Chapter Text
“Good grief” the first words Stelle said today as she registered the situation she was in.
Due to unfortunate timings with school accommodations, she found herself sharing a dorm with another stranger— luckily for her, this stranger seems polite enough.
At least she hopes he is.
Dan Heng was the name she heard when they were talking to the landlord— well, whoever was helping them out with their housing situation for University of Penacony (or UP for short). A man with fluffy black hair, teal eyes, and dressed mostly in black, whites, and teals. Though, the first thing that caught her eye was his red eyeliner on just the bottom of his left eye.
He seemed just as unwilling as her in this situation— but neither had verbally expressed it yet. They were both just silently unpacking with Robin’s music playing in the background.
*Man, this is so awkward.* Stelle thought to herself as not even the songbird popstar’s voice could distract her from this situation. The extroverted part of her wanted to say something to break the ice, but the self-conscious part of her stopped her from doing anything.
But before she could sulk in her freezing shame, she heard a voice—-
“Stelle, was it?” Dan Heng spoke as he was now just a couple feet behind her. Stelle stood and straightened herself up to face him.
“Um….yeah, need anything?” She asked, peeking at the sight behind him to see that his room was mostly unpacked and organized now.
*How the hell.*
“I was wondering if you’d like to have—“ Dan Heng checked his watch, “Dinner with me.”then eyed at the unfinished packing behind her. “Unless you want to finish that first.” And welcomed himself to pick up the boxes and start unpacking for her.
Stelle felt heat creep up her cheeks, “Wait— you don’t have to— i didn’t ask-!”
“Ah.” He coughed, now frozen in place, though still holding one of the boxes. “You’re right. I should have asked first. My apologies, force of habit—“
“But if you really wanna do it, go ahead!” She stammered.
Dan Heng blankly looked at her for a moment, then chuckled— it was a pretty sound to hear. “I wouldn’t mind.”
And off he went to unpack with her, genuinely enjoying himself in a task Stelle usually considered to be a drag. She felt very embarrassed to have someone do this for her— so she would try to strike a deal with him.
“Er—- Dan Heng— is there anything I can do in return? Aha— aha…”
“Hm? No. I’m fine.” He gave her a warm smile, “come on. Let’s finish this so we can get food.”
“Yeah but I feel bad…” Stelle sighed as she shelved some of her books.
“Don’t be.” He shook his head, “Considering we’re dorm mates for this year—it’d be essential for us to be familiar with each other as soon as possible.” He placed the last item, her alarm clock, on her bedside. “I would like to get to know you better, Stelle.”
And Stelle froze in place hearing his words. Her head slowly turned to face him, and she was met with a raised eyebrow.
Dan Heng stared back too, and it became a silent contest, until—
“Ah….ahem.” His ears turned red and he looked away, “I…may just have realized how I came off.”
Stelle’s mouth was agape, “Just now?! I would’ve believed you if you told me you were flirting this whole time.”
Dan Heng flinched and began timidly waving his hands, “No— that’s— agh—-“ then palmed his face as he got redder. “I….I apologize. It’s….fairly normal in my homeland to accommodate new bonds like this. I forgot that that is not a norm anywhere else.” He explained as he managed to get himself to look back at her.
“Homeland?” She tilted her head, “Are you from the Xianzhou?” She guessed from his accent and attire.
“Yes.” He cleared his throat, his calmer countenance returning. “The Luofu specifically is where I grew up in.”
*I mean….I guess he looks the part.* Stelle thought to herself as she looked him up and down. She chuckled and tucked away the last stack of clothes in her closet and yawned. “Well, packing’s done! Thank you, Dan Heng.”
“It’s no problem.” He nodded, before checking his watch again. “Let’s get going. I know a place.”
“Bet.”
And off they went
—
The bus ride was quiet.
Save for the melodies of beeping cars, or the chatters of the other passengers—- Stelle and Dan Heng were seated together on the left side, but the silence couldn’t be any quieter between them.
Stelle was on the window seat, distracting herself with the view of the moving streets as they waited for their stop. She wasn’t the chattiest person— but she wasn’t the type to shy away from the company of others either.
Just that, with every new person she meets, she bites her tongue in anxiousness. *Don’t be weird. Don’t be awkward. Play it cool—*.
And yet, her eyes glance at Dan Heng for a moment, who was staring at the window too. Their eyes met, and Stelle’s heartrate spiked.
“We’ll be there soon, don’t worry.” He reassured her. She faintly saw his arm moving just a smidge before he restrained himself, and she found that adorable.
“Ah, I see. Thanks.” Is all she could mutter before looking back. *Aeons, stop thinking too much—- dammit, now my head hurts*. She pressed her forehead against the glass panel and groaned, before shutting her lips tight and realizing he’d hear her.
“Are you okay?” Dan Heng asked, a little concerned.
“C…car sick…” Stelle spat out a convincing lie.
Dan Heng hesitantly raised his arms before speaking, “Um…if I may…” and then began rubbing her back to make her feel better.
For the embarrassment Stelle was drowning in, this was rather comforting. She sat up and coughed, “th…thanks.”
“No problem,” then, the bus announcement rang. “There’s our stop. Let’s get off now.”
The both of them hopped off their seats before walking out of the bus. Stelle took in a deep breath to calm her nerves as she walked behind Dan Heng— who was leading her to this diner he was briefly raving about.
She remembered how his eyes twinkled as he talked about it. *Must be a foodie, huh? Guess I’m in good hands!*
And off they went to Charmonee’s.