Epex Oneshots (short stories) /imagines

WISH- I like the way you are

Wish had always been the type who adjusted quickly to new places. Moving schools was nothing new; his dad's job as a corporate consultant meant transfers every year or so, and he'd become something of an expert at blending in. This school was no different. The hallways, bustling with laughter and chatter, felt like the last few schools he'd attended, each one a blur of faces and voices that became familiar for a while before fading into memory. But something was different this time, something he couldn't have anticipated.

It happened in the middle of his first week. Wish was scanning the cafeteria for a place to sit, his tray balanced on one hand, when his eyes landed on a girl at the corner table near the windows. She was alone, hunched over a thick paperback book, strands of hair falling across her face as she focused intensely on the page. She seemed completely unaware of the world around her, almost as if she were invisible.

Wish couldn't look away. It was strange, unsettling almost, how quiet she seemed in a room filled with noise. He'd known other quiet people before, but there was something about her stillness, the way she seemed content being alone. She wore large, round glasses that looked a little too big for her face, and a cardigan that she had wrapped tightly around herself, as if it could shield her from everyone else's gaze. Most people probably wouldn't have even noticed her — but Wish did.

Her name was Y/N, as he would later find out from a classmate. She was known as the quiet girl who always sat alone, the one who never raised her hand in class and avoided group activities. The more he learned, the more intrigued he became. She was a mystery in a world that had grown too familiar for him. There was something about her that felt like a secret waiting to be uncovered.

A week went by before Wish mustered the courage to speak to her. He saw her sitting in the school library, once again engrossed in a book, her fingers tracing each line as she read. He approached slowly, heart pounding, suddenly unsure of himself in a way he hadn't felt in a long time.

"Is this seat taken?" he asked, his voice softer than usual.

Y/N looked up, visibly startled, her wide eyes meeting his for a brief, hesitant moment. She shook her head, barely audible, before returning to her book. Wish took a seat, settling down across from her. For a while, he just sat there, pretending to read, glancing up every now and then to catch glimpses of her. She was even more beautiful up close, though she probably didn't see it in herself.

They sat in silence, side by side but worlds apart, until Wish finally spoke again. "What are you reading?"

Y/N's eyes flicked toward him, a mix of surprise and uncertainty. Her lips parted, as if she were about to say something, but then she hesitated, glancing down at her book.

"It's... a fantasy novel," she whispered finally, barely loud enough to hear.

Wish smiled, trying to keep his tone gentle. "Fantasy, huh? I haven't read much of it, but I'm open to recommendations. Is it any good?"

She seemed to relax a little, though she still wouldn't meet his eyes. "Yes. It's... about a girl who finds herself in another world. She's alone, but she learns to be brave."

Wish noticed a faint blush dusting her cheeks as she spoke, and for some reason, his heart thumped harder. Y/N was unlike anyone he'd ever met. Her shyness was endearing, a quiet strength hidden under layers of self-protection.

As the days passed, he kept finding reasons to sit next to her in the library or in the cafeteria. He made small talk about books, classes, and sometimes even their teachers. Slowly, she began to respond, her words coming a little more easily, though she still rarely looked directly at him. She seemed to prefer looking at the world through her lashes, as if full eye contact was too intense.

One rainy afternoon, they found themselves huddled together under the same umbrella. Wish had spotted her outside the school entrance, waiting as the rain poured down, clutching her books to her chest. Without a second thought, he jogged over and held his umbrella out to her.

"Hey, let's walk together," he said, smiling.

Y/N looked up at him, eyes wide with surprise. She seemed torn, glancing at the rain and then back at him. Finally, she nodded, stepping closer until she was tucked under the umbrella beside him. Wish felt his pulse quicken as her shoulder brushed against his. It was the smallest touch, but it felt like so much more.

They walked in silence, listening to the sound of raindrops pattering against the umbrella. Wish could feel her warmth beside him, and he felt an almost overwhelming urge to reach out, to hold her hand. But he didn't. Somehow, just walking together felt like enough.

After that, things shifted between them. Y/N began to smile more, a soft, hesitant smile that lit up her face in a way that made Wish's chest tighten. They began spending more time together, not just in the library or cafeteria, but outside too. Sometimes, they'd walk to a nearby park after school, sitting on the bench under a big oak tree, sharing snacks and quiet conversations about the things they loved — books, music, dreams they kept hidden.

One day, as they sat together under that tree, Wish turned to her, gathering his courage. "Y/N... can I ask you something?"

She looked at him, her gaze steady for once, her eyes a shade of deep brown that held more warmth than he'd ever noticed. "Yes?"

"Why do you like being alone?" he asked, his voice gentle, careful. "I mean... I see you all the time, reading or sitting by yourself. It's like you're... protecting yourself."

Y/N looked down, fidgeting with the hem of her sweater. She was quiet for a long moment before she finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "I guess... it just feels safer. I don't have to worry about... people judging me or thinking I'm strange. When I'm alone, I can just... be myself."

Wish's heart ached for her, for the loneliness she must have felt. He wanted to reach out, to tell her that she didn't have to hide, that he liked her exactly the way she was. But he could sense that she wasn't ready for that, not yet.

Instead, he reached over, gently placing his hand on top of hers. She looked up, startled, her eyes wide with surprise. But she didn't pull away. They sat there like that, their fingers entwined, a silent promise hanging between them.

Over time, Y/N began to let down her guard, bit by bit. She laughed more, a soft, melodic sound that made Wish feel like he was hearing music for the first time. She even started sitting with him in the cafeteria, no longer hiding behind her books. They became inseparable, two quiet souls finding solace in each other's company.

One day, as they walked home under the same umbrella, Wish stopped suddenly, turning to face her. He felt his heart pounding, but he knew he had to say it. "Y/N, I... I think I'm in love with you."

Y/N's eyes widened, her cheeks flushed as she looked up at him, her lips parting in a shy smile. She didn't say anything, but she took his hand, her fingers curling around his.

In that moment, with the rain falling softly around them, they didn't need words. For the first time, Wish knew he was exactly where he belonged.