[CH7] the warmth of your smile

"Will you give me an amusing favor if i did?~"

Y/n blinked and slightly blushed at the action he did. She could feel his cold breath all over her. She wanted to push him away, but her body isn't moving at all. As if her body wanted more. A kiss? She shook her head and proceeded to stare at his ethereal eyes. It was so hard to not look at his eyes. She wondered why. His eyes were reflecting her eyes, while her eyes were reflecting his. Few moments has passed, both of them didn't want to move.

"Do you want me to pull back?" Alhaitham asked in a whisper. "That's... your choice." Y/n said, and she didn't want to admit that she doesn't want to pull away. Alhaitham stayed silent, as a sign of; i do not want to pull away. For once in a while, Y/n smiled at his choice. He seems to be frozen at her smiled, but stayed composed. They cherished the moment silently and secretly, as if they left the past burning.

For a few minutes, it felt like hours. They both pulled back and stared at each other's eyes. "What favor are you asking...?" She asked. Alhaitham thought for a while, thinking about it very carefully. He wouldn't want to miss the opportunity for a favor. "Take me on a date." Alhaitham teased, but he was serious. Y/n took it seriously, and sighed. "You really have changed huh?" Y/n said, hesitated to ruffle his hair. But she did it anyways.

— TOMORROW

Y/n woke up, exited her beloved bed and room. She was shocked that Alhaitham wasn't anywhere. Usually, he would be the first one that would Y/n see. The dorm was empty and very quiet. Suddenly, the door opened. She panicked as she picked a stick at the door. She pointed at the door, the person entering slowly. "I'm home — woah. Calm down you idiot." She softened and dropped the stick gently on the table. She sighed in relief.

Alhaitham raised his hands, his hands were holding bags full of groceries. "I bought groceries. We didn't have any food earlier." He said. "What's for breakfast?" Y/n asked, as she followed Alhaitham to the kitchen. "Omelletes." Her eyes sparkled in amusement. He let out a small 'hmph'. "Where did the cold Y/n go?" He said, teasingly. She twitched and flicked his forehead. He flinched a little making her smirk a little. She left the kitchen and sat down on the couch. She couldn't cook anything hard or medium, she only cook simple ones. Not a house wife hm? But Alhaitham is.

"Anyways, give my headphones back." Alhaitham said, while whisking the eggs together. "Ah right. I forgot about that." Y/n stood up, without noticing him, who is smirking. Alhaitham continued to cook the omelletes. Y/n on the other hand, went to find Alhaitham's headphones. As she found it, a little note dropped.

"Hey moron. Check your closet." — Alhaitham

Y/n was confused, but proceeded to open her closet. She saw an unfamiliar box in her closet. She picked it up, opening it. To her surprise, she saw a new pair of headphones. It was the same brand as his. Of course, there was also a little note on the side.

"Let me guess, you're surprised? I didn't give it because i want to, its because you have broken ones. Not a welcome." — Alhaitham.

"How cute of you Alhaitham." She yelled sarcastically, enough for him to hear it. "But t-thank you...!" She slightly blushed, looking at the headphones one more time. She carefully placed the headphones on her desk, leaving the room. Alhaitham on the other hand, he was already done cooking. He laughed with a cheeky smirk. He placed his hand on his cheek, leaning on it "Surprised?"

"W-Well..." she covered her face. "Yes I was." Alhaitham let out a small smile, and then his face changed into his cold, normal one. She gave back his headphones, he grabbed it as he dusted it. "I don't want an idiotic disease." He continued to dust it, Y/n's eye twitching in annoyance. She sat down on the opposite of Alhaitham, sniffing the Omellettes he made. "Thank you for the food." Both of them said in unison. "When's the date anyways?" Y/n munched on her food, sipping on her milk. "Excited much?" Alhaitham said, crossing his arms. "...no" she responded "then let's do it today."

And there they were, on a 'date' . Y/n fixed her anti-radiation glasses, and proceeded to walk with Alhaitham, who is wearing a black coat, gray pants, and a black sweater. On the other hand with Y/n, she's wearing her favorite clothes. Every second, Alhaitham would stare at her at every chance he gets. "What's wrong?" Y/n noticed him staring at her. "N...nothing." Boy, he was such a tsundere.

— TIMESKIP, 12:05 PM

Currently, they were in a simple and cozy restaurant. To their surprise, they saw 2 familiar second-years in their school. Seo and Toru. "Yahooo Y/n and Alhaitham~ on a date?" Seo said, while Toru stiffled a laugh, but he stayed composed like a gentlemen. Toru gave the menus. "We are not, Seo." Alhaitham said in a stern way, trying to hide the fact he was stuttering and flustered. "I see." Seo frowned, while Toru signaled Seo; don't proke him more. Seo sighed, as she fixed her tie. Their uniforms were suits, without a coat. Toru was wearing gloves for some reason, and Seo isn't. 'Are they platonically opposite twins...?' Y/n thought.

As they finished their orders, they decided to chat for a while. It was also surprising that Toru was originally a barista in this restaurant, which it has a bar. While Seo is the waitress. Their reasons were different. Seo wanted money, while Toru... well... he wanted to find a cute girl, he also wanted money. But his main goal is to find a cute girl. Weird but relatable right?

Back to Alhaitham and Y/n, they chatted for a while. "We have not seen Kaveh in a few days recently. I wonder why?" She said in a neutral tone. "I also don't know." he shrugged. "Your dish is here." Seo said politely, in a formal way. She gently placed the food in front of them. "Bon appetite, lovey couples~" in a blink, she walked away quickly before they could even argue. They sighed in unison, then later on, they let out a small chuckle.

"May I ask you something?"

Alhaitham said, while she nodded. "What is it?" Y/n responded. "Why did you look so... panicked when the girls evaded me 2 days ago?" she blinked and slightly gulped. "U...Um.." she took a deep breath. "It's a long story."

— PAST

'When I transferred to another school, it went out fine. Until when I was in 8th grade.'

"Ow..." Y/n landed on her back. "What a piece of shit. Acting like a mighty hero." The girl scoffed, leaving without even helping her stand. Y/n looked at the hurt dog. "Are you okay...?" The dog barked at her and left. As if she is cursed. She looked down at the ground. "Am I that annoying?"

'Negative, and negative thoughts were lurking through my head, each day when people picked on me. I thought it was just mental abuse, until now. But i realized...'

"Ow!"

It was not. The time has come, i was scared of loud things. Squealing, and more. A circle of people keeps visualizing on my head. They had no mercy. As if I was their only prey. I do not mind loud people, but for some reason... i just get scared especially when I'm surrounded.

"Loser!" The boy slapped her cheek. People around laughed, no one brave enough to step in. Suoh stood there speechless, unable to move or speak. He stood there. Pitying Y/n. In her visual, all she could see is monochrome, loud people. "Shut up." Y/n clenched her fists, the students around didn't stop.

— PRESENT

"When I was surrounded, I was scared." she looked down. Fidgeting her fingers under the table. Alhaitham softened a bit to her past. Although he used to be cold and mean to her. "S..." he spitted something. "I'm sorry. For what I did... when we were in 6th Grade." Alhaitham finally apologized. On the other hand with Seo and Toru, they were quietly listening to them since their break. "You know Toru..." Seo leaned on her hand. "We shouldn't be eavesdropping." She stared atToru, while he stared back. "...Yeah we shouldn't"

Back to Alhaitham and Y/n, Alhaitham looked at Y/n with sincere eyes. It was the first time that she ever saw him like that. "It's in the past. So don't worry." she said. "I'm worried about mental state. Especially you." He blurted out, out of blue. "The past can lurk through your head anytime. I...I had a regret for so many years from what I have told you before. But," Alhaitham stared at her, her eyes reflecting his. "The regret on me faded when I apologized to you earlier." Unexpectedly, Y/n beamed a smile. He looked surprised at her smile. For Alhaitham, it was not just any smile,

it was the smile that made his heart warm from before.