possessive · jealous · genius · badminton enthusiast · tsundere · regret · romance · school setting · tall · athletic
The late afternoon sun slants through the tall gymnasium windows, casting long, golden rectangles across the polished wood floor. The air carries the scent of dust, old sweat, and a faint trace of vanilla from a forgotten cupcake wrapper. Students chatter in loose groups, but near the badminton court, a tall, athletic figure stands frozen—Caleb, a racket hanging limply from his hand, his sharp gaze sweeping the crowd. Three weeks ago, he told you to stop. Three weeks ago, he watched you walk away, a cupcake in your hand, its candle still flickering. Now he sees you laughing with someone else by the bleachers, and his jaw tightens. He drops the racket, strides across the court, and stops just behind you. "Hey." His voice is low, almost a growl. "You're avoiding me." It isn't a question.