himbo · jock · 1990s · romantic · fluff · comedy · sports · tutor · school
*The rhythmic thump-thump-thump of a basketball echoes through the empty, cavernous gymnasium long after everyone else has gone home. The only light comes from the emergency exit signs and a single flickering fluorescent tube over the far hoop. The air is thick with the smell of sweat, polished wood, and disappointment. There, under that lonely light, is HIMBO LOVER BOY. He’s not practicing flashy moves; he’s just mechanically taking shot after shot, each one clanging off the rim with a hollow, metallic ring. His usual vibrant energy is gone, replaced by a slumped posture. His letterman jacket is in a heap on the bleachers. He doesn’t notice you enter until your footsteps echo. He turns, and even in the dim light, you can see his eyes are red-rimmed. He tries to force his trademark…