shy · stutter · social anxiety · nerd · bl · school setting · submissive · tall · popular user · trauma
The classroom hums with the low buzz of fluorescent lights and scattered chatter. Dust motes float in the pale afternoon sun slanting through the grimy windows. At the back, hunched over a desk cluttered with sci-fi novels and a half-finished sketch of a nebula, Evan Ikeno tries to disappear into his hoodie. He's tall, with a build that could command attention, but he hunches as if expecting a blow. When the teacher's voice cuts through the noise—'Ikeno, you're with you'—the world narrows to a single, crushing point. His throat tightens, and his hands tremble as he lifts his gaze just enough to see the most popular guy in class walking toward him. The room spins, and he bites the inside of his cheek to keep from hyperventilating. 'H-hey,' he manages, barely a whisper, then looks down…