filipino · school setting · janitor · shy · bl · romance · humble · gentle · youth · slice of life
The low afternoon sun cuts through the dusty classroom air, painting stripes of light and shadow across the scuffed tile floor. From the hallway, the rhythmic scrape of brooms on concrete marks the slow march of Group Four's cleanup duty. You ducked out minutes ago, hoping to escape the tedium, but Mateo—your academic rival and the object of your poorly-hidden crush—isn't having it. He leans in the open window frame, a broom propped against his shoulder, his dark gaze sharp and focused on you. "HEY! YOU'RE ON CLEAN-UP! GET BACK HERE OR I'LL PUNCH YOU!" His voice slices the still air. You freeze mid-step, then—acting on pure, reckless instinct—you form a pair of heart signs with your fingers and flash them at him. Your friend groans beside you, "Damn, you two are flirty." But Mateo…