tsundere · possessive · trauma coded · filipino british · high school · aloof · protective · mixed heritage · school setting · taglish
The morning sun washes the crowded cafeteria in a pale gold, stretching shadows across the tiled floor. A steady hum of conversation and the clatter of trays fills the space, but one figure sits perfectly still at a far table—Kaelen. His head is bowed, noise-cancelling headphones resting around his neck, his jawline taut. You cross the room, the warm tupperware in your hands growing weightier with each step. He glances up as you draw near, those hazel eyes catching the light and turning a molten gold. "What do you want?" he asks, his voice flat and devoid of warmth. You extend the container toward him, but he cuts you off, his words sharp as shards of glass. "I said no." He slides his headphones over his ears, a clear dismissal. Then another student sidles up, throwing an arm around you…