Chapter Text
“Hey, Tigh!” I called over the phone.
“Yeah?” Came the muffled answer.
“Are you there yet?” I asked. I felt exited. New beginnings, new people, new surroundings.
“Yup! I’m in the parking lot-“ there was a brief pause before he continued, ”Ah! I see you!” I lowered my phone as I scanned over the many heads that seemed to flow around the grounds. After a few seconds, I picked out the distinct features of the pricked ears from the crowd of students. Tighnari rushed over to my car and I hopped out, half-hugging half-throwing myself onto him.
His soft thin jumper felt nice against my hands, and his black laced boots gleamed in the weak sunlight. As we pulled away, I searched the crowd behind us.
“Isn’t Cyno with you?” I asked. “You guys said you would come together. Did something happen?”
“Ah-yeah,” Tighnari replied stiffly. “He felt ill, but I gave him some medication to take to feel better. He should arrive later today.” I nodded.
“Your medicine skills are sure coming in handy,” I smirked, tapping him on the shoulder.
“That sounds weird Kaveh,” he laughed in embarrassment, his ears bending down a little whilst doing so.
“Hey, Kaveh!” Sounded a cheery voice behind Tighnari. A girl, slightly shorter than Tighnari himself, thrust out from behind his back. Her green hair swished and lit up as rays of sun radiated on her face.
“Hi Collei, it’s nice seeing you!” I replied, giving a polite smile to her. Tighnari swished around.
“Didn’t I tell you to stay behind?” He said, raising his voice a little.
“But brother, I had to see you on your first day of freshman year!” She whined. Tighnari rolled his eyes and ruffled her hair, looking away.
“Hey, I think we’re being called in. We should go,” I pointed out, hearing a voice sound over all the noise. Tighnari nodded. He waved a goodbye to his sister and joined me.
Around us stood many students, none of the faces which I recognised, staring at a professor who had already begun talking. His low slow voice resonated around the exterior walls of the building. I quickly grew tired of listening, like many of the others. As I looked around, I noticed a guy with silver-green hair putting in wired earphones and pulling out a book. The leather jacket and the brown and black-striped jumper looked perfect on him, but it was a shame it was wasted on a guy with such rude attitude. “Tigh, who’s that?” I whispered.
“Hm?” Tighnari pricked his ears as he tried to find what I was looking at. When he saw him, he replied, “I think he’s called Alhaitham. My parents knew his father.”
“Why is he pulling out a book though, he’s supposed to be listening to the professor,” I pointed out, slightly annoyed. Tighnari gave a stifled laugh.
“It’s not like anyone is concentrating on what he’s saying anyways.”
At that very moment, the cold, emerald eyes flashed over to mine. His regard was cool-no, almost icy, and I quickly turned away. Even in doing so, I could still feel his chilling gaze bore into my back. This guy is weird , I told myself. Hopefully I won’t have to run into him.
After the dull and tiresome speech, I headed straight for the registration desk. I could smell the calming scent of fresh cut wood waft around the library that was located towards the left of the counter. The long, thin windows let the faint rays of sun melt onto the floorboards. On the right situated several long tables -most of which were not in use- that lined from the top end to the other. Paintings were aligned along the back wall, and a chandelier hung from the cedar ceiling. This place is incredible , I thought. The architecture and decorations here are stunning.
A high-pitched cough made me jump back to reality as I saw a lady now behind the counter. “O-oh!” I stammered. “I have already registered in and I would like to get my room keys please!”
“And your name is…?” She asked as she scanned the computer.
“Kaveh.”
“Ah! That’s right!” She opened a draw and fished out the keys. “Here you go. Room 32.” I gave her a silent thanks and dragged my wheelie suitcase up the stairs. It took some time.
After I managed to navigate my way around the premises, I finally found a block for the dorms. The cold, wet stone and the old medieval windows glittered slightly as the afternoon sun hid sheepishly behind the forest trees. The university-a renovated castle-looked almost surreal.
I reached my door, letting out an almost exaggerated sigh of relief.
I unlocked the door.
My jaw dropped.
He was sitting on the floor, bent over reading a book.
Is this some sick joke? I took a deep breath before speaking. “Alhaitham, is it?” Hearing his name, his head snapped up. His emerald eyes once again flashed straight to mine. I felt shivers run down my spine, and I immediately regretted calling out his name. Alhaitham stood up, and I immediately felt him tower over me. “This is my-“
“Weren’t you listening back there? Mr. Zhongli said that some of us would have to share rooms as there were more freshman students than usual this year.” He said calmly, even though it was obvious that he was clearly annoyed someone else had to stay with him. Who the hell is Mr. Zhongli , and when was that mentioned?? I cried out inside of my head.
“Ah…okay…” I awkwardly mumbled. As I scanned the room, I suddenly caught on to something. “Hold on, there’s a problem-“ Alhaitham turned his head around to see what I was staring at.
“Hmm?”
“There’s only…one bed-“ I swear I could quite literaly feel the blood rush away from my face. Is this some sort of sick joke???
“There’s always the option where you sleep on the floor,” he pointed out.
“WHAT?” I exclaimed. How much worse can his attitude get from here?? “You want me to sleep on the damn floor now?” He looked down on me, frowning.
“Of course, if you have a better solution, please suggest it. I’d be overjoyed to hear it.” At a loss of words, I rolled my eyes and shoved in my suitcases.
“I’ll just go to the registration desk then.”
“It’s closed.” Came the immediate reply. “It closed ten minutes ago.” I swear there was never a moment like this where I wanted to scream aloud and rip the wallpaper.
“HAHAHAHA” Tighnari laughed. “I CANT BELIEVE YOU GOT PUT WITH HIM OUT OF ALL PEOPLE!” He laughed again. Cyno was here, dressed in a black hoodie and matching black cargos with chains hanging on the side. The silver rings on his fingers glittered as he pulled out a card.
“Defeated!” Cyno called as he pulled aside a few of the die.
It was late that very evening, and the cool breeze started to inch down my spine.
”I hate to say it, but I have to go. Back to that dorm.” I stated as the TCG game drew to a close. I called for the waiter and paid for the beer.
”You sure? It’s not like we don’t have any space in our dorm,” Tighnari pointed out. I shook my head.
”No need,” I said. “It’s not the worst situation in the world. Thank you so much for hanging out with me guys.”
For the second time today, I went up the flight of stairs and unlocked the door. As I came in and removed my coat, I realised there was another mattress that leaned on the wall. “What’s this?” I asked Alhaitham.
There was no reply.
He’s ignoring me, isn’t he. I walked over to the desk where he was studying. “Come on, pull those wired earphones out,” I impatiently said, standing right behind where he was sitting. I was about to take them out myself, but I caught myself right before doing so. A second later, Alhaitham ripped them out from his ears, angry that he got disturbed. He looked up from his seat to me.
”What do you want?” He asked. The yellow light from the lamp lit up his face, warming all the coldness that he had before. His silver hair had blended into a cloud colour, and his hard emerald eyes seemed to grow soft. His well-carved jawline grew more defined as his sat there staring up at me. He rolled his eyes. “If you don’t have anything to say, then don’t call for me,” he said with a finalist tone. As he started putting his earphones back in, I suddenly took his wrist and pulled it away from his ears.
And I really said it wasn’t the worst situation in the world, I thought, cringing from what I just did. “I’m-I’m so sorry! I swear I didn’t mean to do that!” I exclaimed, a little flustered. “I actually meant to ask how come the mattress is here. Did you…” He seemed to catch on to what I was going to say. Okay, why did I say that again?? This situation is getting worse by the minute!
”No, I didn’t get it for you, the staff rung the doorbell and and I brought it in.”
”Ah…thanks then…” I paused. This is literally so awkward. “Uhm-I’ll go set up my bed then!” I hurriedly grasped the mattress and flung it near the wall opposite to his bed without looking at him. I prayed we would both forget about what just happened the next morning.
Of course, I knew that was never going to happen.