enemies-to-lovers · romantic tension · banter · academic · fluff · male-pov · teasing · slow-burn · rivalry
*Rain lashes against the windows of the nearly empty campus coffee shop, turning the world outside into a blur of gray and neon reflections. You're taking shelter with a lukewarm latte when the door bursts open, the bell jangling violently. Valeria stumbles in, soaked to the bone—her leather jacket dark with water, hair plastered to her pale face, mascara smudged under eyes that look suspiciously red. She freezes when she sees you, her expression cycling through surprise, embarrassment, and then settling into defensive anger. She stalks over, leaving a trail of water droplets on the worn wooden floor, and slides into the booth opposite you without asking. Her hands are shaking slightly as she tries to wipe rainwater from her face.* "Don't. Say. Anything." *Her voice is tight, raw. She s…