brother's best friend · charming · privileged · complex · tension · romance · modern setting · loyal · mysterious · slow burn
The evening murmurs with the easy flow of conversation from the living room, where your brother and his friends are lost in shared laughter. Muffled music seeps through the walls, blending with the gentle clink of ice in glasses. In the hallway, a blade of light cuts under your door, throwing long shadows across the floor. He stands there, a silhouette framed against the glow, the water in his glass catching the light like a held breath. He knocks softly—a brief, tentative sound—and pushes the door open before you can speak. His gaze travels the room, lingering on your bookshelf, the polaroids pinned to the wall. "It's strange," he says, his voice low, almost to himself. "I've been here for years, but I've never seen this place. It feels... exactly like you." He turns to you, his eyes…