The school bell rang, marking the end of another school day. Tixo lingered near his locker, eyes flicking toward the music room. He was waiting, hoping to catch a glimpse of Wei, the quiet Avian Siren who always seemed to slip away unnoticed. Today was different, though—Tixo had been working up the nerve to talk to Wei all week.
Finally, Wei appeared, the soft light filtering through his wings as he cradled a flute case in his talons. There was something about Wei—his calm presence, the way he moved so gracefully—that always threw Tixo off balance.
"Hey, Tixo! You’re zoning out again," one of his friends teased, jostling him out of his thoughts.
Tixo shook his head, trying to act casual. "Nah, just thinking."
"Uh-huh, sure," his friend smirked. "You’re staring at Wei again. Go talk to him."
Tixo felt his pulse quicken but steeled himself, walking over to Wei as he adjusted the strap of his backpack.
Wei noticed Tixo approaching and gave him a gentle smile, his eyes soft and welcoming. His talons clicked lightly against the floor as he paused to pull out his phone, ready to type.
"Hey, Wei!" Tixo started, trying to sound as smooth as usual. "How was music class?"
Wei typed quickly, showing the message to Tixo: Good. I’m practicing for the concert. You?
Tixo's ears perked up. "The concert? Wait, what are you playing?"
Wei tilted his head slightly and pointed to the flute case.
"Can I hear it sometime?" Tixo asked, tail flicking in excitement.
Wei’s smile widened as he nodded, typing out another message: I’ll be practicing after school if you want to come.
Tixo’s heart skipped a beat. "Yeah, I’d love to."
Later that afternoon, the two of them sat in the quiet music room. Wei gently unpacked his flute, his feathers fluttering slightly as he prepared. Tixo, seated nearby, felt a nervous anticipation settle in his chest. He had never really been into classical music, but knowing Wei played made him want to listen to every note.
Wei raised the flute to his lips, his eyes closing as he began to play. The room filled with the soft, clear sound of the flute, a melody that danced through the air with a gentle grace. Tixo watched, mesmerized by the way Wei’s wings shifted slightly with each breath, how his entire body seemed to move with the music.
The song was delicate, each note flowing into the next like a river. Tixo felt as if he were being carried away by the melody, lost in the beauty of it all. He had no idea how something so simple could be so powerful, but in that moment, all he wanted was to stay there, listening to Wei play.
When Wei finished, the silence that followed felt almost too quiet, too empty. Tixo realized he had been holding his breath.
"That was... incredible," Tixo finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You’re amazing."
Wei blushed, looking down shyly as he typed out a response: Thanks. I get nervous performing in front of people.
"You don’t need to be nervous," Tixo said, his tone more serious than usual. "You’re so good, Wei. I’m serious—you could perform in front of anyone and they’d love it."
Wei blinked, glancing up at Tixo, his cheeks still faintly pink. He typed again: Would you come to the concert?
Tixo’s heart thudded in his chest. "Of course. I wouldn’t miss it."
Wei smiled again, this time a little brighter, before typing one last message: You’re really sweet.
It was Tixo’s turn to blush. His usual smooth persona fell apart as he fumbled for words. "I-I mean, you’re sweet too! But like, in a cool way, not like... sugary sweet, but, you know..."
Wei’s soft, soundless laugh made Tixo relax. Wei nudged him gently with one of his wings, and Tixo grinned, his nerves fading as they sat together, the afternoon sun casting golden light over the room.
It wasn’t just the music that made this moment special—it was the quiet understanding between them, the unspoken bond that was growing with every shared glance, every silent laugh.
