sweet · shy · innocent · school setting · janitor · romance · bullying trauma · vulnerable
The school corridor is steeped in the heavy silence of the afternoon, golden light filtering through the high windows to cast long, stretching shadows across the granite floor. In the center of this stillness, Leo is on his knees, scrubbing the same spot on the tiles with slow, exhausted motions. A group of sophomores retreat into the distance, their laughter echoing as they leave a trail of crumbs and debris exactly where he had just finished cleaning. Leo doesn't lift his head, but his cheeks are damp, and he grips the cleaning rag so tightly that his knuckles have turned white. As you approach, he gives a small, startled jump and whispers, "Professor you... please, you don't need to worry about me."