; that, it didn't bother him anymore.
Riddle halted his walking behind Trey, before turning to Ace and Deuce; the two who were openly dating in Heartslabyul.
"Trey. I'll handle this. Can you wait off to the side?" Trey nodded at Riddle's question before Riddle walked over to the two Freshman, letting out a sigh and crossing his arms. "You two! Please stop fighting over it and let Spade feed them. Maybe I'll ask you to feed them tomorrow, Trappola."
Ace huffed at Riddle, tossing the Flamingo feed back into his boyfriend's arms, watching Riddle sassily walk off in a job successfully done type of way.
Riddle soon made it back over to where Trey was waiting, finally relieved the drama they had on the way here was dealt with. "Finally...now I can ask you."
"What were you going to ask me?" Trey's irises glinted in curiosity, holding onto the brim of his dorm uniform hat, smirking in wonder of what his childhood friend had wanted to ask him.
"First: wipe that smirk off your face!" Riddle rose his voice, making it slightly raspy and hoarse as a result... "Mmmh.. apologies for yelling.."
"It's all right, Riddle. Go on and ask your question." Trey insisted, not minding Riddle's temperament much.
"Hmph..." Riddle crossed his arms and let his lips purse and eyes close for a moment as he processed how to word his question... "Do you know what I've been feeling as of late? The butterflies when I think about him, not to mention being flusterd, the clammy hands and the higher than usual temperature. I do not know how to describe the next feeling very well, but I suppose it's what you call having palpations of the heart with a tight feeling?"
"Has it never crossed your mind that you're in love, Riddle?"
LOVE?! No! That wasn't possible, right? Right?
Riddle's face became red at that idea, covering his face with his hands. -- 'Sevens! Why did he have to say that of all things? Was that seriously his conclusion?!' -- his thoughts yelled, because he was in such a daze of confusion that he had nothing to say... Which was not really a first for Riddle, but he didn't know how to confront these feelings if they were true. What could he do? Confess to him at lunch and then invite him to stay after for dinner like his brain suggested earlier? Maybe that was it? He has tonight to look over what he was just told... right? What was the word called for telling someone how you feel again? Compression? No... Comfreys? No... con... fession? Yes! That was it! That word of all words worked best and that's how he was going to go about it.
"...No. It has not." he replied after about five minutes of uncomfortable silence. There was a clear nervous tremor in his voice and that surprised Trey.
"Oh? Please don't get too nervous over this.. I'm sure it will go well." Trey goes to pat Riddle's head, lightly ruffling his hair. "I'll see you later..." his voice faded out as he left Riddle in the garden.
Riddle had stayed in that part of the garden for a while before racking his brain for a way to talk to Epel during lunch tomorrow and he surely hoped this would go well... Oh well, not time to worry! Time to head off to dinner and wait patiently for the dish for feasting. With that, Riddle headed off to the dining room, sitting in his fancy chair. It was only his chair, no one else's.
As he waited for dinner, thoughts of Epel filtered in and out of his mind and it clearly made him flush slightly and now his face was lightly dusted with a peachy-pink color and Cater let out a giggle when he saw that.
"Flustered, eh, Riri~? Are you thinking about that farmer boy lol?" Cater asked, doing a casual wink as he asked his question.
"Be quiet!" Riddle's face became slightly red from already having been frustrated from the rumors circling around the table -- Cater was adding to his frustrations on the situation... but he took a deep breath as Cater quieted down.
Soon, Trey brought out the meal for everyone to eat. It was a simple steak and potato dish. Riddle knew the gravy on both were best! He was quite the fan of Trey's cooking and he was glad he added peas to the dish as well on the plate, because the dish was mostly brown and lacking the color at first. It was still quite hot, so Riddle picked up the fork from the left side of the plate and the knife from the left; keeping his elbows off the table as he did so -- now using his left to stab the steak and his right to cut the steak.. After, he put the knife down to take a bite of the steak, liking it only a little pink. He wasn't a big fan of super chewy steak, because it hurt his jaw, in all honesty -- which is why he requested it be cooked a little less.
"It's delicious! As always, Trey." Riddle faintly smiled before he continued to eat the steak and alternating to the peas and mashed potatoes every once in a while so that neither of those things would get cold and unbearable to eat.
"Thank you." Trey said, smiling. Trey had noticed Ace scarfing own his dish and scolded him, telling him to slow down so he didn't choke and that prevented an incident that would've made Riddle way more stressed than he already was over this situation.
"..." Riddle didn't comment and soon finished his dish, grabbing the chinaware by the rim with the cutlery placed on top. He stood up once the grip was firm, turning and he scampered off to the kitchen. After, he returned to his seat to chat with the other members of the dorm for the remaining hour of their dinner. He felt so tired from talking so long. He excused himself, getting up, pushing his chair in before going off to his room.
He was going to change into pajamas and relax once he reached his room, but he had to defuse so many more situations before he even reached his room, which only made him more frustrated.
"Too many problems and I had to fix most of those!! They all lost their heads, but... Sevens, I'm tired..." Riddle didn't expect to use his signature spell just to defuse those situations -- minus Ace and Deuce's. Well, at least they were defused. That was all that mattered. He also didn't expect all those issues to have taken hours to deal with, or was it later than he let on... sometimes, Riddle had been time-blind because of his nature to work on what was most important and get it done.
Riddle quickly showered to cool off his frustrations before coming out in pajamas. He soon climbed into bed, phone already on the charger. He checked to see the time it was... "22:45... it's a bit late, but it's all right..." Riddle sighed, putting his phone on do not disturb before putting it on his night stand, turning off his lamp and going to sleep... or well, trying to go to sleep. His thoughts were rotting into only those of Epel and not studies or more important things... just Epel. The only person taking over his thoughts like this!! It would be best if he told him tomorrow during lunch. As long as he made it there on time.
The next day had arrived faster than Riddle expected, but he immediately got up, showered, changed into his school uniform, combed his hair and packed all his assignments into his folder, tucking it behind his notebook inside his bag. After checking his phone and seeing that the time was 07:30 he exited and hurried off to class, hoping he wasn't going to arrive late! His History of Magic lecture was in thirty minutes! He hoped he'd make it with the quickened pace he was doing to get there.
Thankfully, he had arrived on time and sat down in his assigned seat and going through with the lecture whilst taking notes. This was the same for when it had arrived time for the Spell Casting class... Once it was Flight, he knew it was before lunch time, especially with the break times between classes. He had Potiontology for three hours after, before clubs and then... a potential dinner date with Epel... that made him blush, but there was no time to get distracted! He needed to now get back into his school uniform! Flight was exhausting and made him very tired. He was catching his breath as he hurried off to go to the cafeteria. He hoped he'd make it there in time to not be left in an abnormally lengthy queue.
He had hurried and made it there right on time! Epel was there with Rook and Vil at the table. He wasn't expecting to see all of them there at one table... -- 'Get back on track, Riddle! Get your lunch and eat first before talking to the boy!' -- he corrected himself on actions before going to line the getting a simple soup dish for today. It didn't take him long to eat before he went over to Epel's table... that was after returning the dish to the cook first, of course.
"Hello there." he spoke, targeting his words to the lavendernette sitting between Rook and Vil at the table, eating a salad with disgust on his face... He noticed the disgust of the other, but didn't comment on it all because he didn't know what to say. Things like that were things he didn't know how to comment on it.
Vil glanced up when he heard the other Housewarden's voice, "is there anything we can do for you, Rosehearts?"
"Oh! Um... yes. I would like to speak to Epel... privately."
Those words from the redhead shocked Vil and his irises shot small, "oh? I suppose prying would be not wise then. Bring him back soon, then." Vil patted Epel's shoulder, allowing him to rise from his seat.
"This is interesting, don't you think, My Liege?" Rook asked, smiling. He knew Epel had mutual feelings for Riddle, so he knew this would go well if this is what he had thought this was about. "They're in love...~" Rook sung, smiling more.
"Oh? Interesting..." Vil commented, letting out a sigh.
Once outside in the hallway where no one was at the moment, Riddle pulled Epel's not gloved hands into his own and closer to his face.
"I have been wanting to talk to you about something important." Riddle knew that action flustered himself, and considering the shocked look on the farmer boy's face; he was flustered too. Riddle also took note of Epel's sparkling, teal eyes...
"Go on..." Epel showed interest in his voice, making eye contact with Riddle, hands clammy and stomach in a whirl from the physical contact.
"..." Riddle took a moment to think of how to word this before he started talking, "I was explaining my feelings about you to Trey because I didn't quite understand these feelings at first... but I had brushed it off as sickness for these long months after having met and gotten to know you... Now, I must face these feelings like a Spelldrive champion who lost their tournament. I was informed that what I am feeling is love and I am now pretty positive that I love you, Epel." Riddle so badly wanted to refer to him using his surname, but they were closer than that. They were close to the point he wasn't afraid to put him on a first name basis.
Those words took the shorter boy a moment to process, still staring Riddle in the eyes for a moment before his body lunged backwards from being flustered; his face turned as bright as an apple. Epel's only response was a quick peck to the taller boy's cheek and Riddle stared at him with wide eyes, trying to process what had just happened...
"Ah mean t'at-- No! I mean that I... I-I-I love you too..!" Epel corrected himself, but Riddle put a reassuring hand onto his shoulder, lightly caressing his shoulder a moment...
"Feel free to speak how you want when you're around me. Does that sound all right with you?"
Epel nodded and then Riddle leaned forward, lightly kissing every knuckle on Epel's hands... Guess they were boyfriends now, even though Riddle wasn't sure how affection worked... but he knew that was a kind gesture, so that's why he chose to go with that.
"I have one more question for you. Would you like to join us at Heartslabyul for dinner tonight? We can walk in the garden for an hour beforehand and then go eat dinner together for the first time as a...."
"Couple." Epel finished his sentence, smiling brightly. He seemed to be cheered up from his other mood, which was good!!
Riddle blushed a bit. So... that's what people together like that from being intimate enough to ask one another out. Riddle was starting to understand!
Lunch had just ended by the time their interaction with one another was over. He was glad that - that had gone well! Now, it was to Potiontology and then to his club and then to prepare for his guest...
Both the class and the club time passed rather quickly after Riddle had rushed off in the opposite direction of Epel for class... he was becoming more and more time-blind as time went on, it seemed. Oh well, Riddle just had to get ready now and he figured wearing his makeup and dorm uniform was going to be enough, but he did his makeup a little more special to make it more appropriate for an event such as a date! He had to look perfect!
In Pomefiore, Vil was preparing Epel for the date by helping him into his dorm uniform, doing his makeup a little more heavy and special... Epel almost sneezed because the setting powder got into his nose, but now... Vil was curling his hair into nice, tight, beautiful curls that bounced as Epel walked. Vil had gave him the makeup bag after, "keep it on you just in case you must do touch-ups... now get going!"
Epel scampered over to the Pomefiore mirror to head to Heartslabyul through the mirror hall. Once he made it there, he was in awe about how nice Heartslabyul had looked and he noticed Riddle racing towards him. He panicked but all Riddle did was quickly and tightly hug him. It caught him off guard!
"Gah! Y'caugh' me off guard, Riddle..!" Epel huffed, before Riddle took his hand to walk with him through the garden. During their walk, Riddle spotted a flower and plucked it. The rose was a rare purple one that usually got harvested because it didn't fit the aesthetics of the dorm, but no one had seen it yet, so what he chose to do was put it into Epel's hair... smiling.
"It goes well with your curls, Epel!"Epel turned away from him at those words, not realizing how much time had passed and then dinner had come and passed. Honestly, the meal they had was so yummy! Plus, there was dessert afterwards; a rare luxury for a Pomefiore student! Epel was happy and sitting in Riddle's room with him, planning to stay the night since it was almost 00:00 by now because they had spent so much time together.
Riddle remembered something Cater has whisper-asked him in the hallway - 'are ya going to kiss him?' - and Riddle knew what it was, but never had a kiss himself... but hey, maybe he could try?... Riddle pulled Epel close, huddling near him at first and pecking his cheek to return to what he had done to him prior. He knew Epel wouldn't mind and then just peppered his face with a few kisses, thinking that was enough before Epel grabbed his face and tugged him into an actual kiss! That startled him! His heart was racing now, but... thankfully, Riddle didn't take long to process what was going on before kissing the shorter male back, wrapping arms tightly around him.
They were definitely a very happy couple... even if it was their first eight hours as one... who cares? It went well, they're in love and Riddle had never been happier...