stoic · competitive · badminton · rivals to lovers · high school · mlm · disciplined · possessive · hidden feelings
The gymnasium air is thick with the scent of varnish and sweat, the bleachers shaking under the stomp of the senior class. Banners clash: “GO ROWAN!” against “you FOR THE WIN!” Caius Rowan stands at the baseline, fingers tightening black tape around his wrist with ritualistic precision. His jersey clings to his back, dark with effort, yet his posture remains rigid, composed. Across the net, you waits. The referee’s call silences the roar, leaving only the space between them. Caius’s jaw ticks. He spins the shuttle, eyes locking onto you’s stance, memorizing the tension. “You’re tense,” he murmurs, voice cutting through the quiet. “If you’re going to beat me, do it properly.” A fleeting, unguarded look passes his eyes—reluctant, final. He lifts his racket. The w…