💌 Ship: Thoma x Reader
💌 Summary: You and Thoma have been neighbors since forever, but now you want more. High School AU.
💌 Word count: 1532
💌 Requested byb_angnormie
This is a story for 2024 Valentine's Day Character x Reader series, which includes:
Out the window it was bright. You had gotten up quickly enough to avoid the alarm clock going off before it could. With a smile on your face, you headed downstairs to the kitchen to begin the day.
On the kitchen counter sat a pretty box, dark brown hue with a red ribbon on top. You picked it up with great care, holding it in your palms like it's the most valuable piece ever.
"Is that chocolate? For whom?" Your mother walked in, watching and giving you a knowing smile.
"Who else would it be for?" That voice came from your dad, who joined the room after her. "Definitely for the neighborhood kid."
With innuendo, Mom and Dad exchanged glances. They already knew! And your face started to turn redder than your mother's basket of ripe tomatoes when you stuffed the box into your school bag.
"It's for nobody."
You replied in embarrassment, just wanting to get into a corner so you wouldn't have to listen to your parents make fun of breakfast in this manner. They all knew who encouraged you to learn to make chocolate for this special occasion. Perhaps, everyone knew, except for that specific person.
There was a screech as the bike braked in front of the yard. On the bicycle, the boy with blond hair like ripe rice beckoned to you.
"Y/N!"
A beat missed in your heart. It felt so strange, even though he came every day to take you to school. Your heart throbbed inconsolably as you walked down the steps. Knowing the worth of the gift inside made the bag you were holding heavier. You grinned.
"Good morning, Thoma!"
Thoma tossed his head towards the back saddle, waiting for you to mount steadily before starting to roll. The streets were quiet in the morning. Thoma donned a white uniform under a light wool waistcoat today. The scent of spring blossoms blending with the wind and a hint of fabric softener from Thoma's body wafted from the back seat of the bike. Your cheeks lit up with guilt once more. Fortunately, he did not glance back to witness it.
Before long, the ride to school was over. ou held Thoma back before entering the classroom:
"Well... I have something to tell you... Let's meet at the school gate after class, okay?"
"Don't we meet there every day to go home together?"
You timidly replied, realizing your own ridiculousness or Thoma's for not getting your implication:
"Well... Just see me there!"
Having said so, you made your way into the classroom, leaving Thoma scratching his head, not understanding what was going on.
Your relationship with Thoma had always been the same. As neighbors. Schoolmates. But lately, you realized you wanted more. You blamed spring air and these darn, stupid teenage feelings. After many failed attempts spanning nearly a month, you eventually created a scrumptious batch of chocolate. The most adorable ones were packed into the box that was located within your school bag. It was merely awaiting an opportunity to express itself.
You left class as soon as the bell announcing the end of the school day rang. Waiting in a familiar place on the school grounds, you noticed several other girls, just like you, with boxes of chocolates in their hands. After all, it was Valentine's Day. While waiting, you began to imagine all sorts of Thoma's reactions upon accepting your gift. How would he react? Joyful? Surprised? Or worse, would he reject the heart you had put into this?
In any case, you were prepared mentally. You had decided to bravely face this feeling, and accept Thoma's answer. But you would never see what was about to happen so quickly. Right when you caught Thoma's figure in the distance, you also saw the most popular girl at school walking towards him.
In her hand was a box of chocolates, which seemed bigger than yours. She muttered something while holding it out to Thoma. Groups of students gathered closer, chattering around them. You focused your gaze on Thoma. With a sheepish look, he extended a hand.
No!
You screamed, but who could hear your heart breaking inside? The bridge of your nose stung, your vision became blurry as you turned and ran away. What else could you do? You were not even given a chance with Thoma like this.
*
* *
It had been a week since you were not seen with Thoma. You decide to take the school bus, which took a longer route and also to avoid him. Of course, Thoma didn't understand what was happening. He came to your house a few times, but never did you agree to meet.
By the eighth day, Thoma did not seem to tolerate the coldness from you anymore. He waited at the school gate at the end of school. Spotting your figure, he hurried over to block the way.
"Y/N! Please talk to me!"
"What?" You replied in a cold tone.
"Why are you avoiding me? Did I do anything to make you sad?"
Thoma's eyes expanded like those of a puppy's. Innocent. He was innocent. But what did you do wrong, other than secretly having a big crush on him? It made dealing with Thoma more challenging than before. Being his closest friend, you were bound to hear everything there was to hear about his new flame. It felt like a heart choking.
You took a deep breath, then pretended nothing had happened.
"No. You didn't do anything wrong."
"Then why..."
Without waiting for Thoma to finish his sentence, you stepped forward. But he grabbed you by the arm, cornering you.
"There must be something..." His breath brushed your face. So close. "You don't talk to me, you don't come home with me... I'm sure I did something wrong that kept you avoiding me all week."
"Thoma..." You tried to keep your voice in a normal tone. You could not let him detect the disturbed pulse in your chest. "People are watching us..."
Several other students caught the two of them cornering each other against the wall. Thoma still refused to let you go. He went on:
"Unless you tell me what went wrong between us, I won't let go."
Thoma's eyes locked on you, as if you could not look at anyone else but him. In those eyes, you sensed sincerity, earnestness, and a hint of hurt. It had been a week of Thoma's worst mood. And realizing you had wounded him out of selfishness, you began to feel hurt as well.
"The truth is..." You started explaining. "I did make you chocolate… I just don't know how to deal with you... after you got that chocolate box from someone else..."
Thoma looked puzzled. He asked:
"I got chocolate from someone else? Since when did that happen?"
"On Valentine's Day last week..."
Thoma winced briefly before realizing what you were talking about.
"Oh my!" He exclaimed, followed by a burst of laughter.
"Are you laughing at me?" You scowled with irritation.
"Yes! I’m laughing at you! Because of how silly you are!"
Then Thoma became quite serious. "I refused that chocolate box," he remarked, glancing at you. "I don't like receiving chocolate from other people, if it's not from... you.."
You rolled your eyes.
"Huh? What?..."
"I went to your house but couldn't see you. Your mother only told me that you had been sad since Valentine's Day. I assumed some moron would have the audacity to turn you down. I was on my way to find out who it was and teach him a lesson after this conversation with you..."
"H-Huh?..."
Thoma might have misinterpreted that you were rejected by someone, which explained why you were unhappy for such a long time. All you could do in such a ridiculous scenario was sigh.
"Well, that kind of stuff didn't happen. Let's not bring it up again."
"But..." After a moment of hesitation, Thoma took out a small chocolate bar from his bag that was carefully wrapped. Your hands trembled as you accepted it.
"Is this... for me?"
Thoma gave a nod. "I apologize... I had no idea that you were making me chocolate. I… I should have made the first move a long time ago so you wouldn’t be so confused about us..."
You held Thoma's chocolate bar, looking both puzzled and pleased. It came to light that you had been moody for nothing this entire week.
"I-It's okay... I ate them all... Not very tasty, I must say."
Thoma laughed, then placed one of his hands in your hair, messing it up purposefully.
"You can do another batch for me!"
"No more chocolate making." You pouted. "It’ll wear me out. And there's the chance of experiencing heartbreak!"
Thoma's cheekbones flushed in the pale afternoon sun. "I'll definitely eat it all. I'll eat only chocolate made by you. Promise!"
You grinned, holding up the gift Thoma had just given.
"Your words and this chocolate bar, I'll take this as a love confession, okay?"
Thoma averted his face, but his smile was visible to you. You sat closer behind him on the way home, gently resting your hands on his waist.
-The End-
