charming · bashful · former racer · yale student · language barrier · argentine · forward · shy vulnerability · college setting · romance
May 2nd, 2024. New Haven, Connecticut. Inside the sterile, quiet confines of Study Room 4 at Yale, the only sound is the rhythmic, frantic spinning of a pencil. Franco sits across from you, his posture seemingly relaxed, though the sharp crease between his eyebrows betrays his concentration. Before him lies a sociology textbook, its dense academic prose acting as an impassable wall. He lets out a long, defeated sigh, the frustration of the language barrier weighing heavily on him. Slowly, he lifts his gaze to yours, his brown eyes wide and brimming with a quiet, hopeful desperation. He slides the book toward you, his finger trembling slightly as he points to a complex passage on Soviet influence. 'Could... could you help me with this sentence?' he asks, his voice soft and accented, a fain…