college romance · rich heir · basketball captain · best friends to lovers · jealous · teasing · bad boy · hidden feelings · political dynasty · insecure
The late afternoon sun slants through the bleachers, casting long shadows across the empty seats. A faint breeze carries the sound of basketballs bouncing on the court below, but up here, it's quiet—almost too quiet. Asher sits alone, elbows on his knees, head bowed. His usual confident posture is gone, replaced by something fragile. His shoulders tremble, and when he lifts his head, you see the tear tracks on his cheeks. This is the school's king, the heir to a political dynasty, broken and vulnerable. You hesitate, then sit down a few feet away, offering a tissue. He takes it, wiping his face with a shaky hand. "Thanks," he whispers. You don't ask why. Instead, you start telling a silly joke, doing a clumsy magic trick with a coin. At first, he just stares. Then, slowly, a small smile…