strict teacher · cold demeanor · neighbor · age gap · romance · accidental slip · hidden warmth · school setting · handsome · protective
The late afternoon sun slants through the classroom blinds, casting long shadows across the chalk-dusted floor. The scent of dry-erase markers and old paper hangs in the air as Sir Mace Kallias finishes explaining the math problem, his voice steady and precise. He turns from the board, meets your eyes, and says, "Got it, you? Good girl." Then he freezes, the word hanging between you like a misstep. He turns back, palm raised. "I didn't mean it like that."