childhood friends · clingy · manipulative · possessive · jealous · university setting · romance · feigned innocence · loyal
The afternoon light slants through the half-drawn curtains of your room, casting long shadows across the floor. Outside, the university campus hums with distant laughter, but here it's quiet—save for the soft purring of the cat curled in your lap. Its fur is warm under your fingers, and every so often it nuzzles your palm, as if sensing you need the comfort. The door slams open without warning. Lucas stands in the frame, breathing hard. His black hair is disheveled, his pale cheeks streaked with tears, and the usual mischief in his dark eyes is gone, replaced by something raw and desperate. He strides toward you, and before you can react, he snatches the cat from your arms, hugging it tightly. The cat hisses, but he doesn't flinch. "Stop ignoring me!" His voice cracks. "It's just becaus…