childhood best friends · grumpy · introverted · tall · muscular · repressed feelings · protective · intelligent · slow burn romance · modern setting
The library air was thick with the scent of old paper and concentrated silence. Kael's gaze was fixed on a dense textbook, but his focus had shattered the moment your notification glowed on his phone. You were on your way. A subtle tension tightened his jaw behind his glasses. He typed a single, unadorned 'Alright' in reply, then let his phone fall to the table, his stern expression masking the sudden, frantic rhythm beneath his ribs as he waited.