Tian walked away from Cynthia's house with a spring in his step and a flutter in his chest. He replayed the confession in his mind, feeling both relieved and anxious.
Her reaction, her soft, hesitant voice admitting she wasn't sure, echoed in his ears. While it wasn't the outright rejection he had feared, it wasn't a wholehearted acceptance either. Yet, her words gave him hope, and that was enough to keep him going.
Entering his house, he greeted Sakura and Aiko with a distracted smile. He went straight to his room, closing the door behind him and flopping onto his bed. Staring at the ceiling, he let out a deep sigh. His thoughts were a chaotic mix of relief, joy, and nervous anticipation.
"Tina?" Aiko's voice broke through his reverie, the nickname she always used for him bringing a small smile to his face.
"Yeah, Aiko?" he replied, sitting up as she poked her head into his room.
"Did you tell her?" she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
Tian nodded, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks. "Yeah, I did."
Aiko squealed and bounced into the room, plopping down on the bed next to him. "And? What did she say?"
"She said she's not sure," Tian admitted, his smile faltering a bit. "But she didn't say no either. So, that's something, right?"
Aiko looked at him thoughtfully, her expression more mature than her years. "That's a good sign. It means she needs time to think about it. Just be patient."
Tian nodded, appreciating his sister's wisdom. "Yeah, I know. It's just... hard to wait, you know?"
Aiko patted his shoulder, a gesture of support. "She'll come around. She'd be crazy not to like you back."
Tian laughed, ruffling her hair. "Thanks, squirt. I hope you're right."
That night, as he lay in bed, Tian's mind kept drifting back to Cynthia. Her hesitant smile, the way her eyes sparkled when she spoke, the softness of her voice—all these details played over and over in his mind.
He couldn't help but feel a pang of longing mixed with excitement. Knowing that she hadn't dismissed his feelings outright gave him hope, but he knew he had to tread carefully.
The next morning, Tian woke up with a renewed sense of purpose. He glanced at his reflection in the mirror, combing his fingers through his hair with a mix of determination and nerves. "You better not mess this up, buddy," he muttered to himself, a half-smile playing on his lips.
After grabbing his bag, he hurried out of the house, barely acknowledging Sakura's frantic calls for him to eat something before he left. The flutters in his stomach matched his quickened pace as he made a beeline for Cynthia's front door.
Today was important—it was another opportunity to show Cynthia how much she meant to him, not just through words but through his actions.
As he approached her house, he took a deep breath to calm his nerves. He wanted this day to be perfect, to make Cynthia feel valued and understood.
Seeing her just around the corner, his footsteps paused momentarily. Today, she looked a different kind of beautiful. Knowing that she knew she ruled his heart gave him a surge of confidence, allowing him to be transparent about his emotions, and that made him happy.
As he approached her, he noticed she had braided her hair instead of her usual ponytail, and the sight caught him off guard. Her hair fell gracefully over her shoulder, framing her face perfectly. Their eyes met, and he gave her a warm smile before greeting her, "Good morning, Cynthia."
The subtle flush of her cheeks didn't go unnoticed; instead, it increased the jitters in his heart. "Good morning, Tian," she replied softly, her voice sending warmth through him, resisting the heightened urge to pull her into his embrace.
They began walking toward the school, a comfortable silence lingering between them, both lost in their thoughts about the previous night's events. Tian glanced at Cynthia, admiring her appearance. 'Is it because I confessed to her that I find her exceptionally beautiful today?' he wondered.
"Your hair," he initiated, "looks very pretty today," he unabashedly complimented her. Cynthia's hand gently touched her braid in a subconscious manner before she smiled and thanked him.
"Thanks, Tian. I wanted to try something different today," she said, a hint of shyness in her voice.
"It suits you," he replied, his tone sincere. "You look amazing."
Cynthia's cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink, and she looked down briefly, a small smile playing on her lips. "You always know how to make someone feel special," she admitted, glancing up at him with a shy smile.
Tian chuckled softly. "It's one of my hidden talents," he teased lightly before his smile dropped and he looked back at her, "but I hope you know one thing."
The hint of seriousness in his voice didn't go unnoticed by her as her movement ceased, her mind racing with questions as if she had said something wrong.
She hadn't, and that answer was confirmed when he continued, "It's only when it's you that I wish to use this talent. I only want to make you feel special."
Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, she was rendered speechless. The sincerity in his eyes left no room for doubt. "Tian…," she began softly, struggling to find the right words.
He gave her a reassuring smile. "No pressure, Cynthia. I just wanted you to know how important you are to me."
A warmth spread through her chest, mingling with the nervous fluttering of her heart. She met his gaze, feeling a surge of confidence. "Thank you, Tian. That means a lot to me."
As they walked into the school, Tian's determination to make Cynthia feel valued only grew stronger.
As they entered their classroom, Tian took his seat right behind Cynthia. He watched as she settled into her chair, her braid swaying gently.
Throughout the class, he found himself sneaking glances at her, admiring the way she concentrated on her work, the way her lips moved slightly as she read to herself. It was a struggle to focus on the lesson, but he managed to take notes and participate when needed.
During a brief lull in the lecture, Tian leaned forward and whispered, "Hey, did you understand that last part? I got a bit lost."
Cynthia, wanting to take a look at his notes, turned briefly, the close distance between their faces catching her off guard, her heart stilled for a moment before beating faster once again. Her hazel eyes met his brown ones and she noticed a similar nervousness in his eyes.
Tian's brown eyes scanned her entire face, his eyes momentarily lingering on her lips as he gulped before meeting her eyes again. Her lips were red today.
"Psst." The slight interruption they felt from the side was ignored before it only grew stronger. "Hey, guys. Can you maybe continue this later in the bedroom? The teacher is here."
Of course, the interruption was none other than Nia. "Shut up, Nia.", their responses in sync were unexpected as they looked back at each other, the similar closeness between their faces making them flush rather than the lost expression from earlier as Tian moved back, simultaneously giving a dirty look to Nia.
In response, she simply rolled her eyes before looking at Cynthia. The girl's glare was unexpected for Nia, as she smiled sheepishly before pointing at the teacher. 'This couple is kinda scary,' Nia thought to herself before focusing back on the teacher.
As if remembering something, Cynthia turned back, her eyes meeting his and for a moment, her mind replayed how his eyes had fallen onto her lips before she shook the thought away. "About the topic, yes, I did understand that. Want me to explain it to you after class?"
"That would be great. Thanks," he replied with a grateful smile.
The rest of the day passed with Tian giving Cynthia special attention, ensuring she felt appreciated and comfortable. His chivalrous behavior didn't go unnoticed by their classmates.
Rumors began to circulate, and everyone started to notice the special treatment he gave her. It became clear to their peers that Tian was pursuing Cynthia, and this newfound attention made Cynthia feel more confident in her interactions with him.
Despite the positive changes in Cynthia's demeanor, Tian couldn't shake the fear that had taken root in his heart. He worried that his efforts might be in vain, that Cynthia might never see him as more than a friend but still, he wished to do nothing but continue to show his affection through his actions.