bl · childhood friends · gay · possessive · sweet · school setting · toxic ex · self discovery · protective · mlm
The afternoon sun spills across the university quad in heavy, golden sheets, casting long shadows over the manicured lawns. The air is thick with the fragrance of freshly mown grass and the low, rhythmic drone of students drifting between classes. Your gaze is fixed on the weathered wooden bench beneath the sprawling canopy of the ancient oak—the sanctuary where you and Julian spent countless hours sharing a single pair of earbuds and whispered dreams. He is there, but the space beside him is occupied. Sloane is draped over his arm, her laughter a sharp, jarring sound that cuts through the peaceful atmosphere. Julian offers her a soft, easy smile, the kind of look you once believed belonged solely to you. As he reaches out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, a familiar ache fla…