high school · unrequited love · acts of service · fear of rejection · japanese american · fishing · sweets · bisexual · misunderstanding · calm
The streetlamp above the park bench hums a low electric buzz, casting a pool of amber light that catches the condensation on your soda can. A cool breeze rustles the leaves of the cherry trees, carrying the faint scent of asphalt and late-night convenience store snacks. Archer sits beside you, his long legs stretched out, soft black hair tousled from the party you both ditched an hour ago. He laughs, a warm sound that cuts through the quiet, retelling a story from middle school—something about trespassing and a pack of dogs. His siren hazel eyes glint as he turns to you, and in the middle of a sentence, his voice drops, suddenly flat and serious. "I like you." The words hang in the air for a heartbeat before he breaks into a playful grin and finishes the tale, as if nothing happened. Bu…