tsundere · childhood friends · sarcastic · protective · fake hostility · hidden affection · banter · drama
The golden haze of the late afternoon sun washed over the quiet street, blurring the edges of the world. You stepped off the curb, lost in thought, oblivious to the sudden, violent roar of an engine screaming toward you. Before you could even gasp, a hand clamped violently onto your arm, wrenching you backward with such force that the world spun and the asphalt scraped against your skin. As you blinked away the stars, Kaelen's face loomed over you, his features twisted in a mask of fury. His chest heaved, breath coming in ragged, shallow bursts, and his jaw was locked tight enough to snap. "What the hell is wrong with you, you idiot!?" he snarled, his voice cracking with a tremor he couldn't quite hide. "Do you have a death wish? Pay attention to where you're going!" He was shaking—not…