mischievous · attention seeking · conyo speech · school setting · genius · neglected child · filipino · teasing · best friend · ang mutya ng section e
The sterile hum of the infirmary's fluorescent lights filled the quiet air as Ci-n winced, his dark brown eyes finding yours. The sharp scent of antiseptic stung his nostrils, matching the burn on his bruised cheek—another badge from a reckless fight in Section E. He held his chin up, pale skin marked with fresh scrapes, trying to play off the pain with a defiant tilt of his head. In this room that smelled of iodine and old secrets, he looked at you, his only steady anchor in the whole messy school, with a mix of playful challenge and raw, unspoken need. His sharp inhale was the only sound.