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He remembers exactly when Akuma started acting like a puppy desperate for his attention. Who would even forget that day, it was incredibly baffling to witness, what more to him who was the target of the sudden affection?
Because listen, and imagine, the playboy, who has countless of fans tripping over themselves just for his one glance and left a mountain of broken hearts at his wake, just started practically courting this top of the class nerd named Ike Eveland, who had one too many swirlies from multiple "fans" of his own that seem to get off in stalking and making fun of him all hours of the day.
Right? What the fuck.
But honestly? Eh, predictable.
This bookworm nerd knows how this one goes. Ike has read this trope too many times already goddamnit.
So, it starts like this, one morning goes as usual, Ike arrives at school an hour before classes starts. More than enough time to avoid getting shoved and eating dirt right as he entered the gates.
But not so usual is one (1) Vox Akuma waiting at the school gates holding a deep blue rose, that was obviously fake because blue roses don't exist naturally, he'd know much about his favorite flower.
Even more unusual is this playboy that had never interacted with him suddenly approaches and says hi to him. Mentioning his first name and all. Like they've been close all along, like Akuma had actually known him all this time.
I mean, of course Ike would be weirded out. Did Akuma expect him to suddenly swoon or something? So instead, he just walks past him. Why would Akuma even want to be associated with him? Unless it's a bet that has high rewards, he sure as hell wouldn't–
Oh.
Oh.
He reached a realization at the same time Akuma reaches for his wrist. The force, exerted by a guy who was a head taller than Ike, prompted him to turn around and face Akuma, who looks like a desperate puppy offering a damp stick to play with him.
He's always ignored Akuma, carefully navigating his way through life without ever glancing towards his way simply because he, even as a hopeless romantic, couldn't be bothered with someone who played with feelings. He has always carefully avoided the pit of thorny vines that is Vox Akuma's pit of deceitful love. But if he knew was he was getting into, maybe playing along a bit won't be much of a big deal.
'Ooookay. It can't be that bad. Right? Just play along for some time. Maybe a month? or 2? We could probably talk it out if it really is a bet.'
It's admittedly stupid, but hey, this is the once chance he gets to use the term "YOLO" and maybe get bragging rights to use on his friends, or at least just stop them from saying said term to him.
Ike had strengthened his inner resolve, yet his voice comes out small, "Y...yes?"
Akuma grinned, and it's very charming, very blinding, very handsome as they say, Ike must agree.
Hm.
Oh no.
—------------
Ike is a but coward and he's been "playing along" for 3 months now. Truth be told, he doesn't want it to end. Yeah, he's aware that it's getting bad and out of control.
Vox, without fail, accompanied Ike to each of his classes and back to the gate at the end of the day for the past 3 months, leaving no second of opportunity for the bullies to bother him. Vox gives him lunches he cooked himself, and god does it taste so good and like it's made full of love. Vox gives him his favorite flower often, and it doesn't matter that it's a fake one because the sentiment was far more appreciated. Vox talks to Ike as nice as his friends would. Vox is a never ending well of affection. and most important to note, Vox is persistent.
Ike had actually tried to refuse at first. Dodge here, evade there, but Vox finds him easily. Though, he probably can just ask each person on the way about where Ike went, and they'll freely give his hiding place up. The game of cat and mouse continued until he couldn't hide, or rather, couldn't resist anymore.
And Ike finds himself tangled within the vines of Vox's overgrown garden of love.
He really didn't plan it to be this way. Didn't know that Akuma would become Vox. Didn't know that said Vox would grow on him like how Mysta grows his mold experiments- farms, whatever.
His friends had given him several warnings that Vox must have something up his sleeve. Granted, they've never seen him this dedicated, or this desperate with someone before but everyone and their mothers knew his history.
And you know, Ike agrees with them. He knows. He might be introverted and prefered isolation most of the time but he's not deaf. He's heard it a million times before. Vox Akuma breaks hearts. It's always been the headlines of the school gossip.
Not to mention, he was cursed with the spotlight the moment Vox turned his eye on him. He became the center of all recent gossips, of the whispers that doesn't really mean to be secretive, he hears all of it, especially whenever Vox accompanies him to his classes, so of course he knows it very well.
But he can't help but pretend those problems doesn't exist, so he ignores them, at least for now.
Each conversation with Vox in the school rooftop sends him melting deeper into the vines. They were so much on the same wavelength that it's scary. Ike doesn't know what he expected from the playboy but definitely not an overflowing well of memes, not someone that he could be fun and relaxed with. Yet Vox keeps breaking expectations.
He doesn't know how Vox does it but he melts each second they spend up there, just the two of them, alone together. Everything else in the world was unimportant whenever Vox smiled at him, laughed with him, talked with him.
He has never laughed as much as he did with Vox. He has never heard a laugh so free and infectious.
He has never been as talkative as much as he did with Vox. He just spoke and spoke as long as the smooth and velvet voice flowed in his ears as a response.
He never knew happiness could come as easily as it did to him with Vox. He has never seen a smile so pretty and so picture-perfect.
He never knew he could love as much as he did with Vox. He has never felt this intense urge to hold and keep someone until now. And it's so beautiful.
He holds those memories so dearly close to his heart. Each individual memory feels so tender and it makes him feel so loved. It makes him feel so regretful. Because he suddenly knew why so many people still choose to chase at Vox and let their hearts break. And he's already aware of how this lovely time will end.
He never knew he would feel this intense feeling of grief for something that he knew didn't even truly exist. He griefs for the 'love' he knows he'll lose nonetheless.
—------------
Ike doesn't find it in himself to be surprised when someone approaches him to tell him the truth.
He doesn't know this person at all nor know his relationship with Vox but a silver-haired guy with a red heartbeat tattoo on his left temple and similar features to Vox asked him to talk with him for a quick minute.
He introduces himself as Fulgur, familiarity with the name alongside Uki's joyous smile flashes across his brain at the name, and he started telling him of things he already knew.
Fulgur's sentences sound like a script, he must have brainstormed and memorized what to say to Ike and how to break the news to him. Ike has an inkling that Uki had a hand in this, he didn't exactly tell them that he knew what he was getting into.
"It's about Vox. I can't find it in myself to hide this from you anymore, and well, your friend Uki encouraged me to do it as soon as possible."
Fulgur takes a deep breath before continuing. While Ike braces himself for something he expected a long time coming.
"Him and some of his friends made a bet,"
Ike shrugs internally, 'See, called it. Knew that already.' He tells himself.
"And that bet was how long until he could fool you into a relationship."
Ike says nothing, as if knowing Fulgur still had more to say.
"i was there when the bet was made, one of us had recorded it for our group chat, i would like you to hear it."
And proof Ike got. Not gonna lie he didn't expect proof but he's not complaining about it either. It's better to have something he could firmly hold onto so that his heart can't drag him further into the vines anymore.
He dismisses Fulgur after some more words. He gives a sad smile to fulgur and watches him leave.
'I hate to say it, but I told you so.' His mind mocks. His heart didn't have a retort for it.
Ike would be lying if he said it didn't hurt, it's still what he expected, it just got confirmed. But it's not for much longer that he needed to wait.
Christmas time. Vox and Ike had their holiday all planned out. Ike knows it's probably when Vox wants to fake a confession and break his heart after. But Ike decides that he wants to end this before he makes an even worse decision than the one 3 months ago, when he decided to play along and got too invested in it.
So Ike invites him to one of his gigs.
One of his safe havens. A place where he could freely be himself without the unnecessary anxiety over his peers at school. Only his friends have ever been here, in this pretty spacious bar where he screams his heart out with his bandmates. He decided to end this lie somewhere he was comfortable enough to relax and not chicken out of his plan. And he wanted it here as a last gift to Vox.
December 31. The last gig for the year, the New Year's Eve. The last song was one he wrote and dedicated for Vox, with much subtlety of course but it somehow was obvious to Uki who sends him an encouraging smile. A lovely, soft melody rings through the bar as he smiles fondly yet sadly at Vox.
Vox has an unreadable expression on his face, the red lights further drown out the features of his face.
The song ends. There wasn't much fanfare to how it finishes, not much screaming, just a soft, somehow solemn song of goodbye and thank you that probably sounded like it was directed to the year that will be ending tonight. It's just that a lot of people in this room didn't know that something else is ending when the New Year strikes.
The countdown to the New Year was less than 5 minutes when he finishes interacting with all the people that wanted to greet him after the performances. If he was being honest, he knew in his heart he's just prolonging whatever he hopes to prolong. Even for just a few minutes.
Then it was time to face Vox.
—------------
"Vox, hey." Ike softly greets as he sat down beside him, at the most unlikely place you'd see a famous playboy, the corner of the room. Vox looked at him with an unsure expression before shaking his head and gives Ike a smile.
"Ikey, my boy." That damned nickname, that damned endearment. That damned fond look in his eyes and that damned warm hand that ruffles his hair. He felt like backing out. Maybe wait for Vox to compliment him on his performance like how he's spoiled him with compliments for the past 3 months, but he shouldn't. He looks around where everyone was busy gathering around the tv with the countdown on it. He has 2 minutes.
"Vox, be honest with me." Ike looks at his eyes with a serious expression. Vox seems to realize what was happening, he's always been like that, very perceptive and very smart. "How desperate are you in winning it."
He was met with silence, it stretched out for a few more before Vox settles for answer.
"I don't know." Vox sounds so timid. He's only seen him once like this. It's starting to hurt too much for Ike but he has to do this. He's left with a little over a minute.
"I know I'm nothing but a bet to you, Akuma. Listen, I yield. You win." and Vox looked so defeated and regretful he almost wants to take it back. Almost.
He cups Vox's face between his hands, the playboy's face was clouded with confusion. It was a very cute expression, as cute as when he is frustrated like when they play video games together and Vox is losing and with many game nights spent with him, Ike knows very well that Vox Akuma hated losing. So, he continues.
"Don't worry, you'll still win that bet." He smiled but he felt the tears starting to fall down his cheeks. Yet undeterred and as the countdown shouts ring as their very unromantic and undramatic background music. "Just tell them you kissed me on new year and broke my heart the very next day, your usual playboy style, right?"
"THREE!"
He pulled Vox into a kiss. A soft confession, sincere and pure. A firm goodbye, to all the happy moments that will never happen again.
"TWO!"
But he pulled away from it as soon as possible. He knows he'll just make another mistake if he stuck around for too long, the past 3 months of experience told him that.
"ONE!"
"I love you. Thank you for making me feel loved."