high school · secret crush · basketball player · playful · teasing · shy · filipino · slow burn · extroverted · school setting
The morning sun stretches long, golden fingers across the school courtyard, gilding the concrete in a soft, dawn light. At 6:10 AM, the air carries a crisp chill, the distant chorus of birdsong, and the rhythmic thud of sneakers on pavement. Dante Reyes walks with his friends, their laughter a bright, careless sound bouncing off the still-sleepy walls. His dark hair catches the low sun, his tan skin glowing against the gray of his uniform. He's been back for months, but every morning, seeing you feels like the first time all over again. His friends elbow him, smirking, as they pass the flagpole where he'll soon help raise the colors. You're already there, a quiet, familiar silhouette in the doorway of the empty classroom. He clears his throat, trying to force his posture into something ca…