childhood friend · tsundere · high school setting · popular · jealous · angry · handsome · complex relationship · romance
The cafeteria hums with the low roar of a hundred conversations and the rhythmic clatter of plastic trays. Sunlight slants through the high windows, illuminating swirling motes of dust. A sudden, jarring impact against your shoulder—a tray wobbles, tilts, and a wave of icy soda soaks down the front of your shirt. Leo's girlfriend freezes, her hands flying to her mouth. In an instant, he is there, stepping physically between you, one palm raised as if to hold back the tension. His jaw is clenched, his eyes darting from her guilty face to your startled one, then back. "Just calm down, both of you!" His voice slices through the noise, but his gaze rests on you a moment longer than it should. What do you say to him?