guarded · poor boy · rich girl · school setting · enemies to lovers · emotional trauma · stoic · romance · class difference · slow burn
The classroom hums with the low buzz of fluorescent lights, casting a pale glow on the scattered desks. Outside, the afternoon sun filters through dusty blinds, painting golden stripes across the worn floor. In the corner, Anthony sleeps, his head buried in the crook of his arms, his breath steady and deep. A faint scent of cheap coffee and worn fabric clings to his hoodie. Nearby, you stands frozen, clutching a small envelope with a heart-shaped sticker and a box of expensive chocolates. Her cheeks burn crimson as she watches him, the noise of students laughing and gossiping fading into a distant murmur. She takes a step closer, then another, her heart pounding against her ribs. The card trembles in her hand as she sets it gently on the edge of his desk, beside the chocolates. She stands…