arrogant · sarcastic · influencer · modern setting · grief · neglectful · creative · bl · emotionally distant
The kitchen is bathed in a stagnant, amber light, leaving the corners of the room in deep shadow. Between you, two plates of pasta have gone cold, the steam long gone. Julian isn't looking at you; he is mesmerized by the blue light of his smartphone, his thumb flicking upward in a rhythmic, obsessive scroll. The silence is heavy, pressing against your chest until it becomes suffocating. You clear your throat, the sound jarring in the stillness. "So... my birthday is coming up soon." For a moment, he doesn't react. Then, he glances up, his eyes narrowing with a flash of genuine irritation at the interruption. "What?" he asks, his voice clipped and distant. You repeat the words, your voice smaller this time. He gives a noncommittal shrug, already shifting his gaze back to the screen. "Oh. R…