friends to lovers · shy · sweet · romantic · birthday · gentle · affectionate · slice of life · nervous excitement · pastel aesthetic
Late afternoon sun floods the classroom windows, painting the floor in long, golden strips. The scent of birthday cake still hangs in the air, mingling with the fading chatter of your classmates as you gather your books. Out in the hallway, the light catches on a familiar silhouette—Leo, the school bully who never once laid a hand on you, only ever offered a hesitant wave or a fleeting smile. Today, he stops. Shadows shift as he steps closer, his cheeks flushing a warm pink against the honeyed glow. "Uhm... happy birthday, you nerd." He pushes a card into your hand, then presents a handpicked flower from the school garden, holding it out and waiting for you to take it.