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Albedo was running late for school, but not actually late, just arriving a bit later than he preferred. Klee took a bit longer than expected getting ready. Once she was ready, they had left so he could drop her off to hang out with her friend Qiqi for the day as usual. Baizhu had offered to watch Klee in the morning and take her to school so that she wasn't left at home by herself.
It didn't take him too long to get to school. There was still plenty of time before classes started. He weaved his way through crowds of students who were lingering in the halls. It had always gotten crowded around this time as more of the students arrived. Despite this, it didn't take long for him to get to the hall where his locker was located. As he made his way to his locker he passed by the usual group that hangs around there. He found himself slowing his pace to peer through the group, looking for someone specific he knew was there.
As usual, at the front of the group was Kaeya, standing who had everyone's attention. Every morning they would wait by Kaeya's locker until he got there. Everyone seemed to flock to him. He was one of the most popular guys in school. Anyone would want the chance to talk to him. He was easygoing and approachable. He was very sociable. Not to mention he was quite the sight to look at. There were many times where Albedo had snapped himself out of staring at the other. Given all that, he wasn’t surprised at all by how many people wanted to spend time with him. As he walked past the group he could hear some of them asking Kaeya the same questions they always do.
“Do you have plans tonight?”
“Do you want to see a movie with me this weekend?”
It was question after question from them. Each one getting bolder. Even so, Kaeya gave them the same answer he always does. “I’m sorry but my answer hasn’t changed.”
Usually, the conversation would stop right there, however this time a voice called out. That voice belonged to none other than Lisa, who was always looking for gossip. “You’ve always turned people down. Could it be that you’re seeing someone already?”
The question itself was enough to make Albedo stop in his tracks to listen out for the answer that Kaeya would give. He held his breath, already mentally preparing for the worst. If it turned out that Kaeya was in fact already in a relationship then he’d have no chance. He cast his gaze to the floor, suddenly regretting that he hadn’t made his feelings known sooner.
“No, of course not. You’d know if I was,” Kaeya let out a chuckle as he gave her an answer. Albedo let out a sigh of relief, as he turned away from them, only for his attention to be grabbed again when Kaeya continued to speak, “I do have someone I like though.”
Albedo then turned away as he opened his locker, looking toward the other male for another moment. Maybe there’s still hope after all. Since he got there later than usual, he'd have to find another time or way to get today's gift to him. Each day he came to school with something to leave for Kaeya to find. Most of the time it was notes and doodles he had slipped through the openings of Kaeya's locker, other times he would leave little trinkets for the other, usually jewelry or stones.
They've interacted a few times in class for any work they've been grouped together to do. There were occasions that Kaeya would smile or wave in his direction as they passed in the halls, but he's like that with everyone. It wasn't easy to get close with him due to his popularity and the fact that he’s always surrounded by groups of people. He hoped that one day he would be able to become close with the other. Letting out a sigh, he glanced back over to the other, seeing how Kaeya smiled at the other students talking to him and the way he’d close his eyes sometimes when he laughed.
"Are you going to tell him?" The voice of his friend Sucrose snapped him out of his thoughts. He hadn't realized that he had been staring. Sucrose and him had been friends since they were kids. She was very observant and easily found out about how he felt towards Kaeya. She'd been there for him every step of the way and he was happy to have someone there he could talk to about this.
He turned around to face her, tilting his head to the side and he thought about it. He then shook his head, not giving a direct answer.
“Whenever you’re ready. I’m sure it’ll go alright though!” She said with a smile. She had always been more optimistic about things, which truth be told, did help Albedo when he wasn’t too sure about things, or expected the worst to happen.
To be honest, he had in fact been thinking about telling Kaeya at some point in the future. Well, when he could even find the chance to. There was no way he’d do it when the other is surrounded, but he did want to do it. He can’t hide his feelings forever.
An idea came to Albedo as he rummaged through his bag for a moment. He took out a small box along with an envelope and an origami rose. A week ago he had started folding pieces of paper into roses to include with the small gifts he left for Kaeya. Placing the items in the box he turned his attention back to her.
“Since you have a class with him this morning can you be sure he gets this?” He asked her as he handed the box over to her before quickly adding, “Don’t give it to him directly, leave it on the seat at his desk.”
"I can do that!" She replied cheerfully as she took the box in her hands. "I need to get going now, and so do you. I'll see you later today."
She waved to him before turning to head in the direction of her class. Albedo smiled to himself as he got out what he needed and closed his locker. Looking over at Kaeya and his group one last time, he noticed a lot of them were now going their own way.
Kaeya waved goodbye to a few people as they were leaving for class. Some still hung around, especially if they were heading in the same direction.
"Shall we get going then?" He turned to go to class himself along with his brother Diluc whose class was close to his. Following close behind them were Childe and Kokomi. The three of them were often seen with Kaeya.
As they made their way to class, Kaeya noticed Albedo at his locker. He gave a small wave as he passed by. He had shared a class with the blonde a year ago. They worked on a few assignments together but that was it besides a quick greeting in the halls.
"Since when did you have that?" He turned his attention to his brother, noticing that he was pointing out the gold beaded bracelet that was left with a note for him on his desk the other day.
"Oh this? It was gifted to me recently." He responded as he looked at the bracelet for a moment before looking back at his brother. "What? Don't tell me you're jealous that I get more gifts than you."
Diluc gave no response to him. His brows furrowed, showing his annoyance from Kaeya's antics yet again today. Soon enough they got closer to his class. He stopped and looked over at them.``I'll see you at lunch."
The small group entered the class, each of them taking their own seat. However, as Kaeya approached his seat, he noticed a small box on the chair. He picked it up before sitting at the desk.
"What's that you got there?" Kaeya looked over at Collei who sat in front of him.
"A gift." He replied as he smiled at the box. It wasn't unusual for him to get gifts from people, however usually they give it to him directly. This particular sender was different. They never once gave a hint on who they are.
He had started getting these mystery gifts about a month or two ago. At first he didn’t think too much of it, he was used to getting gifts and at the moment it didn’t make any difference if it was from a mystery sender. However, as days went by, the gifts kept coming except they began coming with notes too.
Oh how he loved to get the notes. The words were written so delicately in a way where he could feel the emotion that the sender had put unto them. With every note he got, he found himself growing more and more fond of the sender, whoever they were. He wondered if he'd ever figure out who they were. He always found himself trying to piece things together.
He slipped the box into his bag, he'll open it in his next class. If he did now then he wouldn't be able to think about anything else for a good portion of the day. At least the next class was more laid back, and right before lunch.
Luckily that class didn't seem to drag on too slowly. Before he knew it, the bell had rung and it was time to move to the text one. He couldn't help but smile as excitement built up inside him. Soon he'd open the box and see today's note.
He gathered his things and made his way to the door. On the way there, he passed a small group of people who called out to him. He gave them a nod in acknowledgement, not wanting to linger too long. It only took him a few minutes to make it to his destination. Letting out a sigh, he took his seat, pulling out the box he had received earlier. Making sure he was keeping up with the notes, he also had his attention on the box. He had always been good at multitasking. He felt his heart leap a bit as he took the lid off of the box. He smiled as he looked at the contents. There were more of those paper roses. It always made his day to keep getting them. Whoever made them had a lot of talent in both crafts and writing. It was always the small gestures that made him smile. These felt more sentimental than the other gifts he’d receive from everyone else. Unlike everyone else trying anything and everything to get to him, he could tell that the sender of these gifts was serious and genuinely interested.
“Who are you?” Kaeya whispered to himself as he picked up the folded piece of paper that lay at the bottom of the box. He unfolded it and smiled at the note.
With each passing day, the more I want to tell you in person. But with each passing day, I am unsure how to do it.
He smiled as he gently folded the note again, placing it back into the box along with the roses. As he thought about the note, he recalled the previous notes he had gotten. It was clear that the sender wanted to tell him, but was not sure how the outcome would play out. It saddened him a bit, that they didn’t feel like they could. He hoped that they would find the courage. They were always on his mind, the notes, the gifts, the identity of the sender. Who were they? It definitely wasn’t any of the usual people who hung around him.
Eventually it was time to leave class. He left to head to his locker, to put the box away with some of the other gifts he had gotten. He hung around his locker after putting his stuff up, waiting for his brother to show up. Usually he’d go ahead to lunch without him, but since he was headed to his locker anyways he might as well wait.
“Kaeya!” He turned to find Aether behind him.
“Oh? What’s up?” He asked the other. It wasn’t often for the blonde to go out of his way to find him.
“I, uh. Was wondering if you were free? I was hoping to eat lunch with you.” Kaeya didn’t fail to notice how he looked everywhere but at him. He let out a sigh. He wasn’t too surprised this was it. Though, he didn’t expect it from Aether.
“Look, I’m flattered but-” Before he could finish his sentence, he noticed some quick movement out of the corner of his eye from down the hall. “I’m sorry, I’m not interested.”
Before he could get a reply he went down the hall to the corner where he saw the movement. He looked around, but didn’t see anyone around. Though, there was something that caught his eye. On the floor were a few of those paper flowers that he had been receiving. He bent down to collect them. He let out a sigh. If he wasn’t caught up in a conversation he would have been able to see who it was. And now he doesn’t know where to look. He began to go down the hall, hoping that he would find the sender.
As he made his way through the halls, he heard the sound of someone softly crying. He kept going to find them. He turned the corner to the stairwell that leads upstairs.
He was surprised to see that the one crying was Albedo. Kaeya had never expected to see him like this. “Are you okay?”
The other seemed to tense up only slightly as he looked up at Kaeya, his eyes widening. His attention immediately went to the roses that Kaeya was holding. The ones he had dropped just a bit ago. He was surprised to see that the other carried them all the way here. In his own arms, were a few of the roses that he managed to not drop on the floor. He had them scooped in his arms. He noticed that Kaeya was staring at the ones he was holding on to.
“Wait-” Kaeya’s eyes had widened as he went and sat down next to the other on the stairs. “Did you..Were you the one who made these”
Albedo looked down at the ones he was holding and nodded, a faint blush could be found on his face. Turning his attention back onto Kaeya, he held out the rest of the roses he had made. “These are..also for you.”
Kaeya gladly accepted the rest of them as well. He felt excitement bubbling up inside of him. However he kept his composure as he spoke up again. “So it was you all along. But why were you crying?”
Albedo looked away as he told the other how he had overheard him talking to Aether earlier. He was originally on his way to his own locker to put all the roses away, but he didn't expect to see the two of them there.
A chuckle slipped out of Kaeya, “Oh don’t worry about that. I turned him down, just like I do everyone else. Besides, I’ve already found the one I’ve been looking for.”
“Does that mean-?” Albedo had looked back at Kaeya, eyes wide with hope and anticipation. He couldn’t believe that he was even here, talking to the other. He was still processing things as they were happening, it was almost difficult to keep up with.
Kaeya nodded as he reached over to gently put his hand over Albedo’s. “I’ve been trying to figure out who was making all of these. I’ve loved each and every gift I have gotten. After all this time, it’s been you. Each of your notes had touched me, and every one of them has earned a special place in my heart. And there’s a special place in my heart for you too.”