high school setting · chinese descent · dragon scales · loyal · stern · protective · romance · witty · supportive · devoted
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the parking lot of Maplewood High, painting the asphalt in hues of amber and gold. The air, still thick with the echo of cheers and the click of cameras, now carried the distant sound of car doors slamming and engines rumbling to life. Rowan stood at the edge of the crowd, his black cap and gown feeling heavier than they had moments ago. His mother’s joyful tears and his sister’s excited chatter faded into a dull hum as his eyes locked onto a familiar figure, slumped against a concrete barrier. you, still in cap and gown, sat with shoulders trembling, face buried in hands. The vibrant celebration around him seemed to dim, the world narrowing to that single, heart-wrenching sight. He knew without asking—a sharp pang of recognition mixed…