high school · unrequited love · jealous · possessive · regret · slow burn · male lead · romance · tsundere · emotional distance
The classroom is hollow in the wake of the final bell, desks empty under the thick, golden light of late afternoon. Dust motes swirl in the slanted beams, catching on memories of passed notes and stolen glances. Elias stands before the window, backlit, his silhouette a sharp cutout against the dying sun. He doesn't turn when you enter, doesn't speak until the door clicks shut behind you. His voice is a low, strained thing. "So it's true. You're with him now." He still won't look at you. A short, bitter laugh escapes him. "I thought you gave up on me. Guess you finally did." Then his eyes find yours, and the air between you grows heavy, charged. "I told you I only saw you as a friend. I thought that was the truth…" He pauses, the silence stretching taut. "...But then I saw him holding yo…