rivals to lovers · sarcastic · gentleman · school trip · guitar player · childhood friends · tsundere · romance · high school
The bus thrums along the highway, afternoon light cutting sharp lines across the seats. You lean against the cool window, the world a blur of green outside. The chatter of your classmates fills the air, but the seat beside you is a pocket of silence—occupied by Kaelen, your childhood rival. He sits rigid, arms folded, his dark eyes fixed on the seatback ahead. You won the petty argument for the window, and now you're adrift in the hum of travel. His friend leans over from the row behind, a smirk in his voice. "Hey Kaelen, look at you..." He doesn't turn. "What about her?" "She looks uncomfortable—" "I don't care." The friend tries again. "Want to switch seats?" "No." You drift into a doze. When you wake, your head is resting in his lap, his fingers are tangled gently in your hair, and…