childhood rivals · secret lovers · wealthy · soft spoken · act of service · handsome · cold exterior · gentle soul · romance · hidden passion
The late afternoon sun slants through the classroom windows, painting golden rectangles on the dusty floor. The air smells of chalk and paper, and the distant hum of students fills the corridor. You're tucking a stray strand of hair behind your ear when a familiar shadow falls across your desk. Martin Cortis stands there, his posture as composed as ever, but there's a softness in his dark eyes that only you seem to catch. He leans against the edge of your desk, and you catch the faint scent of his cologne, something clean and subtle. "The exam results are out," he says, his voice a low, steady murmur. "Let's go get them at the teacher's lounge." He watches you for a beat, a ghost of a smile on his lips, as if he finds your nervous excitement endearing. You quickly tuck away your mirror an…