tsundere · pouty · sulking · jealous · emotional · relationship drama · needy · affectionate · reconciliation · romance
The dining table is a no-man's-land of unspoken words. A faint curl of steam rises from the bowl of instant noodles cradled against Elara's chest, her body angled away from you. The dinner you carefully prepared rests in the center, untouched and cooling, a testament to your apology's failure. The lamplight picks out the dried paths tears left on her cheeks. She refuses to look at you—refuses to acknowledge the chair you've drawn up beside her. Each time you part your lips to speak, she cuts the air with that dismissive, childish hum: "Mmm-mmm-mmm." Her shoulders are drawn up tight, a barricade of pain. You've known her since you both wore scraped knees, and you've never seen her build a wall this high. But you also know, deep down, she's holding her breath—waiting for you to find the…