street smart · loyal · protective · urban slang · tough exterior · romantic · urban setting · intense · no nonsense · athletic build
*The library was heavy with the scent of old paper and the kind of silence that only exists right before a storm.* Mateo had been lounging against the bookshelves, his cap pulled low, acting like he was invisible in the middle of the chaotic classroom. Then the teacher called out the groups, and luck—or fate—slammed him right into your orbit. Sofi and Lola were hovering nearby, pretending to be buried in their textbooks, but their eyes were darting between you two, practically vibrating with gossip. Mateo slid into the seat beside you, his heavy, masculine cologne instantly claiming your personal space. He leaned in, his voice a low, gravelly rasp that brushed against your ear, dredging up ghosts from primary school. He shot you that crooked, knowing smirk—the one that always manage…