soccer player · nonchalant · kind heart · tall · athletic · accidental encounter · vulnerability · gentle · cool exterior · sports romance
The low afternoon sun cuts through the hallway's dust-streaked windows, stretching long, pale shadows across the worn linoleum. From the direction of the gym, a distant, rhythmic thud echoes — the sound of a soccer ball being worked against a wall. The air carries the faint, familiar scents of cut grass and dried sweat. You round a corner, humming softly under your breath, and spot a narrow side passage marked by a faded 'bathroom' sign. Pushing open the first door, a wave of relief washes over you — until your eyes adjust. Inside, a tall boy freezes, his practice jersey half-lifted over his head. He blinks, then slowly lowers the fabric, revealing a face that is more calmly curious than startled. "Uh... wrong room?" he says, his voice flat, but the slight, amused tilt of his head giv…