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Today sucked. Being on a tourist bus on Christmas day was not part of Venti’s plans. Yet, here he was. Sitting in a cramped coach with a few other tourists that got fucked over by the airport and the delayed flights—possibly even laid off from their flights. Venti was thankful he was only delayed, ‘Hopefully only by the estimated six hours…’ Venti cursed his luck all the same. The airport had let the few who were stuck till further notice experience the free tours the place had. It’s not as if he didn’t like the impromptu adventure. The free bird that he is. But it was Christmas Day and he promised the kids at the center he’d be back to play for them.
‘Haa.. Nothing I can do now, I’ll just enjoy this little detour.’
Venti:
Hey Bedo, sorry my flight got delayed. Could you let them know I’ll try to be there by dinner?
Albedo:
Don’t worry, Ven, I’ll let them know.
Have a safe flight. See you tonight.
Venti:
Thanks, Bedo!
Venti sighed as he locked his phone. He took a route that went for an hour and 30 minutes. So he could get back to the boarding gates early while not dying of boredom.
‘With any luck my flight could leave before the six-hour mark.’
The tour guide prattled on, stating facts and you-know-what about the things and places they pass by, mood bubbly. The patrons on the other hand, Venti came to observe, seemed just as moody and ticked off as he—if not more. ‘Yeesh, that guy in the back isn’t even pretending to listen to the guide. That scowl makes a waste of that pretty face'. Venti observed from the other’s reflection in the window. A moment later he let it go, choosing to wallow in his own thoughts for the rest of the tour.
It wasn’t until their scheduled break that Venti acknowledged the other again. Well, he didn’t mean to notice the other, really . But Venti was nosy—endearingly so, if his friends had any say in it—so he did notice when the man’s already pinched face turned even more sour.
They sat at the table in front of him, this let Venti get a front-row seat to the increased eyebrow furrow as soon as the other’s food hit the table. ‘Didn’t he get the salad or something? I’m pretty sure I heard him order it, not meat…’
Venti kept observing the other as he let the waiter leave without so much as a complaint. Resigned to nudging the elements of his meal around on his plate. Venti looked down at his own platter of greens—he wasn’t really in the mood for a heavy meal—with a resigned sigh he picked up his plate and moved. ‘Time to be the busybody I know that I am.’
“Hey, so, I know this is, like, extremely weird but they got my order wrong and I didn’t want to bother them about it. Do you, maybe, want to switch with me? I haven’t touched it yet! Promise!” Venti rambled, he was essentially going for nonchalant but, oh well. He felt the man’s eyes on him as he sat down in the empty chair in front of the other and placed his meal on the table. “And I noticed you haven’t touched yours either-,” Venti choked on his words as he looked up to find piercing amber eyes trained on him, fist raised hiding an amused smirk. “So, uh, yeah, let’s switch?” Venti finished amidst flushed cheeks and a pinched smile, his eyes avoiding the other at all costs.
“Uh-huh, so then could I know the name of the stranger I’ll be switching meals with? Because this isn’t sketchy at all, nope, not one bit.” The stranger replied, dripping with dry amusement.
“Hey! I resent that!” Venti responded before the situation—if seen from the other’s point of view—dawned on him, and well, “Okay yeah this is fucking weird. Hi, I’m Venti and I was wondering if you could switch meals with me?” Venti said, sheepish.
The stranger nodded amused, as he responded, “Better. Xiao. Now, what’s the real story?” Xiao quirked his eyebrow, not letting Venti off the hook.
Venti groaned. He kind of expected this reaction with how their interaction had progressed thus far, but he still hoped—a bit—that the other would let it go. “I just…,” Venti was apprehensive about his explanation, ‘Oh well I was doing this out of the goodness of my heart anyway!’ “I kinda noticed that they got your order wrong and you didn’t say anything about it. So, I, just, kinda thought I’d offer mine?” The last bit coming out was more unsure than he had intended.
Xiao nodded in understanding, looking amused. “Thanks, I’m vegetarian, and well,” he paused to gesture to the meat on his plate, “You don’t have to. I appreciate the sentiment though.”
“Please, I wanted to. Here.” Seeing as how Xiao wouldn’t be switching with him of his own volition, Venti went to grab the other’s untouched plate and swap it with his. “I’m not taking no for an answer by the way.” Venti smiled, cheekily.
“I can see that.” Xiao shook his head amused, “Thanks for this.”
Venti gave him a wide smile in place of a response, as they finally began to eat. The casual conversation passed throughout their meal.
The rest of the impromptu tour found them sitting with each other. Significantly brighter moods than when the tour first began. Venti found Xiao’s dry humor extremely amusing, and from what he sees, he’s inclined to say he found his rambling amusing too. Even when the tour ended, and they were back at the airport boarding gates, they were sitting together talking. Choosing to spend the rest of the wait with each other.
A few hours into their wait, had Venti returning to their spot from a trip to the bathroom in a rush. His flight announced that they were boarding early. 'Early for the six-hour delay.' Venti rolled his eyes at the thought, scanning the area for a choppy haircut and amber eyes. When a different person called out to him—someone also from their tour group he noticed.
“Hey dude! The guy you were with left your things with me. He was in a rush so he left this for ya’.”
Venti was a little disappointed as he took his things. Thanking the man and heading off for his boarding gate. As he waited in line to board he read over the note Xiao had left for him.
Hey, my flight got early boarding (sorry I didn’t wait for you ).
Thanks for making today a lot better, Venti.
Merry Christmas.
P.S. Drop me a message when you get to where you’re going.
+86 XXXX XXXX
Venti smiled, giddy, as he read over the rushed handwriting.
Maybe today didn’t suck after all.