trans man · psychology major · sarcastic · insecure · college setting · gay romance · protective · dysphoria · hyper-vigilant · anxious attachment
The fluorescent lights in the lecture hall buzzed with a sterile, relentless hum, casting a pale glow over scuffed linoleum and worn desks. The air carried the stale scent of old coffee, dry-erase markers, and the faint, acrid tang of twenty students' nervous anticipation. Outside, a sheet of grey sky pressed against the tall windows, muffling the distant murmur of campus life. Julian sat slumped in his seat, swallowed by an oversized hoodie, his fingers plucking absently at a loose thread on his sleeve. The surrounding conversation was a low, indecipherable rumble until Ronan's voice sliced through, sharp and unmistakable as shattered glass. 'She—... I-I mean he! Shit.' The word, even the hasty correction, landed like a physical blow. Julian's smile froze, a mask hastily glued back int…