"boyfriend"

"what?"

"i love you boyfriend"

"i hate you boyfriend"

":("
"boyfriend"

"turn around boyfriend"

Neteyam rolled his eyes as he turned in his bed, his eyes popped as he saw a figure in the dark corner of his room. It was 11 PM, who wouldn't be surprised? "Don't scare me like that!" Neteyam said as he threw his pillow at Ao'nung. "Sorry, wanna watch a movie?" Ao'nung sat next to Neteyam on his bed, he had his laptop in his arms with a bag of Doritos. "Okay, fine." Neteyam got up and locked his door. Ao'nung set up the movie in his laptop as Neteyam sat next to him. Neteyam leaned on his shoulder as he opened the bag of Doritos, slowly munching on each and every one of them. "What movie is that?" "A sad movie, when Lo'ak came over yesterday he and Tsireya watched this and once they finished they bawled." "The only reason I wanna continue watching with you is because I wanna see you bawl too." "Ouch."

The movie ended and neither cried, they did but held back. "See, I didn't cry." "Maybe Lo'ak and Tsireya were just cry babies after all." Neteyam yawned. "Can you sleep with me tonight?" Neteyam said while he threw their trash away. "What was that?" Ao'nung teased. "I won't say it again Nung." Ao'nung smiled.

It was 6 AM. Neteyam looked from his shoulder, seems Ao'nung already left. He took his phone.

"left early"
"I love you boyfriend"

"okay"

"not an ily back?"

"i never said i love you to you so dont even expect."

"but you do love me right"

"sorta"

In a few weeks, it was the Annual Academic Competition, the ones with straight A+'s only get in. The whole school already knew who was going to get into the finals. It's hard to compete with each other in front of your whole school, especially when there's romance involved. For the first time, Neteyam knew this was going to be tough.

"Teyam? Come to dinner honey." Neytiri knocked on her son's door. "I'll eat later mom!" Neteyam hadn't come out of his room at all for the past few days, he did have instant meals in his fridge partnered with his kettle and coffee, and he did already have his own bathroom in his room. Neytiri sighed and faced her husband beside her. Jake shook his head in defeat.

Neteyam sighed in exhaustion. He needed a break. Neteyam smelled the aroma of his favorite noodles, the turned his chair to find his boyfriend noisily slurping noodles while staring at him. "Give me that shit." Neteyam opened his hands as Ao'nung gave him the bowl he had. "You seem so hungry, do you want me to get you take out?" Neteyam nodded. Ao'nung climbed down his window.

"where is my take out"

"i am your take out"

"you're disgusting"

Neteyam heard the window slide open. "Gimme gimme." Neteyam took the nuggets from the paper bag that Ao'nung gave him. Ao'nung tilted his head expectedly. "Thank you." Neteyam said, his mouth still full.

Today was the elimination round for the AAC, there are 2 elimination rounds, then the finals. The contestants stood in the gym, lined up. Ao'nung was on his phone while Neteyam was solving a rubix cube and most of them were sweating. "Fkxae, Ao'nung, Dou'ru, Quii and Neteyam will head to the 2nd Elimination Round. Please proceed to school next Saturday 10 AM."

"bro"

"what now?"

"tell mom and dad im gonna hang with aonung"

"so you two besties now?"

"just tell them skxawng"

"ok but you owe me 5"

"why tf do i need to owe you 5 dollars just for telling our parents that im gonna hang with a friend?"

"just because"

"fine i'll do it myself"

"too late i alr told them"
"so you still owe me 5"

"i hate you"

Neteyam put his phone in his pocket then turned to Ao'nung. "Let's go." The two went to the park, they were laughing on the bench about the contestants that lost. "I can't believe you're the school president but still trash talk about students." "I have dirt on every single one of them you know?" "Even me?" "Even you, Tsireya and Rotxo." "Tsireya?! No way." "Yes way-" "What would you do if both of us competed alone for the finals?" Neteyam was slightly shocked at the question. "Then I'll study even harder because you CAN'T win. It'll ruin my streak." Neteyam stressed. "What streak?" "The streak of me winning every AAC." Neteyam said proudly. "What if I do?" "I would block you, break up with you, expose you, spread rumors about you and break your leg." Neteyam counted with his fingers. "Or I'll just throw the biggest fit ever." "Can you go with the second option? I really don't wanna break my leg." Ao'nung chuckled. "Maybe."

The 2nd Elimination Round came, it was pretty easy for Ao'nung and Neteyam. Neteyam struggled at a few questions but other than that it was smooth. Ao'nung honestly hoped it wouldn't be him against Neteyam. "Now, our two competitors for the finals are.."

"Ao'nung and Neteyam!" The couple looked at each other with wide eyes.

"Bro it's okay, chill!" Lo'ak tried to calm his brother down as Neteyam went back and forth in the living room. "Or just get him to cancel." Kiri said as she trimmed her nails. "You guys just don't get it! This could ruin ou- my reputation! We're both the smartest shits in school, we're practically tied!" "Neteyam, it's alright if you lose son we'll still be so proud of you." Jake said as he washed the dishes from dinner. Neteyam looked at Lo'ak and Kiri, he needed to tell someone to relieve his stress, he was panicking. Neteyam took Lo'ak's hand and dragged him upstairs. "Wher- Ow!" The family below could heard Lo'ak hitting his head multiple times.

Neteyam locked his bedroom door. "Sit." He ordered Lo'ak. "What?" "Woah is this a bad time?" Ao'nung said as he sat on Neteyam's window frame. "GET O-" "No stay." Neteyam pointed the space next to Lo'ak. Ao'nung sat down. "Me and Ao'nung are dating. It's a love-hate relationship." Neteyam said, leaning on his desk. "WHAT?!" "Okay it is a bad time."

"Don't tell anyone or I'll spread pictures of you everywhere." Lo'ak nodded frantically, Neteyam shut the door. Neteyam sighed, completely stressed. He sat next to Ao'nung. "Hi?" "What do you want?" "I just want to let you know that I'll 100% win." "Like I'll ever let you win." "I don't have to." Ao'nung smiled. "Oh shut it." "When I win, I'l-" Neteyam pulled him in for a kiss.

"You just wanted a kiss didn't you?" "Yeah." "Now get out."

Today was the day, THE day. Ao'nung was far from Neteyam's table and Neteyam was far from Ao'nung's table. They were given each a teacher to guard them. "Set, go!" The timer ticked and tocked. The two had an hour for 100 questions. It wasn't so hard but Neteyam checked and checked his answers, he had to win. Ao'nung didn't recheck at all, he wasn't sure of his answers but he honestly wanted Neteyam to win.

"Pens up!" The timer rang. "You two may proceed home for the day, the results will be announced this Monday."

"If you win, I'll have you assassinated." Neteyam smiled at Ao'nung as they walked home. "If you win, I'll have you burnt." Ao'nung smiled back. They totally loved each other. Totally.

The school placed bets everywhere.

"bet aonung will win"

"neteyam would kill him if he did LOL"

"trueee"

In group chats, in the school, everywhere.

"we should have pet names"

"pet names?"
"wdym"
"nung"
"AONUNG"

"sorry sorry"
"like babe or love"
"idk"

"ew"

"what about darling?"
"hey darling"

"no its not 1654."

"baby boy"

"no?"
"wtf."
"lets just stick with babe"

"okayy"

"im pumped for the results"

"Watch me beat your ass

"i will kill you"

"Not if I kill you first"

It was finally Monday. Class just ended. Before heading home, Ao'nung and Neteyam were called to an empty classroom. "Please sit down. We will now announce the winner of the Academic Annual Contest. You two each may choose someone to witness." Since Neteyam already knew how this worked, he already had Lo'ak behind the door.

"you can come in now"

Lo'ak opened the door as soon as he saw the message, Tsireya followed as Ao'nung also told her about the situation. Lo'ak sat on the chair behind Neteyam and Tsireya sat on the chair behind Ao'nung. The students excitedly watched them inside the classroom, their cameras recording from the classroom window. "Our winner for this year's academic contest is..!"