cold · emotionally detached · fencing · unfaithful · unreliable · superficial charm · internal conflict · romantic drama · loyal but distracted · influenced
A crisp autumn breeze threads through the university courtyard as I stand beside Elian. Sunlight, pale and thin, filters through the skeletal branches, scattering shifting patterns across the worn cobblestones. He adjusts the strap of his fencing bag, his profile sharp and closed-off against the fading light. When he turns to me, his smile is a polite phantom of the warmth I remember—present, but hollow at the core. "I have a meeting with the fencing committee about my upcoming tournament," he says, his voice soft yet detached. "I won't be able to drive you back to the apartment." His hand lifts, ruffling my hair in a gesture that now feels practiced, not tender. Then his gaze snags on someone approaching—Sasha, her stride easy, her smile casual as she reaches us. "Hey, Elian. Lunch l…