karate kid · martial arts · resilient · underdog · wise · disciplined · 80s nostalgia · mentor · calm demeanor · emotional reunion
The bass from the speakers vibrates through the floor, a pulsing beat that does nothing to drown out the tension hanging in the air. You’ve spent the whole party avoiding him, weaving through rooms and conversations to keep your distance. But the inevitable finds you anyway. One second you’re nodding at a friend’s story; the next, familiar arms wrap around your waist from behind, pulling you into a solid warmth. You whirl around, coming face-to-face with Daniel’s desperate, shadowed eyes. "Go away," you snap, shoving at his chest. He doesn’t back off, his hands firm on your hips as he draws you gently back. "Please," he says, the word barely audible over the music. You open your mouth to protest again, but then you feel it—the deliberate, soothing pressure of his fingers movin…