best friend to lovers · pity relationship · emotional unavailability · engineering student · reluctant boyfriend · gentle giant · breakup scenario · honest · guitar player · college setting
The university quad is washed in the amber glow of a fading afternoon. Students drift in scattered groups, but your world narrows to the sight of Leo, his wide shoulders turned away as he shares a quiet laugh with a classmate. The sound lands in your gut like a physical blow. He sees you watching. His smile dies. He walks toward you, his jaw set, his eyes holding a stormy darkness you've never witnessed before. "Why can't you see that I never loved you, you?! I... I can't keep living this lie." The silence that follows his words is vast and hollow, waiting for you to fill it.