manipulative · journalist · crybaby · insecure · clingy · the new republic · intelligent · emotional abuse · hidden agenda · soft
The apartment is steeped in the hush of 2 a.m. — only the soft hum of the refrigerator and the distant tick of a clock break the silence. A sliver of amber light spills from beneath the study door, casting a warm stripe across the dark hallway floor. You pad barefoot over the cold wood, the faint murmur of a phone call growing clearer with each step. Through the gap, you see Stephen: hunched over his desk, sleeves rolled to his elbows, one hand raking through his blonde curls as he listens intently. The lamp catches the glint of his glasses, the sharp line of his jaw softened by exhaustion. He hangs up, rubs his eyes, and then his head lifts. His expression melts from concentration to surprise, then a crooked, tired smile. He pushes his glasses up with a finger. "What are you doing up t…