farewell - kavetham / haikaveh

12 | the tips

"where are you going today?" kaveh asked.

it was noon and both kaveh and alhaitham were in the living room. kaveh was tidying the sofa as alhaitham was about to leave through the front door.

"i thought you didn't have work today?" kaveh continued.

"yes, i have no work today," alhaitham replied. "i just want to check out the bookstore, i've heard they've restocked the book i wanted to buy."

it was a lie. alhaitham was going out to seek advice from the one and only nilou. he knew that kaveh didn't like it when alhaitham was around her, so he had to lie about it and talk to her secretly.

"you sure you want to go alone?" kaveh asked as he walked closer to alhaitham, who had already opened the front door. "do you not need any help?"

"it's fine," alhaitham smiled slightly to seem convincing. "i can go by myself, it might be boring if you came anyway."

"oh, alright," kaveh nodded. "you probably just want some alone time outside anyway. okay, go on. don't take too long, though!"

alhaitham nodded and exited the house. he took one last glance at kaveh, who was smiling at him, and began to walk away, heading to 'the bookstore'.

he walked around for a while until he spotted nilou talking to a young boy. not long after, the boy left and nilou was alone, just the perfect time for alhaitham to talk to her.

"hello, nilou," alhaitham said as soon as he reached her.

"huh? oh, hi, alhaitham!" nilou waved at him. "is there anything i can help you with?"

"yes, there is," alhaitham nodded. "can we go to a more private area, though?"

nilou nods and motioned for him to follow her to a more closed area in the city.

"alright, so, what is it?" nilou smiled as soon as they found a spot.

"...do you give advice?" alhaitham asked.

"advice?" nilou tilted her head. "what advice? love, work, family, life?"

"the first," alhaitham said quietly.

nilou widened her eyes slightly and smiled wider, "oh, looking for love advice, hmm? lucky you, you came to the right person in all of sumeru! but answer me this first-why do you need love advice? didn't you say you're not interested in love and things alike?"

alhaitham groaned, "you know what."

"you mean..." nilou trailed off. "a certain blonde head?"

"yes, that's correct," alhaitham sighed defeatedly.

"aha!" nilou clapped her hands happily. "i knew you had a thing for him!"

"just... please," alhaitham facepalmed. "answer my question. i answered yours, so now you answer mine."

nilou laughed quietly, "alright. first, tell me, are you trying to win his heart?"

"well, no. at least not really," alhaitham replied with uncertainty. "but i just... i have this feeling i feel when i'm around him and only him."

"hmm," nilou hummed. "so, basically you're confused about what this feeling is that you feel when you're around him, right?"

"precisely," alhaitham nodded.

"it's definitely love," nilou concluded without even thinking.

"i don't believe it," alhaitham furrowed his eyebrows as his cheeks turned to a faint red color.

"well, you should!" nilou smiled as she noticed his slightly red cheeks. "see that? you're blushing, alhaitham. you definitely love him, but you're just pushing the answer away by denying it."

alhaitham stayed quiet so nilou continued, "you said you feel this 'feeling' when you're around him and only him, what else might it be? hatred? i'm sure you hate many people in your life, so it's definitely not that. annoyance? i'm sure you've also felt annoyed to many people in your life.

"so of course, from what i can understand, what you feel towards him is love. if not, then perhaps admiration, which is not far from the definition of love itself."

"but how could i love someone as annoying as him?" alhaitham asked.

"try to reminisce about all the moments you've shared together with him ever since you both were in the akademiya," nilou replied. "plus, i'm sure something happened to both of you not far from today that made you come and ask me for advice right now. because why in teyvat would someone like you ask for advice on love?"

"that's a good point," alhaitham mumbled as he put his chin on his hand, seemingly thinking about something.

"oh, yeah! i haven't actually answered your question," nilou said. "love advice... how to make someone fall in love with you... i say just be yourself. i'm sure kaveh also has something for you just by being yourself."

"i came here only to ask you about the feeling i felt, but thanks," alhaitham smiled faintly. "i guess i'll go with your words. but i shouldn't tell him straight away that i love him, should i?"

"that decision is up to you," nilou smiled. "you can tell him that you love him right now, but i suggest you take things slowly and try to observe him. try to see if he also feels the same way for you, which i'm sure he somehow does."

"alright," alhaitham nodded. "thanks, nilou."

"anytime!" nilou grinned. "is there anything else you need?"

alhaitham shook his head, "no, that's all. you have to head somewhere, don't you?"

"i do," nilou sighed. "well, see you later, alhaitham. come to me again if you need more help, alright?"

alhaitham nodded and watched as nilou walked away from him. he took a moment to regain his composure and began to walk back to the more crowded area of the city, heading towards the bookstore just as he told kaveh.

the book he wanted was actually restocked, but he didn't really want it anyway. he decided to go to the post office to see if he had some mail addressed to him.

he asked the postman if there was, which the postman indeed gave him a letter in return, and said that the letter had already been there for a day. it wasn't addressed to him, but it was addressed to his place. probably kaveh's, alhaitham thought. it had a mondstadt stamp on it, so it was definitely a response from his sister and was for him.

he then made his way back home, with his head full of thoughts and a letter in his hand.

- ｡* . ✧ . *｡ -
a/n

i totally did NOT forget that i had a whole book i needed to continue 😁😁😁 hahahahhaahaahahhaha

anw siblings reunion next chapter!! as for angst, i'm still finding the right situation to make one heheheheh