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In Anakt High School, life is as normal as it can be. With homework, projects, and exams all in the way; the life of a student isn't exactly a paradise. The student council works hard to promote order and discipline. But, like every school, there's always some interesting students that manage to find trouble.
A particular example of those troublemaker students would be Till.
His mother is a gentle, nice, and caring woman. Till, however? Well, apparently he does not inherit any traits of his mother's personality. He's a total opposite of what his mother would be described as.
A classic rebellious youth, known for his bad attitude and mischievous behavior. His reputation within the school is a mixed bag, as many see him as a dangerous delinquent, while others consider him a charming bad boy. He's just average in terms of looks, with sharp yet distinctive features and his sharp gaze that either attracts or scares his peers.
Around halfway through the semester, they started getting projects assigned. Most were individual works, but there was one in particular where you were assigned pairs. Till and Ivan ended up together after the teacher spun a wheel to decide the pairs.
Till and Ivan were initially less than thrilled about being paired together for the project, especially Till. As they began working on the project together, they found themselves constantly butting heads over their differing work ethics and philosophies. Till was known for his lazy attitude and last-minute scramble to finish things, while Ivan was a diligent and serious student who preferred things to be done right and on time. Ivan tried to motivate Till to work harder and take the project seriously, but Till brushed him off and continued to procrastinate.
With their project assigned, Ivan and Till found themselves in Ivan's dorm room, surrounded by the clutter and chaos of a typical teenage guy's living space. The room was a bit on the messy side, with clothes scattered on the floor and a few soda cans and candy wrappers strewn about. The windows were cracked open, allowing a cool breeze to filter in and rustling the curtains.
As Ivan and Till were working on their project, coloring in different elements of their presentation, Ivan's roommate Mizi came into the room.
"Hey, Ivan? Is it cool if I call Sua over? I need to talk to her about something." She asked.
Ivan glanced up from their project and looked at Mizi.
"Sure, that's fine," he said. "Just don't disturb us too much, we've got work to do."
Mizi thanked him and left the room, leaving Ivan and Till alone once again. Till looked up from the project and raised an eyebrow at Ivan.
"Your girlfriend, eh?" he teased, a grin spreading across his face. "Seems like someone's got a love life."
Ivan rolled his eyes. "Shut up," he replied. "It's not like that at all."
Ivan sighed and leaned back in his chair, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Look, I might as well tell you," he said quietly. "Me and Mizi...we're not a couple."
Till looked up, surprised. "Wait, what?" he asked. Ivan took a deep breath.
"Mizi and I are just friends. She's actually my roommate. And...and she's lesbian. And Sua, her girlfriend, they've been dating for awhile now."
Till sat there stunned for a moment, processing the information.
"So wait," Till finally said, his brow furrowed in confusion. "You two aren't together? But I thought..."
Ivan let out a dry laugh. "Yeah, I get that a lot. We get mistaken for a couple all the time. But it's just how our friendship is. We're just really comfortable with each other, always have been."
"And Sua?” Till asked, still trying to wrap his head around the new information. Ivan couldn’t help but shake his head in amusement.
"Yeah, Sua. She's been Mizi's girlfriend for a couple of months now."
Till’s jaw dropped. "A couple of months!? You never thought to mention that to me?"
Ivan shrugged. "It’s not a big deal. I thought you knew. Mizi and Sua have kept it pretty private. They're not really big on public displays of affection, you know? They don't want a lot of attention."
A silence fell over the room, only broken by the sound of their pencils scratching against the paper.
As the day of the presentation arrived, Ivan and Till made their way to the front of the class. The classroom was filled with their fellow students, some whispering to each other, others fidgeting in their seats.
Till's expression was nonchalant, but there was a glint of nervousness in his eyes. Ivan, on the other hand, exuded confidence and calmness.
They stood nervously at the front of the class, their completed project displayed behind them. Students chattered amongst themselves, some eagerly anticipating the presentation while others were anxious about their own projects. Their teacher stood off to the side, watching the pair with a critical eye.
"Everyone, stay quiet," the teacher called out, effectively quieting the room. "Ivan and Till will be presenting their project first." She gestured for the two boys to begin.
Till cleared his throat nervously and stepped forward. "So, uh, our project is about the importance of mental health..." Ivan shot Till a sharp look, clearly annoyed that he had started off with such a generic opening.
Despite the awkwardness and the obvious underlying tension between Ivan and Till, their presentation turned out better than expected. They navigated their way through it flawlessly, answering questions from their classmates and showcasing their project in impressive detail. As they finished up, there was a round of applause and a few impressed looks from their peers. Their teacher nodded in approval, seemingly pleased with their work.
Mizi and Sua walked up to Ivan and Till as they were packing up their stuff after class.
"Hey guys," Mizi said with a friendly smile. "We're thinking of hanging out for a bit after school. Wanna join us?"
Till looked up with a small smile on his face. "Sure, why not."
Ivan, stressed with the homework, hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, sounds ok. I'm in."
"Great!" Sua exclaimed. "We can go grab something to eat and then maybe head back to our dorm to chill?"
The group agreed, and they made plans to meet up after class.
As they went their separate ways, Till leaned in to Ivan and whispered, "Looks like we're stuck with the lovebirds."
Ivan groaned and rolled his eyes, but a slight smirk played at the corners of his mouth.
After school, the four of them met up in front of the campus. Mizi and Sua walked ahead, hand in hand, while Till and Ivan trailed behind, their footsteps falling in sync.
Till couldn't help but make a jab at the couple.
"Can't they be anymore cliché?" he whispered to Ivan, nodding towards Mizi and Sua.
Ivan stifled a laugh. "Oh, come on. They're happy. Let them be cliché."
"Yeah, I think they're the healthiest and happiest couple I've ever seen."
Till let out a dramatic sigh. "It's so annoying how obnoxiously in love they are."
Ivan raised an eyebrow at him. "You're just jealous."
Till scoffed. "Jealous? As if. I just don't understand the whole lovey-dovey crap."
"Oh, please," Ivan said, rolling his eyes. "Just because you've never been in love doesn't mean it's crap."
Till shot him a glare. "And how would you know? You've been in love, Mr. Perfect?"
Ivan shrugged, a hint of a somber smile on his face. "Well, I've had my fair share of experiences, that's all I'm saying."
Till huffed. "Whatever."
They entered the restaurant and settled at a table. Mizi and Sua were still engrossed in their own conversation, giggling and stealing glances at each other. Till rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair, looking bored. Ivan, on the other hand, tried to engage in the conversation with the entire group, but found it difficult with the couple dominating the conversation. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of yearning and loneliness.
They scanned the menu and started placing their orders. Till grumbled about the prices while Ivan tried to convince him to try something new.
"Come on, live a little," he urged.
"I'm not wasting money on some fancy dessert just because you've suddenly grown a sophisticated palate." Till retorted, crossing his arms.
Ivan rolled his eyes. "It's not fancy crap. It's just not the same burger you get every time we go out."
Mizi, who had been listening in, chimed in. "Ivan's right, Till. Try something different for once. It's not that expensive, at least try the coffee jelly! It's one of the cheapest on the menu and it tastes awesome."
Till sneered at the mention of coffee jelly. "Coffee jelly? That's even weirder than those matcha flavored things."
Sua laughed. "I don't think you have room to talk. You eat those weird spicy chips that look like they could give you a heart attack."
Till's eyes widened in mock offense. "Don't insult my spicy chips! Those are life-changing, you wouldn't understand."
Ivan chimed in, amusement clear on his face.
"Oh, trust me, we understand. We've been subjected to your obsession with them far too often."
Finally, the waitress arrived at the table to take their orders. After a brief discussion and debate on what to order, they finally decided.
Mizi went for the veggie burger and coffee jelly, Sua opted for the pasta with strawberry ice cream for dessert, Ivan went for the steak, and Till stuck with his usual burger and fries.
"Till, you are so boring," Ivan grumbled as he handed his menu to the waitress. "Can't even live a little. I guess that's your charm somehow."
"And you're just a pretentious food snob," Till retorted.
The others laughed as Ivan feigned offense. "I am not a food snob. I just appreciate good food when I see it."
Mizi rolled her eyes and couldn't help but laugh as Sua interjected. "You guys are like an old married couple already, fighting over food."
"Oh please, we would make a terrible married couple," Till retorted, shuddering at the thought. "Yeah, that's not happening. Ever."
After a while of joking around and the laughter died down, Ivan couldn't help but let his mind wander. He glanced at the happy couple sitting across from him, their hands intertwined. Till noticed his gaze.
"What's with the gloomy expression, Iv?" He asked, using a nickname he rarely used.
Ivan snapped out of his thoughts and forced a smile.
"Oh, it's nothing. Just thinking about school stuff." He tried to brush off Till's concern, not wanting to reveal the real reason behind his somber mood.
Till raised an eyebrow, not buying it for a second. But he knew Ivan well enough to know when to push and when to let go. So, he let the issue be, for now.
"Yeah, well, try not to think about that too much. We're supposed to be having fun here, remember?"
Ivan nodded, appreciative of Till's understanding.
"Yeah, you're right. Sorry, just got lost in thoughts for a moment there."
The conversation shifted to lighter topics, and the group continued to enjoy their meal. However, Ivan's mind kept wandering back to that lingering feeling of loneliness, no matter how hard he tried to shoo it away.
The group finished their meal and prepared to leave. As they were about to part ways, Mizi made an announcement.
"Hey, guys, Till and I have decided to switch rooms. I'll be moving in with Sua, and Till can be Ivan's roommate."
Ivan's eyes widened in surprise, while Till simply shrugged.
"It's more convenient, honestly."
Ivan couldn't help but feel a jolt of nervousness mixed with unexpected excitement. Living with Till, his crush, was not something he had anticipated. He tried to keep his composure, forcing a nonchalant expression.
"Yeah, sure, whatever works for you guys."
Till smirked at Ivan's attempt to play it cool.
"Hey, don't act all indifferent, we both know you're secretly thrilled to have my awesome company every day."
Ivan rolled his eyes, trying to hide his slightly flushed cheeks.
"Oh, please. I can barely stand being near you for more than an hour without wanting to strangle you."
Till feigned offense, placing his hand dramatically over his chest.
"Wow, Iv, you wound me. And here I thought we were growing close."
Ivan huffed but couldn't help the corners of his mouth twitching upward.
"Yeah, closer to killing each other maybe."
That evening, Till moves into Ivan's dorm as his roommate with little to no complaint. Perhaps it's not as bad as he thought it would be?
Till spent the evening setting up his side of the room, filling the space with various pieces of his personality. He proudly displayed his favorite band's concert merch, a few of his own drawings, and even a hand-drawn picture of him with their friend group. As he finished up, he stepped back and admired his work, a satisfied grin on his face.
"Not too bad, if I do say so myself," he murmured to himself. He then glanced over at Ivan's side of the room, filled with books and study materials along with other hoarded miscellaneous items, and shook his head slightly.
Till couldn't help but compare his own lively and haphazardly decorated side to Ivan's more chaotic and academic one. He leaned against his bed frame and called out to Ivan, who was sitting at his desk, nose buried in his phone.
"Hey, Iv, your side of the room is so boring. You could learn a thing or two from my decorating skills."
Ivan looked up from his phone, momentarily distracted by Till's comment. He glanced over at Till's side of the room and raised an eyebrow.
"You call that decorating? It looks like a mess. At least my mess is still practical!"
Till scoffed. "It's called having personality. You should try it sometime."
Ivan shot him a withering glare.
"Just because I don't cover my walls in band logos and neon colors doesn't mean I don't have a personality."
Till shrugged and flopped onto his bed. "Yeah, yeah. Keep telling yourself that, Iv."
Till and Ivan had settled into their new living arrangement, and it was safe to say their personalities clashed as roommates. They bickered constantly, over trivial things like who left a dish in the sink or who was playing music too loud. Till's chaotic and carefree nature often clashed with Ivan's studious and neat-freak tendencies.
Despite their constant bickering, there was an underlying playful banter that hinted at a certain level of comfort between the two. It seemed they enjoyed pushing each other's buttons just for the sake of it. Their dynamic was nothing if not entertaining, as their banter and bickering filled the once-quiet dorm room. Even though they sometimes drove each other insane, there was an undeniable bond growing between them.
Ivan found himself struggling to hide his growing feelings for Till. Every time Till's cocky grin appeared, or his carefree laughter echoed in their room, Ivan's heart would skip a beat. He tried to keep it hidden, but sometimes he couldn't help but wonder if Till suspected anything.
Meanwhile, Till remained blissfully oblivious. He attributed Ivan's slight blushes and awkward responses to their usual banter, oblivious to the fact that his roommate's emotions were different from the beginning, only growing stronger as time passes.
Days turned into weeks, and their dynamic evolved from snarky remarks to occasional small acts of kindness. Ivan found himself bringing Till coffee in the morning, knowing it would help him wake up for his earlier classes. Till, in turn, started leaving little notes on Ivan's desk with motivational quotes or silly doodles, trying to lift his mood when he seemed stressed. Neither of them acknowledged these gestures, continuing to mask their true emotions with their usual banter.
Ivan's feelings gnawed at him constantly. He found himself stealing glances at Till when he thought he wasn't looking, admiring the way the sunlight hit his face or the way he ran a hand through his hair when he was frustrated.
Ivan fought against the temptation to confess his feelings, afraid of ruining their newfound friendship and their living situation. But as the days passed, he couldn't help but find himself sneaking glances at Till when he wasn't looking, trying to decipher the depth of his own emotions.
Till, on the other hand, continued to be oblivious to Ivan's inner battle. He was content to maintain their usual teasing and banter, completely unaware of the deeper affection brewing within his roommate's heart.
Some nights, Ivan would lie awake staring at the ceiling, his thoughts consumed by Till's cocky smile and easygoing nature. He'd play out various scenarios in his head, imagining how Till would react if he ever found out about his feelings. Sometimes, he'd imagine a positive outcome, where Till would reciprocate his feelings. Other times, he'd envision the awkwardness and potential fallout from the confession.
A few months had passed since Till had moved into Ivan's dorm, and the dynamics within their friend group had grown stronger. Today, Mizi, Sua, Ivan and Till; had planned another hangout together, a casual get-together to catch up and enjoy each other's company.
They gathered in a small café after classes, enjoying a well-deserved break from the stresses of exams. They sat around a table, sipping on their respective drinks and laughing about things that happened in classes, assignments, or anything under the sun.
Mizi, being perceptive as always, noticed Ivan's lingering gaze on Till. She subtly walked up to him, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"You know, Ivan, you're not being very subtle with your staring at Till."
Ivan jolted back to reality, realizing he had been caught in the act. He blushed and attempted to play it off, turning his gaze away from Till.
"What? I wasn't staring," he protested, his voice cracking slightly.
Mizi raised an eyebrow and grinned at Ivan knowingly. "Uh-huh, sure you weren't."
Ivan felt his face heat up even more, cursing himself for letting his feelings show so overtly. He shot Mizi a glare, silently begging her not to say anything.
Ivan leaned in closer to Mizi, his voice trembling slightly.
"I don't know what to do," he admitted, his eyes darting nervously towards Till. "I really like him, but I'm scared shitless to mess things up. What if he doesn't feel the same? What if he laughs in my face?"
Mizi shot him a sympathetic look, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Oh, Ivan. You can't keep hiding your feelings forever. You have to take a leap of faith eventually."
Ivan leaned closer to Mizi, his voice low and urgent.
"How do I even confess?" he whispered. "I can't just blurt out that I have feelings for him. Things will get awkward real quick."
Mizi chuckled softly, enjoying Ivan's predicament. "Why not just be straightforward? Tell him how you feel and see what happens "
Ivan sighed deeply, running a hand frustratedly through his hair.
"I know, but it's just...it's so difficult. We're roommates now. It's not just about losing a friend, it's about potentially making our living situation super awkward."
Mizi considered his words for a moment.
"Yeah, that's true... But on the other hand, imagine if he does feel the same way? It could turn everything around for the better."
Ivan's eyes widened, hope flickering within. "You think so?"
Mizi smiled at his hopeful expression.
"It's possible. And honestly, you won't know till you try. Maybe he's just as oblivious as you are."
Ivan couldn't help but laugh a little at that, shaking his head.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. But how the hell do I even bring it up? Just blurt out, 'hey, dude, I like you'?"
"Well, maybe avoid that exact phrasing. You could take some time to plan it out, maybe drop some hints first to gauge his reaction, then slowly work your way up to a more direct confession."
Ivan considered Mizi's advice, his nervousness slowly ebbing away.
"Yeah, that sounds like a better plan. I'll try to drop a few hints and see how he reacts. Maybe I can figure out if he likes me back before I make a fool out of myself."
Mizi smiled. "That's the spirit. But remember, don't wait too long, or someone else might swoop in and steal him away."
Ivan took Mizi's advice to heart and started slowly dropping hints to Till, trying to gauge his reaction and figure out if he reciprocated his feelings.
He started with small gestures, like casually offering to share his notes with Till after class, or recommending movies that Till might enjoy.
He also began making more eye contact during their conversations, and throwing in small compliments here and there about Till's sense of humor or his abilities in their classes.
Despite Ivan's efforts to be subtle, Till seemed to catch on to his hints.
He started paying more attention to Ivan's gestures and behaviors. Whenever Ivan offered to share his notes, Till would give him a small appreciative smile. When Ivan recommended movies, Till would make an effort to watch them and discuss them with Ivan.
As Ivan continued with his hints, Till's reactions became more apparent. Whenever Ivan complimented him, Till's cheeky, confident demeanor would soften just a fraction, and a small smile would tug at the corners of his mouth. He would take a moment to reply, as if contemplating his response.
Ivan knew he had to confess to Till soon, and the thought of it sent him into a frenzy of planning and uncertainty. He wanted everything to be perfect, but at the same time, he was terrified of the outcome.
One night, while Till was out with some friends, Ivan was alone in their dorm, contemplating how to confess to Till. He considered writing a letter, saying it in person, or even sending a cryptic message through social media. None of these options felt right to him.
As the night wore on, Ivan grew more anxious and restless. He paced back and forth in their dorm, constantly checking his phone for Till's location and time. He couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out, that he had to confess soon before someone else beat him to it.
Just as he was contemplating giving up and heading to bed, Ivan heard the sound of the door handle turning.
Startled, Ivan quickly hid his phone and pretended to be working on homework at his desk. The door swung open, and Till walked in, a confused expression on his face. He took in Ivan's nervous demeanor and couldn't help but comment.
“You look awfully jumpy, Iv. Expecting someone?” Till asked, eyebrow raised skeptically.
"Nah, just working on a really hard homework problem. You know how it goes."
He forced a casual smile, hoping Till would buy the excuse.
Till didn't seem entirely convinced, but he let it slide anyway, shrugging off Ivan's nervous attitude. He plopped down on his bed.
"Yeah, right. You've been acting weird lately. I can see right through your facade, you know."
Ivan took a deep breath, mustering all his courage.
"Actually, Till, there's something I've been meaning to tell you."
"Oh yeah? What's up?"
"Don't laugh, aight? I like you."
"You like me?"
"Yeah, I really like you. More than just as a roommate. I think you're smart and funny and incredibly attractive, and I can't stop thinking about you."
Till was silent for a moment, processing Ivan's confession. Ivan's heart sank with each agonizing second that passed, afraid that Till would reject him or worse, make fun of him. But then, Till's lips curled into a small smile.
"Took you long enough to say somethin'."
Ivan's heart was still pounding frantically, wondering if Till felt the same way.
"Well, do you-"
Before Ivan could finish his question, Till cut him off with a cocky smirk.
"Do I reciprocate? You bet your ass I do."
Ivan's eyes widened as Till's words sunk in.
"You mean it?"
Till sauntered towards Ivan, closing the distance between them. He placed a hand on Ivan's shoulder, a smug grin on his face.
"Yeah, Ivan. I like you too. A lot. I've kinda been waiting for you to say something, but you keep things bottled up too much."
"You've been waiting for me? Why didn't you say something too, then?"
Till stepped closer to Ivan. "Well, I did try to drop hints, but you're about as perceptive as a rock."
Ivan rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, funny guy."
"But seriously,” Till continued, now much closer to Ivan. “I'm...glad you said something. I was getting a little tired of waiting."
"So...are we official now?" Ivan asked, trying to keep the nerves out of his voice as he held Till's hand in his.
Till chuckled and gave Ivan's hand a squeeze.
"Yeah, I guess we are."