Chapter Text
Whenever Venti told someone that he liked Xiao, the other person would start laughing without fail. They laughed harder at his little confession than they ever did at his jokes.
Then, they would look at Venti and all the chuckling would die down. Without failure, they would ask:
“Wait, really? You're serious?”
Venti, his expression uncharacteristically serious, would nod.
The look he got back would usually be one of pity and Venti understood why.
Xiao was unrelenting, serious, sometimes almost mistaken as mean if you've only spoken to him once or twice. He would often turn down hanging out with the rest of the class because he, apparently, “can't afford to be distracted.”
Liking Xiao was like a death sentence for any poor high schooler’s heart.
Maybe Venti was a delusional idiot who thought he had a chance with Xiao because the guy didn't seem to hate him. Maybe he was just a fool who fell for that intense gaze in Xiao's sharp golden eyes. Maybe Venti was just a freak who had a thing for guys who didn't care for him in the slightest, but regardless he did like Xiao. Venti did anything if it meant he got to spend time with him.
“I could afford a second degree with dorm prices like these…” Xiao muttered as he scrolled through the website of his new college.
Venti was currently working another after school shift at his family's bookstore. His job? Design the little chalkboard sign to put up outside the shop. It was his favorite chore since he got to draw and listen to music, but most of all, it came with the benefit of getting to see Xiao, who usually comes in looking for WiFi or study materials.
He couldn't help but overhear him.
“I don't think your dad would mind paying for you. Especially if it's your living situation.” Venti said, prompting Xiao to look up from his laptop. “Yeah, right. He's given me enough already. I need to do this on my own. I'll figure it out before leaving.”
Venti smiled and shook his head as he cleaned up the lines on his work. “You're so thoughtful.” He always loved that about Xiao.
Venti, unable to resist the look of ambition in Xiao's face, found himself reaching for the tip jar he kept at the counter. The medium-sized glass jar was filled halfway with Mora. His mom told him he could use the tips for himself, but…
“I know it's not a lot,” Venti walked up to the seating area, right by the window. “You can use my tips to help pay.”
Xiao looked down at the tip jar first then up at Venti with a look of what one can only assume as shock. “Are you sure?” He asked.
Venti nodded his head. “Yes, of course! It's not like I'm ever leaving this place. I don't have to save up for travel and all that jazz.”
There was a small twitch in Xiao's eyebrows when Venti spoke. He closed his mouth for a second before saying.
“... And you're okay with that?”
Venti insisted, placing the jar on the table. “I insist-”
“No. No. I wasn't talking about the tips.” Xiao interrupted him, holding up his hand. “I meant…”
He paused. “Are you really alright with staying… here? In Hometown?”
Venti froze for a moment. He found himself stuck between two answers which were both technically true.
No, he wasn't okay with it.
Venti didn't want to watch the sky through the window and wonder which of his family or friends the plane would take next everyday.
Yet at the same time…
He didn't mind staying in Hometown.
It was familiar to Venti. It was a peaceful and quiet town that provided him with stability and safety. Besides, someone had to stay behind and carry on the family business.
He chose the latter answer. It was the least worrying one.
“Of course I am! I have everything I need right here. Good food, a roof over my head, a steady job with lots of free time! It's not luxurious but that's enough for me.”
Venti gently placed the money on the table and gently moved it towards Xiao. “Here, you'll have more dreams to chase, than I ever will anyways.”
“And you say I'm the thoughtful one…” A ghost of a smile appeared on Xiao's lips as he gratefully took the money Venti had offered him. He looked up at Venti. “Thanks. It really means a lot.”
Venti swore he melted right then and there.
He couldn't help but giggle and turn his head away. “It's nothing! Really! What best friend wouldn't want to help?”
Venti immediately bit his tongue. Was he coming on too strong by saying he was Xiao's best friend?
With how distant Xiao was, Venti found himself wondering if they were even as close as he thinks they are from time to time. Xiao replied to his text hours later if he wasn't leaving him on read. He never texted first and he was always really blunt with Venti. Though whenever Venti asked if he annoyed him, Xiao always said no. That seemed like a win to Venti.
He scanned Xiao's expression one more time. He didn't look weirded out by the “best friend” comment….
“It looks good.”
“Huh?” Venti’s eyes widened. He didn’t expect Xiao to say anything. Maybe the silence got to him. “The chalkboard?” He asked.
“Yeah. You’ve definitely gotten better.” Xiao commented. He kept looking towards the wooden board that was propped up by the counter. “It’s quite cute actually.”
Venti’s heart began to flutter. “You really think so? It’s not overdesigned or plain or anything?” Xiao nodded in response. Venti couldn’t contain the wide grin that appeared on his face. “Thanks! I was trying to make something to celebrate summer and I was getting bored of the usual beach theme. I wanted to mix things up a bit this time.”
“So then I thought, maybe I could do sunflowers instead! That might be too spring style, but I think the yellow could cancel that out.” He added, before tearing his eyes away from the design and reminding himself that someone else was in fact in the room. Venti cleared his throat.
“Ahem… What do you think?” He asked. Xiao shrugged and looked back up at Venti. “I’m not well-versed in these things. People would probably like it regardless of what you drew.” Venti tilted his head, “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
“I was just saying things.” Xiao replied. Sometimes Venti wished he could just read Xiao’s mind when it came to this stuff.
While he kept pondering whether Xiao thought he was a good artist or not though, he realized the conversation got quiet once more.
“Well, uh… Congratulations on the scholarship! I knew you had it in you.” Venti smiled as he stood up from the stool. Xiao followed suit, packing his laptop into his bag before getting up to leave. “Thanks. You too, I guess.”
Xiao picked up the pile of mora Venti left on the table and gave him one last look. “You’re sure?” He asked, his expression hardening. Venti only smiled back and practically started ushering the tiny golden coins and bills into the other’s pockets. “Positive! Just go!”
He walked out of the shop, the wind chimes by the door signalling his departure.
Once Xiao officially left the premises, Venti's mom stepped out from the classics section where she had been waiting. The blonde woman chuckled and shook her head.
“You gave him the whole tip jar?” She laughed. “Oh dear, you really are hopeless…”
“I'm just being nice.” Venti huffed before walking back to the counter and picking up a stick of white chalk. His mom didn't seem to believe him in the slightest. “Sure…”
Venti looked up. “He's my friend!” “Oh it always starts that way.” The older woman smirked, waltzing over to the counter. “Then friends turn to something else…” Venti rolled his eyes. “I'm serious. There's nothing more than that. We're just friends.”
He was met with his mother's deadpan expression. “Venti, you told me you loved him years ago.” “No, not like that! I do like him! I just-” He sighed “It was never gonna work.. Even if Xiao did like me back, he was always going to leave Hometown.”
“You can always go with him.” She replied, picking up her own piece of chalk and adding details to the drawing. Venti shook his head. “And leave you here to run the bookshop by yourself? I don’t think so.”
Venti’s hand brushed against his mother’s as they drew together before she suddenly threw her hands up in a huff. “Oh I see now! You’re just staying because you think I’m too old to keep this place going, is that it?!”
Venti only laughed. “No! Not at all!” He looked up from his work with a wide grin. “But since the others left, one of us has to stay.”
He could see the look on his mother’s face. Her eyes were staring right into his and Venti recognized that expression all too well. It was the same one she gave him when he first volunteered to work at the counter so she had more time to rest. It’s the exact face she gave Venti when he invited the kids who teased him at school to his birthday party because he didn’t want to leave them out. It was the look she gave when his older siblings left for college and Venti just said he was fine.
“Are you really going to be happy here?” She asked.
Venti nodded. “Yeah. I am.”
He tried to shake off the bad mood. “Besides, a small, quiet life isn’t bad, is it? I have everything I need here!” He shrugged. “Anyways, I’ve always loved the smell of books and plastic CDs! Maybe I’m just meant to be here.”
She tilted her head. “And when Xiao leaves, you’ll be happy here?”
“I’ve seen tons of people leave Hometown and never come back. I think I can take one more.” Venti said, though he wasn’t quite sure how true his answer even was.
His mom placed her hand on his shoulder. “You know, you should go tell Xiao before he leaves.” She said, “Even if you two can’t be together, I think it’s best you get some closure. Maybe then you can finally get over him.”
“Yeah…” Venti placed his hand on top of his mom’s, “I’ll try.”
The thought of actually confessing his feelings to Xiao was terrifying. He didn’t want to risk their friendship by creeping him out with his weird emotions, but Xiao was going to leave anyway, right? He’d rather be embarrassed for a year than agonize over the same guy with regret for the next eight. Besides…
The worst thing he could say is no, right?