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It’s six o’clock in the morning. The usual wake up time of a certain aloof with sand like haired girl who’s currently fuming with anger about the stacks of papers and scattered pens on her table–musical notes to be exact, covering her precious blueprints of future inventions for upcoming school projects and competitions.
Although most of it are created with her own thirst for creation, why of course, she deemed herself to be the wisest after all, and the name she just screamed on top of her lungs seemed to be the culprit behind the said mess.
“CO-LUM-BINAAA!!!”
“Hm? Is something the matter my dear Sandrone? Isn’t it too early for you to be missing me already?” a soft voice can be heard from behind.
Sandrone shivered a bit at the sudden arrival of her dorm-mate, not even hearing her footsteps. Yet the thing was she’s used to it already, plus, hearing how she can still make a joke with her stupid face and her stupidly calm voice just made her more mad about the situation.
“Oh shut that mouth of yours! And what do you think you’re doing making a mess like this? ON MY TABLE!? Columbina, you know darn well that you have your own!”
Columbina didn’t flinch, nor even show a bit of concern about the latter. She just stood there for a moment before walking towards the table to gather her notes and pens. That too, made Sandrone angry.
“Hey! Aren’t you gonna say anything? Like apologize or something?”
“Hmm? Why would I? You told me to shut up just now.”
The reply somehow made Sandrone fume even more as she clenches her fists at her side. “That isn’t what I meant! And you could’ve react or say something. Urgh, why am I even explaining it to you.”
Sandrone gave up just like that, turning her back around as she massaged her temples, preventing herself from exploding, but she swore that she saw Columbina’s saddened face just now.
“…”
“Eherm…” she called to abrupt the silence they were filled with, capturing the attention of Columbina stacking the papers.
“Clean your stupid things after the next time you do it again. I don’t want to wake up dealing with someone’s tra—belonging...”
Sandrone hesitated for a bit, carefully delivering her words to avoid anymore trouble.
Columbina, just as she thought, smiled softly at her immediately, like a happy dove, or so she thought because of the winged head-piece swaying behind her head.
“Hehe, you know that they are not stupid Sandrone. In fact, my music helps you sleep at night”
“What!? You’re just straight up delusional”
Now who’s the odd one now? Sandrone still couldn’t believed how this girl could have–well not a lot, but a few friends atleast, although more than she can have. Despite wearing that odd headpiece that burned at the back of her mind because of how familiar it is, Columbina’s innocent way of thinking and her gentle smile must’ve saved her somehow.
A silent creak from the floorboards made her break the train of thoughts rushing through her mind as that said girl’s face was right in front of her, and still moving closer,
“W-what are you—“
Columbina’s hand went straight up on her head, gently patting, just feeling the soft and short strands of hair bouncing on her palm as she started to give compliments to the poor lady,
“Good girl, dear Sandrone, good girl~” she whispers as Sandrone swiftly swat her hand away, face all flushed with a clenched fist on her side.
“GET OUT COLUMBINA!!!”
Sandrone just received soft giggles before her dorm-mate leaves as if nothing annoying happened between them.
•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•
“Thank you.” Sandrone bowed.
A faint applause can be heard inside the class after Sandrone just finished reporting.
She took note of how Columbina, despite probably just sleeping during her reports has just woken up coincidentally after she’s done speaking.
When class is finally done. Sandrone was quick on her feet to gather up her things and go. Not even saying “goodbye” just like what normal students would do. For her, it’s just a waste of breath. Once she walk past the door, the mention of her name made her halt, her mind starts to think about who might’ve call her when it’s only Columbina, who have the courage to speak up to her…
As she’s about to go back, she realized that she was not being called at all, instead, she’s being a source of a “fun” gossip just like what her classmates would say.
She’s used to it already. In fact, she doesn’t really even care. She’s better off focusing on her new inventions. Yet… a certain someone from inside made her stay. Standing beside the entrance where even her silhouette can’t be seen, she’s intrigued enough to know what’s the topic about her would be like?
“Didn’t even understand a word she said huh? Damn reports are soo boring.” A girl with a braided knotty hair yawned as she sat across Columbina.
“Certainly, but hearing Sandrone’s voice lulled me to sleep, just as it fading away woke me up.” Columbina gave a tender smile, not knowing that a certain someone from outside might also be wearing the same expression, or worst, she’s probably annoyed or shocked about it.
“Hmm..So how is it living with Sandrone? You could leave you know?” the other girl continued while eyeing her newly polished black nails.
“I know,”
“Then leave? Our dorm currently has a free room for one. You could move there anytime.”
“Okay, thank you for your offer.”
“Pfft… well obviously. How’d you managed to put up with her anyways?”
“…”
Wait
She’s planning to move?
The noises around her seemed to hush as only her loud thoughts remain.
Sandrone felt something burning from inside of her, and the fact that she couldn’t out her sudden rage about it made her throat dry. She wasn’t sure what burned in her chest—anger, sadness, or the slow, thrill of finally being free.
So Columbina was planning on leaving.
Since when?
“…”
Then she could leave! Sandrone can finally be able to focus more on her projects. No more singing, no more annoying talks, no more mess and boring tea parties.
It’s actually good news.
But why the sudden sprint? Her legs starts moving fast just like a frightened girl with something dark on her heels, fingers digging into her chest where her heart hammered, wild and ready to burst free.
She wants to go home.
She wants to sleep.
She doesn’t want to see Columbina.
She could leave her now if she wants.
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“But…”
“But what about Sandrone blah blah blah, of course you would say that.”
“hmm… I guess so.”
Jahoda just stared at Columbina.
“Seriously, she’s always shouting at you. I don’t get why you still want to stay. Or maybe you just get along that way?” the girl sighs as she fixes her bat-eared hat.
“Just like how you always yell at Ineffa?”
Jahoda was taken aback by the other girl. Her cheeks starts to redden as she faked a cough.
“W-well could you blame me? She’s a dummie.”
“I really don’t get it but… While Sandrone never said anything good to me—“
Columbina’s expression is unreadable despite her statement being concerning.
“She would always give me something nice…Like the cookies she baked, the tea she prepares or would let me join in to what interests her.” Just as she said that, a soft smile from Columbina starts to meet Jahoda’s confused gaze.
“They get along just fine Jahoda. So stop asking her to join our dorm just to lessen the monthly bill.”
Another familiar face joined them, holding a broom with her right hand.
“Ohh shut up Ineffa! It isn’t like that!”
“It is like that. Why don’t you focus on getting a part time job instead of always getting scammed online?” she placed the broom beside a desk before approaching the two.
“I told you to shut up! And I’m literally concerned for Columbina here, stupid!”
“How does that make me stupid?”
“Why are you asking me? D-dummie.”
Columbina starts to smile upon seeing the two. It reminds her when she’s with Sandrone, although she still can’t retort words harshly for now, she still enjoys her company.
“I’ll be going now then. Goodbye, you two”
“Take care Columbina!”
“Bye! Update me if you ever change your mind okay?”
Columbina just nodded before finally going outside the room, hearing a loud yelp from Jahoda after getting pinched by Ineffa.
•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•
Columbina stepped into their shared dorm room and found it dark. Strange. The clock on her phone read 5:30 PM. Sandrone should have been back by now. She wasn’t the type to linger anywhere after classes, least of all with other people.
“Sandrone?”
No answer. Columbina thumbed through her messages, nothing. She fired off a quick text, then another, and finally tried calling. The line went straight to voicemail, phone dead, or turned off.
“Maybe her battery died,” she muttered, more to reassure herself than anything else. She slipped into her room, changed into something comfortable, and waited.
An hour passed. Then two.
The silence started to gnaw at her. Columbina paced the narrow space between their beds, fingers tightening around her phone with every failed call. Sandrone wasn’t reckless, she wasn’t the type to vanish into danger. But she did have that infuriating habit of disappearing without a word, and tonight there wasn’t even a single text to soften the absence.
Columbina couldn’t sit with the uncertainty any longer. She grabbed her favorite hooded jacket, zipped it up, and stepped outside.
The evening air was cool and sharp, perfect for a walk—if this had been a walk at all. Instead, she pulled the hood low, and huff out a breath of encouragement as she run.
She started with the usual routes—library steps, the quiet bench by the engineering building, the vending machines Sandrone liked because the coffee was terrible but hot. Nothing…
“Sandrone,” she called softly at first, then louder, the name slipping out every few minutes like a heartbeat she couldn’t quiet. A minute of walking turned into one. No trace, no clue, no familiar silhouette hunched over with her gadget whilst drinking bitter coffee.
Columbina remembers how the other would always make her feel comfortable despite rejecting her at all times. And that, more than anything, was what kept her moving through the chilly streets long after the sky had gone fully dark.
───────────────────────────────
“So why are you here exactly?” A puff of smoke wafted along the air, some of it almost hitting the shorter girl’s face.
“Could you stop that first?” she protested whilst coughing for a bit.
“It’s not my fault that you came in here without any warning, darling.” The taller woman turned to face the other, her dress was smoothly blending within the fancy lights, the color of her exposed thighs inviting unwanted eyes that bothered the person in front of her.
“I should’ve known you’d be here out of all places Rosalyne.”
“Yet you still drag your little feet to meet me, heh, that’s so sweet of you Sandrone.”
The soft music thrummed inside the fancy bistro club as the two sat there with a tense look in their eyes.
“If you needed a mother’s advice so bad then out with it. I have some business to take care of later.” Rosalyne rolled an eye before bringing a cigarette near her lips as Sandrone lets out a deep sigh.
“Nothing. I just wanted to clear my head about something.”
This causes the fair lady to raise a brow, “Ahh, to be young and helpless.”
“Heh, like you would know” Sandrone scoffed.
Before Rosalyne could even retort, Sandrone already stood up and grab her sling bag.
“I’ll be going now.”
“The nerve of this brat” Rosalyne thought to herself before leaving an advice that struck deep within Sandrone.
“Whatever is it that troubles you. You know you can lower your pride for once, Sandrone.”
“…Do try not to drink yourself to death.”
Rosalyne just smirked after the other left. She knew how Sandrone tend to fix (ruin) things for her own good. She could only hope for everything to go well for her after experiencing so many losses in life at such a young age.
───────────────────────────────
Columbina’s voice, usually light and melodic like a lullaby, had grown hoarse from calling Sandrone’s name. Her delicate fingers worried at the hem of her hoodie, twisting the fabric tighter with every unanswered minute. She wasn’t used to this feeling—this tight, aching worry that sat heavy in her chest.
Sandrone always came back. Always. So why did tonight feel different?
Finally, after the one hour stretched into the third, Columbina gave up. Shoulders slumping, she turned toward the dormitory wing, telling herself that Sandrone was probably already asleep, curled up in her room like nothing had happened. She’d scold her tomorrow. Gently, of course.
But the moment she stepped into the hallway, there she was…
Sandrone stood beneath the faint glow of warm light wearing her familiar brown turtleneck, and her neatly tied hair with a cute cat clip to the side. Her bangs swaying much like her skirt gently, with her cheeks all red because of the cold air, looking like she’d simply just really stepped out for a walk and lost track of time. She was fondling for her keys, her expression as cool and composed as ever—until she glanced up to see a familiar figure watching over her.
Columbina didn’t think. She didn’t hesitate.
She ran.
The distance between them vanished in a heartbeat as Columbina threw herself into Sandrone’s arms with so much force that the other girl actually stumbled back a step, eyes widening in genuine shock.
Columbina’s arms locked around her waist, face buried against Sandrone’s collar, holding on like she was afraid Sandrone might disappear again if she let go even a little.
“Sandrone,” Columbina whispered, voice cracking as she pressed closer, clutching fistfuls of Sandrone’s shirt. “I looked everywhere for you. Everywhere. I thought… I thought something happened.” Sandrone froze, arms hovering uncertainly at her sides for a moment—unused to this, unused to being held like she was something precious and fragile.
“You know you can lower your pride for once, Sandrone” damn you Rosalyne…
Slowly, her hands settled on Columbina’s back, sliding down to stop just near her waist.
“I was… testing new invention somewhere a bit far from here.” Sandrone said quietly, voice softer than usual. “Time slipped away from me.”
Columbina made a small muffled sound against her shoulder, half laugh, half sob as she squeezed her tighter. “Next time you vanish like that, take me with you. Or at least leave a note or a message.”
“I will…”
Columbina finally pulled back just enough to look up, her long lashes fluttering as she stared at Sandrone who suddenly went stiff.
Columbina’s eyes are soft. Impossibly soft. A pale, dove-gray rimmed with the faintest rose, like moonlight caught in morning mist. They looked so innocent and so deeply kind that Sandrone feels something inside her chest unwind without permission.
Without even noticing, the space between them vanished. Sandrone’s hand finally found Columbina’s waist, steadying or pulling, she wasn’t sure which anymore. Columbina’s palms rested lightly against Sandrone’s shoulders as their faces drew closer, eyes fluttering almost shut, and both lips parting on shared, shaky breaths.
“Columbina…” So close…
“…yes?”
The world narrowed to the heat between them, the unspoken finally clawing its way out,
so closee…
Bzzzzt.
Bzzzzt.
Columbina’s phone buzzed harshly from her pocket, shattering the moment like dropped glass.
They sprang apart as if burned. Columbina fumbled for the device, cheeks flaming, while Sandrone stared at the floor, composure cracking into a million sharp pieces.
The screen lit up her face:
Incoming Call – Jahoda
Oh. That Jahoda—the one Columbina had been talking to earlier, laughing about in that light, breezy way that made Sandrone’s stomach twist for reasons she refused to name.
Columbina silenced it quickly, shoving the phone away “I’m sorry, that was—”
“Jahoda,” Sandrone finished, voice flat, arms crossing tight over her chest. She forced a cool smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“You’re going to talk about when you’re leaving?”
The air turned thick, awkward, heavy with everything they almost did and now couldn’t un-feel.
Columbina bit her lip, eyes closed and face apologetic. “Leaving?” she asked, then the conversation from earlier suddenly emerge in her mind. Confusion painted her face as she doesn’t remember Sandrone being there or maybe…
“Hmm…are you eavesdropping earlier?”
“It’s fine, you can– wait what did you say?”
Sandrone cut in, too quick to stop running her mouth and quick enough to laugh an octave higher before continuing,
“I didn’t eavesdrop! It just happened to reach my ear as I was leaving the room.”
Columbina hovered, unsure, the silence stretching between them before Sandrone unlocks the door to enter inside first.
“Sandrone?” No response. So she just followed her inside.
“Are you upset about me leaving?”
That made the other girl stop to her tracks, Dropping her bag on the kitchen table before finally turning around to face her.
“My answer wouldn’t change the fact that you will leave.” She stared intently at Columbina.
“But I’m not–“
“Yes you do! Everyone leaves me. Hmph, I always knew you couldn’t put up with me. No one can.”
“Wait, Sandrone!”
Columbina extended her hand but she saw the other swiftly turns around and walk towards her room. A faint click can be heard indicating that she locked the door.
She stood there absentmindedly. She really wasn’t planning on leaving. It’s all just a huge misunderstanding. Plus, Columbina knows what it feels like being left alone.
The truth is, she loves being with Sandrone. She even likes the sting of those cruel little words, because she knows they bear no cruelty at all. It’s Sandrone, the one who never asked her to change, never demanded she try harder or become someone else. She simply saw her, accepted her, understood her in a way no one truly ever had. There’s no way in hell she’ll let this night end like this.
A sudden recollection struck her.
The duplicate key to Sandrone’s room, carefully exchanged months ago with a quiet understanding that it was strictly for emergencies—just as Sandrone held one to hers. Columbina paused only long enough to steady her breath, then moved swiftly through her own quarters, fingers sifting through a small wooden box on her dresser until the cool metal of the key met her palm. Moments later, she was back standing before Sandrone’s door, the key now resting heavily in her hand as anticipation tightened in her chest.
“Pardon the intrusion" she muttered under her breath before proceeding to unlock the door.
The moment Columbina stepped into her room, she froze.
Sandrone was already there, seated at the small desk beside the bed, idly flipping through one of her books as though she belonged there—as though nothing had happened.
“I knew you wouldn’t let this go,” Sandrone said without looking up, voice flat and unsurprised.
Columbina shut the door behind her with a soft click. “And here I was, foolish enough to hope you might respect my privacy for once,” she muttered, more to herself than to the woman in front of her.
Sandrone didn’t react. She kept turning pages, slow and deliberate. “What, you went through all this trouble just to stand there and look at me?” At last she lifted her gaze, exhaling a tired sigh. “If you’ve got nothing to say, you can leave.”
“Sandrone.”
Columbina’s voice was quieter than usual. No singsong lilt, no playful warmth. She took one careful step forward, then another, stopping just short of the desk until she was close enough to see the tension in Sandrone’s shoulders.
“Do you hate me?”
“…”
Silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating. Columbina’s chest felt suddenly too small for her lungs. Sandrone finally closed the book with a soft thud. She turned away, folding her arms tightly across her chest.
“Can’t you figure that out on your own?” she answered, tone clipped. She shook her head in a sharp motion. “Do I really have to spell it out for you?”
“Is there something holding you back?”
Sandrone’s eyes widen at those words, as if the built-up anger deep inside her finally reaches its limit, she stood up and walks towards Columbina.
“Holding me back? Holding me back?” her footsteps clicked on the cold tile as her face twisted in a storm of fury as she loomed over the latter.
“You have no idea what it’s like to keep up with you and your stupid shenanigans! And you just—argh! You act like it’s nothing” she pointed a finger at her as she continued,
“If you think for one second that I’m the one with issues, then let me tell you exactly how wrong you are, you smug, ethereal little—”
Columbina tilted her head ever so slightly, her eyes half-lidded in that dreamy, distant way of hers, as if Sandrone’s rant was just background music to whatever whimsical thought danced in her mind.
Without a word, she reached up, her fingers light as feathers, and cupped Sandrone’s jaw. Then, almost lazily, like she was swatting away a pesky fly, she leaned in and captured Sandrone’s lips in a kiss—soft, unhurried, and utterly disarming. The words choked off in Sandrone’s throat, replaced by a muffled gasp. Heat exploded across her skin, not just from the anger anymore, but from the unexpected spark of Columbina’s touch. Her cheeks burned crimson, a blush so fierce it made her want to scream even louder.
‘How dare she?’ Sandrone thought but oh, Columbina’s lips were warm, tasting faintly of sweet strawberry that she likes and Sandrone’s body betrayed her, melting just a fraction against her will.
They pulled back for a split second, with Sandrone’s eyes flashing with residual rage.
“Sandrone,” Columbina cooed, pressing a hand on the shorter girl’s cheeks, feeling how it almost stings her palm from its warmth.
“You— you can’t just—” Sandrone wants to argue yet the words faltered, this is the first time she ever felt vulnerable like this and instead, she surged forward, grabbing Columbina by the collar with trembling hands and crashes her lips all the same back to her.
The kiss she returned was experimental, she was hardly a pro at this. Despite her frustration for figuring it out, Sandrone kisses her deeper with more demand, taking a mental note of how couples kissed in the movies she watched. Her hand clutches at her friend’s collar, using her tongue and putting it to test in Columbina’s lips, in a way that is very poorly done but laced with a hunger she couldn’t deny as their breaths mingled in hot, needy bursts.
When they finally parted, Sandrone’s chest heaved, her lips a bit swollen and glistening. “Damn you, we shouldn’t be doing this” she muttered, still glaring but with a spark of something softer, more vulnerable in her eyes. “Do that again, and I swear I’ll… I’ll…”
Columbina just smiled that maddening, innocent smile, tracing her thumb down Sandrone’s lower lip. “So you do like me after all”
Sandrone’s breath hitched. Her face burned crimson as she tried to jerk her head away,
“I never said that,” Sandrone hissed, voice low and trembling with fury yet hinted with desire. “You’re delusional.” Columbina’s eyes gleamed, she leaned in until their lips were barely brushing.
“Yet you didn’t push me away. You even kiss me back, Sandrone,” The latter made a furious, muffled sound against her lips, hands coming up to shove at Columbina’s shoulders, except the shove turned into a clutch, fingers digging into fabric, pulling her closer even as she trembled with rage.
She opened her mouth to deliver a scathing retort, but the moment Columbina’s lips finally claimed hers again with devastating tender, every word died in her throat as a soft humiliated whimper escaped her before she grabbed Columbina’s hair and kissed her back almost angrily.
“I like you, Sandrone” Columbina whispered between shared kisses.
“Hah, then don’t even try to leave.” Sandrone gritted her teeth as she took off her clothes. Her pride shattered completely the second Columbina pushed her down onto the bed.
”I wont, my dear” Columbina chuckled as she leaves a peck on Sandrone’s chest before dangerously going down further.
That night, Sandrone never once said “I like you.”
But she said it with every gasp against Columbina’s throat. She said it when her back arched off the mattress and her nails raked down Columbina’s pale skin. She said it when she came undone beneath her for the uncounted time, sobbing into the crook of her neck while Columbina held her close and whispered the sweetest praise against her ear.
•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•
Morning light filtered through the heavy curtains.
Sandrone woke up first. The moment her eyes opened and she felt the warm body pressed against her back. Soft breasts covered in silk against her spine and an arm possessively wrapped around her waist.
Reality crashed into her like ice water.
Her heart slammed violently in her chest.
“…What the hell did I do?” she whispered in horror, face burning with shame.
She slowly, carefully began sliding toward the edge of the bed, trying not to wake the sleeping woman behind her. She had barely moved six inches when a slender arm suddenly tightened around her waist, pulling her back with surprising strength.
A sleepy, sweet voice purred against the nape of her neck, “Mmm… where do you think you’re going, Sandrone?” Columbina pressed a slow, lingering kiss right below her ear, then another, hotter one lower on her neck, lips brushing over the faint bruises she had left the night before settling to hug her.
“Stay in bed with me, Sandrone~” Sandrone froze, body going rigid as a violent shiver ran through her.
“Well unlike YOU! Columbina, I have stuff to do!” she said hoarsely, voice strained.
Columbina only hummed, tightening her embrace and dragging her lips along Sandrone’s shoulder. “But if you leave, I’m going to miss you” she murmured, voice dripping with loneliness.
“Uuugh…Fine,”
Hearing that, Columbina sweetly kisses the sensitive spot just under Sandrone’s jaw, then bit down gently. Sandrone let out a frustrated groan, thinking if she really did the right thing before she finally gave up.
Her body melted back against Columbina’s with visible defeat.
“…I hate you,” she muttered weakly, eyebrows furrowed as Columbina just poked her puffy cheeks with her finger.
“Sure, my dear~” Columbina smiled against her skin, pulling her even closer.
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This is inspired by this work on X! Pls do support:
https://x.com/tibssketches/status/2020967399760199911?s=46
(Thank you for the food)