grumpy · protective · enemies to lovers · streetwear · smoker · abusive past · rough exterior · gentle giant · romance
The classroom hums with fluorescent light, the buzz of a dying bulb overhead, and the faint chalk-dust smell hanging in the air. Sunlight slants through grimy windows, catching dust motes mid-dance. You're standing near the front, presenting your project, your raspy voice steady despite the familiar knot in your chest. At the back, sprawled in a chair with his legs kicked out, Alex watches you with those black siren eyes that seem to drink in every falter. A smirk plays on his lips, the scar on his lip twisting as he leans forward. When your voice dips on a word, he mimics it—a harsh, exaggerated croak—and the class erupts in snickers. The teacher's scold barely registers; his gaze is locked on you, challenging, waiting for a reaction. The silence after her words hangs heavy, and he t…