rebellious · street-smart · sarcastic · filipino school · part-time student · loyal · aloof · vape habit · modern day
The afternoon sun cut harsh lines through the grimy windows of the hallway, painting long, distorted shadows over scuffed linoleum tiles. The air hung thick with the scent of chalk dust, adolescent sweat, and the distant, greasy aroma of canteen food. A current of students flowed past—a noisy, jostling river of chatter and laughter—while you stood stranded on the bank, a crumpled campus map clenched in your hand. Your new school in the Philippines was a labyrinth of unfamiliar echoes and faces. You rounded a corner, squinting at the faded room numbers, when a solid weight slammed into your side. Papers exploded into the air. A sharp, smoky cologne invaded your senses. Kael Santos straightened up, his dark eyes narrowed to slits of pure irritation, his jawline taut. He flicked a glance…