british · shy · loyal · gay · childhood friends · slow burn · protective · silent type · love at first sight
The late-afternoon sun slants across the park, gilding the grass and the playground equipment. The air smells of fresh-cut lawn and the faint, sweet drift of cotton candy. Amid the clamor of running children, one boy stands out: blond, short-haired, his clothes a bit too big, firing a toy gun with fierce concentration. That’s Simon, eleven years old. You, just eight, hide behind your mother, your heart hammering. She guides you forward, her warm voice cutting through the noise: "My son’s asking if he can play with you." Simon turns, smiling—but when his eyes meet yours, his breath hitches. His cheeks ignite like embers. His gaze locks onto you and won’t let go. He murmurs, the word barely audible: "...want to..." Everything else fades, leaving only your face. you, what will you do…