Adrian froze at the doorway, fingers still curled around the handle. For a moment, he thought time really did stop. Because right there, standing in front of his house, holding a backpack, and looking so painfully out of place was Ivan.
What the hell was he doing here? Well, he had been pestering him about studying together for days.
It all started a few days ago. Ivan's classroom still half-empty. Adrian sat on Ivan's desk like he owned the place. He was spinning a pen between his fingers, watching the guy read like his life depended on it. The upcoming exams were turning everyone into zombies, but not Adrian. Tests were nothing to him, he didn't even need to try. He was the kind of student teachers bragged about and everyone else rolled their eyes at.
"Stop staring," Ivan muttered without even looking up, scribbling something down, his pen scratching against paper like it had a grudge.
"I don't want to," Adrian said easily, resting his cheek in his palm and a lazy grin tugging at his lips. "Ivan."
Ivan raised an eyebrow but didn't look away from his notebook. The tiny twitch of his brow was all the encouragement Adrian needed.
"Let's study together."
That made Ivan look up. His pen paused mid-sentence. Adrian's heart did something weird, like it skipped a beat but he pretended not to notice. His eyes flicked up, unreadable for a moment, before he simply said, flatly. "No."
Ouch.
Adrian blinked, still smiling but internally screaming. This guy. Seriously? If it weren't for that stupid bet, I'd never bother. How hard is it to just say yes?
"Why not?" Adrian pushed, leaning closer like a puppy that refused to take a hint.
"I don't want to," Ivan replied, turning another page like Adrian wasn't even there.
Adrian sighed dramatically and that was that. For the next few days, Adrian asked again. And again. And again. Until today, when he found Ivan sketching alone under a tree during recess.
Perfect setup, he thought.
Then, like an idiot, he jumped down from the tree branch above him, landing right in front of Ivan like some kind of discount Spider-Man. Ivan immediately shut his sketchbook with a thud.
Ivan blinked. "Didn't expect to see you here. Must be fate," Adrian said with his usual grin, brushing off some dust like that would hide how dumb he looked.
"…Were you on a tree?" Ivan asked, voice calm but the judgment in his tone was cutting.
"Glad you asked," Adrian said, eyes lighting up. "I was searching for a haunted treasure everyone's been talking about. And guess what I found instead?"
Ivan blinked once, unimpressed.
"A treasure that walks on two legs." Adrian smiled, finger pointing right at Ivan. "You."
Ivan stared for two seconds, then smacked him on the head with the sketchbook. "Ow—!" Adrian laughed, rubbing his head. "You gotta admit, that was a solid line though."
"I'm leaving." Ivan said, standing up but Adrian instinctively reached out. His fingers wrapping around his wrist before he could walk away.
"Ivan," he said softly, his grin faltering. "C'mon. Just once. Can't we study together?"
Ivan hesitated. His pulse stuttered, though his face stayed unreadable. "You don't need to study," he said finally. "You're already at the top."
"I cheated," Adrian said all of the sudden. That made Ivan pause.
He looked at Adrian properly this time. His expression not teasing nor cocky. Like the weight of something invisible sat on his shoulders.
"I'm serious," Adrian added, eyes flicking up. His grip loosening as he let go of Ivan's wrist "I needed the grades to stay perfect."
Ivan didn't say anything.
"My parents expect me to ace everything," Adrian continued, forcing a chuckle that came out more like a sigh. "I can't screw up." The playful mask slipped a little. His eyes weren't laughing anymore.
"Why?" Ivan asked before he could stop himself. "You're… good enough."
Adrian smiled faintly, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You'd think so. They brag about me, y'know? To everyone. I used to like it, the attention. But sometimes…" Adrian trailed off, his smile tightening. "Sometimes it's like breathing under water. You keep pretending you're fine, but you're running out of air."
For a moment, he was thirteen again.
In middle school, he'd gotten into a fight protecting Leon from some jerks. Nothing serious. Just a few punches thrown, a split lip and a bruise on his cheek. He thought his parents would be proud of him for standing up for someone.
He thought wrong. That afternoon, victory didn't taste sweet when he got home. Mom? Dad?" he had called, grinning despite the bruise on his cheek.
They turned to him with faces he couldn't read, expressionless and cold.
His father dragged a chair to the center of the living room. "Stand up here," he said calmly. Adrian blinked, confused, but did as told. His mom was smiling, too softly. Then he saw it, the leather belt in his father's hand.
"Dad? Why are you holding that?" His voice trembled.
"It's to discipline you properly," his father said, tone frighteningly even. "Hold your hands up. It's better for you to face the family picture."
Adrian's little heart started pounding too fast. "Mom?"
"It's okay, sweetheart," she said, still smiling. "This is what happens when children embarrass their parents. You'll remember to behave next time."
Then, crack. The belt hit the back of his legs. The sting shot up his spine. His breath hitched. He flinched so hard the chair wobbled. The sound of leather hitting skin echoed in his ears.
"Dad...it hurts," he whispered, tears burning his eyes.
"Just a few more," his father said, voice firm. "You'll learn."
The living room blurred through the tears. His arms shook from holding them up too long. He looked at the framed family photo, everyone smiling and wondered why the picture looked happier than the real thing.
"Adrian?" Ivan's voice broke the silence.