Falling for Snow | OC x Coriolanus Snow

Chapter 5

Just a few steps away from my apartment, his house mirrored mine in an uncanny resemblance. There was an inexplicable comfort in discovering that a classmate lived so close by. As I approached his door, the melodic symphony of voices emanated from within—a lively exchange between a girl and an elderly woman, resonating loud enough for me to distinguish. Contemplation loomed as I stood at the threshold, torn between the urge to knock and the forethought of consulting Coryo beforehand.

In a moment of determination, I decided it was now or never. The echo of my knuckles meeting the door reverberated, but it seemed unheard within. A second attempt, and just as doubt began to creep in, a resounding call pierced through the barrier.

"CORYO, GET THE DOOR!" The urgency in the girl's tone sent a shiver down my spine, and in that suspended moment, a perplexing question hung in the air. Does Coriolanus have a sister?

The door held tight against the weight of the falling snow, creating a quiet cocoon. As I contemplated knocking once more, the handle finally yielded, unveiling a vision of enchantment. Standing before me was an exceptionally lovely woman, her features delicate as snowflakes. At that moment, any lingering notion of her being Coryo's sister dissipated like mist in the morning sun. The realization struck me: perhaps she was more than just a sibling. Could she be the keeper of his heart?

"Hi, I'm Tigris, how can I help you?" she inquired with a warmth that melted the wintry air.

"Oh, I'm Beatrice, Coriolanus' classmate," I said, my voice a gentle melody echoing through the room. "I came here to do our paired assignment."

Her lips curved into a warm smile, like the first rays of dawn gently touching the world. The magic of that smile seemed to twirl in the air between us, a dance of enchantment that held me captivated. "I see. CORYO-" she called out once more, but the syllables of the name hung unanswered, caught in the delicate hush of the room. "Come in, and I'm sorry about that. Coryo seems to be deaf right now." Her words were a soft melody. A soft laugh escaped me, a harmonious echo to the gentle atmosphere.

As I found myself seated on their inviting couch, the plush cushions cradling me, I couldn't help but glance around, absorbing the warmth of their cozy home. Soft, ambient light bathed the room, creating a haven of tranquility. My gaze wandered, discovering little details that spoke of a lifetime's worth of memories.

In the blink of an eye, my focus shifted to an enchanting older woman, gliding towards me with a timeless elegance. Each step she took resonated with the echoes of a lifetime, whispers of tales etched in the lines on her face. Our eyes met, and a gentle quiver played on my lips, betraying the butterflies fluttering within.

The elderly woman, a beacon of wisdom and curiosity, reached me with a serene aura. Her voice, like a melody of the past, cut through the air, and she inquired with a twinkle in her eye, "Who might this charming young lady be? Could it be that she has captured the heart of Coriolanus?" A subtle cough escaped my lips, a delicate dance of amusement and surprise, for it seemed Tigris was not Coriolanus' girlfriend. His grandmother, however, had effortlessly woven a romantic tale, assuming I held the key to his grandchild's heart.

"No, Grandma'am, she's a classmate," Tigris clarified, shaking her head with a warm smile. "Where is Coryo anyway?"

In perfect harmony with the unfolding scene, Coryo descended the stairs and halted in his tracks upon locking eyes with me; his expression mirrored that of someone who had just glimpsed a ghost. Suddenly, self-doubt gripped me. Why had I come here? "What is she doing here?" he inquired as he neared me. I swallowed nervously.

In the nick of time, Tigris intervened. "She said you two have a pair assignment to work on."

Without offering any clarification, Coryo seized my hand and led me upstairs in a swift motion. A wave of nervousness washed over me. Great.

➶ 𓆉｡˚ ✧ ༉‧₊˚.

Perched delicately on Coryo's plush chair, uncertainty enveloped me like a soft, invisible mist. The room held a hushed intimacy, and time itself appeared to languorously elongate since the moment he drew me into his room. As I sat there, the air seemed charged with an unspoken tension, a palpable connection between us.

His voice shattered the tranquil hush, yanking me away from my daydreams. "Do you not have a mouth?" he teased, his eyes sparkling with playful mischief that reminded me of Mr. Highbottom. The memory of our previous encounter with Mr. Highbottom lingered vividly in my mind, a shared secret between us. His lips curled into a sly grin, assuring me that his words carried no malice, just a concealed intimacy.

"Very funny," I responded, shooting him a disapproving glance. "Finally decided to talk with me, huh?" I scolded myself for letting that slip.

A puzzled expression lingered on his face until understanding slowly illuminated his features. "Ah, so you missed me, did you?" he remarked, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

I scoffed, unable to conceal my defiance. "Missed you? Why would I miss you?" I retorted; my tone sharp. "It's just after that encounter in the hallway, you seem to hate me. Did I do something wrong?"

"You indeed miss me," he declared with pride, his eyes locking onto mine. "And no, you didn't do something wrong, so stop worrying."

Relief washed over me, and I couldn't help but release a sigh that carried the weight of my apprehensions. For days, I had been tormented by the nagging thought that I might have wronged somehow. Deep down, I knew I hadn't, but his confirmation acted as a soothing balm, dispelling the lingering doubts that had clouded my mind.

At that moment, a shift overcame Coryo, altering the very air around him. It was as if a revelation had dawned upon him, and a subtle panic gripped his features. His gaze wandered anxiously, traversing the expanse of his room until it finally alighted upon me. There, amidst the uncertain shadows, his eyes spoke volumes, unveiling a vulnerability I had never glimpsed before. In a hushed plea, he implored me with those piercing blue eyes, their depths revealing a plea for secrecy that tugged at my heart.

"Can you promise not to tell a word at school?" he murmured; his voice a delicate whisper that echoed with a plea for understanding.

Confused, I met his gaze with a furrowed brow. "Tell them what?" I inquired; my curiosity piqued by the urgency of his request.

A heavy sigh escaped him, and the weight of an untold truth seemed to burden his confession. "About my... my home. I can't afford to lose the respect I've earned," he confessed, the shame in his admission weaving a tapestry of realization in my mind. Suddenly, like the fitting of puzzle pieces, the fragments of his struggle fell into place, creating a portrait of a man desperate to protect more than just his secret.

In the quietude of that delicate moment, a symphony of shared vulnerability played between us. His eyes mirrored the silent echoes of my fears as if reflecting the clandestine notes of a hidden melody. The weight of secrecy hung in the air, connecting our souls in an unspoken understanding. With a subtle nod, I acknowledged the shared anxiety of concealing the truth about our homes.

In that pause, where time lingered like a suspended breath, a confessional whisper escaped my lips. "You shouldn't let their judgments dictate your worth," I murmured, meeting his perplexed gaze with sincerity etched across my face. As embarrassment crept up my spine, I averted my gaze, laying bare the truths that I seldom revealed. "I live just blocks away," I admitted, the weight of the revelation settling between us, creating an invisible bridge that spanned the distance of our insecurities.

In the ensuing hush, as the world around us held its breath, a gentle touch brushed against my shoulders. For a fleeting moment, doubt cast its shadow, questioning the reality of the tender caress. Had Coryo disappeared into the darkness of the night? Yet, guided by an unspoken yearning, his arms enveloped my shoulders with a gentleness that stirred a poignant ache within the chambers of my heart.

As I gazed into the depths of his mysterious eyes, an unforeseen emotion began to entwine itself delicately within the intricate pathways of my mind. Perhaps, hidden beneath the layers of his enigmatic facade, Coriolanus Snow held a profound reservoir of warmth and vulnerability, contradicting the frosty demeanor he typically showcased to the outside world.

In a moment that felt suspended in time, he spoke with determination, "Now, let's do this essay." His voice resonated through the air, weaving a connection that transcended the academic task before us. It was as if the mundane assignment had become a backdrop to the subtle dance of emotions unfolding between us.