Chapter Text
The Psych Ward
5:10 AM
⸻⸻
Hu Tao: i literally dont even want to be in school today
Xingqiu: shit. me neither
Hu Tao: do you wanna skip. say yes
Xingqiu: okay but WHERE
Hu Tao: how abt like..oh shit theres that supermarket on the corner three streets down from the school
Xingqiu: isn't that right near the college though.
Hu Tao: i mean YEAH but its not like theres gonna be college kids seeing us
Xingqiu: ykw you’re right. i’m in.
Gaming: are you guys skipping??
Hu Tao: OH SHIT HI GAMING
Hu Tao: nobody is like up rn so we dont give 2 fucks if we decide to talk abt us skipping
Gaming: OOOHHH THAT MAKES SENSE
Gaming: can i go??
Xingqiu: you? want to go?
Xingqiu: it’s usually just me and hu tao but sure
Hu Tao: yeah ykw you can come w us
Hu Tao: we r probably gonna skip after lunch anyways so the security guards dont get really suspicious of us
Xingqiu: okay but we could just leave right as the first bell rings and nobody would be any the wiser
Hu Tao: they still take attendance dumbass
Xingqiu: AND? just leave BEFORE entering class they’ll just think you’re absent
Hu Tao: ITS MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY BITCH
Xingqiu: OH MY GOD FINE
Gaming: do you skip. a lot??
Xingqiu: yeah but we usually have excuses as to where we were when we come back
Hu Tao: those teachers eat it UP everytime
Xingqiu: dw gaming you’ll get used to this kind of shit happening
Xingqiu: let hu tao and i give you a lesson in skipping!
Gaming: youre assuming ive never skipped before..
Xingqiu: yes.
Hu Tao: you were in private school youre not fooling anyone
Gaming: WOW
Gaming: okay yeah youre right!
Hu Tao: EXACTLY
Hu Tao: if anyone else wants to join cuz they saw this well theyre just gonna have to wait their turn
Xingqiu: this shit is EXCLUSIVE
Gaming: honestly im SO excited
Gaming: ive never skipped before!
Xingqiu: oh you sweet summer child
Xingqiu: you’ve got a whole new storm coming
[ Everyone has gone offline. ]
⸻⸻
“Good morning, Gaming.”
“Mornin’, Dad!”
A new normal had settled in the house after the brief fallout that occurred between Gaming and his dad. One of freedom and forgiveness. Instead of working against each other in some push-and-pull towards nothing ever getting done, they worked in tandem with one another, and it was the best thing that could ever happen. Although father and son really couldn’t be more different. It was like night and day.
Gaming poured himself a cup of coffee as Yip Tak slid important documents and files into his leather briefcase, gilded in gold, with silvery clasps to match. He chugged the coffee as fast as he could and looked at his phone as it began to vibrate and start one of his many ringtones.
“I have work today,” he said, “a few deliveries after school.”
“Will you be back before midnight?”
“I don’t know,” he sighed, “but I’ll be fine, don’t worry!”
Yip Tak hummed. “I trust you. Are your friends picking you up today?”
“No, but that’s because — ”
He heard a loud honk.
“That’s for me!” He grabbed his backpack. “Bye Dad! Love you!”
A huff of laughter came out of Yip Tak as he watched his son barrel out the door after having set his cup into the sink.
“I love you too, Gaming.”
He stumbled out of the house, almost falling down the stone steps that led to the porch and front door. Outside on the street was a sleek black car, in which one could’ve mistaken it to be some undercover cop car. The window rolled down to reveal the very nervous driver.
“I didn’t think driving would be so scary.” Freminet said, one hand gripping the wheel as the other went to push some of his hair out of his face and behind his ear. “How does Chongyun do it? How do any of you do it?”
His friends weren’t picking him up because Freminet had just gotten his permit!
Of course, Gaming wanted to support him, and help add onto his driving hours so he could work towards his license. He was even there at a few of his lessons at home with Mr. Wriothesley. That experience was certainly nervewracking as is. Freminet was not confident driving whatsoever, but wanted to learn because he thought it would be useful.
“You’re doing great!” Gaming said as he hopped into the passenger seat, tossing his backpack into the backseat. “You didn’t even bump into the curb this time!”
“Really?” He breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good. I know Mr. Wriothesley said that he didn’t mind if the car got a few bumps and scratches, but I don’t want to total it..”
A reassuring smile made its way onto his face. “Don’t worry, it’ll be fine. You’re doing fine.”
Freminet’s cheeks flushed and he nodded his head. “Okay.”
God, he still couldn’t get over how handsome his boyfriend was.
His boyfriend!
He didn’t think he’d jump so quickly onto the dating scene, but it was something about this new school, and having new friends that gave him that burst of confidence. He couldn’t even help the way his mind blanked when he saw Freminet the first time. It was like he had been struck by lightning! A good kind, obviously. He was worried he might’ve scared him off, he knew he was kinda rowdy, but Freminet didn’t even seem bothered by it.
It was like..
Okay, he couldn’t come up with a good metaphor.
But maybe it was as simple as: it was like they were meant to be. Finding someone at the right time.
He didn’t even notice he had been staring for a bit until Freminet spoke up to break the comfortable silence.
“You’re staring at me.”
“Sorry! Sorry, sorry,” he tore his gaze away to look out the window on his side, “I just..”
“It’s not bad.” He said. They had been in the car for awhile, stopping at a red light. “But I’m not used to it.”
“Not used to it?”
“People looking at me like that.” The light turned to green and he pressed on the gas unsteadily. “I don’t know how to explain it. I don’t really like having a lot of attention on me, but if it’s from you..it’s easier to take in. I guess. I don’t know if I’m making sense. I’m sorry, I’m just rambling..”
“Huh?! No, you’re making sense!” He shot up in his seat. “I get it! It’s just different. Not bad.”
“It’s different,” he echoed, “maybe. I’ve never been in love before.”
“Does that mean I’m your first?” He couldn’t help but be mischievous. His eyes glimmered as he brought his gaze back onto Freminet and leaned in closer. The blush on Freminet’s face deepened and he gripped the steering wheel tighter. “Don’t put it like that. You’re as bad as Xingqiu.”
“Put it like what?”
“You — Gaming!”
“What?” To emphasize the point, he raised one of his eyebrows. “Like what?”
“I’m driving,” he locked his sight out the front window, “don’t do this to me.”
He leaned back in his seat and threw his hands up playfully. “Okay, okay.”
It was silent as they drove into the school parking lot. Freminet put the car in park and took the keys out, going to grab his things from behind him in the backseat. Before he could exit the car, Gaming took his hand into his own. Freminet turned to face him, icy blue eyes meeting his brown ones, but equal in the affection they held.
“You know, I’ve never been in love before either,” he said, “I mean, not before you.”
Freminet smiled.
“That makes the two of us then.”
Out of the car they went, going towards the front of the school where their friends were surely waiting on them. They had gotten here before the first bell rang.
Freminet reached out to hold his hand as they walked across the pavement, seeing their group of friends amongst the other bustling groups of students.
It was Gaming’s turn to blush, and the two smiled at each other as they met up with everyone else.