Chapter Text
It was early in the morning, and Dan heng just arrived at school.
After the cold air from the early mornings the warm air felt good over his body
He was one of the first people, so he had to open his class' door. The keys tingling with each turn, finally opening, he turned the lights on.
Over his table he saw flowers, yellow tulips to be exact.
Huh.
Oh.
It was september 21st..
He took the flowers, taking their scent, they were fresh and smelled great. Looking around to see if there was another note, but nothing.
Who couldve given this to me?
Could it be Ren?? Wait‐ no. I shouldnt think that. Why would he like me..
He put them beside his chair, so it doesnt bother anyone.
After a few minutes March came in
"Dan heng!! It's the 21st, are you finally gonna confess???"She yelled in her way in, it didnt matter no one was in here anyways.
"WAIT‐ YOU ARE?? NO WAY THOSE FLOWERS?!?! OMG I SO HAVE TO TELL STELLE AND CAELUS!!" pulling her phone out. To take pictures and type to who he guessed were the twins
"What? NO. I found this on my table"
He clarified the misunderstanding, and March gave him a dissapointed look.
"ughh really?? Im so tired of you and your stupid crush of two years" shes picked the flowers up, a smile tugged on her face
Heh?
"do you know who are these from?"
"no, theres nothing written" her eyes suddenly lighting up
"NO WAY, what if its from him?!?!?" The girl pushed at the flowers closer to her, squinting her eyes, trying to fins any hints
"Youre overthinking, March.." covering his, now heated, face with the back of his palm
"Just a thought, who knows??"She winked, dropped the flower and left
"Ill go now!! Byee, Dan heng!!"
"Bye, March"
He waved back at her with small smile.
Now left alone, with his thoughts
What if she's right.. Ok no, dont be delusional, Dan Heng, he does NOT like you and NEVER will slapping his face, to wake up from his delusion. Right that moment someone walked in, Ren.
"Hey"
He took his seat, right behind Dan heng
"uhm.. hello" he looked back and waved
Ren directed a smile, and then focused on taking his books out.
"Oh, i see you got flowers" pointing at them "i didn't see them when i walked in"
"Ah yes.." his ears got a bit red from the mention
"Who do you think theyre from?" a smirk appeared on Ren's face
Ugh he really was good looking
"I‐ I dont know, there's nothing written on them or a note"
"Maybe they'll confess today, who knows" Ren laughed at his own comment. It really wasnt that funny, but sure, his laugh was cute..
Wait is that foreshadowing?
Why though
And how would he know?
"Huh. That's nonsense!" before the other man could see his tomato-like face he turned around not paying him any more attention.
It was quiet. Until other students started entering— some with flowers that were given other who would gift them— but one in especific..
Annoying
She walked over to Ren, flowers in hand.
"Uh.. Uhm.. Ren, these are for you!" Shoving them practically to his face
the boy looked up and then at Dan heng?
Huh?
Maybe he was doing a face
He turned around and tried to not pay further attention
With an apologetic smile on his face "thanks but, i dont like you back, sorry"
"ah no it's ok, i expected it. But pls take the flowers!! I‐ i grew them" her face was a bit red, maybe from embarrassment after being rejected?
Honestly, that was pretty cute, her own flowers
She put the bouquet on Ren's table
"Ah they're pretty nice. Maybe i wouldve accepted"he looked briefly at Dan heng, just for half second, so short the boy didnt even notice" if it werent because i like someone else".
what now?
The girl straightened, shocked look on her face. And so did Dan heng, but didnt dare look back, or Ren wouldve seen the dark look on his face
The curious girl, asked the question they all thought"You do? Who??"
"Cant say.. theyre in this class you know"
"Oh.. okay, good luck then"
after that the girl left to her friends.
Dan heng felt a bit bad for her, but at the same time she was confessing to Ren, his Ren‐ wait uh.. not yet his.
He had to admit he was also curious about the said crush..
Ok
Hear me out
What if
Just what if
You know
Ok
STOP
UGH.
—‐—‐—after class
"March, over here!!" Stelle who was right beside him said, standing up and waving from their cafeteria seat. The called girl came.
"Hey guys!" March said sitting down besides Caelus" hows your day? Any flowers???"
"yess actually, they left me a note we'll meet after school at the back door" Caelus replied
"ugh.. i didnt. March.. at this point we should date" the other grey-haired replied.
"what? Anyways.. i know Dan heng did" and with that both head lit up
"Youre joking right now..."
"No, I'm not i saw them myself, yellow tulips wrapped in brown paper and a blue that compliments his eyes as the bow!"
"oh ok, you're not lying, thats a lot of details, so.."looking at Dan heng who was trying to avoid any of their stares" is it from..." moving his hands aroun as if that said everything. It did, but whatever
"Nope, he doesnt know, no card, no name, nothing, just the bouquet on top of his table" March said for him
"Imagine if it was thou-" Caelus' mouth suddenly covered, a small Heh?? Could be heard from all his muffled sounds of protest
"Dont be stupid please"
"Stop being so negative Dan heng"
March laughed and closing her eyes with the action, later she helped Caelus to stop his, what they called 'attempted asphyxiation murder' what even is that
"Ooh look he just entered, well his group but same thing" Stelle pointed out, finally saying something after laughing at everyone
"Why not ask them to join us??" her twin asked "him and his friends"
"What no?" his words didnt matter since they were already calling out for them. Immediately covering his face and looking the other way
Wow, since when was there an origami club? Seems pretty cool
Oh and that light, yeah... needs to be changed
"Hey! Ren come over"
The boy did as told and got closer to their table, along with his friends
Stelle talked first "Wanna sit with us?? and your friends too"
The boy's friends looked at eachother knowingly, one with a smug smile the other seemed more bothered, roling her eyes. Ren in the other hand was frowning.
"Sure" a magenta-haired girl said, Kafka
They all took their seats, except Ren.
"Mm sit down? There's a seat besides Dan heng" the new girl pointed at said seat
"Lol he's shy"
Silverwolf took the time to take her lollipop out to comment at his reaction, that consisted on staying still eyeslooking around
"You guys seat next to each othee at class, whats the issue" she giggled at hia reddening ears, one that Dan heng didn't see, too busy thinking on how to distract himself.
Are they plotting right now?
"its okay, i dont mind" he took the initiative and patted the seat beside him
"ah uh.. yeah"
He sat down while glancing at the two girls infront that were laughing their ass off, well, one was the other one hid it better. But they werent the only ones laughing, so did Dan heng's friends
Dumbasses
Meanwhile, the two stayed still, looking at their respective food, not daring to say anything, that could trigger any more laughter from the others
They talked the whole recess, they were fun, maybe they should hang out more.
—‐—‐–‐After school
Putting all his books in his bag
Ugh.. finally.. i guess
"Hey, Dan heng" Ren started saying beside him, he looked up, meeting those crimson eyes already on him" wanna walk home together?"
What? am i that desperate to start making up scenarios now?
"...sure, where do you live?"
"i found out we lived pretty close last week" no further explanation, uh. Sure.
"oh, then of course" He grabbed his backpack, ans asked curiously "just us?"
"Yeah, Kafka and Silver live pretty far" shrugging it off
"and, i guess your friends too, since you go by your own"
He was more observant than he thought, he'd note thay down
"mhm, let's go then"
They left the school side by side and talking about their day
—‐—‐—
"Isn't that the newly opened Cafe?" Ren pointed out "do you have an exact time were you have to be at home?"
"Yeah, it is. And no, i dont, why?" Dan heng stopped walking, looking the other man's back
"to check out the Cafe, of course. do you have money? If not, I'll pay"
"i do, no worries" ears starting to heat up why is this starting to feel like a date???
Ren said 'sure' while nodding and smiling at him, and then he reached his hand out
Huh?
What's going on
Is he trying to hold hands?
And Just when he was about to take it, Ren took it back, was he embarrassed? Did he take too long?
Ughhh
"huh.. let's go in" he said trying to hide his expression
They entered the place, it was cozy—warm lights decorating the place, it wasnt some exquisite looking place more like a cabin-ish look. There were stained glass windows, with leaf patterns all over, the reflected shadows were gorgeous—. Not many people were inside, so it didnt take long for them to order.
"Hello, welcome, what would you two like?" the employee asked typing something on the tablet.
They looked through the menu in front of them
Wow there's a lot of options. I might just go for a normal coffee
Ren ordered first"I'd like black coffee with half a spoonful of sugar"
"of course, and you?" He looked over at Dan heng, who was still looking through the menu. Then an item catched his eyes
Oh, i always wanted to try this
"i want an affogato, please" and pointed at the option on the menu
"alright, anything else? Dessert perhaps?" said the cashier while typing their order
"no thanks" Dan heng replied. He turned to look at Ren "you?"
He was looking through the menu
"Yeah, a piece of the white forest cake"
"Alright, anything else?"looking at both, but no one replied "thatd be 12,30, card or cash?"
"card" Ren pulled out his wallet and paid
Heh?
Whats the point of asking if i have money if youee just going to pay for my order
"lets go find a seat"
"i said i had money" following Ren from behind
"Yeah i know, and?"
"I could've paid my own"
they found a seat, well it couldnt be said found if half the shop was empty they just wanted the corner one
"mm it's no big deal, really" they sat facing each other
"how much was my drink? Ill pay you back" Dan heng took out his own wallet
Its almost empty i should put more money inside later
"No need, you can give me your number in exchange, though" Ren put his phone right infront of him. Dan heng's face slowly heating up
is he flirting. No, its just what friends do. For sure.
Slowly typing his number and saving himself as "丹恒"
"There" giving the phone back to its owner
"Okay, thanks" Ren smiling at him "also, the project, wanna do it together?"
"Sure, we can start tomorrow"
They chatted a lot, even if they didnt have anything in common, no hobbies or music taste, nothing. But it was fun, really.
Their order finally arrived after 5 minutes
'Thanks' they both said
"Didnt know you'd be the person to order cakes that sweet" Dan heng commented seeing the slice of cake in Ren's side, it looked pretty sweet
"Oh yeah, it balances well with the bitter coffe. Wanna try?" pushing the cake a little towards him
"ah no, mines already pretty sweet"
"mm alright. Feel free to take a bite if you want" Dan heng nodded in response.
They ate in silence.
The leaf pattern of the windows falling over them, their skin turning reddish..
Ren looked good in this lighting of he didnt know any better he wouldve took out his phone and flashed a picture already
It felt good, the warmth of the sun and of the not so much coffee were a perfect combination
Today really was a great day, could it get any better?
Trust me it will.
Suddenly Ren looked up from his cake mid bite
"Dan heng" he sounded pretty serious, did he do something he wasnt aware of?
"yes..?"
"this might come of weird and sudden but.." he sighed, face red "I like you"
...
The world stopped, and so did his heart, unlike Ren's who was beating at lighting speed
-what?- Dan heng's expression could only be described as unbelievably shocked asf
This reaction was pretty ironic, he imagined this scene many times and how to react but now that it was real, it was different
"i said i li‐"
Aahh dont repeat it or do.. uhm
"Nono i heard that" He interrupted mid sentence, the other raised an eyebrow as if saying 'so, Whats your answer?'
"I'm just shocked that's it"
The other said nothing, he looked a bit dissapointed, raising his arm to rub his neck
Did he expect something else? Oh! right..
"i actually.. also like you"
Ren's movement stopped and Dan heng's face turned red reflecting the one before him. Then, they locked eyes
"No joke, like actually?" Ren asked
"Yeah, for a while now.."he stopped the eye contact.
I didnt notice but this table's legs have carved squirrels crawling over it
Pretty cute
...
"mm i pretty much already knew.. im just shocked you said it out loud"Dan heng looked back at him, really shocked now
"You knew??? What? When? How? From who?"
"Calm down. From no one, just noticed i guess.."
"For how long?" Dan heng asked spinning nervously the spoon fron the empty cup
"A few months, maybe a year"
"What? And you never thought of telling me until now?"
"Didnt have enough courage"
"Not enough courage, or did you not like me back" he frowned at this comment
Heh what did i say now?
"Ah, no i did, ive liked you since middle school"
Hah??!?
Now he was laughing?? at Dan heng's expression probably, but huh?
They stayed quiet for a few seconds, until Dan heng spoke first:
" So, what are we now?"
"Boyfriends, if you want to, of course"
"uh.. sure" this was so awkward nothing like his dreams, but he enjoyed it anyways, if it was with Ren anything is bearable he supposed..
both their faces were a bit red now. Infront of him were empty dishes
"you finished, no? Lets go." Dan heng stated
And so they left the cafe, now holding hands