You turn on your heel and start walking away, your steps quick and determined
โHey, where are you going?โ A firm hand grabs yours, stopping you in your tracks
โIโm leavingโ you say without turning around
He tugs gently, forcing you to face him โWhat? Why?โ His brows are furrowed in confusion, but you can tell by the way his grip tightens that he already knows the answer
You shake your head, scoffing bitterly โBecause Iโm not just going to sit there and watch you plan your wedding with another womanโ Your voice wavers despite your best efforts to sound unaffected
His lips part as if to argue but he doesnโt โI thought you were okay with it?โ he says, his voice uncertain
You let out a humorless laugh, finally meeting his eyes โWhy the hell would you think that?โ Your frustration bubbles over and you rip your hand from his grasp โI get that itโs an arranged marriage but did you really think Iโd be fine just standing on the sidelines? Watching while you devote yourself to someone else? While youโฆ while you show her around, make her feel at home, be the perfect fiancรฉ?โ
He exhales sharply, stepping closer. His jaw clenches like heโs fighting something inside himself โYou know I donโt want to be with anyone but youโ he says, his voice low, insistent
โThen stop itโ you whisper, your hands balling into fists โEnd this stupid marriage and be with me. Thatโs all Iโm asking forโ You search his face for any sign that heโs willing to fight, to choose you โIf you canโt, then Iโll move on. I wonโt wait around for youโ
โYou know I canโt. My da-โ You roll your eyes, cutting him off before he can finish his excuse.โRight. Great. Another excuseโ you mutter โMaybe you just want to marry h-โ
You canโt finish your sentence because he grabs your face, his hands cupping your cheeks as he crashes his lips against yours
The kiss is desperate, almost angry, as if heโs trying to prove something to you, to himself. His fingers tighten around you, like heโs afraid youโll disappear if he lets go
Your breath catches but you donโt hesitate to kiss him back, pouring every ounce of frustration, longing and love into it
For a moment, nothing else exists, no arranged marriage, no expectations, no painful reality. Just him. Just you
Topics: Angst to fluff, Emotional Confusion, Misunderstandings, Y/n slowly coming to terms with her feelings, sylus yearning! Y/n being slighty jealous, Zayne, Xavier and Rafayel interactions
Note: -
Word count: 5.1k
Chap.4
Chap.5
[Three Days Later]
"So you don't know how you feel?" Kazuo asks, floating on his back in the pool
"I feel confused" you mumble, absentmindedly trailing your fingers through the water "I can't explain it... It's weird"
"Maybe you did the right thing" he suggests
"It feels like the opposite" you sigh, leaning back against the pool's edge "Like I made a mistake"
"Maybe you should take some space from him to figure out your feelings?" Vanessa chimes in as she steps into the pool, the cool water rippling around her
"Maybe" you murmur, not entirely convinced but too uncertain to argue
"By the way, did you guys finish your projects?" Kazuo asks lazily paddling toward a floating bed
"Yeah, I finished mine last night after we got back from the city" you reply
"Same here" Vanessa nods, as she tied her in a bun
"Really?!" Kazuo exclaims, nearly choking on water as he was getting on the floaty but miserably failed
You chuckle watching him recover "Yeah"
"What's yours about?" Kazuo asks settling onto the floaty
"Pretty much just the scenery" you answer simply
"Mine's mostly about the fashion here" Vanessa adds sitting next to you "I've grown to like it a lot"
Kazuo hums thoughtfully, a faint grin on his face as he relaxes under the sun "Looks like we're all getting something out of this trip, huh?"
"I guess" you mumble still lost in thought
"Yo Kazu, you joining us?" Eydis asks pulling you and Vanessa's attention
To your surprise, Eydis stood there alone, without Sylus by his side, You try not to feel the familiar tug of disappointment but it's hard to ignore
You watch Kazuo swim to the side, grabbing his towel before heading inside with Eydis following close behind
The absence of Sylus lingers in the air and you try to shake off the discomfort gnawing at you
Vanessa notices your quietness, raising an eyebrow "You good?"
"Yeah" you mumble trying to shrug it off, but the unease is hard to shake
"Well, you know where he is if you need him" Vanessa says, her voice softening as if she can sense the tension
You nod, though you're not sure you want to face it just yet, You can't help but wonder what's really going on and if you've been too blind to notice something important
You hear a scream followed by a wave of splashes soaks you and Vanessa
"Raf" you hear the familiar voice say with a hint of disappointment
"Oh hey" you wave at Zayne and Xavier
"Sorry about his actions" Xavier mumbles
Vanessa shakes her head "It's alright, no big deal"
"You're not with Sylus?" Rafayel asks, eyeing you with mild curiosity
"Is it that weird?" you answer
"A little" Rafayel shrugs settling onto the donut floaty
"I don't wanna pry but we just saw him talking to some girl who was being... really flirty, before he left with his friends upstairs" Xavier says, sitting at the edge of the pool and watching you closely
"Oh, we aren't together" you clarify quickly, feeling your chest tighten at the mention of it
The three guys exchange glances, a flicker of surprise passing between them
"You aren't?" Rafayel asks, clearly not convinced
"No" you reply "What made you think that?"
Zayne, sensing the shift in the mood, speaks up "Don't mind them, just stupid rumors, right?"
You nod, grateful for his attempt to smooth things over, though the knot in your stomach remains
You and Vanessa spend the rest of the afternoon chatting and laughing with three guys, The tension from earlier fades as you all get comfortable in each other's company, It feels like a nice distraction from everything weighing on your mind
Eventually, the time comes for you and Vanessa to head upstairs and start getting ready for the outing to the museum
After exchanging farewells with the guys, you and Vanessa head inside, making your way up to the rooms
As you start picking out an outfit, the hum of excitement about the evening begins to settle in
[4:43PM]
"So you haven't been around Y/n like usual?" Eydis asks Sylus as they stand in front of the museum, While the three guys were inside the store next door to grab souvenirs
"Yeah" Sylus nods "It's obvious she doesn't know how to feel. I don't want to get my heart hurt"
Eydis nods in understanding "In my opinion, it seems like she never felt the way she feels with you with her ex-boyfriend or anyone else she's dated. So she's probably just confused about it"
"I hope that's it" Sylus sighs, glancing off into the distance
"Sleepless nights because of it?" Eydis asks with a knowing look
"Pretty much" Sylus replies
"Well, brace yourself. She's here" Eydis says, nodding toward the direction of you and the girls
"This museum better be fun" Leanne mumbles, catching up to them as you walk toward the group
"From what I've heard from Rafayel, it's pretty fun" you say
"Since when do you talk to him?" Eydis asks, raising an eyebrow
You shrug "I do sometimes"
"You do?" Leroy asks joining the conversation,as the other three approach
"Yeah, we used to do projects together back in my sophomore year" you explain, glancing toward Sylus, who stands a little apart from the group
"We should probably head inside" Kaori suggests, nodding toward the professor who's gathering the group by the entrance
The museum looms ahead, full of color and light, offering a glimpse of what promises to be an unforgettable experience "Looks like they're ready to start the tour" she adds
Inside the museum, the atmosphere is electric, alive with digital art installations that seem to reach out to the group
The first exhibit, an immersive waterfall of light and water, captivates everyone. feeling the cool, cascading flow swirl around you
"This is unreal" Kaori says, awestruck
"I told you it was worth it" you reply watching everyone marvel at the exhibit
Your attention shifts, taking in each installation with wonder as you admire a koi fish exhibit, the shimmering creatures swim through the air, responding to your movements. You step closer, fascinated by their interaction
Meanwhile, Sylus, holding his phone discreetly, films you without you noticing, focusing on how the art seems to engage you
His intent is to capture the moment for the project
You turn to admire the koi fish swimming near you and catch sight of Sylus holding his phone. You smile at him, unaware of his intentions
He freezes, not expecting you to notice, and his grip tightens around the phone
Before he can react, Kaori calls your name, making you look away, breaking the moment
As the group moves on, Sylus lingers behind, still filming you as you lose yourself in the art
For now, the tension between you fades, swallowed by the immersive experience of the museum, as he quietly captures the natural wonder you seem to experience with each exhibit
After the exhibition, you all leave the building and head to the train station, ready to go deeper into the city for a meal. The buzz of excitement from the day still lingers in the air as you all find your seats on the train
"Did you finish it?" you ask Sylus as you sit down, glancing at him while everyone else settles in
You've decided to approach him differently, treating him like a friend rather than whatever it was before
"Yeah" he nods, glancing at you briefly before looking out the window
"I bet you're gonna get an amazing grade for it. It was pretty," you say with a small smile
"It is" he replies, though not about the exhibition. He seems distracted for a moment, his thoughts elsewhere
"It's been a while since we've been on a train together, no?" you ask, reminiscing about your high school years
"And you hated me for that" he chuckles, a bit of teasing in his voice
"Not really, I appreciated you waiting on me after cheer practice" you say, looking at him now, your voice softening
For once, Sylus feels a strange shift in the air between the two of you. It's almost impossible to ignore but he keeps his composure, not wanting you to sense the odd atmosphere that's been lingering for the past few days
"Oh also" you say, remembering something"Your mother called me yesterday"
"She did?" He looks at you, surprised
You nod "Yeah and I met your twin brothers"
"What did they say?" He asks, already knowing they're prone to mischief
"Not much. They didn't want to say it over the phone so they said they'll talk to me when your mom's event happens" you explain
"Just know they love to talk about stupid stuff" he says, shaking his head
"I do too and yet you deal with it" you say, raising your eyebrows at him "How come?"
"Because you are not them" he replies with a half smile
"Fair" you shrug, your tone light as you turn to Kazuo, who taps your shoulder to show you something on his phone
Sylus looks at you, his gaze softer than usual, and for a moment, there's a flicker of something deeper in his eyes
He likes seeing this side of you, the side where you're not caught up in the tension or the usual banter but genuinely immersed in something that makes you smile
He had always enjoyed pushing your buttons, watching your reactions but this feels different. It's genuine, effortless and for a moment, it feels like everything else fades away
[10:05PM]
You sit on the kitchen counter, casually watching Leroy and Leanne attempt to make a cake for Kazuo's birthday, laughing at their chaotic attempts
Flour is scattered everywhere, and they both seem to be struggling with the frosting
"This is ass" Leroy says, holding up a bowl of what is supposed to be frosting but looks more like a lumpy mess
Leanne squints at it, eyeing it skeptically "Maybe it'll taste better than it looks"
You chuckle, shaking your head. "It's the thought that counts, right?"
Before they can respond, Sylus walks into the kitchen, clearly overhearing the conversation "What is that?"
You don't miss the playful smirk forming on his lips as he glances at the kitchen disaster
"We're gonna have to redo the frosting" Leanne says with a sigh, inspecting the bowl
"Where are we even supposed to get what we need? Most stores are closed" Leroy groans, setting the bowl down
"There's a corner shop nearby that's open 24 hours" you point out
Leanne perks up "Perfect. Weโll go buy the stuff "
"Wait, we?" Leroy asks frowning
"Yes, we" Leanne replies, already grabbing his arm "You're not leaving me to carry everything on my own"
Leroy sighs dramatically but doesn't argue, letting her drag him toward the door "Fine. Just... try not to kill each other while we're gone, okay?"
"No promises" you call out as they leave, earning an exasperated shake of the head from Leroy before the door closes behind them
"You didn't help them, I assume?" Sylus asks, leaning against the counter, not too far from you
"I wanted to but they told me not to" you shrug
"Sounds familiar" he remarks, a smirk playing on his lips
You roll your eyes "That happened once"
"Not really. Happened plenty of times" he counters, tilting his head in mock thought "For example when you tried making food for Shadow and he didn't like it"
"The closer I got to him, the more he hated me" you say, shaking your head at the memory.
Sylus chuckles "It got to a point where he liked you more than me.. which, honestly, I kind of understand"
You feel an unexpected flutter in your stomach at his words and quickly look away, brushing it off "Whatever you say"
Sylus grins, his gaze lingering on you "You're cute"
Before you can respond, he steps closer, his hand reaching up to gently hold your face
The warmth of his touch sends a jolt through you, and you instinctively lean into it, caught off guard by the tenderness in his expression
"I mean it" he says softly
"Yeah, got it" you mumble your voice barely above a whisper
He leans in, his forehead nearly brushing yours as your noses lightly graze each other, the air between you feels charged
Every movement slow and deliberate, as if the world has narrowed to just the two of you, you close your eyes, your breath hitching as his lips brush softly against yours
The contact is fleeting at first, tentative, as if he's giving you the chance to pull away, but when you don't, he presses closer
A knock at the door interrupts, cutting through the tension like a blade
Sylus groans, clearly annoyed and pulls back reluctantly "You've got to be kidding me" he mutters under his breath
You laugh softly, pushing him back with a gentle nudge "Well, go open it" you tease, trying to mask the way your heart is still racing
"Yes ma'am" he grumbles, You watch him go, biting your lip, trying to process what just happened before the moment is completely lost
You don't hate it but the thought of this all being just a fleeting sexual desire for him tugs at something deeper inside you
You push the feeling aside as he reaches the door, reminding yourself not to read too much into moments like this
After all, Sylus has always been hard to figure out and you're still not sure if you're ready to try
"We're here to help with the cake!" Davina announces as she walks in, Amari trailing behind her
"Kinda late for that" you say, leaning your head against the cabinet
"They fucked it up?" Amari asks, raising an eyebrow
"See for yourself" you reply, motioning toward the cake
The two make their way over, their faces twisting in confusion as they take in the sight of it
"What is that?" Davina asks, gesturing dramatically toward the lopsided mess covered in uneven frosting
"How did they mess it up this bad?" Amari questions, shaking his head in disbelief
"Well, Y/n, let's fix this" Davina declares, rolling up her sleeves as she ties her hair into a low bun
"They're gonna be mad, and they already went to buy n-"
"I don't care. I'm not letting them cook again and ruin Kazuo's birthday cake" Davina cuts you off
"Okay, okay damn" you sigh with a chuckle, hopping off the counter "Let's fix this before they come back and realize their disaster"
Davina smiles "Exactly. Now, let's get to work before it's too late"
[12:31AM]
"Kazuo is living his best life," Kaori says, leaning against the table as she watches him dance wildly with a group of friends
"Yeah, I had to take like three shots with him just now" you reply, shaking your head with a laugh
"I think he made everyone do thatโ Eydis chuckles, sipping on his drink "It's like a rite of passage at this point"
"Not sure how he's still standing," Kaori muses, her eyes following Kazuo
"Can't blame him" you shrug, leaning back in your seat
"Where's your boyfriend?" Eydis asks, his tone teasing
"Don't call him that" you reply, rolling your eyes "He's probably making out with that girl who's been flirting with him for days"
"What?!" Kaori and Eydis exclaim at the same time, their reactions so loud they draw a few glances from nearby partygoers
"To be honest, I don't know what he's doing" you admit, trying to sound indifferent even as the thought gnaws at you "But he's with her"
"Is he stupid?" Eydis mutters, his brows furrowing in disbelief
"He has to be" Kaori answers sharply
"So there you go" you add with a forced laugh, masking how much the situation actually bothers you "That answers everyone's questions. Whatever's going on between us, it's nothing romantic, just... tension, I guess"
Eydis and Kaori exchange a look but say nothing, the weight of your words settling in
"I'm going to get some shots because I'm not dealing with whatever I'm feeling right now" you sigh, standing up and brushing off your dress
"We're gonna talk to him, right?" Kaori asks, her tone sharp as she looks at Eydis
"Yeah, let's go" Eydis agrees, already moving toward the door with Kaori hot on his heels
You watch them for a second, torn between wanting to stop them and letting them go
Instead, you turn toward the bar, determined to drown out the mix of emotions swirling in your chest
"Sylus, we need to talk" Eydis says, approaching him with Kaori by his side
"Privately, please" Kaori adds, giving the girl beside Sylus a pointed look
The girl raises an eyebrow but doesn't argue "You know where to find me" she says before walking away, her tone overly sweet
"Bitch" Kaori mutters under her breath, watching her go
Sylus sighs "What do you guys want to talk about?"
Kaori gives him a sharp look "What do you think you're doing?"
"Talking?" Sylus says, genuinely confused
"Y/n said you were making out with her" Kaori says
"She didn't exactly say that" Eydis interjects
"Close enough. Anyway she thinks whatever romantic tension you two have is just sexual" Kaori says, crossing her arms
Sylus looks taken aback "She really thinks that?"
"And if you keep messing around with other girls, you're going to prove her right and lose her for good" Kaori snaps
Eydis nods "She's trying to figure out how she feels but how's she supposed to do that if you're acting like this?"
"That's exactly what I just said" Kaori mumbles
"Not quite" Eydis argues
"Close enough" Kaori shrugs, waving him off, She turns back to Sylus, her expression serious "Think before you make a stupid decision, Because if you do, you'll lose her forever"
Sylus nods slowly, his usual confidence replaced with uncertainty as Kaori spins on her heel and walks away
Eydis lingers for a moment before clapping Sylus on the shoulder "Don't screw this up, just talk with her" he says before following her
You feel someone settle into the seat beside you, Davina glances at the person, then back at you with a knowing look
"I'll talk to you later" she says before disappearing into the crowd, leaving you alone
You sigh heavily "I don't feel like talking to you right now"
"At least tell me what I've done" Sylus says, his tone quieter than usual
"Do you think I'm doing all this for fun?" you snap, turning to face him
"I hope not" he replies, his voice steady but laced with concern
"I'm not" you say, frustration bubbling to the surface "I'm just as confused as you are, okay? I'm trying to make sense of whatever this is...whatever I'm feeling. And seeing you with her? It's not helping"
His expression softens as he leans forward slightly "I see. So... what do you want to do? I don't want to upset you" he says gently, his gaze searching yours
"I don't know" you mumble, running a hand through your hair "But maybe... maybe we need some distance. Just for a little while, so I can figure out what I feel. About all of this"
He nods, though there's a flicker of pain in his eyes "If that's what you need, I'll give it to you. Just... don't shut me out completely"
You nod, your chest tightening as the silence stretches between you. Finally, you glance at him, your voice soft but firm "Just... stay away from that girl. I don't like her"
He chuckles, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly "Alright, I will. Anything else?"
"At the moment, no" you say, looking away to hide the flicker of vulnerability in your expression
[Two Days Later]
You: 'I'm coming over!!'
You: 'but need you to stay quiet, alright!!'
You send the messages
"We're finally back!" Leanne says, dropping onto the couch
"It was fun, but I'm glad to be home where the weather is always warm" Davina says, stretching out
"I agree" Vanessa nods, sinking into a chair
You stand up from the couch, you glance at the group "I'm leaving"
"where to?" Kaori asks, raising an eyebrow
"Not your business" you reply, walking toward the door
"Who wants to bet she's visiting Sylus?" Davina calls out, glancing at the others
"Me!" Leanne says, a grin spreading across her face
"She hasn't spoken to him since three days ago, though" Vanessa points out
"True" Kaori agrees, tapping her chin
You sigh as you walk down the path, the warm island breeze tousling your hair "As long as he won't speak, I should be fine" you mumble to yourself "Just want to cuddle, that's all"
The weather is perfect, bright, sunny, with a hint of warmth in the air that isn't overpowering
The sky is clear, a beautiful blue that stretches endlessly above
The sound of waves gently crashing against the shore in the distance blends with the laughter and chatter of kids running around and groups of teenagers heading to the beach
The path you're walking on is lined with palm trees, their leaves swaying lazily in the breeze,
the scent of saltwater and fresh greenery fills the air, making everything feel calm and serene
You can hear the soft hum of island life around you, people enjoying the peaceful surroundings, the occasional boat passing by in the sparkling water and the gentle rustle of leaves overhead
Everything feels easy, relaxed, and quiet, just like you needed it to be
You open the door of the boys' house and walk in, the familiar quiet greeting you as the place feels empty
The boys had told you earlier they would be out surfing, so the house is quiet for once
You close the door softly behind you, taking in the moment of stillness before deciding to head toward Sylus's room upstairs
As you walk through the house, you hear the soft hum of music filling the air, the sound leads you to his door and you realize it's the unmistakable scratchy warmth of a vinyl playing
Your heart flutters a little and a soft smile tugs at your lips when you recognize the song
It's the same one you bought for him a a year ago, a vinyl you had carefully picked out for him
Even through all the ups and downs, the bickering and tension, you always made sure to get him a new vinyl every year since you met
It was something small, something personal, a way to remind him that, despite everything, you cared a little
The thought brings a warmth to your chest and you linger for a moment outside his door, letting the music wash over you
You take a deep breath, the familiar, comforting sound of the vinyl drawing you closer, your hand reaches out instinctively for the doorknob and for a brief moment, you hesitate
The music is a quiet reminder of the years you've shared, the memories, both good and bad, that tie you to Sylus
You push the door open gently and the familiar sight of his room greets you. His space, always been neat, yet undeniably his, has a comforting feel to it
The dim light filtering through the curtains creates a soft glow around him as he lounges on his bed, eyes closed, completely immersed in the music
You pause at the threshold, watching him for a moment, the weight of everything you've both been through settling in your chest
He doesn't notice you at first, lost in the music and his own thoughts. You find yourself smiling softly, your fingers brushing the doorframe as you take another step closer
For a brief second, it feels like nothing has changed. The tension, the confusion, it all fades away, leaving just the peaceful hum of the song and the warmth that you've both shared
You walk quietly toward him, the soft rhythm of the music guiding your steps, he doesn't notice you at first, still lost in the world of his vinyl but you can feel him sense your presence as you move closer
With a gentle sigh, you rest your head on his shoulder, the familiarity of it grounding you in a way you didn't expect
He doesn't pull away or acknowledge you immediately but you can feel his body shift slightly, as if adjusting to the moment
The warmth of his shoulder, the music in the background and the quiet between you feel like a small, fragile moment of peace
He gently wraps his arm around you, pulling you closer to him with a soft, almost instinctive motion
The warmth of his embrace envelopes you, and for a moment, the world outside the room feels distant, as if it's just the two of you in this quiet space
[โข]
"Let me take a picture of this, when they get married, I'll show it to them" Amari says as you can hear him smile
"She's gonna kill you" Leroy mutters
"Oh, that's for sure" Eydis adds, chuckling softly
"Let's get out before they wake up" Amari suggests, shaking his head and the sound of footsteps fades as the three boys leave the room
You hear the door click softly as they exit, leaving you and Sylus alone once more
You slowly open your eyes, realizing you both had fallen asleep while cuddling, his arm is still wrapped around you, his warmth pressing into your side
There's a peacefulness to the moment, as you take in the sight of Sylus sleeping beside you
Your gaze softens as you admire Sylus's features, his messy hair, the peaceful expression on his face and the way his lips are slightly parted as he sleeps
There's a vulnerability to him when he's not guarding himself and something about it makes your chest tighten with affection
It's a rare sight, this calm version of him and for once, you let yourself just appreciate it
Eventually, Sylus stirs, his eyes fluttering open. He blinks a few times, as if adjusting to the light, before his gaze lands on you
For a moment, there's a soft silence between you two, both of you quietly observing each other
His eyes scan your face and you feel a warmth rise in your chest under his gaze, just as he seems to be taking in the sight of you with the same quiet intensity
His lips curl into a small, almost a smile and you can't help but feel the weight of his gaze "You're staring" he mutters, his voice still thick with sleep
"I'm leaving" you say, slowly wriggling out of his arms, the warmth of his touch lingering on your skin as you sit up and swing your legs over the edge of the bed
Sylus chuckles softly, his voice still thick with sleep "Why?"
You stand, stretching as you gather your thoughts "Told you not to speak. You just broke it"
Topics: flashbacks to your first kiss, Y/n being jealous, unspoken feelings and angst!
Note : none of :)
Word count: 4k
Chap.3
Chap.4
"Why does it smell like fire?" Vanessa asks, stepping out of her room, towel around her neck, her hair still damp from her shower
"Eydis is cooking" you mumble, your focus on your laptop as you sit at the kitchen island
"For how long?" she asks, her tone laced with concern
"Like an hour or two" you sigh, glancing at the trail of smoke still lingering in the air
"Alright, I give up!" Eydis suddenly announces, tossing the smoking pan into the sink
The sound of water hissing against hot metal fills the kitchen, accompanied by a fresh plume of smoke
"About time" you say, barely hiding your amusement "You could've just gone next door. Kaori made too many pancakes anyway"
"And you're telling me this now?" he gasp, turning to glare at you
"You told me and I quote 'Don't disturb me, I'm in my Gordon Ramsay era' Wish I was lying" you say with a shrug
"Whatever" Eydis grumbles, throwing a hand in the air before heading toward the door "I'm out"
"Finally" Vanessa mutters, watching him leave before turning to you "So, did you read the email?"
"Yeah" you say "It's pretty straightforward. We just have to film stuff that catches our interest while we're here"
She nods "That doesn't sound too bad. Think we can actually get it done?"
"If we remind each other about it, sure" you say
"Alright, I'm starving, so I'll be next door too" Vanessa says, already heading toward the door
"I'll join in a bit" you reply, turning your attention back to your laptop
You hear the door shut behind Vanessa and immediately switch tabs on your laptop
Pulling up your assignment, you double check the file before attaching it to the email
With a sigh of relief, you hit "Send" to submit it to your professor
You don't hear Sylus exit the bathroom, too focused on your laptop, until you suddenly feel his presence looming behind you
You tense up turning around to face him, your breath catching when you realize how close he is
His body is just inches from yours and he reaches behind you, his hand brushing against your side as he grabs something off the counter
Without thinking, you instinctively lean back until you feel the small counter against your back
Sylus pauses for a moment, his eyes meeting yours
"What are you doing?" you ask him
"Grabbing my watch" he says, You glance at his hand as it reaches past you, the faint sound of his watch clicking softly as he grabs it from the counter
The closeness of his body is undeniable and the space between you two feels charged, like the air itself is waiting for something to happen
You raise an eyebrow still trying to steady yourself "A bit close, don't you think?"
He smirks, not moving away "seems like you were bluffing yesterday" he says, his voice low, almost teasing
"I'm not b-" you cut yourself off, unsure of what to say
Sylus finally takes a step back, still holding his watch but the playful energy hasn't left his eyes "You sure?" he asks, as if daring you to react
You open your mouth to respond, but all you can do is look at him, Sylus notices your hesitation, the way your eyes flicker to his chest before quickly pulling away
His smirk deepens as he leans slightly closer, his voice low but deliberate "What's the matter? You seemed so sure yesterday"
You swallow, fighting to keep your composure "i wasn't bluffing" you mutter, trying to sound confident
Sylus tilts his head with a knowing smirk "Right" he says "seems like I won"
Him whispering send a rush of heat and before you can stop yourself, you place your hands on his chest and push him back, needing some space, You sit up straight
"I'm leaving" you mutter, your voice shaky despite your best efforts
You quickly stand and walk toward the door
but as you move, you feel your heart thumping loudly against your chest
You try to steady your breathing but the effect Sylus has on you lingers, making your skin tingle with each step
You know if you look back, you'll see that infuriatingly perfect smile of his, so you don't, you swing the door open and step outside, your mind is spinning from what just happened
You bury your face in your hands, trying to shake off the lingering tension
"You okay?" Kazuo's voice breaks through your thoughts and you look up to see him standing there, concerned
"I'm okay" you reply quickly, though you feel anything but
"You look exactly like when you kissed Sylus back in freshman year" Kazuo says
"Please don't remind me" you groan
Kazuo laughs softly, clearly amused "Wanna take a walk?"
You nod eagerly, relieved for the distraction. "Yeah, please"
"Alright, let's go" he says, gesturing for you to follow as you both walk off together, leaving the chaos behind for a moment of peace
[Flashback]
"Just do it!" Davina urges her eyes sparkling
"Just go up to some stranger and kiss them?" you ask her, eyebrows raised in disbelief
"Sure, why not?" she shrugs
"I don't know about this" you mumble, feeling the butterflies flutter nervously in your stomach
"Alright, try to kiss one of your friends then" she suggests with a sly grin
"Definitely not happening" you immediately say, the thought of it way too awkward
"Okay, fine, what about the tall guy that's been staring at you all night?" she says, pointing across the room
You raise an eyebrow and glance in the direction she's looking "Yeah, I don't know about that"
"What? Why not? He's definitely interested!" she insists
"Davi" you mumble
"I'll be right back" she says quickly, leaving your side and heading toward the crowd
"Told you she's a lot" Amari says, leaning in with a smirk as he watches her go
"And you were right" you sigh
"But you did tell her you wanted to kiss someone" Amari points out "And now she made it her mission. Good luck escaping that"
"I need a drink" you mutter, glancing back at the commotion Davina is causing
Amari chuckles "Saw Leroy at the bar, he can help you out"
You nod, already heading toward the bar to escape the chaos
"Y/n, what's up, how's your first college party treating you?" Leroy asks, leaning casually over the counter with a wide grin
"It's... a lot" you admit
He chuckles "Yeah, they can be overwhelming, so what can I get you?"
"Two shots" you say without hesitation, leaning against the bar
"Two? Jumping in quick, huh?" Leroy teases, already reaching for the bottles
"Desperate times" you mumble under your breath
Leroy chuckles as he fills the two shot glasses and slides them toward you, you down the first one quickly, feeling the burn slide down your throat
"Y/n" Davina's voice cuts through the music, and you glance over your shoulder to see her approaching with an excited grin
"Yeah?" you respond, reaching for the second shot
"I found someone, let's go" she says, practically bouncing on her feet
"Wait, let me take this one first" you mumble, lifting the second glass and downing it just as quickly, you place the empty glass on the counter before Davina grabs your wrist
"No time to waste" she says, dragging you away from the bar and deeper into the crowd
"Dav- wait!" you protest, but she doesn't stop, weaving through the party with a mission only she understands
"He's in there" Davina says, nodding toward the storage room she had shown you earlier, to your surprise, it had been quite spacious for a closet
You sigh, trying to steel your nerves "Okay, give me a mi-"
Before you can finish, she grabs the handle and swings the door open "Tell me how it goes, good luck" she chirps, giving you a smile before shoving you inside and closing the door behind you
The sound of the door clicking shut echoes in the room and you turn to see him standing there, leaning casually against the shelves, his gaze meets yours
"Well, this is unexpected" he says, his voice smooth, laced with amusement
"Why are you here?" you ask, your voice sharper than intended as you try to mask your nerves
Sylus raises an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips "Your friend said you wanted to see me"
You curse Davina out in your head, already plotting exactly how you'll do it in person later, of course, she'd pull something like this
"Oh" you say, trying to sound nonchalant "She was lying"
He chuckles softly, taking a step closer "Really? She seemed pretty convincing"
"She's good at that" you mutter, avoiding his gaze
"And yet, you're still here" Sylus leans against the shelf, his confidence only adding to your frustration and something else you refuse to name "So, what now?"
"Now, nothing, I don't know why she even asked you to come here, I definitely don't want you to be my first kiss" you mumble, leaning against the counter and placing your hands behind you
Sylus pauses, his head tilting slightly "Your first kiss?" he repeats, stepping closer "You never kissed your ex boyfriend?"
"No... we were thirteen, we didn't do anything but hold hands" you admit, your voice quieter now
He smirks, the confidence in his expression only growing, "And now, you want me to-" "Not you" you cut him off quickly, your words rushed "Just someone, if I knew that sh-"
"And I'm here" he interrupts, leaning in just slightly, his eyes locked on yours "You want it or not?"
You take a small step back but his question stops you in your tracks
"No?" he asks, his tone low, almost teasing
"I'm just nervous" you mumble, feeling hot all of a sudden
"Then I'll take the lead" he says
"You've kissed before?" you ask, your curiosity slipping out before you can stop yourself
"Yeah" he replies simply, his gaze unwavering
You nod, your nerves still there but quieter now as you watch him step closer, this time, you don't move back, your heart pounding as the space between you shrinks
He stops in front of you, his gaze steady and searching "Can I?" he asks, his voice soft but laced with certainty
You nod unable to find your voice, your throat suddenly dry
"Use your words, Y/n" he mumbles
"Yeah, you can" you manage to say, your voice barely above a whisper
That's all the confirmation he needs, his hands move to your waist, firm but not forceful
and he effortlessly lifts you to sit on the counter
The cold surface contrasts with the warmth spreading through your body as he steps between your legs, closing the remaining space
His hands move up to cup your face, his touch surprisingly gentle, without thinking, you lean into it, the warmth of his palm grounding you in the moment
The simple action tugs at something deep within him, softening the smug edge he wore earlier
You let your hands find their way to his shoulders, wrapping around them as if instinctively pulling him closer
The tension between you two shifts, turning into something more intimate, more vulnerable, Sylus tilts his head slightly, his thumbs brushing lightly against your cheekbones "Relax" he murmurs, his voice barely audible, as if afraid to break the moment
"I am" you reply softly, your voice steady but your heartbeat anything but
His eyes search yours for any hesitation
but instead of waiting, you close the distance, slowly, tentatively, you lean in and press your lips to his
The kiss is soft at first, almost shy
as you try to steady your racing heart, Sylus responds immediately, his hands still cradling your face
His lips move against yours with a confidence that makes your nerves melt away
You feel his grip on your waist tighten slightly, anchoring you in place as the kiss deepens. Your fingers tangle in his hair, pulling him closer, forgetting everything but the warmth and intensity of the moment
When Sylus pulls back, you barely give yourself a second to think. Instinct takes over and you lean forward, closing the distance again
This time, the kiss is bolder fueled by something you can't quite name. Your hands slip from his shoulders to his chest, fisting the fabric of his shirt as you press closer
He doesn't hesitate, one hand sliding from your waist to the small of your back, pulling you flush against him
You feel him smile against your lips but you don't stop, deepening the kiss as if trying to prove a point. If he's surprised by your sudden confidence, he doesn't show it
Instead, he matches your energy, his hands steadying you as your fingers explore his jawline, his neck, anywhere you can reach
When you finally break apart, your breaths mingle in the small space between you, Sylus's eyes are darker now, filled with a mix of amusement and something deeper
"So... nervous, huh?" he says, his voice teasing but low enough to send shivers down your spine
You narrow your eyes, trying to mask how flustered you feel "Shut up"
[Present time]
"Okay, how do I look?" you ask, stepping out of the room with a little flourish
Vanessa looks up from her phone but her eyes dart straight to Sylus almost immediately, her lips twitch as if she's holding back a knowing smile
You follow her gaze and meet Sylus's eyes. He's leaning back in his chair, his phone forgotten in his hand, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then, slowly, the corner of his mouth quirks up
You raise your eyebrows "Well?"
He takes his time, letting his eyes sweep over you in a way that feels both deliberate and teasing "You look... decent" he says finally
"Decent!?" you repeat, narrowing your eyes
Vanessa snorts "Don't mind him. You look beautiful"
Sylus shrugs the playful glint in his eye betraying his tone "I mean, if you're aiming to just impress random people, sure it's decent"
You roll your eyes, fighting the warmth creeping up your neck "You're impossible"
He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he grins up at you "You asked for my opinion. Next time be more specific"
Vanessa groans standing up "Alright, I'm out. Let me know when you two are done being weirdly flirty"
You glare at her leaving through the door before turning to Sylus "You're lucky I don't change just to spite you"
He chuckles as she stand upย "Wouldn't matter. You'd still look beautiful"
For a second, you freeze, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice, before you can respond, the door swings open and Eydis strolls in "Yo, everyone's ready" he announces casually, leaning against the doorframe
You blink snapping out of the moment and turning to Eydis "Alright, let's go"
Eydis raises an eyebrow, glancing between you and Sylus "Am I interrupting something?"
"No" you say quickly, brushing past him but you can feel Sylus's amused gaze on your back, you walk out
"Sure doesn't look like it" Eydis mutters just loud enough for you to hear
"Mind your business!" you shoot back, not daring to glance over your shoulder at Sylus
The smirk you can practically feel on his face lingers in your thoughts all the way to the others
"Looking gorgeous as usual" Amari says, giving you an approving nod
"Thanks Mar" you reply with a smile, smoothing out your dress
"Where's my thank you?" comes a voice beside you
You glance over to see Sylus walking just a step closer than necessary
"You won't be getting any" you say flatly,
Sylus chuckles, effortlessly keeping stride with you "That's fine. Actions speak louder than words anyway"
You roll your eyes, refusing to dignify his response. Instead, you focus ahead, where the grand double doors of the gala venue loom closer
The group continues down the hall, the air buzzing with excitement for the Academy's event
As you step inside, the dazzling glow of chandeliers and the soft hum of conversation fill the room, momentarily distracting you from Sylus
[One Hour Later]
You were officially over this event. Sitting in clear view of Sylus as some random girl flirted shamelessly with him was enough to drive you up the wall
"Don't be jealous," Kaori murmurs, leaning in close
"I'm not," you say slowly, narrowing your eyes as the girl reaches up to adjust Sylus's tie, her laugh loud enough to grate your nerves
"Liar" Kaori mumbles, clearly unimpressed "You hate whatever's going on, admit it"
You stay silent, your nails drumming lightly against your glass as the minutes drag by
Suddenly, a pair of hands settle on your shoulders. You glance up to see Leroy grinning down at you
"Wanna smoke?" he asks casually
"Yes, please" you sigh, standing up without hesitation
Amari and Davina catch your movement and follow, the three of you heading for the exit with Leroy leading the way
What you don't notice is Sylus, his focus shifting entirely as he watches you leave.
"Where are they going?" he asks Kazuo, his tone sharper than intended.
"Probably smoking," Kazuo answers nonchalantly, taking a sip of his drink. Sylus frowns, his eyes lingering on the door you just walked through
"The after party better be worth it" Davina sighs, leaning against the wall as she rubs her temples
"It's just people talking and talking and talking" Amari grumbles, pulling out his phone to check the time
You chuckle softly, the flick of your lighter echoing in the quiet as you light the joint, taking a slow drag, you let the smoke curl lazily in the air
"Can't believe they thought this would be fun" Leroy shakes his head, taking the joint from you "It's like they forgot we're not fifty"
Davina laughs "Honestly. If I hear one more speech about legacy or whatever, I might scream"
"Same" you mutter, leaning back against the wall "I'd rather be anywhere else right now"
Amari smirks "Well, here's to skipping the boring stuff. Cheers to bad decisions and good company"
You all laugh softly, the tension from the night slowly easing away as you all pass the joint around
"So you and Sylus?" Davina teases as she nudges your arm
"Don't start" you sigh, exhaling a thin stream of smoke before passing the joint to Amari
"What? I'm just saying" she continues "The way he's been looking at you all night? It's like he's got a radar or something"
Leroy chuckles "She's not wrong, Dude's eyes practically follow you around the room"
You roll your eyes leaning your head back against the wall "It's not like that. He can do whatever he wants"
"Sure" Amari says, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he takes a drag "And that's why you've been glaring at that girl all night"
"I wasn't glaring" you mutter
"Uh huh" Davina chuckles "You're lucky she didn't burst into flames from the heat of your death stares"
You groan shaking your head "I hate all of you"
"Love you too" Leroy laughs, passing the joint back to you "But seriously, what do you think? About him?"
You take a drag and shrug "It's just Sylus being Sylus. If he was in love with me like you guys keep saying, why not just confess like yeah, I know he flirts with me but who says it's more than that?โ
"So, you're saying you need him to confess for you to believe he feels something?" Davina asks, with a raised eyebrow
"I mean yeah" you mumble exhaling the smoke "If that's the case, then sure"
"I get her, though" Amari spoke up "If a girl kept flirting with me, I'd just think she wants to fuck. That's all"
"Thank you, Mar" you say, passing the joint back to him
"For once he be making sense" Davina says
You chuckle "Don't get used to it, it's a rare moment" you reply glancing at Amari
"Right? Gotta appreciate the rare moments when he makes sense" Davina adds with a smile
Amari shrugs "I make sense all the time, y'all just don't listen"
"sure" you mumble, rolling your eyes "Keep telling yourself that"
You mull over their words "it's gonna take more than flirting and jokes to get me to believe Sylus is serious about anything"
"Fair enough" Leroy nods
You stay behind as the others head inside, answering the call from your mother
"So you'll be able to be back on time?" she asks on the other end
"Yeah, it's a week after the trip why?" you reply, glancing around
"Xiu has this huge opportunity for you but she won't tell me exactly what it is" she explains referring to Mrs.Qin
"Alright, tell her I'll be back by then" you respond, feeling intrigued over the news
"Okay, bye Y/n" she says
"Bye mom" you reply before hanging up
As you slip your phone back into your pocket, you hear the door open and close behind you
"You okay?" a familiar voice asks
You turn, not surprised to find Sylus standing there, his tie halfway undone
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" you ask, trying to hide the sudden annoyance in your chest
"You've been quiet" Sylus says
You frown, trying to brush it off "How would you possibly know when you're sitting at a whole other table?"
"I know you for too long to not notice" he admits, his eyes never leaving you
You hum softly, breaking eye contact to gaze out at the city
The bustling crowd, the steady flow of people walking in groups, cars passing by and the laughter drifting from some of the strangers, felt so different from the island
You can't help but feel a strange mix of appreciation and longing for it all, a contrast to the calm, familiar serenity of the island life
The noise felt almost comforting in its own way, a reminder of a world so different from what you're used to
But you quickly shift your attention back to Sylus, avoiding the tension hanging in the air between you two
"Shouldn't you be busy with the girl from earlier?" you ask, your voice laced with indifference
"Do you want me to?" he responds, his tone laced with something you can't quite place
You chuckle softly, shaking your head "Why would I care? Whatever you do is none of my business"
There's a long silence as Sylus doesn't respond, and you can feel the weight of his gaze on you
"What?" you ask, finally breaking the quiet, your voice a bit sharper now
"Is that really what you think?" he asks, his voice quieter almost vulnerable
You pause meeting his eyes and shrug "Yeah, I mean, you do piss me off sometimes but I guess we're friends in one way or another, and I doubt your future girlfriend would be too thrilled seeing you flirt with me"
Sylus's chest tightens at your words. There's something about them, the way you said them, that leaves him momentarily speechless
"You don't think so?" you ask, noticing the silence dragging on longer than usual
"I guess" he shrugs, his voice distant
You furrow your brows, surprised by the uncertainty in his tone, something you've never heard from him before "Are you okay?" you ask, genuinely concerned
Before he can answer, the door opens once again, cutting off the moment
"Hey Sylus, you coming?" The girl who was sitting next to him earlier asks, her voice bright as she looks at you, a polite smile on her lips
You push yourself off the wall, stepping back slightly "She seems nice" you murmur to Sylus, before offering her a nod and turning to walk inside, the weight of the conversation still lingering in the air
Topics: Y/n being dense, unresolved romantic tension and flirting, Y/n teasing sylus, Zayne, Xavier and Rafayel mentioned!
Note: Probably slow updates because classes started again
Word count: 3k
Chap.2
Chap.3
"I've been thinking a lot lately" you say
"About what?" Davina asks, glancing up from her phone as she scrolls through details about the trip your class and some other classes were going on for a project
"You guys might be right" you admit, sighing as you close the suitcase
"Finally!" Leanne exclaims "Took you long enough. So when are you going to confess?"
"What? No!" you shake your head "I'm not even sure he has feelings for me. I'm just going to figure it out during the trip"
"And if he does have feelings, you'll confess?" Leanne presses
"I never said I have feelings for him" you point out, raising an eyebrow
"Is she making sense to you guys?" Leanne asks turning to your friends
"She does" Vanessa says, nodding in agreement
"Yeah, totally" Kaori chuckles, leaning back
"So how are we gonna room?" Davina asks, reading out loud from the trip details "It says four people per apartment but there's ten of us"
"I'm not rooming with Amari, I still remember his snores" Kaori says dramatically, clearly haunted by the memory
"Yeah, I'll pass on rooming with Eydis or him. Knowing them, they'll be out all night and come back drunk" you add
"Fair point" Vanessa agrees with a nod "Maybe we should call them in case they've already picked their roommates"
"Smart" Leanne says
"Y/n, call Sylus" Davina says, suddenly
You raise an eyebrow "Why him specifically?"
"He always picks up when you call. The other guys have their phones on do not disturb all the time" Kaori explains
"Fine" You roll your eyes picking up your phone and call Sylus, within a second, he answers
"You called?"
You immediately frown "Why are you acting like I'm interrupting something?"
He chuckles "What's your question?"
"Do any of you already have roommates for the trip? We're trying to figure out who's with who" you explain
"From what we know, Mar and Roy paired up with Xavier and Zayne" Eydis says, leaning over the back of the couch next to Sylus
"So, who are you guys rooming with?" you ask, already sensing trouble
"The two of us are obviously a duo" Eydis replies casually
"Continue" Leanne prompts
"Also" Eydis says, grinning mischievously "I already submitted who we wanted to room with"
"You did what?!" Davina exclaims
"Uh yeah" Eydis continues "Y/n and Vanessa are rooming with us"
"What the fuck?" Vanessa mutters under her breath as you abruptly hang up
"That just pissed me off" you groan, tossing your phone aside
"I was really hoping we'd all room together" Leanne sighs, clearly just as annoyed
"That probably wouldn't have worked anyway since there's five of us" Davina points out
"Doesn't make it less frustrating" Vanessa says, crossing her arms
"Right" you mumble
Kaori sighs "Well, at least we're in the same building. We'll just have to spend most of the time hanging out in one place"
"So are you excited about rooming with Sylus?" Davina asks
"Please don't remind me" you groan, sinking back into the couch "Wait, if he has a crush on me, why hasn't he confessed? He's such a direct guy?"
"Maybe he's waiting to see if it's mutual?" Vanessa suggests, shrugging
"That would make sense" you mumble, the idea settling uncomfortably in your mind
"Or maybe he's just enjoying messing with you" Kaori teases
"Very helpful Ri, I already know that" you deadpan
"Hey, I'm just saying. Sylus is definitely not the type to make a move without knowing he has a shot" she adds with a knowing look
You sigh grabbing a pillow and tossing it at her "I don't need this kind of analysis right now"
"Too late" Leanne chimes in "You brought this on yourself the moment you started overthinking"
[The Next Day]
"You really not speaking to us?" Eydis asks, leaning over to catch your gaze as you turn your face away, arms crossed, you don't respond still pointedly ignoring him as everyone lounges at the airport, killing time before the flight
"You guys really fucked us up" Vanessa says glaring at Eydis and Sylus "Why us tho?"
"Yeah" Davina chimes in, equally annoyed "You could've added Kazu and asked Rafayel to join you or something"
Sylus shrugs, unbothered "Wouldn't one of you still be forced to room with three random people? There are five of you?"
"We would've figured something out" Kaori says "But now Kazu is stuck rooming with us"
Kazuo shrugs "I've done it before. Don't mind it"
"Yeah, because last time we didn't want to room with strangers" Leanne points out
"You should be mad at them" you mumble, still refusing to look at Sylus or Eydis
Kazuo laughs and casually throws an arm over your shoulder, squeezing your cheek affectionately "We'll both survive. Don't worry"
You groan "You wanna switch? Please say yes"
He chuckles shaking his head. "Nah, I'm good. Rooming with them is hell"
You let out a dramatic sigh, tilting your head to the side until it rests against his chest "You could save me, but instead, you're just letting me drown"
"It's all love" he teases, patting your you head
"Liar" you mutter, tossing Kazuo's arm off of you as you make your way over to Amari and Leroy
"So when we get there, we're gonna find something to smoke" Amari says, grinning as you take a seat next to him
"For sure" Leroy nods, turning to you."You joining us?"
"Why not" you shrug
"You smoke?" Sylus's voice cuts in as he sits down nearby
"Yeah" you say, like it's common knowledge "Here and there"
"Since when?" he asks, his brows furrowed
You shrug again "Don't know, like a few years now"
Before Sylus can respond, Leroy stands up "We're gonna hit the store. You guys want anything?"
"Yeah, grab me a drink, whichever is fine" you say
"I'm good, thanks" Sylus adds
Both guys nod before heading off, leaving you and Sylus alone
"So why'd you agree with Eydis's stupid plan?" you ask, turning to Sylus even though there's a seat between you two, eyeing him suspiciously
"I didn't really have a choice" he shrugs "He went ahead and did it himself"
"But you didn't stop him" you point out, narrowing your eyes
He smirks leaning back in the seat "Why would I? I don't mind rooming with you"
"Oh, how generous of you" you say, rolling your eyes "Did you ever think that maybe I mind?"
"Nope" he replied "You get to spend quality time with me. Sounds like a win"
"Quality time?" you scoff "Please, I'd rather room with Mar and Roy"
"Sure you do" he teases "You wouldn't last five minutes before begging to switch back"
"You wish" you fire back, narrowing your eyes at him "You'll be the one regretting it when I cockblock you whenever I can"
Sylus raises an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips "Oh, really? You're that dedicated?"
"Absolutely" you say with confidence
Sylus leans forward, practically daring you to keep going "You'll just end up cockblocking yourself"
You blink in confusion, still processing his words "Wait, what? You can't just say stuff like that and walk away"
Sylus flashes a grin, clearly amused by the reaction he's gotten "Sure I can" He picks up his phone and steps a few feet away, clearly intent on ignoring you now but you can still feel your body heat up from his teasing
"You're so annoying" you mutter under your breath
But it doesn't stop you from wondering what he meant and part of you hated how easily he managed to get under your skin
"What did he say?" Davina asks siting down, her eyes narrowed in curiosity as she watches you
"What?" you ask still processing the conversation you just had
"You were shocked, why?" She presses
You let out a deep breath "I told him l'd cockblock him for rooming with me and he said that l'd end up cockblocking myself"
Davina's eyes widen and she leans in, lowering her voice "He wants to fuck you" "I thought he meant he-"
"Nope, you thought wrong" she interrupts, You roll your eyes, clearly not in the mood for her teasing "Why do you look so happy about it?"
She places her hand on your shoulder, giving you a knowing smile "Because he wants you, Y/n. Stop acting so dense and accept it"
You scoff, shaking your head "Never"
Davina leans in closer "You lowkey want him too"
โBelieve what you wantโ
"You've been staring" Vanessa says, glancing at you with a small smile
"I'm not" you reply quickly, not wanting to admit it
"So you haven't been staring at his thighs?" she adds, raising an eyebrow
You let out a dramatic sigh throwing your head back in frustration "I hate Davina"
Vanessa chuckles "She was right" "Yeah, I figured" you mumble, feeling your body heat up
"We're ready! You guys ready to explore the city?" You hear Eydis call from across the room, snapping you out of your flustered state
"We've been ready for the past thirty minutes" Vanessa says, crossing her arms and looking at the guys "But guess you pretty boys have to take all the time to get ready, huh?"
You chuckle standing up and grab your small bag "Right"
"So you're admitting I'm good looking?" Sylus says, joining you as you walk toward the door
"You're sounding delusional. Never said that" you say, pulling out your lip gloss and knocking on the door next door
"You did agree with Vanessa, so you do think we're pretty boys" Eydis states, throwing an arm over Sylus's shoulder as you apply your lip gloss
You roll your eyes "Living in a world with delusional men is exhausting"
Eydis grins while Sylus just watches you, his gaze lingering on your lips as you finish applying the gloss and put it back in your bag
"Get out!" Kaori mutters as she opens the door, trying to push Leroy out of their room
"I didn't do anything!" Leroy protests
"Farting is something" she snaps, glaring at him
You frown "You guys ready?"
They both stop, mid action. Kaori was still pushing Leroy out while he clung to the door knob
"Your first mistake was letting them in" Vanessa says, glancing at the three other girls approaching you.
"We came to ask if we're going to the karaoke building we saw" Amari says, giving you a hopeful look.
"Should be fun. Why not?" Eydis grins
"Be aware, there are some people that are tone deaf, so your ears might start bleeding" you warn, glancing at Sylus
"That was aimed at Sylus" Leanne adds with a chuckle
"It's that bad?" Davina asks
"Terrible, actually" you mumble meeting Sylus's eyes
He gives you a small smile, clearly enjoying your teasing "Glad you're paying attention" he says
"Sure you do" you reply and follow Vanessa, who's already being pulled along by Davina
You feel an arm slip over your shoulder "This trip is gonna be funny, isn't it?" Eydis says, pulling you closer as he wraps his other arm around Sylus's shoulder
"Don't forget about the project we have to make while we're here" you remind him
"Such a buzzkill you are" Sylus mutters, You roll your eyes at him
[5:54PM]
"I'm honestly disappointed. I wanted to hear Sylus sing" Davina says, finally putting her phone down
Amari shakes his head "You guys didn't even give us a chance to sing. Mic hogs, the lot of you"
"I thought they were great" Leroy cuts in as he leans forward "You girls should seriously consider being a girl group. You've got the vocals and the moves"
"Yeah, I agree" Kazuo adds, finishing off his drink "Especially considering how you all used to dance back in the day. You've got the talent, it wouldn't be bad at all"
Vanessa shrugs, sipping her soda "Doesn't sound like a terrible idea"
"If you're serious, I know some people who could help you out" Sylus says casually
Kaori nods "We'll keep that in mind. Could be worth exploring"
You reach across the table to snag a few of Sylus's fries without asking, a habit you've had since high school
He doesn't even flinch, letting you grab as many as you want
Leanne, catching your quiet amusement, turns to you "What about you? What do you think?"
You pause, mid reach for another fry, blinking as all eyes turn to you "Uh... sounds fun" you say, shrugging "I mean, younger me always wanted to be famous. Maybe it's something I've always lowkey dreamed of"
"Same" Davina agrees "It's giving childhood dreams, for sure"
"Us all being in a girl group? Absolute chaos. But honestly, it'd be amazing. You can't tell me we wouldn't crush it" Vanessa says
You feel the brush of Sylus's legs against yours, making you stop mid motion, narrowing your eyes as you glance up at him
Without saying a word, you pull the tray in front of him toward you, raising an eyebrow in question
His expression doesn't falter, unreadable as ever "What?" he asks, his voice calm but there's a flicker of amusement in his eyes
You don't respond, instead slowly sliding the tray closer to yourself as if daring him to make a move, His legs stay where they are, practically caging yours under the table
He leans back in his seat, resting an arm lazily on the chair next to him "Don't look at me like that. You're the one stealing my fries"
"And you're the one being invasive" you shoot back, though you don't move your legs either
He smirks "You're not moving them, though"
You roll your eyes grabbing another fry off the tray to avoid addressing his comment. Sylus just chuckles, leaning forward to steal a fry from the tray you just claimed
"Touchรฉ" he murmurs, his smirk widening when you glare at him
You slide your feet out of your sandals under the table, brushing them lightly against Sylus's bare legs
The sudden contact makes him pause, his eyebrow arches, an amused challenge flickering in his eyes
In response, you flash him a sweet almost innocent fake smile, as if daring him to call you out
"Oh, so we're doing that now?" he asks, his tone low enough that the others at the table don't notice
"Doing what?" you reply, feigning ignorance as your foot trails higher against his calf
His smirk deepens, but he doesn't move away "You've got some nerve, stealing my fries and starting something you can't finish"
"Who says I can't finish?" you counter, still maintaining your mock innocent demeanor as you grab another fry from his tray
Sylus leans forward, lowering his voice so only you can hear "Careful, Y/n. I might just call your bluff"
The heat rising to your face betrays you "Try me"
The tension lingers for a beat too long before Sylus shifts slightly, his hand brushing under the table
Without warning, he stops your foot from going even higher on his thighs, his fingers wrapping lightly around your ankle
You tilt your head, a sly smile spreading across your lips "I win" you say simply, your tone dripping with confidence
He raises an eyebrow, his thumb grazing your ankle in a way that sends a chill up your spine "You think so?" he asks
"I know so" you counter, leaning back, satisfied with your small victory
Sylus smirks, leaning closer across the table as if to close the distance between you "Games like this can backfire" he says, his grip loosening just enough to let your foot slip free
You shrug slipping your foot back into your sandal with deliberate slowness "Only if you're not good at them"
Taking a long sip of your drink, you try to ignore the flutter in your stomach, the way the tension still hangs between you like a taut wire
Sylus eyes never leave yours. The corner of his mouth quirks up in that maddeningly smug expression that makes your heart race and your irritation flare in equal measure
This wasn't over and you both knew it
"Alright, let's head back. We gotta start with the project" Kazuo says, standing up and stretching
"Yeah, I agree" you say, your tone breezy as you finally break eye contact with Sylus, sliding your bag onto your shoulder
"I still haven't read the email the professor sent" Amari admits, rubbing the back of his neck
"Which isn't shocking" Davina chimes in, You chuckle shaking your head "You're always unprepared"
Topics: angst (sorta), flashback on how Y/n and sylus met, they are 14/15, basically teenagers being teenagers, she doesn't like sylus (let me cook!), sylus comforting Y/n
Note: happy new year! hope y'all enjoy this chap as well!!
Word count: 5k
Chap.1
Chap.2
A loud crash shook you awake, the sound rattling the stillness of the early morning
The faint glow of dawn seeped through the thin curtains of your bedroom, painting the walls in muted shades of blue and gold
The soft rustling of the ocean breeze carried through the slightly ajar window but it wasnโt enough to drown out the commotion outside
The door to your room creaked open as Leanne peeked her head inside, her hair messy from sleeping
โY/nโฆโ she called, her voice filled with worry
โI know, I knowโ you grumble, rubbing your eyes as you sit up, the wooden floor creaked slightly beneath her as she stepped inside
โI thought your old neighbors moved out?โ she asks, glancing toward the window as if trying to see what had disturbed the quiet morning
โThey did. The house has been empty for a whileโ you mumble, tossing your blanket aside and standing up
โThen why did I see people moving in?โ she asks, her confusion evident
โWhat?!โ you exclaim, rushing past her and heading for the stairs
Leanne follows as you storm through the cozy living room, where Vanessa and Kaori are already waiting by the open door
The salty tang of the ocean air hit you immediately, the sound of waves crashing faintly in the distance
โSheโs finally upโ Vanessa mutters, leaning against the doorframe
โAbout timeโ Kaori sighs, stepping aside as you push the screen door open and head outside.
The morning sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow over the sleepy coastal neighborhood
The old house next door loomed next door, itโs once faded blue paint now looking refreshed
โDid you call any of my parents?โ you ask as you stride toward the house, your bare feet brushing against the dew covered grass
โThey didnโt pick upโ Vanessa replies
โGreatโ you mutter, pushing open the rusty gate that separated the two properties. It creaked loudly, drawing a wince from you
You make your way up the short pathway, bordered by overgrown shrubs and press the doorbell. The faint sounds drifted from inside the house, quickly silenced by the chime of the bell
A moment later, the door swung open, revealing a boy about your age. He leaned against the frame, his expression casual, his white hair slightly disheveled as though heโd just woken up
โCan I help you?โ he asks, his raised eyebrow matching his amused tone
You blink, momentarily thrown off by the easy confidence in his posture โThis house isnโt supposed to have anyone in it. So, if you would kindly leaveโฆโ
He smirked, crossing his arms as he leaned further against the frame โMy parents just rented this house. So that makes us neighborsโ he says
You narrow your eyes, skeptical โAnd where are they?โ
โOut with your parentsโ he replies without missing a beat โThey told me they had a daughter my age living next doorโ
That sounded exactly like something your mom would say... You sigh, the tension in your shoulders easing slightly โI guess youโre in the clear Just try to keep it down, yeah?โ
โIโll try my bestโ he nods as he watches you.
You roll your eyes and step back
โWhatโs your nameโ he asks, tilting his head in curiosity
โY/nโ you reply curtly
โNice to meet you, Y/n Iโm Sylusโ
You nod, turning on your heel to head back toward your house. Your friends fall into step beside you, their curious glances making you bristle
โHeโs staring at youโ Leanne whispers, a teasing grin tugging at her lips
โI have a boyfriendโ you mutter, your tone clipped as you focus on the gravel crunching under your feet
โThereโs nothing wrong with admitting your neighbor is good lookingโ Kaori shrugs, her tone light as the sun glinted off the ocean waves in the distance.
โWhateverโ you mumble
[Three Days Later]
โOkay, kiddos, everyone take a seat!โ your teacher says as you make your way to your usual spot at the back of the classroom
The chatter among your classmates gradually fades and the bustling energy settles into a calm quiet
โWe have a new student joining us today, Please give a warm welcome to Sylus, who officially transferred yesterday''
Your attention shifts to the new arrival. Sylus stands tall, exuding a composed confidence. His eyes sweep over the room, taking in the curious faces
When his gaze lands on you, he nods slightly, a small smirk tugging at his lips, You narrow your eyes, returning the look with mild annoyance
From the desk in front of you, your boyfriend leans back slightly, his tone low โYou know him?โ
โFound out like two days ago, that heโs my neighborโ you explain with a sigh โThought he was one of those kids sneaking into abandoned houses or somethingโ
โAnd he knows youโve got a boyfriend, right?โ he presses, his expression serious
โProbably notโ you admit, leaning back in your seat โDidnโt talk to him for that longโ
He nods, clearly mulling it over before turning his focus back to the front of the classroom
โWhat was that about?โ Vanessa whispers, her eyes darting between you and your boyfriend
โDonโt know, itโs weirdโ you shrug, brushing off whatever that was
โSylus, you can take a seat next to Eydisโ the teacher says, motioning to the empty chair near the window, Sylus strides to the seat with an air of ease, his smirk lingering as he passes your desk
As he sits, he casts another glance your way and you fight the urge to roll your eyes
During the break, you and your friends sat near the soccer field, the ocean stretching out in the distance
The sun glinted off the waves and a gentle breeze carried through the air, Your friends gathered around the picnic table, chatting and picking at their snacks.
Leanne broke the momentary silence, her voice playful like she was interviewing you โSo, what do you think about your boyfriend being jealous of Sylus after just three classes?โ
โItโs annoyingโ you mumble, unwrapping the vending machine snack in your hands and taking a bite
โI betโ Kaori chimes in, leaning back on the bench and shaking her head
โYou shouldโve seen his face when Sylus called my name after the teacher asked who he wanted to partner up with for classโ you sigh
Vanessa raises an eyebrow โMaybe heโs jealous of Sylusโs looks?โ
โWell, Iโm his girlfriendโ you say firmly โHe doesnโt have anything to worry aboutโ
โTrueโ Vanessa nods, popping a chip into her mouth as the conversation shifts to other things, but the unease about your boyfriendโs jealousy lingers in the back of your mind
Above the distant sound of the waves, the faint cheers from the soccer field and the chatter of other students fill the air, grounding you in the moment as your friends laugh and joke around
โWassup!โ a familiar voice cuts through your thoughts. You turn your head, spotting Kazuo strolling over with his usual relaxed demeanor โWhatโs with your boyfriend acting all competitive toward the new guy?โ he asks, raising an eyebrow as he leans casually against the table
โI honestly donโt know and I donโt want to knowโ you grumble, rubbing your temple โEverything is pissing me off at this momentโ
โMight have to do with Sylus talking to him before classโ Eydis says, suddenly appearing and sliding into the bench between Kaori and Leanne, helping himself to their snacks
โWhat?โ you ask, genuinely caught off guard
โHe didnโt tell you?โ Eydis looks surprised โWell, I asked Sylus about it, and he said, โYour girlfriend is very prettyโ which is bold, I canโt lieโ
You groan dropping your head onto Vanessaโs shoulder โAre you kidding me?โ
โNopeโ Eydis says, shaking his head as he munches on a stolen chips
โSo he asked for your name a few days ago and stalked your social media. I respect the effortโ Kazuo nods
โI donโtโ you snap
โWell, weโre on the fieldโ Eydis says, standing up with Kazuo โSee you laterโ
As they head off, Vanessa nudges you โAre you going to talk to Sylus?โ โNoโ you shake your head firmly โWho knows what heโs up toโ
โSeems like heโs into youโ Kaori says with a shrug โLike, a lotโ
โLove at first sightโ Leanne teases, a mischievous grin spreading across her face โHow romanticโ
You toss a piece of candy at her, earning a laugh โIโm joking!โ she says throwing her hands up defensively
The ocean breeze swirls around you but instead of calming you, it only reminds you of the whirlwind Sylus seems to have brought into your life
โSee you guys tomorrow!โ you wave at your friends from across the train station
โWeโll be calling later!โ Kaori reminds you as their train pulls up
โSure!โ You chuckle, popping your earbuds in, getting ready to start your music, but before you can, someone sits down next to you on the bench
You look up โWhy are you sitting here?โ you ask, glancing around at the mostly empty station
โBecause I want toโ Sylus says with a nonchalant shrug
You frown โDid you really go up to him and tell him his girlfriend is pretty?โ you ask, unable to hold back your curiosity
โYeahโ he says, shrugging again like itโs no big deal
โWhy?โ โWanted to tell him the truth,โ he says casually, as itโs the most normal thing in the world
You narrow your eyes at him โWell, heโs jealous thanks to youโ
โThen he doesnโt deserve youโ Sylus says, his gaze locking with yours
You blink caught off guard by his bluntness โJust shut upโ
He chuckles softly, clearly entertained by your reaction โIf he breaks up with you, itโs his loss, reallyโ
You raise your eyebrows, incredulous at what just came out of his mouth. Itโs as if your one year relationship doesnโt hold any weight in his eyes
โIf you were my girlfriend, I wouldnโt let you go for anythingโ he says, his tone sincere, with no trace of his usual smirk. He looks like he means every word
You donโt respond. Instead, you plug your other earbud in and start your music, hoping to drown him out
[Saturday]
โDo I really have to go?โ you sigh, trailing after your mom as she moves around the living room searching for her bag
โYesโ she says without looking up โI already told Mrs. Qin weโd be coming overโ
โWhat about my plans?โ you protest, hoping for an out
โYou donโt have any plans. If you did, you wouldโve told me days ago,โ she replies
โI donโt like himโ you grumble, slumping against the wall
โHas he done anything to you?โ your mom asks, already knowing youโre talking about Sylus
โYeah, sabotaging my relationshipโ you mutter under your breath
โOh, Y/nโ she sighs shaking her head โHe only told your boyfriend you were pretty. Thereโs nothing wrong with thatโ
โSo if some woman came up to you and told you Dad was handsome, youโd be fine with it?โ you challenge, crossing your arms and watching her reaction
โItโs good to know my husband is handsomeโ she shrugs
You groan and throw yourself face first onto the couch cushion, muffling a frustrated scream into the fabric
โAre you done?โ she asks, raising an eyebrow as you peek up at her โIf so, go get dressed. Youโve got fifteen minutesโ
You huff dramatically but drag yourself upstairs, as you trudge up the stairs, you pull out your phone and tap into your group chat
The phone rings a few times before Leanne picks up, her face filling the screen as she spins lazily in her chair
โWhatโs up?โ she asks, tilting her head in curiosity
โI need a way outโ you groan dramatically, flopping onto your bed with your phone hovering over your face
โOut of what?โ Kaoriโs voice cuts in as her face pops up in the corner of the screen
โMy mom is dragging me to Mrs. Qinโs houseโ you explain, letting out a long, exaggerated sigh. โAnd guess whoโs gonna be thereโ
โSylusโ Vanessa guesses, her screen lighting up as she joins the call
โDing, ding, dingโ you deadpan โI swear, my mom is on his side at this point. She even defended him for calling me pretty to my boyfriendโ
โDamn, Sylus got your mom wrapped around his finger too?โ Leanne laughs, spinning again in her chair
โNot helpingโ you grumble, glaring at her through the screen
โSo whatโs the plan?โ Kaori leans closer to her camera, her expression serious like sheโs ready to strategize
โThere is no planโ you sigh, flipping onto your back โSheโs giving me fifteen minutes to get dressed, and I donโt have a single excuse not to goโ
โJust fake being sickโ Vanessa suggests with a casual shrug
โTried that last timeโ you reply, groaning again โYou know it wonโt work twiceโ
โWell, you could always justโฆ survive itโ Kaori says, throwing her hands up as if itโs the most obvious solution
โNot the advice I was looking forโ you mutter, shooting her a halfhearted glare
โYouโll be fineโ Leanne says reassuringly
โText us updates!โ Kaori adds โWe need the gossipโ
โYou guys are uselessโ you laugh despite yourself โWell, I gotta goโ you add as your momโs voice rings out from downstairs, calling your name
With a resigned sigh, you end the call and drag yourself toward your closet, already dreading the evening ahead
โOn my way back from practice, I bought flowers for you bothโ Sylus says, handing your mom a bouquet with an easy smile
โOh, how sweetโ your mom says, bringing the flowers to her nose for a sniff โThese are lovelyโ
Sylus then hands you a smaller bouquet. You narrow your eyes at him, your lips pressed into a thin line as his mother watches the interaction with interest
โThank you, Sylusโ you say with a strained, fake smile โHow nice of youโ
โYouโre welcomeโ he nods, his tone surprisingly polite
You glance down at the bouquet in your hands, your irritation slowly fading when you notice theyโre your favorite flowers
โSeems like stalking paid offโ you mutter under your breath, making sure only he could hear you
โIt didโ he chuckles softly, clearly amused by your reaction
You roll your eyes and grip the bouquet tighter, silently praying for the ground to swallow you whole. God, why this?
โYour boyfriend has yet to do thisโ she whispers, her tone sly as she gestures to the bouquet
Yeah, thatโs it. If the universe doesnโt end you right now, youโll simply die, The last thing you want is your mother comparing Sylus to your boyfriend
Soon after you all move to the table, it was beautifully set, with steaming dishes of food that smelled amazing
You sat across from Sylus, who seemed perfectly at ease, laughing and chatting with your mother and his mother
โSo, Y/nโ Mrs. Qin began, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, โhow do you like having Sylus as a neighbor?โ
You forced a polite smile โItโsโฆ fine. Quiet, most of the timeโ
โMost of the time?โ Sylus interjected, raising an eyebrow โWhen have I been loud?โ
You shot him a look โYouโre not as quiet as you think during your practice in the garage with your boxingโ
Sylus raised an eyebrow, a sly grin spreading across his face โAh, so youโve been listening to my training sessions?โ he teased, leaning back in his chair, clearly enjoying the banter
You fought the urge to roll your eyes โItโs hard not to hear the punching bag rattle at all hoursโ you muttered, trying to sound casual โItโs like a drumbeat for the neighborhood
Your mother cleared her throat, clearly picking up on your tone. โSheโs just adjusting to the change, Mrs. Qin. You know how teenagers can beโ
Mrs. Qin laughed, nodding. โOf course, of course. But you two seem to get along well enoughโ Her gaze turned to Sylus โHave you been helping her with anything? Schoolwork, maybe?โ
โActuallyโ Sylus said โIโve been helping her boyfriend understand his prioritiesโ
Your fork clattered against your plate as you dropped it, glaring at him โThatโs not what happenedโ
โOh?โ Mrs. Qin asked, her eyebrows lifting in amusement โWhat did happen?โ
Sylus leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying the attention โLetโs just say I had to remind him how lucky he isโ
โYou mean by making him jealous?โ you muttered under your breath, quickly, shoving a bite of food into your mouth to avoid further questioning
โI think itโs sweet that Sylus has taken such an interestโ your mother chimed in, giving you a pointed look โHeโs such a thoughtful young manโ
You resisted the urge to groan, feeling the weight of everyoneโs eyes on you. Sylus smiled at you across the table, completely unbothered. You, on the other hand, were counting the minutes until this dinner was over
โSo, do you attend any after school clubs?โ Mrs. Qin asks, her gaze bright with curiosity
You nod, swallowing a bite of food โI do, the dance clubโ
โThatโs interestingโ she says with a smile โYou cheer too, right?โ
You raise an eyebrow, surprised โHow did you know that?โ
โSylus mentioned itโ she replies
You glance at Sylus, who gives you a small, knowing smirk
โOh yeah. I do, itโs funโ you say
โIโve seen them walk together after practice. Itโs nice of him to wait for youโ your mom chimes in, clearly proud
You almost choke on your food at the mention of that โOh really?โ Mrs. Qin asks, glancing between you and her son, clearly intrigued
โYeah, itโs kind of late when she finishesโ Sylus says with a shrug and you swear you can feel your blood pressure rising
โIt only happened twiceโ you say quickly, wanting to downplay the situation
Sylus raises an eyebrow โWhich is still a lotโ
You give him a tight lipped smile, wishing you could find a way to shut him up
After dinner, both mothers decided to clean up, suggesting that you and Sylus hang out in his room while they took care of the dishes
You couldnโt help but wonder what kind of parents would let that happen, especially with how teens have been lately
But here you were, walking behind him to his room after he held the door open with a grin โLadies first,โ he said, gesturing for you to go ahead
His room was painted in deep red, with black curtains draped across the windows, a few medals hung on the walls, along with several trophies scattered around and to your surprise, a cat lounged lazily on the bed
You crouched down to pet it, letting your fingers gently stroke its soft fur
โItโs a boyโ Sylus said, leaning against the doorframe, watching you
You smiled, continuing to pet the cat โWhatโs his name?โ
โShadowโ he replied
His cat looks up at you lazily, flicking its tail before rubbing its head against your hand
You smile, enjoying the softness of his fur โHeโs cuteโ you admit, giving the cat a gentle scratch behind its ears
Sylus shrugs โHeโs more like a cat than a pet, really. Just hangs around when he feels like itโ
You stand up and glance around his room, noting the trophies and medals scattered on shelves โYouโre really I to boxing, no?โ you ask, gesturing toward his achievements
โYeahโ he says with a slight shrug โYou could say I like competitionโ
You nod slowly, eyes flicking to one of the gold medals hanging on the wall โSeems like itโs working out for youโ
โSome things doโ he responds, his tone unexpectedly serious for a moment
You take a seat on the edge of his bed, still trying to wrap your mind around the idea of spending time in his room
It feltโฆ different. Something about the space felt both inviting and oddly intimidating
As you sit there, Sylus steps closer but the way heโs looking at you makes you realize just how much heโs been watching you since you stepped into the room
You feel the air shift between you both, an unspoken tension hanging in the air
โSo, what do you usually do in here?โ you ask, trying to break the silence
He smirks, leaning against the desk โNothing interesting. Just training, games, andโฆ occasionally making people madโ
You raise an eyebrow at him โSounds like you enjoy the last oneโ
โGuilty as chargedโ he replies โYou should try it sometime. Might be funโ
You roll your eyes, not taking the bait โI think Iโll pass on that oneโ
โSo how long have you been with your boyfriend?โ Sylus asked his eyes watching you intently
The question caught you off guard โA yearโ you answer, trying to keep your tone neutral
He nodded but didnโt say anything more, letting the silence hang in the air for a moment
โWhat? You donโt have a girlfriend?โ you question raising an eyebrow, still leaning back and absentmindedly petting Shadow
โNoโ he replied simply, his gaze shifting away from you for a second โIf I did, it wouldโve been knownโ
โGot itโ you nodded, the air between you suddenly thick with something unspoken. You watched as he sat down in his chair, settling into the silence,
You grab your phone, relieved for something to distract you, It buzzed a few times and you unlocked it to check the notifications from the group chat
Leanne: โY/n, spill! Whatโs going on with you and Sylus?โ
Kaori: โI swear heโs flirting with you, just admit it!โ
Vanessa: โYou okay over there?โ
You couldnโt help but roll your eyes, texting back quickly โNothingโs going on. Heโs just being a painโ
You could feel Sylusโs eyes on you as you typed, but you didnโt look up. It was easier that way
[The morning after]
โHe was just staring a lot, like he was observing meโ you tell your friends the next day, trying to make sense of Sylusโs behavior
โMaybe he was in aweโ Vanessa shrugs, a teasing grin on her face
โI donโt knowโ you shrug, not quite convinced โIt was a bit weird when it was just the two of usโ
โIn an awkward or like a comfortable way?โ Kaori asks
โBoth, I guessโ you sigh feeling the confusion from last night all over again
โAnd he gave you flowers, your favorite ones, thatโs cuteโ Leanne adds, trying to lighten the mood
โIโm just trying to figure out why he always does the things he does, waiting for me and now the flowersโ you mumble, your thoughts tangled
โWell, that gotta wait, your boyfriend is coming and looks madโ Vanessa says, her tone shifting as she spots him walking toward you
You turn around to see him approaching, a frown already forming on his face
โHey, can we talk?โ he asks as soon as he reaches you
โUh yeah, sureโ you nod, feeling the tension โSee you guys in classโ you call to your friends, who nod and watch you walk away
You follow your boyfriend down an empty hallway, feeling the weight of the moment
โAre the rumors true?โ he asks as you both slow down, his voice tense
โWhat rumors?โ you ask, genuinely confused
โYou and Sylus having dinner last night?โ he asks, his eyes searching your face for an answer
โOh yeah, was forced to go by my momโ you reply, trying to keep things light but sensing the storm brewing
โAnd the flowers he gave you?โ he presses, clearly not letting it go
โCouldnโt really throw them awayโ you mumble, feeling uncomfortable โWhy are you questioning me right now?โ
โI donโt like himโ he admits, his voice low and serious
โAnd I do?โ you mumble under your breath, trying not to sound hurt
โIt seems like itโ he sighs, running a hand through his hair in frustration
โAre you kidding me right now?โ you narrow your eyes at him, not knowing how to handle this
โWhat am I supposed to think, youโve been spending so much time with him?โ
โNot by willโ you say, your voice edged with frustration
โRightโ he mumbles, his eyes narrowing โMaybe we should take a breakโ
โWhat? Just because of what happened last night? Are you serious?โ you ask, your annoyance creeping in โWhatever, I donโt have the time for this. Text me later or somethingโ you say, turning on your heel and walking away
Sylus watches you enter the classroom, clearly annoyed, with a hint of concern flickering in his expression
You take your seat with a sigh, trying to shake off the tension
โWhat happened?โ Kaori asks, noticing your mood as soon as you sit down
โHe wants to break up because of what happened last nightโ you explain, keeping your voice low
โBecause of a dinner you were forced to go to? Thatโs crazyโ Leanne says, disbelief in her voice
โTell me about itโ you mumble
[3:42PM]
You felt like crying when you saw the text message from your now ex boyfriend after school
The words stung, he broke up with you so easily, letting his insecurities about Sylus tear everything down, for a guy who had barely been around for a week, it hurt more than you expected
โYouโre fine, Y/nโ you whisper to yourself, trying to steady your breath โHe doesnโt deserve youโ
Breaking up with you over some other guy? How weak was that? The thought gnawed at you as the frustration and disappointment built up inside
You let out a deep sigh, pausing your music, trying to compose yourself
You had ditched cheer practice, too tired to face it all, the last thing you wanted was to pretend everything was okay when it really wasnโt
You wanted nothing more than to be home, away from everyone, to just curl up and cry your eyes out, the weight of everything, the breakup, the confusion, the frustration was too much to carry right now
You just wanted to shut the world out, tune out all the noise and let the tears fall without worrying about anything or anyone
It felt like everything was falling apart and all you wanted was to escape for a while
A pair of shoes stops in front of you but you refuse to look up, already knowing who it is, of all people, heโs the last person you want to see you like this
โIโm not in the mood todayโ you mumble, keeping your gaze fixed on the ground
He doesnโt reply right away but instead, he sits down beside you. โHeโs an idiotโ he finally says
You scoff softly glancing at him.โYou know this wouldnโt have happened if you hadnโt talked to him, right?โ
Sylus doesnโt smirk or offer a cheeky comeback, For once, his face isnโt wearing its usual confident expression. Instead, thereโs something softer, almost unreadable in his gaze
He looks at you for a moment longer, his eyes tracing over your glossy eyes and the way your teeth sink into your lip, an obvious attempt to hold back the tears threatening to spill
You look pitiful, like a cornered kitten, trembling but still trying to hold its ground, Vulnerable, but stubbornly defiant, yet he doesnโt smirk or wear that cocky, self assured expression youโve come to expect
If anything, thereโs something unfamiliar in his face. Concern? Sympathy? His lips press into a thin line and the sharpness in his eyes softens, just enough to make you doubt if youโre imagining it
The silence stretches, heavy and taut, until he finally speaks, his voice lower than usual, as though afraid to shatter you entirely โYou look like youโre about to cryโ
โAnd whose fault is that?โ you snap, your voice cracking slightly as you glare at him
Sylus sighs, leaning back against the wall behind him, his gaze never leaving your face โMine, I guess. But I wasnโt trying to ruin anything for you. If he canโt handle someone saying his girlfriend is pretty, maybe he wasnโt worth your timeโ
โThatโs not the pointโ you mutter, looking away โItโs the fact that he got so insecure over something so smallโ
He tilts his head, studying you like youโre a puzzle heโs trying to figure out โYou deserve someone who doesnโt crumble at the first sign of competition. Someone who can see how amazing you are and not let their ego get in the wayโ
You blink at him, caught off guard by the sincerity in his tone โWhy are you even here?โ
โTo make sure youโre okay,โ he says simply โAnd to remind you that his loss isnโt your faultโ
You let out a shaky breath, the tears threatening to spill over โI donโt need your pep talk right now, Sylusโ
โMaybe notโ he shrugs โbut youโve got it anywayโ
His words settle over you like a strange kind of comfort and for a moment, you let the silence between you stretch, letting yourself feel just a little less alone
โYou have a feverโ your father says, pulling his hand away from your forehead, his brow furrowed with concern
โDonโt worry, I can still go to schoolโ you insist, attempting to sit up
โNot happeningโ he replies firmly, gently pushing you back down by your shoulders. โYouโre staying homeโ
From downstairs, your motherโs voice calls for him, He looks back at you โAlright, if anything happens, call me, yeah?โ
You nod l โSureโ
Your phone rings just as your dad leaves the room and you pick it up without much enthusiasm
โAre you running late?โ Vanessaโs voice comes through the speaker
โNo, got a feverโ you mumble
โWait, what?! Youโre sick?โ Leanne chimes in, sounding alarmed
โThatโs what my dad saidโ you shrug, even though they canโt see you
โWeโll come by after schoolโ Kaori says decisively
โFine by meโ you reply, too tired to argue
โWe gotta go, class is startingโ Vanessa says hurriedly
โOkay byeโ you say, hanging up as they rush off
You toss your phone onto the bedside table, letting out a tired sigh
Sylus watches as your parents exit the house, your dad shutting the door behind him
โY/n is sick todayโ your mother says, glancing at Sylus โWould you like us to drop you off at school?โ
He shakes his head politely โNo, thank you. Iโll be fineโ
As your parents head toward the car, Sylus hears your dad speak โThatโs the boy who gave you and Y/n those bouquets of flowers?โ
โYesโ your mom replies with a smile โHeโs very sweetโ
Sylus doesnโt react but his gaze drifts up to your bedroom window, the soft pink glow from your bedside lamp spills through the curtains, faintly illuminating the room
He lingers for a moment, then turns on his heel and starts walking, his thoughts quietly preoccupied
You scroll through your laptop, looking for a movie to kill some time. Being sick is the worst, it means youโre stuck doing nothing but trying to distract yourself from how miserable you feel
A knock at your window makes you pause, your frown deepening as you push the laptop to the side, shoving the curtain away, youโre met with an unexpected sight
โSylus?โ you say, your voice muffled through the closed window. You slide it open, the warm air brushing past you
โWhy arenโt you at school?โ you ask, confused
โYouโre sickโ he replies
โHow do you know?โ โYour mom told me before they leftโ he says, like itโs the most obvious thing
You blink at him, then glance down โHowโd you even get up here?โ
โI climbedโ he says with a shrug, as if scaling your house was completely normal โHereโ
He sets a bag on the windowsill
โYou went to the store?โ you ask, raising an eyebrow
โYou ask a lot of questionsโ he sighs, shaking his head as if youโre exhausting him
โDo you blame me?โ you mumble, eyeing the bag
Sylus gives you a small smirk but says nothing, leaning casually against the frame like he has all the time in the world
You open the bag, checking its contents, a container of soup, a few snack, a bottle of water, and a drink
You look back up at him, ready to say something, but the sight of him stops you short
The sun behind him casts a golden glow, lighting up his features in a way that seems almost unreal, his hair catches the light and his calm expression contrasts with the casual way he leans against the frame
You feel a strange sensation stir in your stomach, not unpleasant but unfamiliar
Youโre not sure if itโs the fever messing with you or something else entirely โWhyโd you do this?โ you ask softly, the words leaving your mouth before you can stop them
He meets your eyes โBecause you need someone to take care of youโ he says simply
Topics : slice of life, college au on a beautiful island, banter, v cocky Sylus, loves teasing you, reader finds him annoying but has a soft spot for him (iykyk)
Note :
added some ocโs as friends, Y/n has no name ofc!! Sylusโ age is 23, mm idk how many parts yet so enjoy!!
Word count: 3k
Also first Sylus fic so pls be nice!!
Chap.1
"Where are you going?" you ask, glancing up at your roommate from your spot on the floor
Kaori adjusts the strap of her woven beach bag, her curly hair catching the light from the golden rays streaming through the window "Out with Mar and Davina. Why?"
You sigh, leaning back against the couch as the cool breeze from the open door drifts in, carrying the faint scent of salt and hibiscus
"Hoped you'd stay. I gotta work with Sylus on a project" you mumble, tracing a pattern on the edge of the colorful island rug beneath you
Kaori pauses, guilt flashing in her eyes "Oh, right. Sorry"
You wave her off with a small smile "Don't worry, it's fine. Enjoy yourself"
Her face brightens and she tosses you a gratefulย smile "Thanks! I'll be back with snacks, promise!"
You watch as she steps out the door, the sound of her sandals fading as the warmth of the island afternoon settles around you
Nyx, your sleek black cat, saunters over with her tail curling high in the air before settling herself gracefully between your crossed legs
Her fur is warm from lounging in the sun and her golden eyes blink up at you lazily
"Hey" you mumble, running your fingers through her soft coat. She responds with a low, steady purr, the vibration soothing in the quiet room
Reaching for the book on the coffee table, you flip it open to the marked page, determined to get a head start on the project before Sylus arrives
Nyx adjusts herself, curling into a cozy ball, her rhythmic purring a comforting soundtrack as you begin to read
"Yeah, see you guys later" a voice calls out from outside, followed by a knock on the door moments later
"It's open!" you call back, shifting slightly as Nyx lets out a soft purr, still nestled in your lap
The door creaks open and Sylus steps in, his usual relaxed demeanor in place "You already started?" he asks, his eyes flicking to the book in your hands as he walks into the living room
You glance over your shoulder at him "I just opened it"
He nods setting two cups on the table, he gestures toward them "One's for you" he says casually before heading into the kitchen, disappearing out of sight
Curious, you glance at the drinks and grab the iced coffee, taking a tentative sip
The rich, creamy taste makes you pause, exactly how you like it. A small wave of surprise washes over you
"So" Sylus says, re-entering the room empty handed "You're the talk of the town"
"I am?" You arch a brow "And what did you go do in the kitchen?"
"Had to throw something away" he replies with a shrug before dropping onto the couch beside the one you're leaning against "Word is, you're dating someone"
Your confusion deepens "I'm not dating anyone"
He raises an eyebrow "So you're single?"
You narrow your eyes at him, suspicious of his tone "You already know the answer to that"
His grin widens, a casual confidence about him "Just confirming"
"Whatever, we need to start this project" you say, setting your iced coffee down and flipping open the book to the assigned section
Sylus chuckles, leaning back against the couch with a lazy grin "Alright, alright. No need to get bossy. I'm ready when you are"
You roll your eyes "Then pay attention for once"
He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his gaze flicking to the pages in your book "I'm always paying attention" he says, his voice low and teasing
You shake your head, trying to ignore his tone, and focus on the task at hand "Sylus, I swear, if you mess this up..."
"Relax" he cuts you off "I've got this"
"Famous last words" you mutter under your breath, earning another soft laugh from him
2 hours later
"Y/n, we're back!" Leanne's voice carries through the door as it swings open, interrupting your thoughts
"Oh, hey Sylus" Vanessa says, stepping into view first, She raises an eyebrow, glancing between the two of you "Thought you'd be done by now"
"Me too" you mutter, shooting a glare at Sylus
For the past two hours, he's been driving you up the wall with his endless string of stupid questions and pointless tangents
Vanessa stifles a laugh, clearly catching the tension
Meanwhile, Leanne walks in, her arms weighed down with shopping bags that she promptly drops onto the kitchen table "Y'all making something?" she asks, curiosity lighting up her face
Sylus nods "Just working on a project" he says, like he hasn't been the sole reason for your slow progress
You sigh, rubbing your temples "More like wasting time"
Leanne chuckles, rifling through her bags. "Sounds productive"
Nyx rubs her head against Vanessa's leg, her soft purr drawing a smile from her, Vanessa bends down to scoop your cat into her arms, scratching behind her ears "Need our help?"
"No" "Yes"
You shoot Sylus a sharp look "We already have a concept. We just need to make it"
"Getting help doesn't hurt anyone" he counters, his tone annoyingly casual
"It will if we fail because of bad advice" you snap back, folding your arms
"Doubt it" he replies with a smirk, leaning back on the couch like he's enjoying the banter
Vanessa raises an eyebrow, her attention shifting between the two of you "Well, sounds like you've got this... or something close to it"
Leanne chuckles from the kitchen "Let me know if you change your minds. I'm great at helping"
"I honestly give up" you sigh, snapping the book shut with more force than necessary, You lean back against the couch, running a hand through your hair "We can try again tomorrow"
Sylus raises an eyebrow, clearly amused by your frustration "Giving up already? That's not like you"
You glare at him "I'm not giving up. I'm postponing so I don't strangle you"
Vanessa snickers, still cradling Nyx "Smart move. You'd never get the project done from jail"
Leanne chuckles, pulling out a snack from one of her shopping bags "I'm with Y/n. Take the night off, forcing yourself to finish it won't do any good"
Sylus shrugs and grabs his empty cup "Fine by me. Same time tomorrow?"
"Yeah, yeah," you mutter, already dreading it
"Night ladies" Sylus says, standing up like he hadn't spent the last few hours testing your patience
"Bye" Leanne says, barely glancing up as she starts unpacking her shopping bags
"See ya" Vanessa adds, settling into the armchair with Nyx still in her arms
Sylus lingers his gaze shifting to you, You sigh, already knowing what he's waiting for "See you tomorrow, Sylus"
He chuckles softly, giving you a look that's both smug and teasing before heading out the door
As soon as it closes, both girls their eyes are immediately on you
"He likes annoying you, you know that, right?" Leanne says, ripping open a bag of candy
Vanessa shakes her head with a smile "I'd say he actually likes her. It's kinda obvious"
You groan, sinking back against the couch "Please don't start"
Leanne pops a piece of candy into her mouth and smirks "Oh, we're starting. This is way more fun than those stupid rumors going around
You groan, trying to find an out "Isn't he dating some girl?" you ask, hoping it's true so they'll drop the subject
She shrugs "Those are just rumors. Haven't seen him around any woman the way he's around you"
"Don't say that" you mumble, heat creeping up your neck
Vanessa raises an eyebrow "He even left with his cup. He's got manners, at least"
"Bare minimum" you say flatly, refusing to give him any credit
She chuckles "Starting to think you don't like him, seeing how much he works on your nerves"
"It's true" you nod emphatically, your eyes following Nyx as she stretches, hops off Vanessa's lap, and pads out of the room, probably heading for her food
"Where's Kaori, by the way?" you ask, glancing between the two girls
"Something with her grandma" Leanne says, tossing another piece of candy into her mouth "She probably won't be home today"
You nod reaching for your phone on the table, opening your messages, you start typing out a quick text to check in with her.
The faint sound of waves crashing outside fills the room as the conversation drifts to other topics, but your thoughts linger
[The Next Day]
"Sup Y/n" a familiar voice calls out before an arm casually wraps over your shoulder
"Hey, Amari" you say, glancing at him as the two of you fall into step
"Heard you didn't get far with your project yesterday" he says, a teasing edge to his voice
You sigh, side eyeing him "He told you that?"
"He did" Amari replies with a chuckle "Just cut him some slack. He's cool, you know?''
You roll your eyes "You're his friend. Of course, you're gonna say that"
"I'm also your friend" he points out
"Right, so..." you hesitate, feigning nonchalance "Did he say anything else?"
Amari raises an eyebrow, clearly catching onto your tone "Nah, why? What's up?"
"Nothing, just asking" you shrug, brushing it off as you step into the classroom
He studies you for a second "Uh huh sure, nothing"
"Don't start acting like the girls now" you warn, narrowing your eyes at him
"Is it really that bad that we might think there's something going on between the two of you?" he asks as the two of you settle into seats at the back of the class
"The worst part is there's nothing going on, so you're all reaching for nothing" you say, shrugging as you pull your laptop out of your bag
"Where is he anyway?" you ask, not seeing Sylus, his usual spot empty
Amari leans back in his chair, looking unconcerned "Probably skipped. Nothing new, to be honest"
"To do what?" you ask, frowning
"Surfing with Eydis, I think" he answers with a shrug
You groan, slumping lower in your seat "Yeah, we're definitely not getting that project done" you mumble, sinking even further into the chair as frustration builds
Knocking on the door, you wait only a few seconds before it swings open
"Yo Y/n, Wassup! Would've loved to stay but I got plans, so I'll catch you later, yeah?" Eydis says, flashing a bright grin before pulling you into a quick hug and skateboard off down the street
You blink, momentarily caught off guard, but step inside the house
The sound of footsteps echoes from down the hall "What are you doing here?"
You suppress the urge to roll your eyes as Sylus's familiar voice greets you
Turning around, you find him leaning against the doorway, a towel slung low, way too low on his hips, his damp hair dripping onto his bare shoulders
"You didn't come to class today" you say bluntly, focusing hard on maintaining eye contact and not scanning his body
"Yeah. Missed me?" he asks, a lazy grin spreading across his face
"Definitely not" you reply, arms crossing over your chest "But being in class would've helped us with the project"
"So you're here to tutor me?" he teases, tilting his head slightly, his smirk widening
"No" you mutter, feeling your patience wane
He steps closer, studying you with a mix of curiosity and amusement "Something bothering you?"
You sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose "Just trying to have a serious conversation with you" You gesture vaguely at him "Can you please go put some clothes on?"
Sylus grins "Only because you begged for it" he says smugly, but his expression falters when your eye twitches ever so slightly
With a low chuckle, he finally retreats down the hall
"I wasn't begging!" you call out, narrowing your eyes at his retreating figure
"Whatever you say" Sylus replies, his voice carrying down the hall, laced with that infuriating smugness
You cross your arms, exhaling sharply as your eyes wander around the room
The vibe of the boys' house is the exact opposite of the cozy, organized space you and the girls share, chaotic and somehow... very them
Your gaze lands on a picture sitting on a cluttered shelf, It's of Sylus and two other guys, both of whom look like twins. They seem younger, maybe elementary age
For a brief moment, a ridiculous thought crosses your mind. Maybe they're his kids? You quickly shake the idea off
Sylus doesn't exactly scream "young dad" especially with no partner in the photo
"Gross" you whisper to yourself, frowning
Why were you even thinking about him like that or thinking about him at all for that matter
"So, if you aren't here to tutor me, why are you here?" his voice cuts through your thoughts, making you spin around
"To tell you to start showing up to class" you tell him
"You could have just texted me that" he says, strolling toward you
"I don't have your number" you counter
"You could've had it" he replies, stepping closer, a smirk playing on his lips
You instinctively take a step back "Nah"
"Kinda glad you don't" he says, his voice low, his smirk widening as you feel your back hit the wall
"You better not" you mutter, glaring at him but unable to ignore the way his presence seems to fill the room
"Do what exactly?" he asks, tilting his head, his tone mockingly innocent
"You know" you say, your voice barely above a whisper as the air between you grows heavier
"I don't" he says, leaning just slightly closer, his gaze locking with yours
"You better not kiss me" you warn, your voice firm despite the slight waver in it
Sylus raises an eyebrow "From what I rememb-"
You step closer, cutting him off by slapping your hand over his mouth "We were both drunk" you say quickly
He grabs your wrist, gently pulling your hand away "And you kissed me" he replies, emphasizing the word you
"And it won't happen again" you state firmly, meeting his gaze with as much resolve as you can muster
"There goes my dream" he says, sighing dramatically
"You're what?" you ask, baffled by his response "Whatever" you mutter, taking a step back and shaking your head "I told you what I needed to, so I'm leaving now"
"You sure? You don't wanna stay and relive the memories?" he teases, leaning casually against the wall
You glare at him one last time before turning on your heel "Absolutely not"
[5:29PM]
"Can you take table seven?" Leroy asks, his voice carrying over the soft hum of the restaurant
"Sure. They got their drinks already?" you ask, glancing at the small pile of empty glasses he's setting down on the counter
"Yeah, just need their food order" he nods, wiping his hands on a towel
"Okay" you say, grabbing your notepad and pen. With a quick nod in his direction, you head out toward table seven, weaving between the other occupied tables
The salty breeze from the ocean wafts in through the open windows, mingling with the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee and pastries
Approaching table seven, you plaster on your customer service smile, ready to take their order
"Good afternoon. Are you ready to order?" you ask, your voice polite but faltering slightly as you notice Sylus sitting with your friends
"Hi, Y/n!" Davina greets you warmly, flashing a bright smile
"Hey, you're back?" you ask, surprised to see her
"Yeah, just arrived and bumped into them" she says, nodding toward Sylus and Amari, who are both looking far too comfortable
"Definitely against your will" you mumble under your breath, earning a small laugh from Davina
"She actually enjoys being around us" Amari says with a casual shrug, leaning back in his chair like he owns the place
You roll your eyes "Right. Your order?"
Sylus smirks, tapping the menu with his finger "Do you have patience on the menu? Because we're gonna need a little more time"
"Aren't you funny today?" you deadpan, already regretting walking over to their table
You narrow your eyes at him but turn your attention back to Davina, who's flipping through the menu "Do you know what you want, at least?" you ask her, hoping to move this along
"Hmm, I'll have the shrimp tacos" she says with a smile
"Great choice" you reply, jotting it down and purposely ignoring Sylus's lingering gaze "And you?" you ask Amari, pointedly skipping over Sylus for now
Amari grins "The jerk chicken platter. Oh, and a side of fries"
"Noted" you say, writing quickly. Finally, you glance at Sylus "And you?"
He rests his chin on his hand, pretending to think "What's the most complicated thing on the menu?"
You don't even blink "Water"
Davina snorts and Amari bursts out laughing, but Sylus just shakes his head, amused "Fine, I'll take the fish sandwich" he says, clearly enjoying the banter
"Coming right up" you mutter, spinning on your heel to head back to the kitchen, your patience hanging by a thread
"Could've told me Sylus was sitting at the table" you mutter as you hang the note up for the chefs
"Didn't know it got that bad" Leroy says, glancing at you "Thought you were cool with him now"
"Thought wrong" you sigh, pulling your hair into a low ponytail to distract yourself from the annoyance bubbling up
"My bad" he says, raising his hands in mock apology "Why, though? What's the issue?"
"He just loves to work on my nerves and he's way too smug. I hate it" you explain, crossing your arms as you lean against the counter
"Not your type?" he asks, his curiosity evident
You pause, groaning softly "He's hot, sure. Can't deny that. But his attitude? Definitely not it"
"I dunno" Leroy says with a small laugh, leaning his hip against the counter "I kinda thought his attitude would make you even more into him, won't lie"
You shoot him a sharp look "Why would you think that?" "Because you argue with him all the time but still stick around. Feels like some rom com tension to me" he teases
"Well, this isn't a movie," you say dryly "And trust me, I'd rather deal with anyone else's attitude than his"
"Sure, keep telling yourself that" he says, chuckling as he heads to the sink, leaving you to stew in his words
You chuckle and shove Leroy's shoulder playfully "You're annoying"
"You love it" he chuckles, grinning as he finishes wiping the counter
If you had been paying attention, you might have noticed Sylus's eyes lingering on you from across the room
To him, you looked effortlessly beautiful, the way you always did. It wasn't just the way your hair framed your face or the way you smiled when you teased Leroy, it was the way you carried yourself. You had a way of capturing his attention without even trying and it drove him crazy
But you didn't notice. Too wrapped up in the moment, you grabbed an empty tray and headed back out to the floor, completely unaware of the thoughts running through Sylus's mind
"Hi" you greet the stranger as you sat down on the couch
"Hey" "You're enjoying the party?" "I am, you?" He responds
Frustrated, you let out a sigh "Kinda bumped into my ex a few minutes ago" "how did that go?"
"I avoided him, don't wanna talk to him" You mumble, observing as the stranger sits up "What he do?" He asks
"Cheated on me" You answer "anyway, you wanna leave and make out or something?" You say, leaning your head on your palm and moving closer to him
"I would, but it seems like you're not sober" He notes, you pout "I swear, I'll remember all of this in the morning"
He chuckles, displaying his smile "Sure you will" "You're hot" You blurt out "Like really hot, you're the typa guy I wouldn't mind getting pregnant by"
"That doesn't sound crazy to you?" He chuckles
"No, I am being honest" You shrug, he looks at you, a smile still lingering on his face "I like you, you're funny"
"Thank you, I've heard that a lot" You simply state
"What is she doing?" Your friend asks your best friend, gesturing towards you
"Avoiding her ex" Your best friend replies
"And does she need to talk to him?" he questions further
"Something wrong with that?" She mumbles asks
"He doesn't have good intentions, especially not what Y/n is looking for" He explains
She ponder for a moment before responding "Mhhh, well.. she's an adult. It will be fine, don't tress dude"
"Wait, how old are you?" you ask, curious about his age
"I am twenty-four" he replies
"You look younger, like around my age" You comment
"And your age is?" "I am twenty-one" You tell him "Twenty-two soon, so age is no issue."
He bites his lip, before he can say anything, one of his friends interrupts, calling him over "Yo dude, we're leaving! You're coming?!"
He turns to his friend and nods, then looks back at you "I gotta go, see ya around."
But before you can ask for his number or even his name, he disappears into the crowd, leaving you slightly disappointed but intrigued
You walk out of class with Jaelyn and Thalia talking about the new gossip over a girl named Faith fighting a girl earlier this week, when your conversation got interrupted by one of your friends running passt you
โWhat is he doing here?โ Jaelyn asks
Thalia shrugs โNot my businessโ
You chuckle
Elijah stops running as he passes the corner which the three of you pass and stop to talk to him
โWhat are you doing here?โ You ask holding your math book closer to you
โWeโre having a water balloon fightโ he explains
โWe?โ Thalia asks
Elijah nods โYeah, me, Atsumu, rintaro and few other guysโ
Jaelyn frowns โYou know boys arenโt allowed here right?โ Before he could answer her, a loud splash interrupted and the white wall was now green
โYou missed!โ He shouts at Atsumu before running away
โHello ladiesโ Atsumu quickly greet the three of you as he runs after Elijah
โItโs never a boring day hereโ You mumble turning around and bump into someone
โAsh shit, Y/n. My badโ Rintaro apologizes
You frown as you saw, a mischievous glint shines in his eyes
Without warning, he swiftly uses you as a shield, effectively blocking himself from any potential water balloon attacks
You let out a startled yelp as you feel the impact of several water balloons hitting your back, while Rintaro remains unscathed
"Rin!" You exclaim, glaring at him
Rintaro chuckles, thoroughly pleased with his impromptu defense tactics
But before you can retaliate, the two familiar figures join the scene
Atsumu and Elijah, both holding armfuls of water balloons, burst onto the scene with matching grins on their faces
Atsumu tosses a water balloon in your direction but misses by a hair as you skillfully dodge it
"Nice move, Rin! Way to use Y/n as a shield!" he shouts
Elijah, on the other hand, throws a water balloon toward Thalia, his aim landing spot-on as she lets out a surprised shriek, Her arm being now the color blue
"You're next!" she declares, quickly retaliating with her own counterattack
Jaelyn, never one to back down, grins at the chaos unfolding around her
he snatches a water balloon from a nearby bucket and launches a perfect throw at Rintaro
It connects with a satisfying splat, soaking him from head to toe
You laugh at him being completely pink
Soon, more students passing by are drawn to the excitement
The water balloon fight becomes an all-out spectacle, with students of all ages and genders joining in the hallway without a care
Laughter echoes, colorful balloons burst, and the sound of joy fills the air
The sound of an authoritative voice cuts through the commotion
Principal Wilson, looking stern and unamused
"Childrenโs!" he bellows, his voice booming across the hallway
"Stop this instant! You are disrupting the order of the school!"
Everyone freezes, the joyous expressions on their faces quickly fading
The six of you exchange worried glances, realizing that their newfound playground has caught the attention of higher authority.
Principal Wilson marches over to the group, his towering presence sending a wave of unease through the six friends
"You have all clearly violated several rules," he declares, pointing his finger sternly
"Playing with water balloons, causing mayhem, and disrupting the learning environment."
โThe last part is false since school is overโ Atsumu mumbles
He pauses for a moment "You all have detention!" he declares with an air of finality, his voice leaving no room for argument
โYour comment probably made it worseโ Jaelyn mumbles as she start walking
โIt was the truth!โ The blonde defends himself
With heads held high and their colorful paint still evident, the six of you trudge through the school corridors towards the designated detention room
The weight of the punishment is palpable as you navigate through the bustling hallways, silently hoping that time would pass quickly
However, to their surprise and delight, their spirits are lifted when, after just a few minutes into their detention, the door creaks open, announcing the arrival of your other friends
Aran, Oikawa, and Sakusa step into the room.
Grinning widely, Oikawa announces their fashionably late arrival
"Sorry for the delay, folks. But you can always count on Ms. Anderson to take her sweet time!"
Aran feigns offense, raising an eyebrow playfully
"I wouldnโt say that," he retorts
Time flies by as the group falls into the familiar rhythms, laughing
The once daunting detention room transforms into a space of shared experiences and cherished memories
It's only when the sound of the final bell rings through the school, bringing their detention to a close, that everyone realize how quickly the minutes had passed
