(JockEmo AU) Till is used to being invisible-the emo outcast who lurks in the back of class, headphones in, ignored by everyone except for whispers and ridicule. Ivan, on the other hand, is everything Till isn't: the golden boy, the flawless jock with a smile that wins the crowd every time. They're enemies by nature, always clashing, always pushing each other's buttons. So when a twist of fate (and some meddling from Mizi) forces them into a fake relationship, it feels like a cruel joke. Till wants nothing to do with Ivan's perfect mask. Ivan, however, has been obsessed with Till for years-and now he has the perfect excuse to keep him close. What begins as a plan to shut down rumors and survive the college spotlight slowly unravels into something neither of them expected. Between whispered fights in crowded hallways, stolen glances in study sessions, and the blurring line between acting and something painfully real, Till starts to wonder if Ivan's smile has always been fake... or if it's only real when it's directed at him. Enemies. Pretenders. Lovers in denial. This isn't just a game anymore- and neither of them is ready for the fallout.

At ALNST High, Till never expected to fall for someone who doesn't even have a heartbeat. But Ivan-quiet, cold, and hiding a deadly truth-is impossible to ignore. When Till discovers Ivan's secret, he's pulled into a world of blood, danger, and a connection deeper than either of them can explain. As forbidden feelings grow, so do the risks. But some bonds are written beneath the skin-where the pulse lives. Alongside them, Mizi and Sua fall quietly in love, while Luka, Hyuna, and Hyunwoo navigate tangled hearts of their own.

Ivan and Till have been best friends since childhood - inseparable, loyal, and seemingly unbreakable. But when they enter college together, the cracks in their bond begin to show. Ivan has harbored a deep, unspoken crush on Till for years, a quiet obsession that only intensifies as they grow older. Till, on the other hand, has these unfamiliar feeling. He doesn't even know what he feels anymore. While Ivan clings to their shared history and the illusion of something more, Till remains blissfully unaware or willfully ignorant, using Ivan's devotion as emotional support without realizing (or admitting) the damage it causes. Their friendship slowly turns toxic: full of emotional manipulation, guilt, dependency, and unbalanced love. Ivan can't let go, and Till can't give what Ivan needs. Eventually, the truth spills out - Ivan confesses. What follows is silence, distance, and a heartbreaking experience. Will they find love for one another? COVER ART CREDIT: @lucidkana on X This story is my idea, please don't steal from it.