Chapter Text
It has been a week since Gepard joined the student council as a member (only as a member for now) and it had been surprisingly fun. He could maybe attribute it to the fact that two of his friends—Pela and Bronya—are officers of the organization. The workload is fine, he still has enough time to enjoy club activities and most important of all, his academics isn't suffering too.
All is well, he's finally starting to enjoy highschool life the way a normal adolescent should. But of course, a typical highschool experience involves the usual emotional angst. In his case however, it isn't angst but leaning more on the side of–what did Pela call it again? What was the term she used? He remembers that it has something to do with warm and fuzzy feelings.
Which is what the discussion in the room centers on…
"Of all people, why Sampo?" Seele asks, her tone exasperated but there's a twinkle of amusement in her eyes.
Seele, a member of the student council like Gepard. Apparently, it was on Bronya's recommendation that she was able to get in. Not saying that she doesn't have the capabilities to back her up–if anything she could have been an officer but she refuses to be–but having the president's word did help her.
"Sampo's a troublemaker. True, but don't let that stop you from acting on your feelings!" Pela, sitting across Gepard, nudges him. "Who knows? You could be a good influence to him and stop him from leaving chaos in his wake."
"That would be ideal for us. The less problem we have, the better." Bronya states with all the seriousness that a president should have.
As if discussing his love life is anything but their business. Wait. He shouldn't call it a love life in the first place!
He clears his throat, breaking the argument and gaining the attention of everyone present. They are at the office, classes have long ended, the meeting should've long ended but as they were leaving, Pela teased him about having a certain someone wait for him at the gates so they could go home together. Seele and Bronya of course heard it–he couldn't be any happier that Natasha wasn't able to make it to the meeting today. The three girls proceeded to sit together on one side forcing him to occupy the seat opposite them. If anyone were to barge in on them they’d think he’s being interrogated and frankly, Gepard thinks so too, the girls seems very intent on having another meeting with the discussion regarding his interest–
"Crush, it's called a crush, Geppie."
"Shut up, Pela."
–his…uh…slight crush to Sampo as their agenda.
"Can we please drop this topic already?" Gepard nearly begs. He feels his face burning from embarrassment and is a second away from melting.
"What do you even see in that guy?" Seele sighs. In the week since he joined, he had the time to get close with the rest of the members, Seele included. They're close enough to consider each other friends. Friends who question his type apparently.
He refuses to answer that question. He takes a glance at the three of them, all looking expectantly. He's reminded of the time when he opened up to his sisters about Sampo and how he feels for the guy. That had been a strenuous endeavor to conquer, he can't believe he's being subjected to it once again. He breathes out a sigh, giving up to his fate.
"He's not that bad, okay?" he starts, which was met with raised eyebrows and disbelieving stares.
When you hear the name Sampo, you'll find yourself inevitably on your guard in case you get dragged to one of his schemes. So, yes, the student body considers him a nuisance, Gepard does too on occasion but most of the time he's too preoccupied with guaranteeing his adoration for the guy doesn't show too much on his face.
It's proving to be quite an uphill battle too. Sampo, a human vessel for menace, had been too blessed with the ability to perceive a person. It wouldn't be too far off to say one look and he's got you figured out. It works especially well when it comes to Gepard, much to his chagrin.
Just yesterday, Sampo was able to demonstrate this skill of reading him like a book when some of their classmates were asking for Gepard's help on a topic from their lesson they couldn't get a solid grasp on. He wants to help of course, it's almost the whole reason he's breathing—almost but not entirely because now he's learning to have fun too or as Serval would say: 'you're finally acting like an actual teenager!'. A positive influence from hanging out with Sampo.
Anyways, his classmates needed his help, before he'd easily say yes and it must be this fact they had in mind when they talked to him in the first place. But now that he's a part of the council, he has much to do. He just joined so he felt like he had to prove that he was worth it, even though Bronya says there’s no need to.
Gepard was already mapping out his schedule in his mind, wondering if he could cram in a few minutes to tutor his peers before attending to his duties when Sampo spoke out. Telling a lie how the two of them had some errands Natasha told them to do so Gepard wouldn't be able to spare time for them. If others were to say that, it would've sounded mean—not saying he can't do that—but Sampo made it sound regretful that their classmates had no choice but to nod in understanding, waved them goodbye, exited the room, leaving them alone.
It was ordinary occurrences like these when Gepard finds his infatuation growing. He likes it when Sampo finds him a way out from a situation where his weakness is out in the open, mostly when he's in those can't-say-no types of situations.
He likes that Sampo breaks every expectation others have for him, contrary to Gepard. You want him to be rude? Then he'll be the most polite boy in an instant. You wait for when he causes trouble again? Then he'll learn to behave (at least, for a while).
He likes it when Sampo so naturally discerns each expression he wears because that means he looks at him right? Observing people usually involves paying attention to them for a period of time. Knowing that, Gepard always tries to keep the dreamy smile from showing whenever Sampo says the very thing he needed to hear. He looks at him and actually sees. But not too much he hopes, Gepard still isn't ready to broadcast that he's holding affections toward—
"It's Gepard's world and we're just living in it," Seele comments, folding her arms over her chest.
"I know that look," Pela, hovering her hand over her mouth, fake whispers. "He gets like that when he thinks of a very specific troublemaker."
"Sampo?" Bronya, in between the two other girls, raises a brow in question.
How could he forget that he was in the middle of defending the very subject of his daydreams? Oh, that was so sappy. Ugh.
“You need not to ask, Miss Pres! This lovestruck expression automatically toggles on each time a Sampo is present in the conversation, in the vicinity, or in his mind which I think is most of the time. Our Geppie is very whipped,” Pela giggles along with her declaration, obviously teasing the only boy in the room.
“Damn,” Seele clicks her tongue, pointing a finger at him, she says, “he’s pouting. So, that’s why it seems so familiar!”
“See?! You realized it too?!”
They both laugh.
Bronya looks on to the other two waiting patiently to let her in on what was funny. The moment Pela opens her mouth to explain, Gepard forcibly tunes them out. He heard all of it several times already. Supposedly, his friend believes that he got the habit of pouting sulkily from Sampo. When he turned to his sisters to grumble about it, instead of taking his side, they agreed with Pela’s presumption saying things like ‘it’s cute that you share his habits, big brother!’ or ‘if it’s any comfort, I think it makes you look adorable!’
“If it’s any comfort—”
Would Bronya really say the same thing as Serval did?
“I think you influence him too. You influence one another. That’s a good thing ’no?”
Trust Bronya to see logic behind everything. Bless her pure soul—
Seele raises a hand, “I fail to see what benefits pouting would draw in.”
“It’s an advantage in the process of persuasion.”
Seele stands up, walking over to Pela’s side and gives her a soft head pat, “It worked on you, huh?” her voice sounded a mix of pity and sorrow.
Pela swipes a finger under her glasses drying a fake tear, “I am but a girl; weak to anything that is cute.”
“We now have heard the claims of the victim,” Seele offers her hand…more like a fist imitating a microphone to Gepard, “What would you say in your defense, Gepard?”
Gepard smiles cheekily, “I plead guilty as charged, Your Honor.”
They all laughed at that, even Bronya giggled at their silly exchange.
“My point stands,” Bronya speaks up, once all their laughter died down. “Sampo has a positive effect on you.”
Gepard flushes as the topic does a 360, his stomach flipping at the turn as well. He gets it. If he hadn’t met Sampo he wouldn’t have even participated in his friends’ goofy antics like the one a while ago. But Sampo was fun. He taught him how to have fun. He makes highschool fun. Everything is more fun after he met Sampo.
“Adding to that,” Seele coughs, donning a more serious look, “Sampo actually puts in effort on studies now. I knew him before I got to know you so I could say in utter certainty that that is your doing.”
“Uh…I’m flattered,” Gepard scratches his cheek in a gesture of embarrassment. “But the credit is to Sampo himself.”
“We know,” Pela butts in, “what Seele meant was that you motivate him to be better.”
Does he really? Does he have that kind of effect? Well, there were others who admitted to him that he’s an inspiration, but to Sampo? Does he see him like that too?
“Look, Sampo’s a hazard to society for the most part.” Gepard can’t help but feel offended for Sampo, and it must’ve shown because Seele stutters out a quick amendment, “But! I thought he only tries to be a decent person with kids but apparently he’s good to you as well!”
Huh. What if he sees Gepard as a kid then?!
“No, you idiot!” Pela, as if reading his mind and having enough of his foolishness, smacks his head. She must’ve put all of her frustrations on that because the way her hand landed on his head was a critical hit. “He doesn’t see you as a kid—”
But they can’t rule out that possibility, right?
Bronya sighs heavily, bracing her forehead on her palm, as if reading his mind too, she answers the rhetorical remark his brain formulated, “Yes we can rule out that possibility—”
“Please stop reading my mind—”
“Too bad it comes with being childhood friends.” Pela sticks her tongue out, mocking him childishly.
“At this point, you just have to deal with it.” Bronya encourages.
“Fine, be that way. I’m totally not jealous that you three have known each other since birth.” Seele puffs her cheeks out exaggerating her sulking.
Bronya chuckles at the playful display, “You’re so cute, Seele.”
Pela rolls her eyes when she notices a blush forming on Seele’s cheeks. “Heavens, what is happening to this student council?”
Sensing an opportunity to escape, Gepard clutches his things, quietly stands up before having three pairs of arms shove him back down to his chair. Gepard, head in hands, “What is the point of this conversation, really?” he pathetically cries out.
“To convince you to act on your feelings!”
“Which means: a confession!”
“I only realize that now…but I fully support.”
“Huh?!” Gepard sputters. “No. I’m not doing that.”
“What’s stopping you, Geppie? A rejection?” Pela scoffs at him, like the very notion of Sampo rejecting him is a defiance in all forms of fate’s will. Easy for her to think that since she’s not the one who’s risking a hard-earned friendship built on countless—okay he’s getting a bit Sampo-esque dramatic there.
“You’re not even dating yet but you already spend so much time together your personalities blend with one another.”
“Seele’s right.” Gepard turns to Bronya. The most sane one in this room’s gonna share her wisdom, of course Gepard would listen. “There’s a high probability that he likes you back.”
Probability. Not certainty.
“You won’t know for sure unless you confess.”
Curse Pela and her mind reading.
“I’m gonna cry so hard if all of these are false hopes.” The three girls cheered so loud, ironically to his very pessimistic statement. “You know, I’m risking my first heartbreak, right? There’s nothing exciting about that.”
“Shut up, I could already picture you two being an insufferable couple.” Seele jokes, lightly jabbing his arm.
“Literal idiots in love.” Pela pinches his cheek.
He can’t wait to go home already. His body had been enduring these spontaneous bouts of violence for quite some time now.
Seemingly feeling his pain, Bronya softly pats his hair, “How do you plan to confess?”
So instead of a physical attack, Bronya opts to mentally charge at him. Very in character. Gepard bites his lips before it even unconsciously forms a pout lest it spark off another stint of teasing.
“What makes you think he has a plan?” That’s some trust for Gepard you got there, Pela. “We’ve only managed to get him to agree to confess.” It’s more of a harassment, Gepard thinks. “Believe me when I say there’s not a single thought in that head of his except Sampo.” Gepard badly wants to go home.
Wait.
“I forgot he was waiting for me!”
“Not a second passed and he proves my point already.” Pela catches his arm. “I got an idea! Sit down, Geppie! This won’t take a while, I swear. Just a second and then you’re free to go do whatever it is you guys do.”
“Huh? We just walk home together. That’s it.”
“Stop talking, you already sound suspicious.”