xiao gently sits in front of venti , putting down a bouquet consisting of white chrysanthemums and branches of cherry blossoms , tied with a green ribbon the color of his eyes.
"hey venti , i hope you're doing okay. i miss our walks on the bridge , don't you miss it too ?" he asks , smiling softly. "don't do it !! you have so much to live for !" venti yells out , laughing. xiao stares at him and continues on.
"well , i'll tell you about my day then. i went out grocery shopping today. i picked up a bottle of your favorite apple wine at the store , as well as those snacks you liked. and i saw a few buskers outside the store , and they reminded me of you. they were more than welcome and asked me to join , so i stayed and left to see you after."
"and you didn't bring me the damn wine ? are you actually serious ? " venti scolds in a semi angry tone , his eyebrows creased and his hands crossed.
xiao lifts his pinky , revealing a severed red string tied around it. "remember this ? i hope you're still wearing the other half. don't go off chasing other guys. i love you , venti. you are my forever."
"and you are my everything."
"well , i'll get going now. i'll see you next time , venti. i love you."
"i love you too , xiao. and i'll always be here , waiting for you."
venti sighs as he sits in front of the grave , staring at his picture that stares back at him. his pigtails and green hair , with a goofy smile. "they picked a good picture" , he thought to himself. gently , he traces the engraving of his name , and the dates engraved on it. June 16 , 1998 - February 7 , 2022.
smiling , he stares at his pinky , the other part of the string forever on his finger. fate had brought them together , and it had also been fate to rip them apart. and to whatever damn God was up there , he hoped and prayed that the fate they had played would play out in the next , and the next. in every life , he wanted to be with him. with his smile , his laugh. everything. he wanted him , and he would fight fate if he had to.
and this was their story. just like the cherry blossoms , beautiful but short-lived.
