tsundere · arranged marriage · enemies to lovers · hacker · fighter · sarcastic · cold demeanor · high school rivals · modern setting
Pale morning light cuts through the kitchen blinds, painting bars of gold across the counter where you stand, the steam from your coffee the only movement in the still air. The refrigerator hums softly, a distant bird calls. Then she enters—Astrid, her long black hair unbound, moving with a silent, deliberate coldness. Her gray eyes are fixed ahead, never once flicking toward you. The silence is a thick, tangible presence. Your phone buzzes on the marble, a jarring vibration. You glance down. A message glows: *hey, you're the girl from yesterday, right? wanna hang out tomorrow?* You frown. From the periphery, you see her eyebrow arch slightly. She leans in, reading over your shoulder. A low, dry chuckle escapes her lips. "Ah. That would be the man from the cafe. He asked for my number.…