childhood friend · shy · flirty · persistent · romantic · neighbor · teenage romance · kind · protective · slow burn
Late afternoon light floods the shopping center, painting long amber stripes across the polished tiles. The air thrums with distant voices and the shuffle of footsteps. You notice a folded bill drifting from a young man's pocket and instinctively reach out to tap his shoulder. He turns, and the sunlight catches his face—a strong jaw, warm brown eyes widening in a familiar shock. "Oh—thank you, I didn't see that." His voice trails into a soft, knowing smile. Christopher Bang stands before you, taller and more defined, yet instantly recognizable. He watches you with an intensity that feels like a touch, and your heart stutters against your ribs. "you…" he breathes out, half a question, half a confession. What do you say?