#whyamiplayingwiththetagsokishouldstopnow

[babychoko]

🌺𝔸 𝕤𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕣𝕖𝕢𝕦𝕖𝕤𝕥🌺

Part 6

Note: wooooo cottagecore with Venti🥺?

I don't know how many times I've tried not to cry.

Maybe I'm trying too hard to control my emotions? Maybe Venti is right after all.

As times got harder and harder, I noticed that I was getting worse and worse.

Tired, I walked out of an exam holding my bag. My head felt very heavy. Still, I shook off those thoughts.

I need to study again tonight.

Silently, I corrected my notes again and again. What is wrong with me? Why do I forget everything? I have always prepared everything, haven't I? I was so absorbed in my book that I didn't notice my cell phone vibrating. How many exams did I have behind me again?

It's okay, I still have time until the next exam. Wait, where was I again?

Still, the time went by way too fast. I didn't feel ready, despite my preparation.

I arrived on time, I entered my name and after some time they handed me the exam. I didn't even know how many people were in the room. I just hung my head so that my table was my only view.

Even at my work I felt lost. I had a customer repeat orders twice, cleaned a table with honey instead of a cleaner (I got it wrong), and dropped a glass.

After a few days I was lying sideways on my, sofa clutching a plush pillow. The room was lit only with a small orange light.

Venti cleared all my stuff off the desk. "You don't have to have this in front of you. It's over, isn't it?" he said softly, placing a vase instead of books.

"I still have two term papers to send off," I muttered.

"But you've finished writing them. Why don't you send them off?"

"I don't know. I think I need to revise them again."

"I don't think so. If you want, we'll send them off together tomorrow. The deadline is tomorrow at noon. You shouldn't wait long..." I heard him close my laptop after apparently looking at my term paper. He then disappeared to another room for a moment.

Sighing, I rubbed my head. It hurts.

Suddenly I felt a strong ventilation and then something soft all over my body. He put a blanket over me. Then he put his hands on his hips. "You should have more confidence in yourself."

"Ah...", I now felt like a child being lectured by its mother. Sighing, I pulled the blanket over me. But after a moment, Venti hunched down and looked into the blanket. "You're strong. Take a break, okay?"

..

"Stress will kill you..." The next moment, he layed down next to me on the sofa and pulled the blanket over both of us. "We wanted to go on vacation together, right?"

Dumbly, I looked at him. He had a point there. I was going to a place with him during our free time. To a place that was supposed to be very beautiful. He told me that he wanted to take me there. "Yes..."

"I'll show you the beautiful meadow and we'll watch the sunset. Don't give up." His eyes radiated confidence. I felt bad because he must have been worrying all this time.

"You know, Zhongli told me that you weren't yourself during the last exam. Rather much more absent than usual. That must be very serious then, if he's even saying that." Mr. Zhongli noticed?

"Sorry." Venti shook his head. "You don't need to apologize! I'll make you feel better now~!" He jumped up, causing the blanket to fly off of us. I covered my eyes in as the light hit me in the face. Too bright.

A few days later, I left my apartment with a big bag. After Venti kept raving about seeing me in a summer dress, I decided to wear one for our vacation. I still had wide pants, nice blouses and a long skirt with me..

But for today, I decided to go with a dress. I took inspiration from Pinterest until I found a great one. It was thin, nice and airy and you could adjust the front so it could become a neckline and lower. But I let the front stay normal for now. It was still very cold in the early morning, so I wore a hoodie over my dress. A car stopped in front of me after a short while and the windshield went down.

The boy with the braided pigtails had sunglasses on and was looking at me.

"Ready to go on vacation?

"Venti, it's 5 in the morning."

"You sound motivated! Nice and well-rested?" He jokes.

After I got in the car and buckled up, he smiled at me. He took off his sunglasses long ago, though. "Don't you want to go out for breakfast? We can go to a bakery afterwards."

"It‘s fine, I've prepared something for us.

"How nice you are!" I really wonder where he always gets this energy from. We both drank something warm from a thermos on the way. He told me that he had already been to the cabin a few days ago to do a major cleaning and that there was no way I was going to have to lift a finger. He wanted me to rest as much as possible. It warmed my heart. Partly I felt guilty that he was always there for me, partly I rejoiced.

Venti is definitely someone you can firmly trust.

At some point we didn't talk, but remained silent during the ride. Maybe because it's still early in the morning. I can imagine that there is also something else behind his energy-charged side. I looked at him surreptitiously. He had on a loose white shirt and brown pants. Matching sandals. Next to him was a sun hat. I also noticed only now that his hair has become a little longer. But I will inspect that later. I leaned back again and looked at the window.

The car ride flew by as we talked again. I also made sure that he at least ate properly, which is why I kept holding a homemade sandwich infront of his mouth. His hands were occupied by the steering wheel, after all.

"Finally kicking out the legs!" he gave happily.

I got out of the car and looked around. It was nice and sunny and we were surrounded by nature. There wasn't another soul around. Just the two of us alone.

We carried our bags out of the car and walked across a small bridge. I had to be careful not to run into tree branches that were full of green leaves. No matter how many times Venti protested that only he wanted to carry the bags, I still didn't give in. I wanted to help and besides... he was too weak to carry many bags after all.

„You're strong!" he laughed and kept walking. "Oh, hush."

We arrived at a beautiful cottage and I didn't know where to look first. It looked a little old, yet like something out of a fairy tale. There were many flowers growing in the grass and there was a pond with beautiful lotus flowers. "They are closed at night and you don't miss the frogs at this time of night. Let's look at it later, okay?"

We put the bags on a bench that was next to the door. Venti opened the door. "Welcome!"

How cute. There was a sofa in pastel green with a white ruffled shawl, white pillows with bee embroidery and flowers, a cobblestone sink, lots of plants and a fireplace.

"It's really beautiful. Did you decorate this by yourself? You really have to give me tips." I was amazed. Venti laughed and opened another door. "You're flattering me! Oh, here's the bedroom. It's quite small, but cozy, isn't it?" I put the bags down on the floor.

"And you drove here a few days ago to clean through all this? You also took care of the whole garden...and all by yourself?"

"Yup, easy as pie. I'm pretty fast at cleaning!"

I'm sure there's magic behind it. I can imagine a cottage getting dusty really fast.

"All I had to do was swing my arm once and a strong gust of wind can blow everything away. Every last bit of lint!" laughed Venti.

"Very funny, but that's what it looks like, maybe I'll even buy into it." He pouted. "I'm capable of a lot!!!"

"I believe you are. Sure!"

He was still showing me the bathroom. "There's really not a soul here?", I asked as Venti pushed aside a wooden wall. The bathtub was now exposed to nature. "The only spectators are animals. But they are only interested in the plants.“ He then turned on the power and we emptied the bags as well as our bags into shelves as well as cabinets.

"Now our vacation begins!" Venti flopped down on the sofa and leaned an arm over his eyes. I could only see his nose and mouth. The eyes were covered. "You still have a hoodie on..." he mumbled.

"Huh? Oh, yeah...that's why I was getting warmer."

"Would you show me your dress?" he asked, pushing his arm slightly away from his eyes again now.

Without thinking, I took off the hoodie. He turned his head to me and looked at me with slightly pink cheeks. Then his cheeks went from rosy to red and he sat up. "Waah! How beautiful!"

I became embarrassed and turned around slightly, "Ah, don't..." He insisted, definitely taking pictures. He grabbed a picnic basket and led me outside without letting go of my hand. I put his sun hat on beforehand and tied a knot at the band so he wouldn't lose it. "Let me show you a place to picnic and rest."

We walked through long grasses, along rivers and the flower garden. At some point we arrived at a large tree that provided shade. An ideal place to sit down. I didn't want to believe that I was here with him. I didn't even think that places like this really existed. All right, they did exist but I never thought that one day I would find myself in such a place. Otherwise, I only dreamed about it and looked at it on the Internet.

I sat down with him and he handed me some juice. I gratefully accepted the cup. We looked at the sky. "Do you think the weather will stay this beautiful?"

"Hmm...I don't think it will rain," he smiled. "But I don't mind wind!"

After we had a proper lunch we lay down on the grass. I could fall asleep at any time. I was pretty tired.

Venti turned to me and propped himself up on one arm. Then he looked down at me with a smile as he put a flower over my ear. I lightly grabbed one of his braids. "Your hair has gotten a little longer..but only a little."

"I haven't cut it in a while. Hmm...should I get a short haircut?"

Him with short hair? I mean, that would still look cute, but his braids have a certain charm. He sighed "Sometimes people mistake me as a girl..yet I'm so masculine! I should cut my hair very short!"

"I like your braided pigtails better. With them, you're just you. It's part of your charm."

"My hair will stay long then."

Eh? Did he change his mind that quickly? "Shall I trim them a bit for you then?", I suggested. Venti immediately agreed. Trimming something shouldn't be that hard, right? He then decorated my hair piece by piece with daisies. I fell asleep after a while.

In my dream was probably Venti involved. However, I could not see him exactly. And the more I tried to call him, it remained hopeless. I stood there as if I were lost.

But when he was about to turn to me, I immediately woke up.

I rubbed my eyes and felt something over my stomach. As I sat up slightly, I saw Venti lying next to me asleep. He had one arm around me and his sun hat slipped back. I untied the knot and pulled off his sun hat. When I saw tiny flowers like daisies flying down in front of me, I stroked my head.

He must have been having fun with this. There were quite a few little flowers. I guess the sun will be setting soon. How long have I been asleep?

Venti still seemed to be slumbering peacefully. The poor boy must have been really tired. I gently lifted his shoulders and placed his head on my lap. His breathing was very soft. I gently stroked his cheek with my fingers. How could I ever thank him for everything? Quietly, I was now the one decorating little flowers in his hair and thinking. I want to stay with him forever. I am aware that we have become closer. But... can we actually get closer? After all, we are just friends. Nothing more..

Up until now, I've always shrugged off relationship stuff. But that's probably because I've been alone too long and insecure about friendships as well as love.

Love...

I put another flower in his hair without his knowledge.

How many people thought until now that he and I were together because of our closeness? Let alone married when we were at the furniture store because I needed a bigger bed as well as a chair..

True there are purely platonic friendships..but was it with us that it didn't seem that way?

Yup, I'm worrying too much again. But it is probably another step that I am now thinking about a relationship. These feelings probably became more intense after his performance when he played a song for me. I put a hand on his head and stroked it. He looked very peaceful. I just hoped he was having a good dream. For all I care, he can sleep until evening and numb my lap. He's earned that. After all, he's made me happy all these past months.

Well then, good. How can I actually turn my thoughts into words?

I snapped out of it briefly as my hand was lightly gripped. "Now I know why I had such a nice dream at the end...", Venti murmured, placing my hand on his cheek. "Why don't you sleep a little longer?"

He shook his head with a laugh. But then he looked at me in confusion as a daisy slipped onto his nose. I had to smile.

"I guess now we're both adorned with flowers." He stayed on my lap for a while and we watched the sky peacefully. It was like all my worries were blown away.

I felt..peaceful.

"Look," he whispered. Venti pointed to two rabbits in ours who were munching on dandelions. I put a hand over my mouth. "How cute...", I whispered. Venti sat up and now watched the rabbits with me. But after a moment we were surprised by more but smaller rabbits eating with their mother.

A small family of rabbits!

We decided to leave now so as not to disturb them. Before that we cleaned up.

Venti held my hand as he led me to the cottage. This time I didn't go after him, but walked beside him and returned the handgrip. He looked at me once in surprise as he walked. I just looked silently at the ground.

In the evening we cooked a light meal of soup and bread and ate at the wooden table. A lamp lit the cottage well enough for us. I wondered how the day would go tomorrow. When we both washed the dishes, we sat down on the bench in the front yard. Venti brought me a cloth and turned on the small lights in the garden.

"What are you going to do with the cloth and the sewing kit?", Wait, does that mean...?

"Let's embroider!"

"You embroidered the pillows with the patterns yourself?" So he's got a knack not only for music, but for needlework.

"Ah, you like them?" I nodded and watched him embroider now. Then he let me try a pattern. But his skills were definitely better than mine. "I admit defeat...", I sighed.

"Then I will teach you new patterns! I think needlework should always be passed down."

"Yes, it's a beautiful skill. Until now, all the women in my family embroidered and passed it on to their daughters. My grandmother to my mother, for example. And my mother taught it to me once." I continued to watch him.

"Oh really? A tradition, then?" he asked with interest. "Why did you stop, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Well...I'm just doing it less and less. It's been a long time. But now you seem to have infected me with it," I smiled. I enjoyed watching him. His fingers were very dexterous and gentle.

He ended up embroidering little baby rabbits on the bottom border. It wasn't too detailed. It looked simple and cute. Smiling, he showed me the result. "You'll be able to master it. And who knows, if you have kids one day, you'll be able to teach them, too," Venti told me with a smile.

I looked up at the sky.

"I'm not sure about that."

"Huh?"

"I don't think I want kids. Maybe that's why I stopped embroidering? Stupid reasoning, I know."

"No, it isn't. You're young and still have a lot to figure out for yourself. Of course, it's hard to think about the future," Venti said quietly. I nodded and listened to the grasshoppers with him for a while.

Carefully, I then took the cloth. "But..should it come to pass that fate strikes me and I do become a mother...then I should stick to tradition."

I looked at Venti and laughed lightly. "Even though I will definitely be a bad mother."

"I don't think you'll be a bad mother," he smiled. "You could show your children the meadow and let them nibble on a few dandelions..."

"Hey, I'm not a rabbit!" I had to laugh out loud once. Really, what kind of ideas does he come up with?

"Venti, what about you? You tell so little about yourself." Speaking of which..what are his future prospects? He looked confident now. "I couldn't drink wine at any time!"

Figures.

"So no?" I laughed again.

"But- if it were to happen, I guess I'd have to give up wine a lot." he shrugged and sighed.

"Very responsible. To hear you say that..."

Venti looked up at the sky again and put a finger over his lips. "But, if it's you..."

"Huh?"

"Forget it..ehe." He grinned teasingly.

What was he going to say? "Gee, Venti..what do you mean? Say it!"

Fiddlesticks.

For the first time, I didn't hear from someone that I'll see it one day already. Instead, Venti assured me that it was okay, that nothing could be accepted right away. Satisfied, I looked at the cloth.

"I think that tomorrow we will be able to see the stars more clearly. Shall we watch them tomorrow?" he suggested.

"Yes, I'd love to."

We both got ready for bed and fell asleep immediately.

In the morning, I woke up and the mattress next to me was empty. I got ready for the day and looked in the kitchen, which was connected to the small living room. I was wearing a white and loose dress. "Sleeped well?" He exclaimed happily, pointing proudly to the table.

"You could have at least woken me up so I could help!!!"

"No way! You need to get some rest!" he insisted

After breakfast, I couldn't even stop him from me taking over the dishes. He seemed really motivated.

We packed up some things for needlework after that and went for a walk outside. He showed me some patterns that I tried to embroider myself.

"You're a fast learner," he said in amazement as he watched me. "You're a good teacher," I admitted.

After a while, my fingers hurt.

Venti stood up and stretched once.

"Let's take a break. Come and try to catch me!" Surprised, I dropped the needle.

"Running isn't a break...!" Oh well. So I ran after him. It felt good to kick my legs out. Only I didn't expect Venti to run to the sunflower field. "Venti? Where are you running to?", I asked, trying to look for him. I tried to focus on the rustling of the sunflowers. Then squealed when he nudged me from behind. How did he move here so fast? He was right in front of me, wasn't he?!

Laughing, we ran through the field of sunflowers. "I'm invincible!" he shouted.

He was telling the truth. He really was invincible. Eventually we came out with two sunflowers, because I gave up. I have to admit that he is skilled with many things.

"We should enjoy the midday sun some more. It might rain today."

"It doesn't look like rain, though...", I muttered, looking up at the sky. Venti and I lay back down under the shady tree. I never thought that one day I would be running through a field of sunflowers laughing. I turned to face him. Venti was lying on the grass with his eyes closed and his arms behind his head. I thought again about the thought processes I had the same time yesterday.

I should be honest with my feelings.

I can trust him after all...

So I bent over him. He opened his eyes and looked at me once blinking in confusion. Amused, I looked down at him. His expression showed exactly that he was wondering why I was bending over him. Or... that it would come from me, of all people, one day. The wind blew a cool breeze once and I brushed a strand of hair from his face.

"That song you played for me back then... thank you."

Venti continued to remain silent, staring at me.

"I accept your feelings, Venti."

He widened his eyes and I could have sworn that little tears were gathering in his eyes.

But I didn't see that exactly, because he immediately threw himself at me-.

"(Name)!!"

"Ugh!" I fell on the grass and couldn't say anything else because I felt a pressure on my lips.

Did he just..kiss me? On the lips?!

"I'm so happy, (Name)!" he squealed in delight.

"Venti...", I sighed with laughter.

Hand in hand, we went for another walk. I think we both need that for now to process everything. On the other hand, we each held our sunflower. I still can hardly believe what just happened. Suddenly, Venti broke away from my hand. "Huh?"

"I'm going to cool off." He took off his sandals and rolled up his pants higher. "Why don't you come with me? The water's nice." I turned to him as he walked over to a stream with a small waterfall.

"Just don't get my clothes wet. I'm wearing white...", I said quietly in warning.

However, my warning came too late as water splashed on me. Cold water.

"Venti!"

"Oops..."

"Now you're in for a treat!", I grumbled, taking off my sandals as well.

"Oh no, now you're mad!" You bet I am! Well, not really.

He squealed with laughter as I now splashed him with water. In return, I cupped my hands together and scooped up water.

"Cold!"

"That's what you get," I said with a smile. But the boy didn't listen to his lesson, so our little water game continued. When he slipped over a slippery rock, he pulled me down with him. Now we both had a cold shower in the river.

Soaking wet, we walked back to the cabin. I had put my arms around myself a bit because my dress was see-through. But that was probably already too late, because I can guess that he saw me clearly.

And strangely enough, I didn't mind when I thought about it again. I took my arms around myself away.

The clouds were gathering more and more and indeed it looked like it could rain at any time. Still, we didn't hurry because we were already wet from playing in the river anyway.

When we arrived we were getting cold and outside it was pouring heavily from the rain. Venti threw me a warm cloth. "We should go for a warm bath. I'll take care of it, okay?"

I watched the rain and listened to the water running. "Do you want to get in the tub first?" he called from the bathroom.

I went to him and saw that he was checking the temperature of the water. "Or...are you afraid of the thunder and want to get in the tub with me?" he asked, turning to me with a grin.

"I'm afraid of the thunder and want to get in the tub with you."

"Of course you want to separately..wait- HUH?" He looked at me in surprise.

"You don't sound ready though...", I said with an amused smile and walked back out of the bathroom. He followed me silently, which I didn't notice at first.

"You go first. I'll be waiting for you in front of the fireplace. Venti, such an innocent and cute boy like you shouldn't say something like that..o-oh.."

He hugged me from behind and looked over my shoulders. "I'm not what you think, (name).." he said quietly, pouting.

I let out a sigh as he pressed a soft kiss to the back of my neck. "Don't say that, Venti..."

I turned to him and lightly pinched his rosy cheeks.

"Ahh, I'm telling the truth though...!" he protested whining.

"Into the tub with you, Venti..."

"Never mind..." he grumbled and went into the bathroom while rubbing his cheeks. I sat in front of the fireplace. Fortunately, it was warm enough here. Otherwise we would have caught a cold very quickly.

Then after I bathed and was ready for bed, I joined him in bed. We both watched the rain.

"I guess there will be no stargazing today," I said. Still, it was nice to watch the rain.

"Do you want to know more about me?", I heard Venti ask. I looked to him in surprise. "You don't have to...", I finally said quietly.

He lifted the covers a little as a sign for me to lie down next to him.

"Come, I'll tell you a few things."

And so I lay down with him.

Masterlist

Part 7