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It start with a book. A secret book she kept to vent all her feelings in it. She has to keep her composure when being crowned as ace student along with her twin brother, Aether but with that it makes her stress out with all the expectations from the others. People keep asking for tips and how she does it. Heck, the guys including popular one try to catch her attention but still none could catch her eyes.
Her friends ask her what is her guy's preference , Lumine just shrug it. Fischl suspect Lumine not into guys at all. However during her friends argument, her eyes glance at the back of the class. A young man with lean build, fair skin complexion with dark hair stared at the window as he feel the breeze blew to his face.
That sight took her breath away and a reason why she start to write on her secret book. A record of her feeling to the one and only, Xiao.
She wrote it almost everyday about her encounter with him, even from far sightings. She wonder why won't she talk to him? She does has the advantage being social butterfly no?
Then Lumine overheard rumors that every girl who try to confess with him, he reject it coldly including Ganyu, the most popular girl in school. Knowing that her chances are thin she decided to keep it in her book. Her confession, her feeling for him. It's better this way.
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"Hurry up Lumine! We're going late! Xiangling already at the gate or else we're unable to get free lunch at her restaurant!" Amber on her tiptoes as she agitated while holding her bag packing handle.
"I'm coming! I'm coming!" Lumine stuffed all her things inside her bag before she clumsily swing around as she put it on her shoulder. Both Amber and her sprinting towards the school gate unknowingly that her secret diary now lying on the floor and found by Xiao while he was on duty for swiping the class.
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"Whose book is this? " Xiao ask as he raised it towards the another two students. His classmate simply shrug and resume their work.
He sighed as he open the book looking for the owner's name. In First few page he saw doodling of butterflies and flowers, as he flipped again, there's a name. Xiao. In cursive , decorated with vine and flowers.
'What the fuck.' Xiao panicked. Why there is his name on it. 'What is this, Death note?' as he flip the cover then he saw another name, Lumine. Wait. Lumine?! The ace Top score student?! His heart beat start to pump like he does sprinting 100 meter.
Not to deny, he sometimes stole a glance on her. With her golden lock, her bright smile, she does quite popular in school. Though the other guy start to flirt with her, she shyly reject their advance. He does over heard when her friends ask what's her guy preference, she just shrug. Xiao being an ordinary but athletic student probably won't stand a chance to convey his feeling to her.
somehow, seeing his name on her book makes him contemplating either to continue discover more content from it. It's very tempting.
"Yo, Xiao. I'm done with cleaning, how about you?" Bennett wave at him as he settle the pail and some rags inside the cupboard.
"I'm done too." Xiao quickly put the book inside his bag as he take his broom to be kept into the cupboard. He... Probably will scan through the book before return it to her tomorrow.
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Lumine were distraught, her book, the secret diary is missing. Her heart goes panic when she tried to look for it at home. She even ask her brother like detective whether he stole it or not and to much Aether annoyance, he sighed and prove his innocent.
Lumine is done for. If someone discover it, they probably think she's a freak, a Stalker.
"Heya, Lumine! Owh? What's the matter? " Amber greet her the usual as soon as she reached her table.
"Ah nothing, just that, my book is missing." Lumine said with her sulky face as she put her bag in the desk.
"Ah, probably it got thrown off somewhere. No worries, we'll help you to search for it." The brunette hair girl with bunny clip try to cheer her up.
It was quite rare to see Xiao walking towards them. Amber surprised as that young man sauntered to their way with his eyes stare towards Lumine. The blonde girl almost swallowed her heart. The way he struts is fucking hot.
"I think you drop this yesterday?" He open a bag then put the book on the table. Lumine's brain immediately stop working. He...He. HAVE. THAT.FUCKING BOOK?!
She clasp her shiver hand as she tried to give her usual smile. "You...you found it?"
"Glad it didn't fall into the wrong hands." He whisper closer to her then continue walking towards his desk.
That leave her flustered as she grab the book and quickly shoved into her bag. Did he read it?
------
The clock strike at 2 pm where the classes has ended. Right now it was Lumine's turn to swipe the floor. Miraculously, Xiao were assigned to be on duty today to clean up the board and throwing rubbish to the big dumpster.
"Shall I wait for you until you finish your duty?" Aether asking Lumine.
She shake her head saying it's okay, she could go back home alone. Aether then eyeing on Xiao and another student then his face turns to worrisome.
"Aether, don't worry. I can defend myself. I got black belt in tae Kwon do, remember?" She pump her bicep showing to her twin brother.
"Sigh, fine..fine.. just come home before 6." Aether waved then walked towards the corridor.
As soon as he closed the door, there's only Lumine, Xiao and another student who doing the feather dusting. Awkward silent filled the atmosphere as all three of them doing their duty and apparently the student who doing dusting finished their task. " Aight I'm off now, see ya guys tomorrow!" They waved at Lumine and Xiao.
Lumine display her usual smile as she waved back while Xiao only stare until that student exit the room. Now it's only two of them cleaning their classroom.
"You..."
Sudden Xiao's voice makes her heart jump as she quickly turn her head towards him. He holding a bucket with clothes in his hand. "You want to touch my hair?"
Instantly her face went red. "You read it don't you?"
Xiao avert his eyes to the window as he clear his throat. "Yes." He answered it softly.
'FUUUUUUUUCCCCKKKKK.' Lumine screaming in her head while on outside she tried her best to keep her composure. Her hand ball up into a fist to hide her shaking. Oh no. That book has EVERYTHING she wrote about him. FOR HIM. Not only journal, there's poem or worse, some quote cheesy song lyric she heard from radio everyday before and after she's going to school.
He...he probably would think she's a freak, a stalker.
----
Xiao can't help but felt flustered. Lumine, the most perfect student has a secret, She has a crush on him. Oh, god. He never thought it would be that way.
Lumine and Aether has the aura of elite student. They excel almost everything even social butterflies which is totally opposite with Xiao. He does have some compliment in his academic grades but in sports? That is his life dream. To be one of the Liyue Representative in big Sport games especially in sprinting or marathon.
Xiao distance himself from others as he focus on his dream goal and for other reason, it's is because of bully when he's in elementary school.
He start to love to run for his stress relief, be in PE class, in running tracks, or jog in a park. The feeling when the wind caress his hair gives him serotonin to live the day.
'Xiao's hair look silky while he's running. It's like he's riding the wind.' He remembered one part of her journal where it reminds him of That time he's Running for qualifying round to represent his school but sadly Venti, his senior getting selected as representative which he told Xiao, next time he'll have the chance.
"Well uh..."
Her voice brings him back to the reality they're in right now. He blinked then stared at her.
------
"I'm...I'm done." Lumine mumbled as she slowly went to the cupboard to keep the broom she used just now. As soon as she closed the closet and turn around, she almost got little heart attack as he now a few inches leaning towards her.
Both of his hand inside his pocket but his head are an inch apart from her. She could count his gorgeous eyelashes within that view range.
"I hope what your writing doesn't involved in anything." Xiao keep staring at her. His amber gaze sending goosebumps all over her. The feels of being stare down by a something majestic that almost take her breathe away.
"Wh-what...do you mean involved in anything?" Her lips were trembled. She smelled a fragrance from him. Was it Qingxin? Or Sandalwood?
" A prank perhaps?"
"Why would I do that?" Lumine put up her brave face. Getting accused for wrong doing is a no-no to her. She's is playful, but honesty is her best, that's the reason why many people trust her including her teacher.
"Lumine, one of the top student, who write a book about me, dedicated some song lyric to me, is un-Lumine at all." He let out a small tug on his lips and believe it, that expression almost rob her heart.
"What...what do you mean un-Lumine? I'm not an adjective." She frown.
He smirked and let out a chuckle. "What am I going to do with this realization?"
Lumine take a breathe as she saw a faint blush appeared on his cheeks. That rare flustered Xiao sight are only for lumine to witness.
"..I know you're working hard on being into qualifying round for sprint athlete career. F-for sure you..thought of having relationship would be a nuisance." Her finger twiddling helm of her skirt.
"Are you...purposing a secret relationship?" His hand coming out of his pocket now propped on the cupboard behind her.
"Secret?"
"Knowing you, Lumine. You need to be excelled for your future. Perhaps your brother wants you to focus more on studies." His statement makes her sigh heavily. He knows her. He's been observing her from a far.
"You..." She wet her lips to calm her nerves. She never knew this would be much harder than algebra. "You can ignore and forget about me along with that book. Especially that book."
"How could I forget about it?" His face are getting closer and how it's half inched apart
between them. "The way you wrote it, as if you're worshipping me."
'I knew it.' Lumine wanted to hide her face. He read everything. That realization makes her dizzy. Bring the book is a mistake and worse discover by the person she adore to.
How can she face him later after this. Heat start to creep to her face and darkness start to fill her vision.
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A cool breeze wakes her up from her sudden black out. Slowly she rise her head and found out she's in a nurse office, on a white bed with cool pack on her forehead.
"I must say, this summer weather is getting worse."
Quickly she turn her head towards that voice direction and it seems that Xiao has a chat with Dr. Baizhu about Lumine's condition.
"I'm sure your girlfriend would be fine. Don't worry much, kiddo." The doctor in charge give a hearty laugh but Xiao kept silent along with redden face.
"Anyway, take care. I'm off to my clinic downtown, Later. " the green hair man grab his suitcase and exit the room, leaving Xiao and Lumine in the room. ALONE.
Slowly he approach to her bed then sit at the stool besides it. His face seems to be in worrisome. Wait. Was he?
"X-Xiao." Her first word seems to alert him as his eyes now gazed at her and his eyes grew softer.
"How are you?" He got nearer to the bed and sit at the stool nearby.
"uh...feeling a bit okay. " As she looked at the melt ice cool pack on her forehead. Maybe she need a rest day tomorrow and Dr Baizhu has already gone. What a luck.
"I uh...probably need a day off tomorrow." She slowly rise herself from the bed. Xiao quickly help her as he support her back with his palm. That touch made both of them gazed each other, closer.
"Well uh..." She stared at his amber eyes. "Thanks...for the bringing me to the nurse room."
"I was worried. I thought I'd h-hurt you." He avert his eyes to the white bed sheet.
"No! You didn't!" She quickly denied it. "I...it was my fault."
" What do you mean it's your fault?"
" W-well..." Lumine tried to explain but nothing comes to her mind.
"Your fault for simping me?"
"Simping?"
He chuckled. "An Ace student Lumine simping a typical student like me."
"Y-You think you're not worth simping for?" Lumine jolted grabbing his shirt.
"I-" he went speechless.
"Well, you should...like...be proud or something...I don't know." She sighed as she let go of his shirt. "There. I'm not that some ace student you have been looked up to." She pouted her lips and looked away. She's done. Done of being miss perfect.
"To think that you...admire me.."
His hand rested on her shoulder as he try to catch her attention which he did. "I think it's ...cute." blushes start to painted across his fair skin complexion. " Those song..
Well, they are...good choice actually." He cleared his throat.
Lumine just stared at him while her mind went havoc. It's like both their head clicking together. Did she found herself a soulmate?
"An-anyway, we should go back. It's getting late." Xiao looked outside the window.
Lumine start to remember her brother said to be back before 6 and as she look at the clock it was 6.15pm. Wait...how long did she fainted?!
"Oh no. I'm late. My brother is going to kill me. " Lumine going hectic as she try to climb of the bed. Xiao squeeze her shoulder tight to calm her down. " Hey, don't worry. I'll explain to him what happen. We'll walk home together."
-----
It was a late evening and Lumine finally reached her home, her brother open the door as soon as the door bell ringing. " Lumine! Where were you?" As he about to proceed his interrogation, he surprised with another person besides her.
"Sorry to interrupt, I believe your sister just recover from black out recently." Xiao explain what happen at the school.
Aether shocked " Oh my God. What happen, Lumine? I knew it I should stay." Regret start to fill in his core.
"Dr Baizhu said probably because of heatstroke, he did give a sick day cert for Lumine to have a rest for tomorrow." Xiao fish out the slip from his trouser and give to Aether.
Lumine just watch how the business goes by, hopefully Aether won't get mad with her lateness.
"Ah , I see. Thank you for taking care of my sister. You...you're Xiao right? The one from Track team?" Aether try to remember him.
"Yes I am." He nodded.
"Aren't you suppose on training?"
"Coach said 1 month rest until the next qualifying round, therefore, back to classroom." He spoke smoothly.
"Ah I see. We'll see you around , Xiao. And thank you again. For bringing her back." Xiao noded as acknowledgement.
Aether went inside after he take Lumine's bag from her hand. Before she went inside, Lumine wave her goodbye to him and told him to becareful. Xiao wink then waved at her as he take off to his way back home.
She almost fainted again after she saw that wink.
----
The school went havoc after Lumine came back from her sick day and she's puzzled about what happen.
Amber, one of Lumine's friend came to her screaming as she bought the school paper to her. "Lumine!! You didn't tell us your type is Xiao!"
"....What?!" Lumine quickly take the paper from Amber's hand. As she open the page, there's a big picture of Xiao, bridal carry faint Lumine in the hallway.
She face went red and as the same time, Xiao enter their home classroom. All the guys who's been trying to get Lumine's attention now glared at him.
"What is this all about?" He put up his usual demeanor. Ajax, one of the Lumine's rival and rumored to be her no 1 simp showed the paper to Xiao's face a picture of that incident. " Seems that you have made yourself as my rival, buddy." He put up his usual smile "How about we meet at running track this afternoon for a show down?"
Xiao startled then sigh as he face palm. Oh ,God.