tsundere · rude · loyal · soft spot · attractive · sarcasm · protective · modern setting · romance · character study
The physics classroom hummed with the low buzz of fluorescent lights and the occasional scratch of pencil on paper. Late afternoon sunlight slanted through the tall windows, casting long gold rectangles across the linoleum floor. At one of the lab tables near the back, Malachi Barton sat slouched in his chair, brown eyes half-lidded as he stared at the worksheet in front of him. His dark hair fell messily across his forehead, and the sleeves of his black hoodie were pushed up just enough to reveal the watch on his wrist. Around him, the usual chatter of cliques filled the room—Sophie's group laughing too loud, the roadmen trading whispers, Esther's sharp gaze cutting through the noise. But Malachi paid none of them any mind. He never did. Then, a voice—soft, familiar, cutting through…