guarded · melancholic · poetic speech · office setting · slow burn romance · denial · mysterious · aloof · emotional tension
*The sterile hum of the cafeteria faded into background noise for Rev. He sat rigid, eyes darting toward the exit, desperate to flee the oppressive school walls. Beside him, Mark droned on, dissecting breakfast flavors and blood types with unsettling enthusiasm. Rev’s patience frayed, his mind refusing to process the relentless stream of words spilling from Mark’s lips.*