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To say Ivan is infatuated would be an understatement.
When Sua had moved into the valley for her girlfriend, Mizi, Ivan couldn’t understand the process behind that decision. He can’t imagine living in the rural country, where there is nothing but dirt, animals, and farmland that stretches for miles. But Sua had been happy with the decision — happy for the first time in years — and Ivan supposes that he doesn’t need to intervene.
Eventually, he visited her one day out of curiosity. He wanted to see the small quaint town that she moved into, the one that had captured her heart away from the city, even though he was probably the last person that should be visiting any countryside.
It was only meant to be a short stay — one day at maximum. Then Ivan saw him for the first time, working in the fields, and suddenly, the countryside wasn't all too bad.
Till is quite the character. Loud-mouthed and brash, impulsive and passionate. He was similar to a hissing cat when Ivan had first arrived on his farm, but now, Ivan’s presence was so normal that all he does is heave a sigh when Ivan comes wandering down the hill into his little farmland.
“Go feed the animals and milk the cows,” Till says flatly, pointing to the barn, “and give them pets while you do.”
Ivan is so unequivocally besotted that he would listen to any and all of Till’s commands without a second’s hesitation. “Will do,” he says immediately, rolling up his sleeves. “Will you have breakfast with me after?”
Till grumbles something under his breath but manages a begrudging nod. Ivan beams, practically skipping as he makes his way to the barn.
Ivan, living in the city for as long as he had, was not, in fact, cut out for farmwork when he first started. He didn’t exactly enjoy being knee-deep in cow shit or working for hours under the blistering hot sun when the most labor-intensive job he has done was maintaining the same pose in front of a camera for five consecutive takes before the photographer decides that the angle was too wrong.
Sure, he’s fit. Sure, he exercises regularly. Nothing, however, could have prepared him for the long, grueling hours spent hoeing down a field in the peak of summer heat, unable to take his shirt off because Till would start throwing things at him if he did.
Ivan opens the door to the barn, immediately swarmed by a group of chickens. They’re familiar with him now with how often he is sent here. “Hello Luna, Astra, everyone,” he coos, petting one of the chickens on the head. Till had vehemently denied the fact that he named all his animals, but Ivan knows otherwise. “You guys look happy as always.”
The chicken gives him a dignified squawk. Ivan chuckles, reaching for a bag of chicken feed.
Back in the city, Ivan never really had a set routine. He was often running around, completing photoshoots and commercials, flying to different countries and having very little time to himself for things that he enjoyed. But there is something comforting in the domestic routine that they have set up, something that Ivan didn’t know he craved.
Of course, Till was working him like a dog. Asking him to lug around large boxes. Asking him to help fix his fences. Asking him to help water his crops. But Ivan doesn’t mind it. If it means that he can see Till, then he is more than happy to do whatever he asked.
“You’re hopeless,” Sua had once told him, her face full of disgust.
“As if you’re any better.”
“At least my girlfriend wakes me up with kisses.”
“?!”
Regardless of her snippy comments, Ivan knows her well enough that she was grateful he decided to stay for a little longer.
Sua had fit in faster than Ivan had, working alongside her girlfriend and tending the animals. It’s been jarring to see her give up her acting career in exchange for the countryside, but Ivan too has put his modeling career on unforeseeable hold, much to the distress of his manager, so he supposes that he can understand.
So far, it’s been strange, acclimating to farm life, but it has been a month since he first arrived and now he has gotten used to it. He’s more than familiar with the valley now and has gotten to know the little town and all of its people. Hyuna, who runs the local saloon. Mizi, who was in charge of the ranch. Dewey, who worked construction. Issac, who was the town blacksmith. And yes, even Luka, the local doctor, was tolerable — though he seemed more like a leech than anything, with how often he hung out at the saloon. Not that Ivan can talk.
Overall, it was fun. Peaceful. Relaxing. He had no worries to look out for, no constant deadlines, no rushed photoshoots. Ivan had even started seeing the valley as more of a home than the high-end apartment he lived in. It was like a small haven, isolated from the rest of the world, and Ivan adores everything about it.
—
Once he finally finishes feeding the rest of the animals, he returns back into the farmhouse, finding Till in the kitchen, cooking something over the stove.
“You’re back.”
Ivan hums, taking a seat at the kitchen table. Till was wearing an apron with a little teddy bear pattern. Cute.
“They were a lively bunch,” Ivan says with a small chuckle, remembering how one of the cows — Nova — had nearly toppled him over once he poured the feed into the trough. “Same as ever.”
Till lets out a grunt of acknowledgement. “You’re just too loud. No wonder they like you.”
“How about you?” Ivan asks teasingly. “Have I made it onto your good graces yet?”
Till huffs. Unbeknownst to Ivan, the corner of his lips curve upwards. “You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t. Be grateful that I haven’t thrown you out yet.”
Ivan laughs, fighting the urge to swoop the man in his arms and run off into the sunset. Over the past month that they have started to see each other, Ivan learned that his short, prickly words were just how he speaks in general, and that he gets embarrassed really easily. He’s blunt, rash, impulsive. So, so adorably endearing, no matter what he does. Ivan thinks he’s going insane.
“Yet?”
“Still deciding.”
“Nova would miss me if I’m gone though,” Ivan says with a fake pout, feigning hurt. “How can you risk that?”
Till chuckles in response, finishing with the meal and turning off the stove. “Can’t be helped then,” he says, placing a plate of pancakes and eggs in front of the other. “I guess I’ll just have to keep you around longer.”
Oh. His heart does a flip, beating so loud that he’s sure Till can hear it.
Every morning, Ivan tells Till more stories about the city. He describes his job as a model, telling him stories of his work and his fans. And Till, for all of his snark, listens intently. He started to speak more these days, even giving Ivan tips around the farm that Ivan takes to heart, wanting to help Till as best as he can.
Sometimes Till shares some stories about himself on the farm. From how long he has been working — nearly eleven years! — to how he first came to the valley. The other always had a wistful look on his face as he recalled them, a soft smile on his lips, but sometimes, Ivan can see something else reflected in his teal eyes, almost reminiscent of regret.
It’s not all fun and games, Till had said, sounding weary. Sometimes, it gets monotonous, being alone.
Ivan’s heart clenches, aching, but before he could even try to comfort him, Till would change the subject, avoiding his questions like they were the plague. And since it was a touchy subject, Ivan never tried to press further.
“So,” Till says, sipping his black coffee as he watches Ivan dig in, “exactly how long are you staying for?”
It’s a question that comes often. Everytime, Ivan answers, “I could stay indefinitely, if you want.”
Till raises an eyebrow. “Don’t you have a job to do?”
He’ll quit his modeling career if that’s what Till wants. “Do you really want me to leave that badly?”
Till hesitates. Then, in a quiet tone: “No.”
Ivan stares at him, feeling his pulse quicken.
“You’re — a good help around the farm,” Till adds quickly, his cheeks reddening in embarrassment. “It would be dumb of me not to capitalize on that.”
Till wants him to stay. His heart might give out. Ivan’s smile has never been wider. “Could you repeat that for me?”
“Fuck you,” Till snaps, but it doesn’t really have any bite behind it. Then, he asks, “Aren’t models supposed to be, I don’t know, working hard to maintain fame?”
“I’ve been a model for years now,” Ivan chuckles. “My fans will survive a little longer without me.”
Till sighs but lets it go. “I guess you and Sua aren’t so different after all if you’re willing to throw away your dreams for some shitty town in the countryside — ”
“I’m not throwing away my dreams,” Ivan exclaims, reaching across the table and grabs Till’s hand, “and this isn’t some shitty town in the countryside!”
Till startles. “Woah, hey — !”
“Till, I want to help you,” Ivan says earnestly, his eyes burning with determination. “I love being here. I love this little town, all of its people, the farm, the festivals. And most of all, I love being with you. You were the reason I stayed.”
He remembers little details, no matter how miniscule. Mannerisms and habits from Till, be it by observation or by talking to him. The more he learns, the more he falls in love. Every part of the other was so adorable — it was like he was absent of any flaw.
Till’s jaw drops. He looks confused for a moment, but then, the realization clicks, and he stares at Ivan like the other had grown a third head.
“You … can’t be serious,” Till finally says in complete disbelief.
“What can’t I be serious about?”
“You … you’re a model. You’re popular. You’re loved by so many people. And you want me?”
Ivan doesn’t like how Till said the last part, like he was lesser than Ivan. “Of course, Till,” he says softly, squeezing his hand. “I love your smile. I love your laugh. I love everything. I love our conversations together every morning. I love taking care of this farm alongside you. I love — ”
“Jesus, I get it!” Till shoves his hand away, his cheeks flushing a beautiful red. “I … I don’t know. I’ve never really … My house is too small, and — ”
“You don’t have to give me an answer right now,” Ivan reassures, standing from his seat and walking until they were face-to-face. “But if you’ll let me, I want to keep working on the farm with you.”
Till’s breath catches in his throat. “But what about your job?” he asks weakly.
“I don’t care,” Ivan says almost immediately.
“You bastard, that’s your livelihood — ”
“And this is your livelihood. You’ve spent eleven years cultivating this farm, and I want to do everything that I can to help you with it.” Ivan takes Till’s hand, kissing his knuckles. “Please, let me support you Till.”
For a long while, there is only silence. Till stares at him quietly, his eyes as bright as the ocean. Beautiful, just like every part of him.
“Nova would be sad if you left,” Till says at last, mumbling out the words.
“And?”
“… I would be too,” Till admits.
It was enough to get Ivan to break out in the stupidest smile. He laughs, pulling Till closer with a hug, lifting him a few feet off the ground much to the protest of the other.
“But I don’t want you to throw everything away,” Till says firmly once Ivan finally puts him down. “You can’t just run away from your career and disappear without a word.”
Ivan deflates. “But I — ”
“I don’t want angry mobs and rabid fans outside of my farm, demanding that I return their beloved model,” Till continues, flicking Ivan in the forehead. “So you better get everything situated in the city before you come here. Okay?”
Ivan lets out a whine. “But I don’t want to leave you.”
“God, you really are just like one big puppy,” Till mutters, his cheeks reddening. Louder, he says, “I’ll be here when you come back. So don’t make me wait long, okay?”
Ivan didn't really want to return to the city. But since it’s Till asking, he’ll do it in a heartbeat.
“Alright,” he finally agrees, holding Till tighter. “Promise me that you’ll be here.”
Till wraps his arms around him, squeezing.
“I will.”
—
And when Ivan returns back to the valley one year later, Till greets him with a large bouquet and a lovely pendant the same color of his eyes.