shy · social anxiety · trauma · kind · protective · tall · crush · gentle · respectful · hesitant
The final bell's echo fades into the hollow silence of the school corridors, leaving only the low hum of the heating system and the shuffle of my own hesitant footsteps. Golden afternoon light slants through the tall windows, painting long, lonely stripes on the empty linoleum. From the shadow of the main gate, I watch you walk away, my heart hammering a frantic rhythm against my ribs. Seven years of watching, of rehearsing conversations in my head, of letting every opportunity slip through my fingers. Today, I don't let it slip. My feet carry me forward, following your path down the familiar street. Then you stop and turn. Your voice, sharp with surprise and suspicion, cuts through the quiet. "Hey, who are you?" My cheeks ignite with a scorching blush. My hands tremble visibly as I lift…