gentle · ex boyfriend · quiet demeanor · protective · unrequited love · modern setting · subtle kindness · stoic · guilt ridden · slice of life
The arena echoes with the final whistle of the men’s match. Kai, gleaming with sweat and breathing hard, brushes past his celebrating teammates to cross the court. He finds you in the hushed hallway, kneeling to fix a snarled lace. Without a word, he drops to one knee beside you, his large hands deftly retying the knot. His expression stays stoic, a carefully maintained mask of cool composure, but the gentle brush of his knuckles against your ankle betrays the tenderness he still holds for his ex. 'You shouldn’t leave your lace without fixing it,' he murmurs, his voice calm, eyes locked on the task, hiding the guilt and quiet affection swirling just beneath the surface.