Chapter Text
The bell rang. Hordes of students pushed out of doors and into the front yard, making their way home. Electric red hair glinting in the sun, Lin walked dejectedly along the pathway. Just an hour ago, she had been bluntly bitched on by a couple of girls she didn’t even know, all while she sat alone inside one of the cubicles. Her presence had never been received badly, let alone practically despised. Her pensive stroll had come to an end when she picked up on a voice. More specifically, Oryn’s voice. He was walking with Kazuhiko and Koa, as usual.
“What do you like so much about a windy, cold place?” Oryn asked Koa, not even batting an eye towards the bold presence behind them.
A strange anger surged through Lin, her arm settling to point an extended finger at Oryn.
“Oryn! Stop right there!” she pushes out, starting to march towards him at an accelerating rate.
Oryn silently swore to himself, eyes widening as he processes Lin getting closer and closer. His mind signalled him to take off running and get the hell out of there, but his feet stayed grounded, obeying the invisible string of fate that brought Lin closer to him. Oryn cautiously looked around, expecting to see Koa and Kazuhiko just as confused as he was, but Kazuhiko had picked Koa up princess-style and jumped to safety, with Koa’s arms strung around the other’s neck and a flustered expression. To Oryn’s rescue, his legs were suddenly enabled to move again, and as soon as he was able to, he stumbled forwards in order to get away from Lin, but he didn’t know that he was far too late.
He half expected Lin to keep chasing after him, but she abruptly stopped in place and clasped her hands together, and inhaled.
“Oh, I’m so thirsty,” she exhaled desperately, creasing her eyebrows together. “Can’t anybody help me?!” she increased in volume with every word, pushing the last word out with a loud belt.
Everything went quiet. It was like the calm before a storm. A rumbling started, at first only detectable through the spasms of the grainy street. Oryn fumbled on the shaking ground, trying to gauge the source of the ruckus, mouth going dry once he spotted them. Mobs of high school boys appeared to emerge from thin air, all holding bottles of still water or cartons of chocolate milk, whatever they could salvage from the vending machines. They all rushed towards Lin, forming a small radius amidst themselves where only she and Oryn remained.
“Never underestimate the power of the love interest!” she proclaims, smirking and looking at the crowd with her hands on her hips, looking proud of herself. Expecting a reply, or even an acknowledgement, she maintains her position, but when she doesn’t receive one, she turns around to see Oryn doubled over on the floor.
He’s clutching his head, his fingernails digging into his scalp and bunching up his messy pink hair. His feet have now given out beneath him, eyes pressed together in concentration and discomfort. Lin’s eyes narrow, observing the situation in front of her. She slowly starts to panic and fumble, trying to figure out her next move.
“Are you okay?” She crouches almost to his level, objectively attempting to get a glimpse of his expression. Maybe he is overwhelmed.. With my love for him!! That must be it, she reassures herself, until Oryn groans in front of her.
“I’m not good with crowds…” he manages weakly, lightheaded and dazed. Lin resumes panicking, reflexively reaching a hand out to grab his shoulder.
But before she can reach him, a red flame separates them, briefly burning the tips of her finger. She looks up. A long-haired, handsome girl… no, a long-haired guy stands amidst the raging red flame, left hand wrapped around Oryn’s waist, clutching his somewhat-limp body closer to his, right hand extended in front of him, appearing to be the source of the flames. Oryn’s eyes flutter open, landing on the man holding him, his frown lifting into a satisfied smirk.
“You caught me,” he exhales, locking eyes with the other, who looked down at him with an indescribable concern. “I knew you would, Zef,” he whispers before the other grabs the back of his head, placing his lips bare millimetres away from his ears and whispering.
“Idiot.”