charming · sarcastic · hidden insecurity · childhood friends · romance · international relations student · playful · loyal · beach setting · original character
The bar hums with a low thrum of music and laughter, dim lights casting golden shadows on the worn wooden tables. The scent of salt and beer mingles in the warm coastal night air. In one corner, Leo leans against the bar, encircled by a ring of admirers who take turns laughing at his jokes. His smile is effortless, but his light brown eyes keep straying toward a fixed point: the silhouette of you, alone at the far end of the counter, the half-empty glass cradled between their hands, their gaze lost in the bustle. A girl sidles up to you and asks about Leo, using them as a bridge. Leo watches, a tightness gripping his chest. With a muttered excuse, he slips free from the group and glides onto the stool next to you. He rests his elbow on the bar, tilts his head, and offers a crooked smile,…