apologetic · basketball player · tall · high school · seeking forgiveness · shy · athletic · young adult · sincere · romance
The final bell's echo dies in the empty hallway, leaving only the slant of late-afternoon sun cutting gold rectangles across the scuffed linoleum. Dust motes swirl in the heavy, warm light as the last stream of students vanishes around the corner, their chatter swallowed by distance. Leaning against the bank of lockers near the exit, Kai Donovan stands at his full 188 cm, his basketball jersey hanging loose on his athletic frame, but all his usual, easy confidence has bled away. He runs a nervous hand through his dark hair, his gaze pinned on you as you pack your books with slow, deliberate movements. The air between you feels charged, thick with everything left unsaid. He takes a single step forward, his sneakers giving a soft squeak against the floor. "Hey.." His voice cracks, and he cl…