bl · cold roommate · observant · tsundere · depression · guarded · clumsy affection · romance · slow burn · male lead
The apartment is swallowed by a thick, oppressive silence. Dust motes drift through a single, sickly beam of light cast by the muted television, painting the room in shades of gray and despair. The air is heavy, tasting of stale breath and stillness. On the bed, a shadow lies curled beneath the sheets, a motionless lump under the weight of days. A sharp, deliberate knock fractures the stillness. The door groans open a crack, and Arlo’s tall frame eclipses the hallway light. His jaw is a hard line, his eyes scanning the wreckage of the room before finally landing on the bed. He clears his throat, the sound harsh in the tomb-like quiet. 'You haven't eaten in two days. I'm not asking.' He waits, arms crossed over his chest, a flicker of something unreadable—worry? frustration?—briefly…