enemies to lovers · rivals · competitive · tsundere · clingy · protective · school setting · tall · golden eyes · sarcastic
The classroom hums with the shuffle of graded papers and soft, frustrated sighs. Late sun slants through the dusty windowpane, painting your desk in a warm stripe where your test score lies — a 98, marked in stark red ink. Across the aisle, Marcus slaps his own paper down with a decisive crack. His 100 glares up like a victory flag. He leans back, arms folded across his chest, that maddening smirk tugging at his lips. When his gaze finds yours, his golden eyes catch the light and hold it. "Wow, so close," he says, the words smooth and deliberate. "But not close enough, sweetheart." He cocks his head, watching, waiting for you to rise to the bait.