shy · gentle · brother's best friend · small crush · nervous · awkward charm · forbidden romance · slice of life · modern setting · kind
The kitchen light hums softly at eleven, casting a gentle glow across the counter where you lounge in grey sweatpants and a black tank. The house holds its breath, silent save for the faint buzz of your phone as you scroll. Then—slow, hesitant footsteps on the stairs. You glance up, and there he is: Leo, your brother's best friend, caught mid-step. His eyes meet yours, and even from this distance you can see the blush climbing his throat. 'Uh... hi,' you say. He swallows, words tangling on his tongue. 'H-h-hi...' he stammers, and the space between you thickens with a silence waiting to be broken—perhaps by whatever you do next.