Tʜᴇ ᴇᴄʟɪᴘsᴇ

༄Iao~༆

Chapter3

"You didn't even ask what I wanted to do!" I replied before e could take out the things.
Aether took a deep though

^Aether POV^

Hmm i mean.. he probably has no idea what he should make right? Hehe of course I should pretend I don't know. "Hmm you're right.. what is your idea then?" I asked not trying to sound sarcastic. "Uhm.." Xiao mumbled something when he was covering his mouth. As expected. "Hmm what was that?" "Nothing!"
"Heh.. thought so." I chuckled. "Do you think my hydro bombs are a good idea?" I asked innocently. He didn't answer. "Oh come on! You can admit it! Around me you can admit anything!" He stood there quiet for a moment. Then he finally replied :" hm.. I-its.. g-good.." he stuttered. "See? It's not that hard" I smiled at his cold-hearted face. He looked away.
"So how are you planning to do that 'hydro bomb' ?" He took out a notebook with a pencil. "Simple! We just need the ingredients to make bombs and pour in hydro! Easy right?" I looked at him. "Yea whatever.. I'll go get them." He was about to stand up until I held his hands back. "Wait! I'll go with you" I stand up, still holding his hands. "E-eh..? " his light peach skin turned into a light rose color. "Why?!" We we're still standing infront of the experiment desk still and awkwardly. "Because we're friends! Right?" I took a moment for him to catch breath. But as much as I want him to reply, he doesn't answer me. "I'll go alone then and stay here alright?" I stand up to take the ingredients for my experiment.

^3rd Person POV^

As Aether wanted to stand up and take the ingredients, a bunch of girls rushed to xiao.
"Hey Xiao! Want to change your mind on the new student?" "U can leave Aether and partner with me up,." "Come with me!"
The girls shouted. Xiao ignored every girl's words as always. But eventually, someone came in, that made the girls back up.

It's Firume. Xiao's female childhood friend she walked close to Xiao. "Hello Xiao." She walked beside him. "Want to do partner work together? We're forced to do with partners!" Firume sounded excited and looked at the girls in the back. They all knew Firume was one of the girls, that Xiao can talk to. "No" Xiao answered without thinking. Firume was surprised. Normally he agrees. "Why? You know we're supposed to do with partners" Firume was a little disappointed cause she fell inlove with Xiao. "You normally say yes. What's wrong?" Xiao regret his actions but was tired of Firume. She was like a stalker to him. "Because I'm doing with someone else." That's where it hit Firume in the heart. The girls from the back Then shouted excitingly blushing "ohh! It must be me!" "Xiao changed his mind to be with one of us!" "I'm 100% sure he'll pick me!" "QUIET!" Firume clenched her sharp teeth and looked around. How dare they take her partner away! "Who is partnering up with Xiao?! I'm supposed to be!" Firume turned around to xiao, waiting for his answer. Xiao speechlessly pointed barely nervous at Aether, wanting to return to the experimental table. Aether then returned to the experimental table and packed out all the things he has got. He didn't realize, girls and Firume were surrounding the table because of Xiao. "What in the Teyvat. Why are so many girls surrounding u-" Aether stopped as he realized why. He looked at Xiao with a smirk. "Xiao. You have a lot of admirers here! Pick one you'd like!" Aether of course was joking but the girls took them seriously. "SHUT UP XIAO AND I ARE DATING ALRIGHT?!" Firume suddenly screamed. Aether was shocked. A little sharp knife cut trough his soul. W-why does t-that hurt..?

^Aether POV^

"Ouhh~ Xiao has a girlfriend?" I joked. I a little knife slit trough my heart as I said that. "What.. no the fvck I don't!" Xiao stood up mad. "Aw Xiao! U don't need to admit it! The whole class knows that we are inlove with eachoth-" Xiao slapped as strong as he could the girl. "Shut up Firume. Just because we're childhood friends, doesn't mean we L O V E each other. And besides.." Xiao gulped. "I-I'm single.."
I raised an eyebrow. Slowly my heart got a little sealed. "Now piss off ugly girls!" Xiao groaned. The girls actually walked away, including Firume and looked for their supplies. I didn't realize how red I was. For no reason. "You okay?" Xiao snapped his fingers infront of my face, to keep me up. "Huh? Yea! I'm alright! So? Lets start alright." I returned back in reality and started mixing things, to create explosive hydro bombs. While I was explaining, how we should dip the hydro liquid into the bombs, I've caught him staring at me, dreamy. I chuckled and came close to him.

"Got something on your mind Senpai?" I wrapped my arms around him. When he noticed, what I was doing his eyes widened up and pushed me back off. "The heck! You trying to hug me for?" Xiao looked disgusted but also a little nervous. "Huh? It's not my fault!? You were zoning out looking at me!" I laughed. He covered his face with his hands and mumbled something again? "What was that? Senpai?" I smiled. "Nothing and don't call me that!" Xiao backed off. "Hehe~ alright then.." I thought of a nickname for him. "..Iao" "IAO?! " Xiao dropped a bomb on the floor. Then right on time, he stepped backwards, avoiding getting wet. I didn't miss it. The bomb landed right on my face. Now I'm all wet!

^Xiao POV^

Seeing Aether made me wanna burst out of laughter. "Pfft..." I took a deep breath then chuckled. "Hahaha.. You got yourself all wet!" I grinned without even noticing. " Aether smiled, as if everything was fine. "Great.. My clothes are all wet.." Aether looked down. "H-Hey! Don't look at me like that!" Aether crossed his arms offended. I couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Hahaha...HAH! Your hair is soo.. SO WET AND ALL FLAT BAHA-" I stopped myself from laughing by covering my mouth. It was actually the first time someone has made me laugh. The whole class except Aether we're all looking at me surprised. "Xiao.." Mrs. Beidou smiled like a creepy ghost. "Is this the first time you have ever laughed..?" Mrs. Beidou laughed. "Wait so.. you're telling me you never laughed before?!" Aether looked at me surprised. "Duh! Now I laughed because of you! None is supposed to see me laugh!" I turned around out of anger and embarrassment because I laughed so loud and hard. "Aww!" Aether looked at me with wet clothes and hair.  I turned into Aether's way, while the whole class staring at us both. "You should laugh more often! It really suits you Iao!" A light smile appeared on my face automatically. But when "Yes Xiao! It really suits you! You're really pretty when you smile!" Came, my smile immediately got deleted. "Well uhm.. I need spare clothes.." Aether looked around lost, searching for his bag of spare clothes. He picked the bag up and ran into the changing room. 
And now I'm here alone as usual, before Aether changed into this school or either work with Fumire.

After class and getting changed.

"Hey Iao! Wait for me!" I turned around seeing Aether running towards me. "What do you want?" I asked and turned directly around before he could reach me. "Want to walk home together?" Aether fiddled with his earrings shy. I didn't reply and just continued walking on my way home. "I guess it's a yes. Alright!" Aether smiled at me like a sunshine "Iao" He told me that he has been in Mondstadt High school before and told me that Albedo was in mondstadt high school before. "I honestly don't know why he moved here. You should ask him." Aether offered me. "Fuck no" I quickly rejected. "I'm not asking that coward! Ask by yourself ?!" I flinched and walked away from Aether. But he catches back up to me and continued. "Alright Fine I'll ask. But why do you not like him?" Aether waved at Venti when he saw him pass by. I sighed. "You just don't get it. You will know soon" I closed my eyes for a while, enjoying the breezy Nature wind flowing trough my hair and face. When I opened my eyes, Aether's blonde light hair flown like it was a slowmo advertisement. But I shamed my head and continued walking, nor I'll end up banging on a pole and I'll look obviously ridiculous.

Right before I was about to cross the traffic lights, Aether stopped by and waved at me. "My home is on the other side! See you tomorrow!" He smiled at me. "Whatever" I answered not even looking at him. But when he turned around. I saw him slowly fading from afar away.

YESH CHAPTER 3 FINISHED^^
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Words: 15556
Have a good day! 🌃🏙🌌 I will start writing chapter4  at night time or tomorrow !
-Keith