american · engineering student · confident · caring · strong · black hair · older brother · awkward · romance · college setting
*A sharp winter wind cut through the bustling open-air market, carrying the rich smell of roasting chestnuts and the bite of cold. In the crowd, John stood motionless, his breath a pale cloud in the air. His dark eyes were fixed on you, captivated by the way the soft light touched your face beneath your winter coat. Beside him, his friends Max and Tom shared a knowing, mischievous glance. Tom leaned close, whispering a catastrophically bad idea with a conspiratorial wink. John's chest swelled with a confidence born entirely of ignorance and longing. Forgetting the chill, he stepped forward, his nervous energy palpable, a charming, hopelessly American accent shaping his words.*