Chapter Text
A year has passed since their break-up.
The both of them decided they were better off alone, better off as friends, as pursuing different career paths made it difficult to stay together.
At the time, they both separated harboring no hard feelings for each other, breaking off on a mutual understanding and respect for each other’s decisions.
…But archons, every time he walks by with that devilish smile, charismatic as ever, Lumine feels her heart racing all over again, longing for whatever they had last year.
To pull him ever so close, to feel his lips on hers again, while tangling her fingers in his familiar, silky obsidian locks—
Lumine knows she shouldn’t entertain those thoughts, shouldn’t even have them in the first place, but before she can even stop herself, her legs are already sauntering over to his table at the bar.
And when molten gold meets amber gold again, it was too late to back out.
“Lumine?”
The low, honey baritone of his voice, as sweet and seductive as she remembers— Lumine can no longer resist, can no longer escape.
Not when her name sounded so perfect on his lips.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” Xiao continued, and Lumine finally snaps from her trance.
“Um, uh— yeah, Hu Tao dragged me here, but ran off, so…”
God, at least try to sound believable, Lumine—!
“Oh, is that so?”
“Yeah, so… I was wondering if it was okay to stay with you for the time being…?”
Xiao blinked at her, a hint of doubt in his eyes before nodding. “That’s not a problem. Take a seat.”
Lumine mentally exhales a sigh of relief, before accepting his offer with a grateful smile. But it was also at that moment when she noticed a purse—most likely belonging to a woman— left on the seat beside Xiao’s.
Immediately, any hope of reconciliation is shattered, and Lumine finally realizes just how stupid this endeavor was.
Of course. This was Xiao we’re talking about.
Smart, capable, kind— and not to mention, handsome as fuck.
Lumine was stupid for giving him up in the first place, even more so for thinking she’d get a second chance after blowing her first.
The urge to get up and leave to avoid this uncomfortable awkwardness was becoming overwhelming—
“Oh! I didn’t know you brought a friend, Xiao!”
“Eh? A girl?”
“No way, have you been hiding your relationship from us all this time?!”
Lumine freezes in her seat, while Xiao chokes on his drink.
“Bosacius, she’s not my girlfriend.”
A boisterous laughter erupts from the male— Lumine assumed he was Bosacius— while the other two women around him giggled.
“I mean, she’s darn cute if I do say so myself—“
“Indarias, you’re not hitting on her!” Xiao nearly roars, eliciting a cackle from his friend. Even Lumine had to stifle a giggle.
“Okay, okay, calm down, angry bird! We’re just fuckin’ with ya, jeez,” Bosacius rounds the table before settling on the seat across from Lumine. “So, what’s your name, sweet cheeks?”
Lumine blushes. “Lumine is my name. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Oh~ Lumine,” the azure-haired girl echoes. “I think I’ve seen you somewhere before…”
“Eh? Have we met before?”
“…No. I remember seeing your photo somewhere though. Most likely on Xiao’s SNS feed.”
Xiao clears his throat, as if sending his friend an indirect warning.
“And I remembered you because you were really pretty. He left a like on your photo, too.”
…Said warning goes completely over her head, and Bosacius has to hold Xiao back to prevent him from assaulting the poor girl.
Lumine would be lying if she said she didn’t find his fluster extremely endearing.
“Ah, is that so…” Lumine averted her eyes shyly. “Thank you… Uh, what was your name again…?”
“Oh. Bonanus. Yes.”
“Thank you, Bonanus.”
“Wait,” Indarias interjects. “So what’s your relationship with Xiao?”
The question hit her harder than it should’ve, and Lumine’s eyes immediately flitted over to Xiao, who was also in a panic.
“I, uh- w-we’re just friends, yeah,” Lumine stammered out, mentally wincing at her inability to form coherent sentences under pressure. “Nothing more, nothing less.”
Indarias’s eyes seemed to narrow for a second, disbelief flashing across her face— but it went away as quickly as it appeared. Lumine exhales a mental sigh of relief, though the answer she herself gave…
…Ah, it’s not like it mattered anyway.