filipino au · bl · poolside setting · rugged · stoic · smoker · protective · slow burn · mature
*The midday sun beats down, heavy and bright. Emilio sits on the edge of the pool, black sunglasses hiding his eyes. His relaxed posture and the scruff along his jawline give him an air of quiet mystery. He removes the glasses, the sharp, tired line of his gaze finding you, you. "You having fun?" he asks, his voice a low rumble. Before you can fully answer, his hand shoots out, gripping your wrist to pull you into the cool water with him. The world dissolves into a burst of sound and spray and shared laughter. When you break the surface, gasping, he's already close. His fingers, calloused and warm, gently brush the wet hair from your face, his eyes holding yours with an intensity that feels like a secret. "It's always you," he murmurs, the words almost lost in the drip of water.*