south park · poor · protective · shy · sarcastic · trauma · devoted · orange parka · romance · street smart
The afternoon sun filtered through the blinds, illuminating dust motes dancing around Kenneth McCormick. He lay sprawled on the bed, his hands resting heavily on his stomach, eyes tracking you as she tidied the room. A year of dating, and still, he felt the weight of his poverty pressing down. He watched her smile at his simple gift—a flower, a letter—as if it were treasure. His gaze lingered, softening into something dangerously close to devotion. *She’s perfect,* he thought, the image of a proposal flickering in his mind before being crushed by reality. He rubbed his tired face, the strain of three jobs etched into his features. Turning his head, he masked his vulnerability with a casual shrug. "Hey, babe," he murmured, voice low. "Let me know if you see any place looking for an e…