Searching Pt.2 Completed PV Virgil Lee

Resting against one of the stalls, arms crossed, Virgil watches with an easy smile as Adlai talks about her family, the girl clearly entertained by jumping on the toilet's dirty tiles. The way she talks about her sisters make him wish he wasn't an only child — he's good with babies, or so he likes to think. He has two younger cousins, twins, named Joohyun and Mingyu, that had just turned one last month, and, whenever he plays with them, he hopes his parents will get back together and he'll finally have a sibling. Preferably a sister. Virgil wouldn't mind a brother, though.

Then Adlai mentions her aunt, and she seems to hesitate in her words. Virgil frowns a little, wondering how bad their relationship could be, having no examples in his head. There are no bad relations in his family, which he's deeply thankful for. Even if his parents are divorced, they're still great friends and no animosity plays around when they meet. He feels bad for her but doesn't say anything, not wanting to make things worse or anything.

Conveniently, Adlai stops jumping right next to him, apologizing. Her hair is escaping the headscarf she always wears — he knows there's a name for it, but he can't remember. And Virge feels an itch in his hand, as he wants to put them behind her ear, but the boy doesn't move, of course, not wanting to break any barriers.

"It's alright," Instead, Virgil says, smiling at her, uncrossing his arms and hiding his hands behind his back. "You listened to me complain about beast climbing, it seems only fair I listen to you, as well."

He's speechless.

Just that simple sentence was enough for him to freeze, eyes a little wide, and, as expected, the blush creeping in his entire face, not limited to his cheeks anymore. He doesn't know what to say — he's trying to figure out how he managed to become friends with such a nice girl, being the mess he is.

His palms begin to sweat, and, Merlin— I can't breathe! Virgil lets out a loud, perhaps too loud, laugh, running both of his shaking hands through his hair. There's no reason for him to act like this, but, hey, when does he ever act like an actual normal person?

"T-Thanks," He chokes out, voice shaking, sounding fragile and high-pitches. Virgil avoids her smile because there's a bubbling sensation in his stomach, as his heart speeds up, and he feels like he'll throw up anytime soon. He sucks in some breath, trying to stop the anxiety attack, but he only manages to sound airy and weak, when he says, "Y-You're great, too..."

Friends... He repeats the word several times in his mind, trying to calm himself down. This is the moment he ruins everything by running away. Of course, he feels like hiding. Virgil wants to hide in the Slytherin common room and owl his cousin the longest letter. Because he finally did it! Virgil Lee actually made a friend. And without having to embarrass himself that much, too!

Making friends has always felt like an impossible achievement for him. Because, even though he can socialize, he never knows when he can confidently say that someone is his friend. He's never sure when they've successfully stepped out of the acquaintances' zone, but now he knows. Virgil coughs one more time, hiding his face, avoiding eye-contact as if that would stop Adlai from noticing how red and embarrassed he is.