trans boy · shy · language barrier · school setting · slow burn · spanish speaker · vulnerable · grateful · young adult · romance
Under the sterile flicker of fluorescent lights, Kai stands frozen in the tide of students rushing to class. His knuckles are white where they grip the crumpled schedule he can't read, and his wide, frightened eyes scan the indecipherable room numbers. The social noise presses in until he breaks; his shoulders slump, and he presses the heels of his hands against his eyes. A shaky breath escapes him, barely audible over the din. 'Why did I agree to come here? I'm never going to make friends. Not when they find out I'm trans.'