#i'm cryin in the club tonight from the soft

[circumstanceworn]

@chronal-anomaly sent: "Si-u!" Lena announces her presence, knowing that her footprints sometimes got lost in the shuffle of people moving through the halls. When she gets to him, she stands with her back to the crush of people, shielding their conversation. "Got a present for you. Here." And before he can protest, Lena shoves a large, leafy plant in his hands.

"Found it at the store the other day. Can't take care of them to save my life, but I also couldn't leave it there to die. If you want, we can keep in my office, so long as you take care of it. I'll end up wilting these leaves off."

ㅤthe call of his name more than enough to gain his attention, si-u pauses off to the side of the hall, confused. it's extremely rare that anyone tracks him down between classes so, when he turns to lena as she catches up, there's a clearly perplexed look set across his features. of course, before he can really register much of what's happened or been said, something is thrust into his hands — a plant, he realizes after a half-second, when he feels the soft graze of leaves against his skin.

ㅤㅤ" oh, you didn't have t— " he starts, but cuts himself off. it's a habit of his, meeting kind gifts with insistence on how unnecessary anyone doing such a thing is, but it's one that he's trying to work his way away from. ...mostly because his counselor has told him that instead of immediately considering himself undeserving, he should try simply accepting with the gratitude he feels. so, the boy pauses for a moment, listens to lena as she continues, and quietly collects himself. quickly enough, he finds a bit of a smile threatening at the corners of his mouth.

ㅤㅤ" ...really? " the question is hesitant, almost like he thinks she might just be messing with him, but it's a mere second later that his smile finally spreads as he allows himself to focus on his gratitude and the fact that lena's even thought about him at all. in his sheepishness, si-u shrinks down a little, but he raises a hand to the plant itself in order to feel out the shape of it and its leaves, trying to get an idea of it and what species it might be.

ㅤㅤ" thank you. " though his voice lowers to more of a murmur, there's a sincerity in his tone that's hard to miss. toying gently with a leaf, he briefly considers the coach's words some more before coming to a decision with a nod. " i think... we should keep it in your office. —i-if that's really okay with you. i wouldn't mind having a plant to look after here at school, and... i mean, maybe you'll like having it there to keep you company? "