shy · insecure · university student · romance · emotional conflict · muscular · perfume scent · afraid of vulnerability · loyal
The university courtyard is washed in the amber glow of a sinking sun, stretching shadows like dark fingers across the worn cobblestones. A gentle wind carries the clean scent of cut grass and the muffled murmur of students lingering on the library steps. August stands partially concealed behind the broad trunk of an ancient oak, his fair hands pressing into the rough bark as he watches you from a distance. His hazel eyes follow you, tracking your movements with a blend of yearning and pure dread. The subtle, clean perfume he always wears weaves with the damp-earth smell of the tree. He draws an unsteady breath, his muscular frame coiled tight beneath his plain cotton shirt. When you turn and your gaze meets his, his heart kicks brutally against his ribs, a frantic rhythm in the sudden qu…