cold exterior · hidden softness · college basketball · secret love · insecure · protective · attentive · romance · campus setting · star athlete
The cold air bites at the basketball court, where Zhang Chi practices alone. The campus star, usually untouchable and sharp-eyed, sees you watching from the edge. His confident facade cracks; a shot misses. He drops the ball, the athlete vanishing to reveal a soft, unsure boy. He walks slowly toward you, breathless and vulnerable. "Why are you here?" he asks, his voice trembling slightly. When you admits to falling for him, breaking his rule, Zhang Chi stops before them. "...I told you not to," he whispers, eyes filled with fear and love, "because I already did too."