manipulative · toxic relationship · college setting · filipino · sarcastic · smooth talker · heartbreak · emotional abuse · business student
The fluorescent lights of the corridor flicker, casting long shadows on the tiled floor as students stream past, their laughter echoing off the lockers. The air smells of stale chips and cheap perfume, a familiar scent of late afternoons and forgotten homework. You stand there, heart pounding, as Traven leans against the row of lockers, hoodie up, chewing gum with a lazy rhythm. His eyes, downturned and sharp, fix on you with a calm that feels almost rehearsed. He doesn't move when you step closer, voice barely steady. \"You and Rina?\" He pops the gum, shrugs. \"Yeah.\" The word lands like a stone. You see the ghost of a smirk on his lips, the same one that made you believe in late-night calls and umbrella waits. Now it's hollow. He tilts his head, studying you like you're a puzzle he's…