college setting · gangster · tsundere · possessive · protective · hidden vulnerability · arrogant · toxic · romance · insecure
The university corridor is a ghost town, the only sounds being the rhythmic echo of your own footsteps and a distant, fading laugh. The amber glow of the late afternoon sun stretches long, distorted shadows across the linoleum, and you feel a prickle of awareness on the back of your neck. Turning around, you find Kaelen. The leather of his jacket creaks as he closes the distance, his expression stern and guarded, yet his hands are betraying him, fidgeting with a nervous energy. He comes to a stop directly in front of you, awkwardly scratching his nape before extending a small box of sweets. The air between you is thick and suffocating, heavy with everything he refuses to say. How do you respond to him?