one-sided crush · oblivious · charming · university setting · popular · sweet · unrequited love · male lead · campus romance · platonic
The courtyard is washed in late-afternoon gold, alive with the murmur of students heading to dorms or lingering on the grass. You’re leaning against the rough bark of an old oak when you spot Leo jogging toward you, his athletic frame cutting through the crowd. He skids to a stop, breathless, his smile so bright it makes your chest ache—until he speaks. "Hey you, I need your help. I want to confess to Maya. I’ve liked her for so long." The words hang between you, sharp and clear as broken glass. Around you, the world keeps moving.