The next morning, the sky was still tinged in shades of pale gray when Ivan stepped through the school gates. The air carried the bite of lingering dawn chill, threading through his dark hair and tugging faintly at the neatly folded tie of his uniform. His steps echoed faintly across the empty courtyard with measured, deliberate as though even the ground knew not to rush him.
This quiet was why he came early. The school at this hour wasn't yet suffocating with laughter, chatter, or the endless buzz of adolescent drama. It was still. Breathable. His world, for a short while.
He made his way up the hallway, his polished shoes clicking against the tiled floor and entered his classroom. The familiar routine came next. Backpack set neatly on his desk, lights flicked on one by one, windows opened just enough to let the crisp air seep inside. The silence wrapped around him like a second skin.
Until it wasn't silent anymore.
"As expected," a voice drifted lazily from the doorway, soft but carrying a certain brightness. "You're the type to come to school at a time like this."
Ivan didn't react. His back stayed turned as he finished adjusting the window latch. Like he hadn't heard a thing.
Adrian leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed casually, a faint crease between his brows when Ivan didn't bother acknowledging him. Ignoring me? Really? Adrian thought, keeping his smile in place as though nothing touched him.
It was only when Adrian's footsteps padded closer, slow but deliberate, that Ivan finally turned his head. Their eyes met fully for the first time, and Adrian stumbled half a step back, thrown off guard by the force of Ivan's gaze.
He'd seen Ivan from afar plenty of times, but never this close. And up close—God. His lashes were ridiculously long, framing dark eyes that seemed carved to contrast against his sharp features. Adrian's gaze slipped lower before he realized, lingering for a fraction too long at Ivan's mouth.
Wait, what the hell am I thinking? He shook the thought off, forcing himself back into his usual grin.
"Why are you here?" Ivan's voice cut through the haze, low and steady. No warmth, no curiosity, just a question, clipped.
Adrian dragged a hand through his blonde hair, feigning nonchalance. "Nothing. Just thought I'd say hi, so I came early and—"
But Ivan, apparently satisfied, turned away before Adrian could even finish, walking back to his seat. He sat down, opened a book, and the entire exchange was dismissed as if Adrian had been nothing more than a passing shadow.
Adrian's hand curled loosely into a fist at his side, though he smoothed it out with a sigh, lips curving into that easy smile again. He slid onto the desk across from Ivan, spinning to face him directly.
"It's been a while since someone's been this cold to me," he muttered, half to himself. His voice carried anyway.
Ivan didn't even glance up. Pages turned with a steady rustle.
"Hey," Adrian tried again, tapping his knuckles lightly against the desk.
Ivan looked up this time, brows faintly pinched. Adrian caught the confusion there, the unspoken why are you still here?
"I'm here to chat," Adrian explained with a grin, leaning forward on his elbows.
"Why?" Ivan's tone was flat.
Adrian's grin widened, though his chest tightened at the iciness in Ivan's stare. "Don't be so cold. It's just us here, yeah?"
The response was a sharper glare, cutting enough to make Adrian let out a quick chuckle, hands raised in mock surrender. "Relax, I'm joking."
A shaft of early sunlight filtered through the window, casting pale light across Ivan's profile. Adrian's smile faltered for the briefest second. This guy, if not for the rumors circling him, if not for the wall he built around himself, he could easily rival Adrian for popularity. Maybe even surpass him.
"It's simply because you catch my interest," Adrian admitted at last, grin flickering back into place. The silence that followed was deafening. Even the caw of a bird outside felt like mockery.
Ivan, unimpressed, lowered his gaze back to his book.
"Hey, come on," Adrian leaned forward, daring, and pressed a hand against the cover, closing it gently but firmly. Ivan's eyes snapped up, sharp as glass.
"Sorry, sorry," Adrian said quickly, though his hand lingered, awkwardly refusing to let go. "I'll talk properly this time. Don't get mad, okay?"
Ivan said nothing, but his stare made it clear he wasn't impressed.
"By the way, I'm Adrian. But I guess you already know that."
A faint hum left Ivan, a simple "Mn," before his gaze flicked to Adrian's hand still on his book.
"But you can call me Ian," Adrian went on, unfazed. "Fun fact, only close people call me that." He flashed a dazzling smile, the kind that usually melted resistance instantly.
Ivan, however, remained unmoved. His silence was louder than words.
Adrian's temples throbbed faintly. It's like talking to a damn statue… he thought, though his outward expression never slipped from charming. He was about to push further when voices spilled into the hallway.
The first few students began trickling into the classroom. The chatter faltered as their eyes landed on Adrian. Adrian? while sitting across from Ivan. Whispers sparked immediately. Murmurs of disbelief.
Adrian straightened, brushing invisible dust from his uniform as though nothing were out of the ordinary. He greeted the newcomers with his signature easy smile, then looked back at Ivan.
"Guess I'll see you later," he said lightly, waving a hand before strolling out.
Ivan's gaze lingered on the spot Adrian had vacated, the quiet once again swallowing the classroom. His jaw tightened as he reopened his book.