Chapter Text
“Hey, Till!”
Ivan’s voice cut through the hallway noise but, Till barely turned. He slowed his walk, glancing back just long enough to offer a half-smile —the polite kind, like you give a teacher, not a friend— then kept going.
Ivan frowned. Till was dressed differently today. His shirt was tucked in neatly, sleeves rolled, tie knotted too perfectly. Not bad, just… something perfect? Theatre-perfect perhaps?
Usually, Till would’ve shot back with a “Why’d you have to shout so loud?” But this time, just a smile. Small. Simple. Too calm.
“Hey,” Ivan tried again, “Where you headed? Don’t we have chem next?”
Till hesitated at the end of the hall, eyes unfocused, then said, “Yeah. I just need to run through something first.”
“Run through what?”
“Lines,” Till said simply, like that explained everything. Then he disappeared around the corner toward the auditorium.
Ivan stood there for a second, confused, then turned to a nearby locker where Hyuna was rummaging for her notebook. “Hey, what’s Till got next period?”
She didn’t look up. “Hey Ivan! Give me second… Oh yeah, Chemistry. Why?”
Ivan paused. “No reason. Just- thought so.”
The bell rang. Down the hall, the theatre doors clicked
**In Chemistry**
Where is Till? He is usually late for class but this late? It’s about to end, 15 minutes till the bell rings then lunch. Will he even be there at lunch? Maybe I’m overthinking it.
“Ivan? Are you alright? You keeping zoning out over here, the lab isn’t going to do itself, you know!” Said the girl with pink hair. She put her hands on her waist trying to get Ivan in line
It’s Mizi, maybe she’ll know “Hey do you know why Till is acting different lately?”
“He didn’t tell you? See I would tell you but it’s better he do this himself I mean he deserved what he got and probably will be glad if you first hear it from him.” Mizi said with an odd smile on her face? Maybe I shouldn’t question that. Hear what from him, did he get bullied by someone? Possibly beat up? No, the principal would call him in through the microphone for those kind of matters. *Ivan dragged a hand down his face, the way someone does when they can’t solve a puzzle meant for children.*
“Don’t overthink it Ivan, it’s a good thing I promise. Also maybe while he is talking don’t interrupt him, Till is probably going to practice every second he has. I mean he is Veron-”
**DING DONG DING DONG. (wait for it..) DING DONG DING DONG!!!**
Lunch, we’ll meet up then I’ll ask why he acting so different today, well not even today, the days before that. “Come on, get up. You’re gonna be last in line again, and then you’ll complain you didn’t get to talk to Till.”
“Wow, says the person who’d risk their life for Mizi before the danger even shows up.”
“Just get moving already, Mizi is waiting outside the door for you so we can walk to lunch.”
Sua said exhaustingly
“Okay ok, Little Miss. Mizi’s Universe..” *Ivan lifts his hands in the air as if he is surrendering to the police*
As all three of them walk into the hallway, Ivan catches by to see a strange movement in the auditorium. “Hey, I’m going to stay back a bit. I’ll catch up.”
“OKAY, see you at lunch Ivan!” Mizi called out, waved her hand while the other holding sua’s. Sua’s focus was all on Mizi, as always
Ivan takes a few steps near the doors of the auditorium. All the lights were dimmed down, while that one singular light beamed at the one below.
Till.
Till, he has that same expression he gave earlier.
But he is talking to an audience?
Even if so there is nobody to hear him?
Till raises his head from the floor, eyes straight at Ivan. Then their eyes meet.