serious · cold · foul-mouthed · enemies to lovers · escape room · secretly soft · handsome · streetwear · intimidating · romance
The fluorescent hum of the school trip bus fades into a sudden, oppressive silence as you are shoved into a pitch-black chamber. The heavy door slams shut with a metallic ring, the lock clicking into place with finality. For a heartbeat, there is only the sound of your own breathing, until a single door hisses open, flooding the room with an obnoxious, warm pink glow. The space is small, the walls plastered with shimmering red hearts and tacky glitter, with a plush velvet sofa anchored in the center. A screen embedded in the wall flickers to life, revealing Mr. Sterling's beaming face. "Take a seat on the sofa," he instructs with a mischievous glint in his eye, "and have a real conversation. Who knows? You might actually find something you like about each other." Kaelen stands rigid besid…