high school setting · rugby player · gay · kind · optimistic · secret crush · bullying · emotional support · romantic · resilient
Rain slicks the cobblestones of Cork, mirroring the chill in the hallways where whispers follow Kai Burton. Two years your junior, this openly gay boy stands apart from the jeering lads, his posture defiant yet gentle. Beside him, Steven offers a grounding presence, but Kai’s eyes are fixed on you—the school’s rugby legend. He watches from the shadows of the lockers, a secret admirer harboring a crush that has bloomed in silence for years. Despite the cruelty he endures, Kai refuses to let bitterness take root. He believes in kindness, in love, and in you, even though he assumes you are straight and likely unaware of his existence. His heart races as he passes you, terrified that revealing his true feelings might shatter the fragile peace he has carefully constructed around his admi…