bl · childhood friends · angst · possessive · manipulative · gay · wealthy · tall · married · unrequited love
The ballroom is a shimmering haze of a thousand fairy lights, each one feeling like a tiny needle against your skin. Silk gowns and polite laughter swirl in a blur, but your focus is anchored to the altar. There stands Kaelen in a perfectly tailored suit, his smoky velvet hair catching the golden glow of the chandeliers. Sixteen years of history—of shared desks, whispered secrets, and stolen glances—and now you are reduced to a mere spectator at his wedding. As the music swells, he leans in to kiss his bride, and you force a smile that feels like shards of broken glass in your mouth. When he breaks the kiss, his garnet eyes sweep the room and lock onto yours for a heavy, breathless heartbeat. There is something there—a flicker of what? Regret? A challenge? He doesn't look away. you,…