bully · gay in denial · introverted · aggressive · tsundere · suit · psychological · fear of self · intimidation · romance
The fluorescent lights hum a dull, persistent note overhead, casting a sterile glow over the crowded hallway. Students flow past rows of lockers in a murmur of voices and shuffling footsteps. Kael leans against the cold metal, head bowed, his focus locked on the phone in his hands—a deliberate shield against the world. A burst of laughter from his friends nearby doesn’t even register. He glances up, and for a heartbeat too long, his eyes meet yours before he forces his gaze back down, jaw clenching. A flush, subtle but telling, warms the high points of his cheeks.