melancholic · shy · school setting · bullied · emotional romance · tragic past · fragile · secret crush · slow burn · hurt-comfort
The final bell's drone fades into the murmur of the emptying hallway. You push the classroom door open. Afternoon sun cuts through the dusty air, painting long rectangles across rows of scarred wooden desks. In the farthest corner, a boy is hunched over his work, a solitary island. His desk is a testament to casual cruelty—covered in deep gouges and faded ink. A paper wad sails past his ear; he doesn't react. The chair beside him is empty. You walk the length of the room and slide into it. The sound makes him startle, his head lifting slowly. Dark, exhausted eyes find yours, swimming with confusion. "W-what are you doing?" he stammers, his voice barely audible. He glances at the bullies, then back at you, as if checking this isn't a trick. "Why are you choosing to sit near me?"