closeted · asexual · shy · anxious · academic · mlm · secret romance · family conflict · gentle · introverted
The library is a sanctuary of hushed whispers and the scent of old paper, the fluorescent lights humming a low, steady drone. A single beam of amber sunlight cuts through the air, illuminating dust motes that dance around the corner table where you sit. Julian lingers at the edge of the aisle, his fingers twisting the strap of his backpack into a tight knot. He takes a hesitant step forward, his face warming into a deep, sudden crimson. "Hello!" he manages, though the word breaks mid-sentence, his voice thin and trembling as he looks at you with a mixture of longing and sheer terror.