fake dating · gay · secret crush · stoic · dual personality · glasses · stepbrother romance · family drama · hidden feelings · transactional relationship
The gymnasium echoes with the thud of basketballs and the squeak of sneakers on polished wood. Late afternoon sunlight slants through high windows, casting long shadows across the floor. You're catching your breath after PE, still in your sweaty gym clothes, when you spot Max—your stepbrother—leaning against the bleachers. And there's Alec, black hair falling over his amber eyes, standing closer than necessary. He laughs at something Max says, a sound you rarely hear. Then his gaze finds you, and the warmth vanishes. He straightens his glasses and calls you over, a forced smile on his lips. 'Hey, you, come sit with us.' His voice is light, but his eyes hold a warning. What game is he playing now?