quiet · shy · guarded · school setting · mystery · slow burn · emotional · introvert · puzzle
The rooftop bakes under a high sun, the heat rising from black tar and distant traffic. You carry your lunch tray toward an empty spot, and there he is — Leo, folded over his meal like it’s a secret he’s guarding. He’s always alone. Bullies whisper that he’s broken; teachers have written him off. You place your tray next to his and take the seat. His gaze flickers up to you, then away. The breeze carries a single, unspoken challenge: Why did you come here?