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Till was walking through the cold school halls, earbuds in and phone in his pocket. He was thinking about his upcoming math test and remembering what he needed to study, when all of the sudden he heard faint footsteps running behind him. Till didn't have time to turn around and before he could realize, his backpack was pulled by his best friend, Ivan.
“Hi!” said Ivan with a grin.
“Okay first we’re pulling backpacks and then saying hi? Okay… "Till replied, slapping Ivan’s shoulder and then rolling his eyes at him.
“Okay that slap was definitely unnecessary!” He replied,bumping back into Till.
They continued talking and laughing until they both got to their usual spot and sat down next to each other. They still had about 15 minutes until the bell rang, but even so, they were in the same homeroom which was nice for both of them. Ivan and Till both started talking about normal stuff, and Till caught himself looking into Ivan’s eyes a little too much. He couldn't lie, Ivan's eyes were a whole another would, so pretty. It felt like a cure to every little problem.
Till had developed a crush on Ivan ever since they got assigned sitting next to each other in science class and became friends. After about 2 months, he started liking Ivan romantically and not just as a friend. They got close fast and talked and called everyday. Till really cherished the friendship between him and Ivan, and he didn't want to run it if he ever confessed. Ivan had been nothing but the best person till could ever know. But well…He didn't know if Ivan liked him back because he always helped her and defended Till when he was getting playfully bullied and it was becoming too much. He was really grateful to have a friend like Ivan, but he also liked him a lot and was thinking about how good of a relationship they would have.
“ Bro just confess, I know for a fact he likes you!” Sua, Till’s friend told him during lunch. Sua already had a girlfriend that she started liking in her orchestra class. She found out she liked her back after like 3 months and they started dating. Till was honestly a bit jealous. Yes, he was happy that his friend finally got into a good relationship, but he also wanted a boyfriend so badly. Obviously he wasn't into Sua’s girlfriend, because he was mostly into men. Sua's girlfriend's name was Mizi, he was only jealous of the fact that Sua had found someone who she could always trust in every universe, honestly Mizi was like a god to Sua.
“Well what if he doesn't like me and I ruin our friendship!” Till replied, covering his face with his hands. “Ughh but I like him so badly!” He added.
“Thats exactly what happened when I liked Mizi, and look where I am now!” Sua said, shrugging.
“Yeah but you…uh yeah…” Till said, sighing.
“Exaclty so you should go and shoot your shot.” Sua said to him.
“I'm scared!” Till answered “and I’m scared I’m gonna mess it up!” he added.
“Okay but you might end up updating him though? It's a 50/50!” Sua said, “And he does like you, it's so obvious.” she added.
“No it's not!” Till answered as the bell rang, it was time for science, where he got to see Ivan. Shoot my shot? Heck no. He thought as he was packing up. Sua and Till grabbed their bags and started parting ways as their classes were on completely different sides of the school.
As Sua was walking away she yelled to Till, “HEY TILL, GO SHOOT YOUR SHOT!” and ran away. Till saw Sua running up to Mizi,her girlfriend, they held hands and walked away while Sua was talking about something very enthusiastically.
I want a boyfriend, Till thought. No, I want Ivan. Till walked to his science class and already saw Ivan sitting at his seat, staring at the wall. He didn't have any friends in science class except Till, so he was alone. Till ran up to him and lightly pulled on his shirt.
“Hi loner boy with no friends." Till teased him, walking up to him.
“Hey, I do have friends!” Ivan answered, slightly pulling on Till’s shirt. Till’s heart was on fire, he was never gonna wash that shirt. (ew till)
“Okay while the teacher is not here yet, i have a very important question” said Till, standing right in front of him. He saw Ivan’s ears turning pink but he didn't know if he was just imagining it or if it was actually real.
“Ask away, I guess…” answered Ivan, scratching the back of his neck.
“Do you like anyone?” Till asked with a grin.
“Uh, yeah…” Ivan answered, turning away from him, Till put his hands on Ivan’s shoulders and turned him around so Ivan would be facing him. His cheeks were red.
“Woah, you're like, really red, do you like him that much?” Till asked, giggling.
“Mhm” he answered “I’ve actually liked that person since like the first days of school…” he added, “well how about you, do you like anyone?”
Tills's heart dropped to his toes. His crush was asking him if he liked anyone, worst nightmare…like IDIOT ITS YOU! I LIKE YOU.
“Yeah I do actually…” He answered, turning away from Ivan the same way he turned away from him. All of the sudden, till felt hands on his shoulders,
Oh my gosh he thought.
Ivan placed his hands on Till's shoulders to turn him around so Till would face him. When Ivan saw Till’s face, it was also red.
“Woah you look like a burnt tomato, ” Ivan said, still with his hands on Till’s shoulders. “So you also like that guy…or girl a lot, hm?” he added. He finally took his hands off Till’s shoulders, Till was a bit disappointed by that.
“Yeah, a lot,” he laughed. “Okay but I really want to know yours tho!’ woah that was quick he thought to himself.
“Wait, I have an idea,” said Ivan, excitedly. “You’re gonna stay after school right? He asked
“Yeah, are you also staying?” Till answered. He liked hanging out with Ivan so he really hoped they could hang out after school.
“Yeah, my mom is working late so I'll stay about the same time as you.” Ivan said, with a slight grin.
YESSS! Till’s mind screamed.
“Okay back to the point,” he continued, “how about after school, we go to that one table where no one sits and tell each other our crushes? I’d say we’re pretty close so it's fair right?” Ivan asked, with a hopeful look in his eyes.
Till's heart fell to his ass. He had to confess. In about 4 hours Till had to confess to the boy who was sitting in front of him right now. Fine, he thought, I had to do it someday anyways.
“Deal.” Till said, extending his hand. Ivan shook his hand. Ivan’s hand felt so soft and warm, he wished he could hold it forever.
The sub for their class finally came and everyone came into the class. It was a free period so everyone switched seas and talked, played games and some kids were even watching Netflix. Ivan and Till sat together and just talked about random teenage stuff for a whole hour. Again, Till found himself admiring Ivan’s eyes, there was something about them that he couldn’t describe. The bell rang and it was time for them to split up.
“See you after school Till!” Ivan called out to Till, running off to his last class.
“See you too, loner boy!” Till yelled back. He called Ivan that only because he had no friends in science class except him. They both went separate ways.
-
It was 4:30 PM and the final bell rang. Ivan and Till both went to the spot where you can stay after school and meet each other. When Till came there, he saw Ivan sitting on the far away bench, alone with earphones in, deep in his phone. He looks so cute when he’s focused on something. Till thought, taking a picture of him before walking over and sitting down next to him. He lightly pulled on his shirt and Ivan looked up.
“Hi till!” Ivan said, smiling.
“Hi loner boy.” He replied, putting his legs up to his chin.
“Okay why do I have such a bad nickname when I use your actual name, this feels targeted…” Ivan said, turning to Till.
“Because…you’re a loner…not my problem!” Till answered looking away.
“HEY! I AM NOT!” Ivan said, standing up.
They both laughed.
“Okay now we gotta get to business. Crushes.” Ivan said. He turned to Till and then grabbed his shoulders to turn Till to face him. They both blushed.
This is the moment Till feared. Well here goes nothing, you only live once. Till thought.
“Okay, on the count of 3, we're gonna say their name okay, say not scream…” Ivan told Till, holding eye contact. His eyes were the only thought in Till’s head.
“Okay”
3
2
1
At the same time they both said the names.
“Till,” said Ivan.
“Ivan,” said Till.
They both looked each other in the eyes. Till thought he misheard Ivan saying the name, and Ivan thought he misheard Till saying the name.
They both stared into each other's eyes for a good moment.
“Okay so!” Ivan finally broke awkward the silence between them, “You said my name…I said yours”
“Right.” Till answered, “So we like each other."
“Right, " said Ivan.
Till sat with his side facing Ivan and his legs down, trying to process everything when he saw Ivan standing up. He thought Ivan was gonna walk away or something because of the awkwardness, but Till definitely didn’t expect a hug.
Ivan walked up in front of Till, walked in between his legs and threw his arms around Till's shoulders. Ivan placed his head on Till’ shoulder and murmured something he barely caught.
“Im so glad you said my name, I was so worried” Ivan said
“I think I almost shit my pants doing that.” Till laughed, hugging him back. After a couple seconds, Ivan sat down next to Till, their shoulders and thighs touching. Ivan put his head on Till’s shoulder. They sat in silence for a couple minutes. Both still trying to process the information.
“So like” Till broke the silence, “what do you think?” he added.
“Well, I like you a lot. Ever since we met you're the only boy I have had my eyes on. Your personality is the best thing I’ve ever seen and you treat me really well. I really love being with you in or outside of school. Your presence makes me feel really safe and comfortable. I'm really grateful to have you in my life and I feel like you always see the best in me .” Ivan said, his voice sounded so confident and comforting to Till , but to himself he sounded pathetic, but he continued. “So Till,” He said, turning to face him. “May I be your boyfriend?”
They both turned red. Till’s face fell onto Ivan’s shoulder and he murmured,
“Yes, a million times yes, you idiot.” He said. Ivan hugged Till while his forehead was on his shoulder. After a couple of seconds, Till lifted her head up, his cheeks were pink, Ivan thought it was the cutest thing ever.
“Your cheeks are pink, it's cute,” Ivan told Till, ruffling his hair for a second. Till sat next to him and said “Thanks, your whole face is red, you look like a tomato.” He answered, laughing.
“Hey that was my line!” Ivan said.
“Too bad, I'm using it too now.” Till answered.
“That's plagiarism!” Ivan said back.
“Too bad~!” Till said, hitting him in the leg with his leg.
“Why are you hitting me, you're mean.” He said, grinning.
“I actually don't know what you're talking about, I'm so nice!” Till giggled.
About 10 minutes pass with them playfully arguing, until it goes silent for a moment.
“I'm not a loner boy anymore am I?” Ivan asked.
“You still are, just a taken one.” Till answered. “You will never escape that nickname.”
“Dang it” he said, “well at least i have you!” He added.
“And I have you.” Till answered, he felt a hand touching his and he immediately took it, their fingers intertwining. The love birds keep talking about some random teenage stuff while holding hands.
Ivan is still a loner boy, even with friends in his chemistry class, but the most important person in that room was Till.
The end!