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English
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Published:
2025-10-21
Completed:
2025-10-31
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2,448
Chapters:
3/3
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39
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302
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“Why do you like me?”

Summary:

Ivan wants to confess his feelings for Till.

His friends wants to help him.

Till has no idea why these jocks are harassing him.

Notes:

Usually I like to post completed fics, I’ll try my best to post the next part (hope nothing bad happens to me)

think this fic will have 3 chapters^^

Also might change the title

(also also if i didn’t reply to your comment i just didn’t know how to reply back )

Chapter 1: Weird encounters

Chapter Text

 

 

It’s been a weird day for Till.

 

Weirder than usual.

 

He’s used to the looks. The double-takes. How people around him talked behind his back.

 

But today, the stares are coming from one specific group. (Cough jocks cough)

 

At first, it was subtle.

 

——

 

Math class, 3rd period.

 

Till can feel someone staring a hole on the back of his head. He looks behind him without being obvious.


Dewey.

 

Two rows back. Mouth open. Eyes narrowed.


Looking like he's trying to solve him instead of  the equation on the board.

 

‘The hell did I do?’ Till thought before turning back around and going back to solving some equations he had been struggling with.

 

——

 

 

History class, 4th period.

 

Hyunwoo. The gentle giant with arms the size of Till’s entire torso. Who’s currently sitting to his right.


Who has been “accidentally” dropping his pen.


Again.

 

And again.

 

And again.

 

Each time he leans down to pick it up, he glances at Till’s notebook.

 

Which currently has a very unflattering sketch of their history teacher as a medieval bard with a receding hairline.

 

“….”

 

Till slides the notebook off the desk.


Hyunwoo’s pen drops a fourth time.

 

‘If this guy dislocates a shoulder trying to sneak another peek, I’m not responsible.’

He thought before resuming to making another sketch.

 

——

 

Then there’s Acorn, linebacker who once tried to bench-press the principal’s car for a challenge.

 

Same guy who had walked into a door, muttering something about “forbidden crushes.”

 

 

——

 

Now? They’re escalating to interactions.

 

He was not used to this.

 

Till’s slamming his locker shut, earbuds dangling, when Acorn appears in front of him.

 

‘Holy shit he scared me,’ Till held his beating heart, hand clutching his chest.

 

“Hey, Till, do you uhm… like somebody.”Acorn blurts, face already redder than the team’s jerseys.

 

‘The hell is this guy.’

 

“I mean—uh do you like somebody. Who likes... people?”

 

‘Holy fuck is this guy on drugs’

 

“How would you act if a black hair guy with a snag tooth asked you out?”

 

“…”

 

‘That description sounds familiar…’

 

“Are you talking about Ivan?”

 

Acorn panics and starts doing some hand movements to distract

 

"Uh—n-no! I mean, hypothetically! Totally hypothetical! Like, if some guy like that y'know?—wanted to, uh, ask you out. What would you say?"

 

"I'd probably say yes? If I liked him back," Till replied slowly, trying to figure out if this was some elaborate prank.

 

"Why are you asking me this? Did someone put you up to it?"

 

"N-nope! Just... curiosity! Gotta go! Practice!” Acorn stammered before running off.

 

‘What a weird encounter’

 

 

——

 

Lunch

 

Till grabbed his usual spot at the edge of the room, away from the main crowds, popping in his earbuds to drown out the noise.

 

He was midway through a sandwich when a shadow loomed over his table.

 

Dewey. Again.

 

The guy slid into the seat across from him without invitation, flashing a grin.

 

"Yo, Till! Mind if I join? Cool, cool."

 

Till pulled out one earbud, eyeing him warily.

 

"Do I have a choice?"

 

Dewey laughed loudly earning  a few glances from nearby tables.

 

"Nah, man, just wanted to chat. About... stuff. Like, dating stuff. You into that?"

 

Till nearly choked on his bite. 'What is with these guys today?'

 

He swallowed, composing himself. "Dating stuff? Since when are you the love guru?"

 

Dewey leaned in, lowering his voice to what he probably thought was conspiratorial.

 

"Hypothetically speaking if someone asks you out, how would you want them to do it? Flowers? Serenade? Big romantic gesture?"

 

"Uh... I don't know. Just ask normally? No need to be extra." Till shrugged, but his mind was racing.

 

'Is this about Ivan? No way. Why would the jocks care?'

 

Dewey nodded vigorously, scribbling something on a napkin.

 

"Normal. Got it. Nothing too much. Cool, man. Thanks!" He stood up abruptly, napkin clutched in his fist, and went back to the jock table across the room where Hyunwoo, Acorn, and a couple others people (wait was that Mizi, the cheer captain who hung with them?)who were huddled, shooting not so subtle glances Till's way.

 

Till sighed, popping his earbud back in.

 

 

 

Chapter 2: “So let me be yours”

Notes:

Wow I actually posted the second chapter

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

 

 

To escape from getting question by the (annoying) jocks again, Till retreated behind the school, his usual quiet spot where he smoked some cigarettes.

 

He exhaled smoke and leaned against the brick wall.

 

‘Final some peace.’

 

Until.

 

“Hey, have you seen Till?”

 

The voice echoed around the corner.

 

‘Why the fuck is someone here!?!’ Till screamed internally.

 

He flicked his cigarette aside and looked around in panic.

 

His eyes scanned the area frantically, looking for any exit, any way out of this mess.

 

No way in hell would he hide in a  dumpster, the doors to enter the building were locked and the fence in front of him where to high to climb.

 

‘I’m fucked.’

 

“Ah! Till! Is that you?”

 

Mizi rounded the corner, her ponytail bouncing, smile bright enough to blind him.

 

The cheer captain herself was in front of him (and apparently the jocks’ accomplice.)

 

“I was looking everywhere for you!” she said smiling, hands clasped behind her back.

 

‘Wow. She really smiles like the sun.’ Till thought.

 

“Uh… what’s up?”

 

“Just wanted to ask if you’re doing something after school.” Mizi said innocently.

 

Till blinked. “After school?”

 

“Yeah!” she beamed. “We—uh someone wanted to know.”

 

That someone set off alarm bells in his head.

 

“I have work,” Till said quickly. “Part-time at a cafe. Gotta help my mom out.”

 

Mizi’s face softened for a moment.

 

“That’s really sweet of you,” she said.

 

Then, her cheeriness snapped back into place. “But, hypothetically—if someone, say, Ivan wanted to walk you home after—”

 

Till nearly dropped his lighter.

 

“…Ivan?”

 

Mizi froze, realizing she’d said the quiet part out loud.

 

“Uh—I mean—what? Who said Ivan? Not me! Haha, crazy, right?” She laughed nervously, already backing away. “Anyway, good luck with work! Byeee!”

 

She bolted, leaving Till staring after her.

 

‘Okay,’ he thought, rubbing his temples. ‘Something’s definitely going on.’

 

 

——

 

 

He walked to his workplace, a small café two blocks from school.

 

The longer he thought about everything that had happened, the less any of it made sense.

 

‘What is this, a social experiment?’ he thought, pushing open the café door.

 

The smell of coffee and warm pastries hit him.

 

“Hey, Till!” called one his coworker from behind the counter. “You’ve got table duty today. The usual crowd’s already coming in.”

 

“Got it.” he said, tying on his apron.

 

He grabbed a tray and turned to the seating area — and immediately froze.

 

At the corner table sat Dewey, Hyunwoo, and Acorn. Still in their letterman jackets.

 

Still trying (and failing) to look casual.

 

‘You have got to be kidding me.’

 

Dewey waved like a man spotting a long-lost friend. “Yo, Till! Fancy seeing you here!”

 

Till stared flatly. “You guys followed me.”

 

“What? Noooo,” Acorn said, eyes darting everywhere except at Till. “We’re just… here to… support local business?”

 

Hyunwoo, bless him, nodded too fast. “We like coffee.”

 

They all had identical, untouched cups in front of them. One of them even had some a slice of cake.

 

Till sighed. “You guys are terrible liars.”

 

Before they could come up with another excuse, the door jingled again.

 

Ivan walked in.

The second he walked in, the jocks froze.


Dewey’s eyes went wide. “Abort mission.”he hissed.

 

Acorn nearly knocked over his untouched coffee. “He’s here early!”

 

Hyunwoo whispered, “Code Red!” for some reason no one understood.

 

Till just blinked, deadpan. “What the fuck is Code Red.”


But before anyone could answer, Ivan’s gaze found him, and the three jocks immediately sprang into action.

 

“Well, uh, great coffee, huh?” ‘You didn’t even drink your cofee…’ Dewey said loudly, standing up so fast his chair squeaked. “We should go, guys.”

 

“Yup! Gotta, uh, lift things!” Acorn added.

Hyunwoo nodded solemnly. “Many things.”


And just like that, they scrambled out of the café, leaving Ivan standing by the door and Till standing by the counter, utterly unimpressed.

 

The bell jingled again as the door closed behind the jocks.

 

Ivan hesitated for a moment, then walked toward Till.

 

“Hey,” he said, stopping a few feet away.

 

Till crossed his arms. “If you’re here to ask to ask another “hypothetical question”, I’m walking out.”

 

Ivan let out a small laugh.

 

‘Fuck. How can someone laugh be so cute’

 

“No hypotheticals this time,” Ivan said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I think we’ve had enough of those for one day.”

 

Till raised an eyebrow. “You think?”

 

“So, what’s all this actually about?” He continued.


Ivan looked at him like he was the only thing that mattered in the world,his gaze almost adoring. (It is you’re just a fucking dumbass)



“I like you, Till.”

 

Till blinked. “…You what?”

 

“I like you,” Ivan repeated, and his grin turned a little self-conscious. “Have for a while, actually. The guys found out and well, you’ve seen how helpful they are.”

 

Till stared at him, unreadable. “So the staring, the pen dropping, Mizi cornering me behind the school…”

 

Ivan groaned. “Yeah. That was them. I tried to tell them not to do anything, but—”

 

“—they did everything,” Till finished for him.

 

“Pretty much.”

 

For a moment, there was silence.

 

Till leaned against the counter, studying him. Ivan stood there, hands in his pockets. (Pretending like his heart wasn’t trying to beat its way out of his chest.)

 

“So…” Till said slowly. “What exactly do you want me to do with that information?”

 

Ivan took a step closer, smiling. “You could start by saying yes.”

 

Till frowned, though there was a spark of amusement in his eyes. “Yes to what?”

 

Ivan met his gaze, steady this time. “To me.”

 

A pause.

 

“Let me be yours. Your boyfriend.”

 

Till blinked, stunned for half a second. His brain stalled.

 

‘Fuck. That is one of the most romantic thing anybody has said to me’

 

“…You just say that to people? Like it’s nothing?”

 

Ivan chuckled. “Only when I mean it.”

 

Till felt his face heat up, just a little, which annoyed him more than anything. “You’re ridiculous.”

 

“Maybe,” Ivan said, grin widening, “but you’re still smiling.”

 

“I’m not.” Till shot back too quickly.

 

“You are.”

 

Till huffed, looking away, muttering, “You’re lucky you’re good looking.”

 

Ivan leaned in just a little, voice low. “So that’s a yes?”

 

Till glared up at him, not that it did much.

“Buy a coffee first. Then we’ll see.”

 

Ivan grinned like he’d just won a lottery. (He did)“Deal.”

 

——

 

Outside, he could see three familiar heads high-fiving each other, probably congratulating themselves on their “master plan.” He shook his head with a reluctant smile, before returning back to his work.

——

Notes:

Time to yap

1. Next chapter will prob be the next day, don’t know if I want them to reveal their relationship or not

2. While writing the “let me be yours” part I was replaying a part of a song called “Come back” by The five StairSteps in my mind lol
(I know it’s “let me be your fool and not “yours” )

3. Why does till work in a cafe?
Cuz I was eating some pastries and I thought “I wanna see till in an apron” so yeah ( I like Chouquettes and pain au raisin)

Chapter 3: “Babe”

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

 

The next day the hallways were crowded with the usual chaos of students rushing to get to class.

 

Till slung his bag over his shoulder and walked through the sea of people, his earbuds securely in place, trying to block out the noise trying to reach his locker.

 

“…”

 

He could already feel eyes on him.

 

But this time, they weren’t the usual curious or judgmental stares.

 

They were Ivan’s.

 

Leaning casually against Till’s locker like he owned the place.

 

“There’s my favorite person.”

 

Till froze mid-step. “You mean your only person stupid enough to tolerate you in the early morning.”

 

“Still counts.”

 

Till sighed, unlocking his locker. “Do you practice these lines, or do they just fall out of your mouth naturally?”

 

He wondered what happened to the sweet Ivan that had confessed to him just yesterday.

 

Ivan tilted his head, pretending to think. “Natural talent, babe.”

 

“Don’t call me that.”

 

Ivan leaned closer, voice softer now, all teasing gone. “Then what should I call you?”

 

He mumbled, “Just Till.”

 

Ivan smiled like it was the prettiest name he’d ever heard. “Till” he repeated quietly.

 

Till shut his locker a bit too forcefully. “You’re insufferable.”

 

“You love it.” Ivan said.

 

Till turned to glare, but Ivan was already smiling that slow, lovesick kind of smile that made his stomach do flips.

 

He hated how good Ivan was at this.

 

But maybe he hated himself more for liking it.

 

The bell rang, finally.

 

Till walked past Ivan, careful not to brush sleeves, because that would be admitting something and headed toward his classroom.

 

Ivan followed two steps behind, humming the chorus of whatever leaked from Till’s earbuds.

 

“Stop that.” He muttered.

 

“Stop what?” Ivan asked, all innocence.

 

“I’m just walking my boyfriend to class.”

 

Boyfriend. Why did that word make him happy.

 

Till felt heat crawl up his neck.

 

“Say it louder,” he hissed. “I don’t think the janitor heard.”

 

Ivan’s grin sharpened. “Till has a boyfriend” he whispered to Till ears. “His name is Ivan and he’s very handsome.”

 

“Shut up”

 

——

 

 

Till pushed through the cafeteria doors, tray in hand, aiming for his seat in the corner.

 

The plan lasted exactly three seconds.

 

Ivan was already there, his corner table, standing on the bench smiling the second his eyes landed on Till.

 

“Till!” he shouted, waving both arms. “Over here, babe!”

 

Till nearly dropped his tray.

 

Half the room turned. Someone choked on on their water.

 

‘Why am I in a relationship with him…’

 

He speed walked over, slid into the seat Ivan had saved (right next to him, of course), and immediately regretted every life choice that led to this moment.

 

“Hi.”

 

‘This man has no shame’

 

“Also, I sent my friends away so I could enjoy my time with you,” Ivan said while sliding an arm around Till’s shoulders like it belonged there

 

 

“I don’t care.” Till muttered, stabbing the sausage in his plate.

 

His thumb traced a lazy circle on Till’s sleeve.

 

Till kept his eyes on the tray. If he looked up, Ivan would see the flush crawling up his neck.

 

He wasn’t giving him the satisfaction.

 

 

——

 

 

Not even ten minutes later, the jocks return.

 

Dewey slid into the opposite bench, “We gave you space. You’re welcome.”

 

Acorn plopped down beside him, tray clattering. “We even timed it. 9 minutes of privacy. Romantic, right?”

 

Till wanted to choke these men.

 

 

 

 

——

 

 

 

The next morning, Till woke to the buzz of his phone on the nightstand.

 

He squinted at the screen. A string of texts from an unknown number.

 

Unknown: morning babe

Unknown: practice starts at 6, coach is killing us

Unknown: wish u were here

Unknown: ヽ(*´＾｀)ﾉ

Unknown: (attached: blurry selfie of Ivan mid-push-up, sweat dripping, jersey clinging)

 

Till stared at the photo longer than necessary. Before saving it.

 

He typed back.

 

Till: wrong number

Till: also stop calling me babe

 

The reply was instant.

 

Ivan: nope

Ivan: right number

Ivan: babe babe babe babe babe

 

Till groaned into his pillow.

Notes:

Wow I actually posted chap3

I’m proud of myself

Uh

Hoped you enjoyed

👅

Time to yap
-i finish this story coz school was starting again and I knew it would be on my ass. And I knew I would prob not have the time (and energy) to finish (I’m also a lazy person 😔)
-I wanna make a fic entirely in French mais je suis nul en français 💔désolé je ne sais pas prq je dis ça sur AO3