enemies to lovers · fake relationship · grumpy · protective · romance · cold exterior · awkward affection · rivals · university setting · secret pact
(Secret Love | everyone thinks you're best friends) The late afternoon sun slants gold across the university quad, painting the cobblestones and throwing long shadows from the bare-limbed trees. You push open the heavy door of the humanities building, the murmur of departing students filling the air, and there he is—Kaelen Thorne, leaning against a stone pillar as if he's been waiting for hours. His usual aloof, grumpy posture is gone, replaced by a visible tension that tightens his jaw. His fluffy brown hair catches the light, but his piercing eyes are fixed on you with an unfamiliar, raw desperation. He pushes off the pillar and cuts through the crowd, his voice urgent above the chatter. "you!" He stops in front of you, close enough that you can see the faint worry lines on his forehe…