Chapter Text
Till let out a sigh of frustration, trying his best to focus on his job and not the intense waves of nausea currently washing over him. He had no idea how he had suddenly contracted a stomach bug. His diet consisted of the same cheap, packaged foods on repeat, and if he was in a really tight spot, he would resort to sleeping instead of eating. On second thought, that habit may be why he’s currently in this situation. Or maybe it was drinking the so-called “mystery drinks” that his manager, Hyuna, would whip up late into the night and make him try as her guinea pig. I mean, he couldn’t exactly say no to this manager, could he?
His train of thought was cut off as two fingers appeared inches away from his face, angrily snapping. Crap, he totally forgot that he had customers!
“Hey, buddy!” A middle-aged man barked at him from behind the bar, slamming down his empty glass.. “You getting paid for this, or are you just here to do a shit job for free?”
Till bit back his anger and tried his best to plaster on a fake smile, gritting his teeth. Not worth it. Not tonight.
“I’m sorry, sir,” he said, voice flat but polite. “My mind wandered off for a second. What can I get for you?”
Till had bounced between more part-time jobs than he had cared to count, but no matter where he ended up, the number of annoying customers seemed to never come to an end. It was especially bad at the rundown bar he’d been stuck at for the past few months, where middle-aged alcoholics yelled orders at him like they owned the place. Some nights, their voices, their mannerisms, the way they slurred or snapped - all dragged his mind back to a place he never wanted to revisit.
He hated that.
He hated how much they reminded him of him .
“You can’t do anything right, can you, you damn dog?! You useless-!"
Till shook his head, snapping himself out of his memories.
There it was again. Enough!
Till didn’t know how much longer he could keep swallowing his words before something cracked. Before he lost his temper and ended up right back on the hunt for another job he didn’t want.
He really couldn’t afford to lose this one. When Till had found himself alone, without a place to say, he knew he had to act fast. He didn’t want to quit school completely, but he had almost been left without a choice. Just when he had nearly lost all hope - he found an ad posted online for a job as a bartender only forty minutes away from his campus. It was perfect really, too close to campus and he would have to deal with his annoying classmates coming in. The late night hours made it so he still had time for classes. Waking up at 7 a.m. on weekends to do homework until it was time to clock in wasn’t ideal, but he didn’t have the luxury of slacking off.
It was hard, but he was doing it. Who’s the useless one now?
Had he been overworking himself a tad ? Maybe. Had he now overworked himself to the point of sickness? Judging by the way his vision was going blurry - unfortunately, yes.
Till closed his eyes and tried to take deep breaths, swallowing back his nausea.
“Hello…?!” The customer snapped at him once more. “Can you believe this guy?!”
A girl giggled nearby. “Oh, let it go, Hal. He’s a cutie.”
Through his haze, Till could hear the man scoff. Two hands gently rested on both of his shoulders. He opened his eyes to see his manager’s concerned gaze fixed on him.
“Hey, Till,” Hyuna said softly, “you feeling okay?”
Till felt a twinge of embarrassment, bringing up a hand to wipe sweat off his forehead. “I’m sorry, I feel super weak all of a sudden. Would I be able to go to the restroom?”
“‘Course, kid, I’ll cover for you!” Hyuna gave him a confident smile.
Till gave her a grateful look before stumbling over to the restroom, trying not to collapse. He barely made it inside, slamming the door behind him before doubling over and throwing up, gasping for air. Shit, he’d totally caught something…
He got up slowly, clutching his stomach. He could do this; no cold was a match for him. There was no way he could miss any more shifts if he was to make rent. He shuffled over to the sink, splashing water on his face and taking in more deep breaths. He froze as he heard the sound of the door being pushed open.
A girl, looking to be about the same age as him, stood there staring at him. She had short black hair, pale skin, and cloudy purple eyes that were fixated right on him, as if she were quietly sizing him up. Did she hear me just now...?
It took him a second to realize that it was his newest coworker, Sua, who he had had a very brief introduction to the day prior between mixing drinks. There was a long stretch of silence between them. She didn't budge from her place in the doorway.
She finally spoke. “You okay?” she asked quietly, voice low but steady.
“Ah- yeah.” Till shifted, embarrassed. “Sorry you had to hear that… just a stomach bug.”
No reply. Till stood there sheepishly. Should he go back to work or continue in this awkward interaction…?
“You know,” Sua broke the silence, tilting her head, “you’re supposed to go home when you throw up on the job. Especially when you’re handling other people’s drinks.”
Till sighed and rubbed his temple. “I know, I know. I’m not trying to infect the whole place. But I can’t afford to miss any shifts, especially with rent coming up.”
“Rent?”
“Yeah, rent. You know, that thing you pay so you’re not homeless.”
She quietly scoffed. “I know what rent is. I just assumed you lived in the dorms…”
Till blinked in surprise. “You know that I’m a college student?” Hyuna had most likely told her. As much as Till liked his manager, she did tend to overshare.
Sua once more stared at him blankly. Till tugged at his collar, feeling his nausea come back up. I can’t tell what’s worse, how shitty I feel, or how awkward this is.
“Till, we go to the same school.”
“What…?” Till’s mouth parted in shock. “Oh! Sorry, I haven’t seen you around before! It’s such a big campus, and-!”
“I know, It’s not a big deal,” Sua interrupted. “Don’t get yourself worked up unless you want to throw up again.”
Till caught her muttering under her breath, “And I only recognized you because you’re always with that loud mouth…”
Their conversation was interrupted as their manager called out to them, looking frazzled. “You know you’re allowed to talk at the bar, right? Mind helping me out here?” Hyuna looked nervous, glancing at the large group gathered at the bar.
“Sorry, Hyuna!” Sua said in surprise, before quickly looking back towards Till. “Till, you can’t work like this. You’re going to collapse.”
“I really, really can’t miss any days,” Till said, desperation creeping into his voice.
Sua knit her brows and pulled Till off to the side. She was silent for a long moment, as if pondering something. Suddenly, she reached into her pocket and counted out money - the amount Till would make for the rest of his shift - and handed it to him.
“I know how it is. Go home and rest.”
“Wha- Sua, why- I can’t accept this!”
“This is just a loan, alright? Pay me back as soon as you get paid again. I’m not handing anything out.”
Till looked down at the money, swallowing hard. “I don’t know how to thank you enough…”
“You can thank me by going home,” she murmured. “I have to go. I’ll tell the manager that you had to leave early.”
Till watched as Sua walked swiftly back toward the bar, the money clutched tightly in his fist. There was no way he could take something like this… but there was also no way he could make it through the rest of his shift. He gritted his teeth, then sighed, finally admitting defeat, grabbing his bag and heading outside towards his bus stop.
As he stood waiting for the bus, his thoughts drifted back to Sua. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t recognized her earlier. Now that he thought about it, he had seen her around campus. She was well known. The silent, intimidating, straight-A type. And there was also some rumor always floating around about her, something about modeling…?
He hadn’t expected her to be so kind to him.
The bus ride home felt longer than usual. The money Sua gave to him weighed heavily in his pocket. She didn’t have to do that, he thought, staring out the window as streetlights passed in slow flickers. No one ever has.
His phone buzzed, interrupting his thoughts.
Landlord
Rent is due Monday. No excuses this time, or you know what happens.
Just great. Another buzz.
Ivan
Sent a reel by bruno_the_meme
Till stared blankly at the screen before shoving his phone back into his pocket, not responding to either. By the time he stepped inside his apartment, he was barely holding himself upright. He tossed his bag on the floor and collapsed onto the couch without even taking off his shoes. Within minutes, he was knocked out.
Before he knew it, two days had passed. His sickness ran its course, brutal, but thankfully fast. He spent most of the weekend half asleep, living off of the rest of his supply of instant ramen and ignoring texts from his landlord. By Sunday, the worst had passed. Nighttime came, and Till was unfortunately back to work. Not at his best, but at least not his worst.
He arrived at the bar, getting a warm greeting from Hyuna. Sua stood behind the bar, silently polishing glasses, giving only a singular glance in his direction. Till put his things down, getting behind the bar. He had no idea if he should make small talk. I mean, after what she did for him, he couldn’t just say nothing, could he?
Till cleared his throat. “So, does anyone else at school know that you work here…?”
Sua paused what she was doing, looking up and narrowing her eyes at him. Till cringed, getting the feeling he had said something he shouldn't have.
He put his hands up. “Whoa, I’m not gonna spread a rumor or something, I wouldn’t- I just meant I'm working here in secret myself.” He awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.
Sua went back to wiping her glass, taking in a deep breath. “It’s close enough to campus, but not so close that people from our college will come.”
Wow, we have the same train of thought.
“And, coincidentally, the hours here are perfect for students, the pay is enough to…” Sua bit her tongue, knitting her brows. “Some of us have to work to get by.”
Till let out a chuckle. “Yeah, tell me about it.”
In the back of his mind, Till couldn’t help but think about all the rumors floating around their campus that Sua was from a famous modelling agency. He didn’t want to pry, or be someone that even listened to rumors in the first place, but he couldn’t help but wonder how they ended up working in the same place. He caught himself looking at Sua’s troubled expression. She was constantly knitting her brows and staring at the floor.
He whistled, trying once more to break the silence. “Classes tomorrow are gonna suck-”
A voice cut him off, loud and grating.
“Hey, buddy!” The same man from his last shift yelled from behind the bar, waving his empty glass in the air. “We playing Guess Who's Incompetent? Are you finally gonna make me my goddamn drink, or are you gonna take another thirty-minute bathroom break first?”
Oh my god.
Till couldn’t hide his annoyed expression. He heard a soft giggle next to him, turning his head to see Sua covering her mouth.
“You know,” he scoffed, “you could make the drink for him too.”
“I think you’re his favorite. I wouldn’t want to interrupt.”
Till rolled his eyes.
The rest of the shift dragged on, with more annoying customers and over-the-top demands. Sua stayed quiet, her playfulness from earlier slipping back into that same distant, troubled look. She barely spoke, only nodding or murmuring when needed. As the night came to a close, they switched out with the later shift and stepped into the cool evening air outside the bar.
“I guess they put us on the same schedule on purpose,” Till said, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “Since we’re both students.”
Sua didn’t respond. He was starting to get used to it, at least.
I’m not even a talkative person. Why do I keep talking myself into a wall? Just stop talking, Till.
Till had to admit, he found Sua intimidating. Not just the way she carried herself, but also the fact that she’d quietly handed over a full shift’s worth of pay to help him, no questions asked. He still couldn't wrap his head around why she had done it. Right now, she looked like she wanted space. He started to walk towards his bus stop, not wanting to bother her. As he turned to give her a small wave goodbye, she suddenly crouched down, burying her face in her hands.
Till froze mid-step, perplexed. He hesitated, but then walked towards her. There was no way he could just walk away now.
“Not to bother you,” he said, crouching down beside her, “but… are you alright?”
Sua looked up, startled. Her eyes were glassy, blinking back tears. She wiped at them quickly.
“I’m fine,” she whispered. “Go home, Till.”
Till sat back on his heels. “Hey, you said that to me last time. Now I think it’s my turn.” He glanced around. “Do you, uh… not have a ride?”
Sua didn’t answer. She put her head back down.
“I mean, we could take the bus together?” he offered, then immediately regretted it. Oh, crap. I don’t even know where she lives. What if that sounds creepy?
He cleared his throat. “Only if you want to, of course.”
After a moment of silence, he heard Sua mutter under her breath.
“...None.”
“Sorry?”
She sighed, looking up at him once more. “I don’t have a… I…”
Till blinked. Is she saying what I think she’s saying…?
“Do you… Uh, not have a place to stay?”
Sua paused, her expression blank. “No... but I'll figure it out.”
Before he could respond, she stood and started walking away quickly, once more looking like she was blinking back tears.
"Sua- wait!" Till moved to follow, but before he could take a step, a voice came out of nowhere.
“Sua? Is that you?”
A tall, skinny guy, looking to be about the same age as them, emerged from the shadows near the parking lot. “Didn’t know you came to this bar too. Man, what are the chances?” He threw a judgmental glance Till’s way, sizing him up.
Shit. Till’s stomach dropped. This guy definitely goes to our school. I knew something like this was gonna happen.
“I don’t,” Sua said coldly, annoyance apparent. “I just came by to catch up with a family member who lives in the area.”
Quick thinking, nice!
“Oh, that’s chill, that’s chill…” The guy chuckled, inching closer. “Like your sister or something? Man, I didn’t know hotshot models hung out in normal bars like the rest of us.”
Sua didn't reply, but Till could see the way her jaw clenched at the mention of modeling.
He took a step forward, unsure of what to do. If someone from our school thinks we’re together, it’s gonna be bad news.
Before he could react, the guy reached out and latched onto Sua’s arm. Her expression turned into one of alarm, eyes widening.
“Let me give you a ride home,” he begged. “Not every day you run into a classmate this far from campus. It’s a sign, isn’t it?”
“Hey, don’t grab her!” Till yelled, getting ready to slam the guy into the pavement.
Through the commotion, the door to the bar swung open. Hyuna stepped out, cigarette between her lips. Her gaze flicked from Till to Sua to the guy with his hand on her arm. Her eyes narrowed.
“Excuse me, miss!” Hyuna called out sweetly, plastering a fake smile onto her face. “You left your purse inside the bar!”
Looking at Hyuna with pure relief, Sua shrugged off the man and quickly walked back inside the bar.
The guy frowned, clearly annoyed. “Uh, alright… guess I’ll see you around then,” he muttered, before sulking off into the dark parking lot, sending Till an angry glare.
Without missing a beat, Till turned around and followed Sua back inside. He didn’t want to give the guy a chance to remember his face. Please don’t let me ever run into this asshole on campus.
“Nice!” he exclaimed once he was inside, shooting Hyuna a grateful look. His grin faltered, though, when he saw the way Sua sat at the edge of the bar, looking grim. Hyuna gave him a knowing look.
“Ack- I mean…” His voice died out in his throat as he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
Hyuna stepped between them, giving Sua a comforting pat on the shoulder. “Hey, you guys both go to the same college, right?”
Till nodded slowly, unsure where she was going with this.
“Why don’t you go home together?” she continued. “It’s too dangerous to be out this late alone. Especially around here.” She turned to Sua, smiling. “Don’t worry, I promise Till’s a gentleman. He’ll protect you from all the creepers of the night. And if he tries anything, I’ll personally kick his butt!”
That earned a small smile from Sua, the first Till had seen from her. They made brief eye contact before both looked away.
They both said quick goodbyes to Hyuna, then stepped out into the night side by side. Till didn’t know what to say. Where exactly was Sua going to go? It sounded like she was in a bad spot right now. What happened to her? Did she get into an argument with whoever she was living with?
As they walked, she broke the silence. “This isn’t like me at all, but lately nothing has been…” She sighed.
Till glanced at her. “I don't judge for anything. I mean, I’m barely getting by, working at this crappy place, getting screamed at by alcoholics instead of going to parties, not the ideal life of a college student, right? But we get by…” Was that comforting at all…?
“I don’t think you would be going to parties either way.”
“Hey!”
Sua smiled again. They had arrived at Till's bus stop. He looked over at Sua awkwardly.
“So…” Till cleared his throat. “Are you just following me home…?
“That’s the question.” Sua put a hand to her forehead. “What am I doing? I haven't got a clue.”
“I don’t know the situation, but you know, if you don't have anywhere to stay..." Till hesitated, unsure if he should continue. "I live in an apartment five minutes away from here. It's a two-bedroom, the door locks-”
Sua cut him off, shaking her head. “That’s very kind of you, but I couldn't possibly.”
He frowned. “Where are you going right now?”
Sua said nothing.
The bus pulled up, its doors sliding open with a hiss. Till glanced at her as he stepped inside, and to his surprise, she followed.
“Just for tonight then,” she said quietly, settling into a seat beside him.
“Yeah, of course.”
Till tried to act casual, but internally, his mind was racing.
Is this really happening? My coworker- classmate, that I just met, is sleeping over? Crap, I haven’t cleaned anything. This is so awkward. And I mean, she’s a girl…! Is this really okay? And what happened to her that left her without a place to stay? Can I really just ask?
The bus carried on, and Till bit back all of his questions. It really wasn’t any of his business in the first place. It was just a favor. Looking out the window, he caught view of his apartment complex.
“Ah- this is my stop,” Till said, standing up quickly.
Sua followed him outside of the bus, the night air cool against their skin.
So... I guess this is really happening?
Till awkwardly motioned to the apartment structure in front of them.
“I live in a two-bedroom, on the sixth floor. You have to climb a lot of stairs. Wish it was one of those fancy ones with an elevator.” He joked lightly, trying to ease the heavy mood in the air.
Sua didn't reply. After climbing up what felt like just about a million stairs in silence, they had finally arrived on Till’s floor.
“612 is my apartment number,” Till coughed out, trying not to sound out of breath. “Just down the hall.”
Sua nodded at him, not looking the least bit tired, expression still neutral. Till felt a twinge of embarrassment. I have got to start hitting the gym… not that I can afford the membership.
When they arrived, Till immediately apologized as he opened the door. “Sorry about the mess.” The place was cluttered and unkempt, with empty water bottles and dishes lying around.
Sua stood at the door, examining everything with an unreadable expression.
“Uh, so... you can sit down on the couch while I get some things for you.” Till motioned towards his old couch against the wall. Sua slowly walked over and sat down, still silent.
Was it beat up and old? Yes, but that’s why he covered it in blankets. Did he get it for 70% off at a yard sale? Yes, it’s called being smart. Did he almost break his back carrying it up the stairs? Yes, but luckily his neighbors had offered to help him take it up after he collapsed on, well, the second floor. Was he embarrassed to have someone else sitting on it? Yes…
He shuffled through some boxes in the closet, pulling out old blankets and laying them on the bed in the unoccupied room. “Here,” he said, gesturing awkwardly. “This should do. Luckily, the spare room already has a bed in it and everything. The door locks, and the bathroom is just down the hall.”
Sua looked up at him.
“Till…?” She finally spoke. “Sorry about all of this.”
“Don’t be sorry. Like you said the other day, I owe you.”
She glanced around the room. “I forgot to ask, who else lives here?”
“No one at the moment. I’m trying really hard to find another roommate.” Till sighed. “I took this place because it was way closer to school than my last one, but without a roommate, I have to pay the full rent by myself, which is crazy!”
Sua looked around. “How much are you paying for this place?”
“Supposed to be $700 a month, but right now it's $1400.”
“$700-?” Her eyebrows went up in surprise. “The price of staying in the dorms is 2000 per month…!”
“I know! Crazy how people can afford to stay there! And the price of the meal plan is insane, don’t even get me started…” He glanced over at his food supply of instant ramen and instant meals, trying not to grimace.
“I looked like crazy for a place like this, but the rent is killing me.” Till continued. “I need to find a roommate or-” He caught his tongue before he could say that he would be homeless, which seemed kind of insensitive at the moment. “No days off, no breaks. I spend all my time before work doing homework. It's really wearing me down…”
Sua remained silent, looking lost in thought. Till felt a surge of embarrassment for going off on a rant like that. But it was true, he really had reached his limit. And without Sua, he most likely would have been on the street… He really owed her.
He cleared his throat. “I’ll just be sleeping in the other room. I have classes at eight, so I’ll be up and out pretty early. Just holler if you need anything.” He gave an awkward smile before closing the door and walking back to his room.
Till most likely should have had trouble sleeping that night, having a complete stranger, a girl nonetheless, sleeping in the room across from him. But he couldn’t deny that he was always knocked out after his late-night bar shifts. He was asleep minutes after his head hit the pillow. Morning came fast, and with an 8 a.m. class looming, Till groggily got ready, debating whether to wake Sua or just leave her a note. To his surprise, when he entered the kitchen, she was already awake, sitting at the coffee table.
As soon as she saw him, she stood and took a deep breath. “Fine. I’ll do it.”
Till blinked in confusion. “Um… pardon?”
“I’ll live with you,” she said firmly. “Let’s split the rent fifty-fifty. That way, we can both get out of this nightmare and focus on our studies.”
Till froze, mouth agape in disbelief.
No way. Sharing an apartment with a girl? Seriously? What am I supposed to do? This is a disaster waiting to happen... and she’s my classmate! Is she being serious?
Sua raised an eyebrow. “Any objections?”
Till couldn't help but be intimidated by her boldness. “What about where you live now?” He asked hesitantly.
“Till, I told you... I’m homeless.”
Till’s eyes widened. He had assumed she had gotten into a fight with her family or roommates, but she really had nowhere to live? A million questions raced through Till’s mind, but before he could ask, Sua cut off his train of thought.
“I’d prefer not to discuss anything personal. So… Do you agree to my terms?”
“Um, what terms?” Till questioned, “You mean… being roommates, Sua?”
Without hesitation, Sua extended her hand.
Till stared at it for a moment, biting his tongue. Well, he did need a roommate. But a classmate, coworker, and more importantly - a girl? Still, she had just told him that she was homeless. Until he figured out what was really going on, she could stay. He couldn’t just kick her out onto the street. He hesitated, staring at her, before slowly extending his hand to meet hers. He shook her hand.
Till tried to sort out his thoughts. “Uh, but you need a key, and time to bring in all of your stuff-”
Sua cut him off, taking off her backpack. “I have all my things right here.”
Till blinked, unsure of what to say. Did she run away or something?! Can I even ask…?
Interrupting his thoughts, his phone alarm went off in his pocket. He looked at the time. It was already 7! “Shit!” Till exclaimed, hurriedly rushing to grab all his things. “I have to go to class! Um- uh!”
“We can meet on campus and head back together, make a copy of your key, and discuss splitting rent. I have your number from the work group chat.” Sua spoke as if she had already rehearsed the entire conversation the night before.
“Alright, well-!” Till glanced at his phone before pulling a sweatshirt over his shoulders. “Then- later!” He exclaimed, running out the door.
He miraculously managed to catch the bus, barely making it to class on time. He walked through the entrance of his lecture looking like he’d just rolled out of bed - hair sticking up in all different directions, rumpled clothes, still feeling out of it from the weekend’s sickness.
Sitting down, he tried to focus, but his mind kept spiraling. This is crazy. None of this makes sense. Sua- does she really expect to move in? Before we even talk to the landlord? What the hell am I getting myself into? How long is she planning to stay?
He felt a pencil poke into his shoulder. He clicked his tongue in annoyance, turning to see the source.
“Agh-! What are you doing?!” He pushed away the pencil, flushing slightly as people looked over at them. He had been too lost in thought to notice the man who had taken a seat next to him.
Ivan smirked at him. "Someone's grumpy today. Are you still in your pajamas?”
Till looked away, embarrassed. “I caught a bad cold over the weekend. I'm still not back to normal.”
“Are you going to infect me?” The other man teased.
Till scoffed. “You’d like that, wouldn't you? Just focus on the lecture.”
I swear this guy picked this class just to bother me. It doesn't even match up with his major!
As their professor arrived and the lecture began, Till found himself unable to focus. He sank down in his chair, tapping his pen against his leg and muttering to himself.
This is insane. She was serious about moving in. She said it so calmly, too - like it’s normal to just room with some guy you barely know. She didn’t even blink.
And what am I supposed to do? Draw up a contract? Get one of those roommate chore lists?! 'Hey, I've got dishes tonight if you do laundry tomorrow!' Seriously?!
A pencil poked his arm. Again.
“Till,” Ivan whispered, leaning over. “Are you good?”
“Huh?” Till blinked. “Yeah. Yeah, fine.”
Ivan eyed him, unconvinced.
“I told you, I caught a cold this weekend,” Till muttered, rubbing his temple. “Still foggy.”
“You’re foggy every Monday.”
Till rolled his eyes and sank lower into his seat.
There’s no way this is real. Sua can’t actually be moving in. Right? Maybe she was half-joking. Or maybe I hallucinated it from fever dreams. Maybe I finally lost my temper on the asshole at the bar. We got into a fight, and then he knocked me out hard, and I’m still dreaming. Is she okay…? I mean, it seems like she’s been kicked out of somewhere. All her belongings in a single, tiny backpack? How is she even going to school, or work?
A pencil poked him once more. For the third time.
“Dude!” Till yelled, springing up in his seat. “I’m gonna take that pencil, and jam it up-!” His voice caught in his throat as people once more turned and stared. He realized people were packing up and getting ready to leave. No way, his class was over?
“You just zoned out through an entire fifty minute lecture.” Ivan was staring at him once more. “What’s going on with you?”
Till sighed. “Nothing's going on. You know I suck at school. Let’s just go.”
Till slung his bag over his shoulder as he and Ivan made their way out of the classroom. His head still felt like static. He spotted a head of bright pink hair walking down the corridor… towards him?
Why is Mizi coming toward us?!
“Oh, it's Mizi," Ivan perked up, grinning. “We’re in student council together now. She’s cool.”
“Dude, what?! Since when have you been in the student council? You’re on the football team!”
Mizi, who had caught Till’s eye since the first day of school, was now only a few steps away. And she was looking right at him.
Or rather, looking at Ivan.
Of course.
Ivan greeted her easily, and they slipped into a casual conversation. Till hovered next to them awkwardly, trying not to fidget with the frayed edge of his sleeve.
Okay, so she’s not here for me. That makes more sense.
Too distracted by Mizi, he had failed to notice the shorter girl trailing behind her. A pair of cloudy purple eyes locked onto his. The exact same ones he had seen the morning before he left for school.
Sua was there, wide-eyed, looking equally as shocked as Till.
That’s where I know her from.
She’s always with Mizi. They’re literally always together - how did I not realize that sooner? He mentally kicked himself. God, I’m such a dumbass.
Ivan, blissfully unaware, turned slightly and gestured to Till.
“This is Till, by the way. Senior, just like us.”
Mizi’s eyes lit up as she turned towards Till. “Nice to meet you!”
Till’s voice caught in his throat. “Oh… y-yeah! Nice to meet you…!”
Mizi turned towards Ivan once more, glancing between him and Sua. “Oh- Sua, you and Ivan are already friends, aren’t you?”
Till’s eyebrows shot up. What?!
Sua let out a sigh. “I wouldn’t say friends.”
…Life was about to get much more complicated, wasn’t it?