The air in the grand university library was cold, even for someone as accustomed to chill as Tzuyu.
The heiress to the greatest fortune in the world, she was used to being surrounded by wealth and luxury.
Yet here she was, huddled over a worn-out textbook, her long, slender fingers clutching a steaming cup of coffee.
She glanced up, seeing the other students around her, all bundled up in their winter coats and scarves.
They must be from humble backgrounds, she thought wistfully, unable to shake the feeling of loneliness that settled over her like a thick blanket.
Her attention was drawn to a girl at the other end of the library.
Her face flushed from the heat of the fireplace that blazed behind her.
Sana, caught Tzuyu's eye and smiled shyly. Tzuyu couldn't help but feel a shy because she was staring to her,
She returned to her studies, but her mind kept wandering back to her. She couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be friends with her.
Perhaps, she thought, if she approached her and introduced herself, they might be friends.
Taking a deep breath, she gathered her all courage and began to walk over to her.
As she drew closer, she noticed that Sana was wearing a small, discreet pendant around her neck, adorned with a delicate ruby. It was unlike anything Tzuyu had ever seen before.
"Hi," she said, trying to sound confident despite the butterflies in her stomach. Sana looked up, her eyes meeting Tzuyu's.
There was a moment of hesitation, and then a smile spread across her face. "Hello," she replied.
"You must be Tzuyu," said Sana, her voice warm and friendly. "I heard so much about you." her brown eyes examining Tzuyu carefully. "It's nice to finally meet you."
"It's nice to meet all of you as well," she replied, smiling shyly. She glanced at Sana, who was still wearing the pendant Tzuyu had noticed earlier. "I couldn't help but notice the pendant you're wearing," she said, gesturing discreetly towards it. "It's beautiful."
Sana blushed slightly and touched the pendant, her fingers lingering on the smooth, cool surface of the ruby. "Oh, this old thing?" she said, trying to play it off. "It's just a family heirloom."
"It's beautiful, though," she persisted. "It must have some sort of special meaning to you."
Sana smiled, her cheeks still flushed. "Well, it belonged to my grandmother. She used to tell me stories about it, about how it brought her luck and protection when she was growing up. I've always worn it as a reminder of her."
Tzuyu nodded, understanding the sentiment. "That's beautiful," she said softly.
The conversation flowed easily between them, and Tzuyu felt a sense of belonging she hadn't experienced in a long time. They talked about their families, their dreams, and their favorite books.
As the hours passed, the fire in the hearth grew low, and the library began to empty. The girls exchanged contact information, promising to meet up again soon.
As they said their goodbyes, Tzuyu couldn't help but feel happy and even did a little dance for finally to be able to talk to Sana. Her warmth and kindness had made Tzuyu fell for her more.
She hoped that they could become more than friends, but she didn't want to rush things either. She wanted their friendship to grow naturally.
Tzuyu returned to her room, feeling happy with a wide smile plastered on her face. She decided that from now on, she would make an effort to make her happy She knew that it wouldn't be easy, but she was determined to try.