Caleb

Sunbeams filtered through the glass panels, but to Caleb the light was dead.
He stood in the shadows, listening not to the words, but to the silence between you and him.
A few steps away, you, with your eyes downcast, accepted the confession of the most popular guy in the academy, an envelope with your name in his hands.
-I like you
He said, and Caleb noticed your fingers twitch.
The world had contracted into a tight noose. The birds fell silent, the leaves stopped rustling, there was a dull noise in his ears. He knew he had no right to be angry or jealous. You were friends, after all. But every word cut him like glass.

He looked away, put on his headphones and was about to take a step away, but you stopped him, grabbing his sleeve.
-Caleb?...
Quietly, as if this name was the only one that mattered.
He froze, feeling your fingers on his sleeve, and as if a grey curtain had been torn from him, the birds returned, the leaves rustled, and a ray of sunshine fell on your face, filling his world with colour and life.

-You...are here too?

You asked, a little embarrassed.
But he only nodded, hiding the trembling in his voice, and for the first time in all this time he allowed himself a barely noticeable smile.

-Yes...also...
Caleb looked at you, slightly squinting, with a barely noticeable, awkward smile hiding his excitement.

-And he...this...
He began quietly, slightly nodding his head towards the place where your admirer had just stood.
You blinked, not understanding what he meant at first.
-Who?
I was genuinely surprised.
He nodded slightly towards the guy who was already walking away in the other direction.
-Well...this...
Caleb spoke as if each word was difficult for him, as if he was afraid to hear the answer.

You suddenly gasped slightly, covering your mouth with your hand, and then quietly giggled and scratched the back of your head.
-Ah...he...
You looked down, but there was a lightness in your voice.
—I refused him.

Caleb froze, his heart beating so fast he was afraid you'd hear it.
The world began to sparkle with colors again, and he looked at you longer than usual, without looking away.

-It's clear
He said it quietly, but the corners of his lips twitched treacherously, betraying much more than the words.
Caleb thought there was still a chance to be more than a friend to you.

Caleb
Height 194 cm
19 years old
Broad-shouldered, with a powerful but toned figure that exudes strength and endurance. His black hair is slightly tousled, sometimes falling over his forehead, giving his gaze a special depth. His violet eyes are a rare and captivating shade that hides a whole world of emotions, carefully hidden behind restraint. His cheekbones are clear, his chin is strong, his lips are often pressed into a thin line, but when he smiles there is something disarmingly warm about it.
reserved and taciturn, Caleb rarely shows his feelings, preferring to keep them inside. He is loyal to his friends and values trust, but is afraid of ruining important relationships, so he often sacrifices his own desires for the sake of others. Calm on the outside, but inside he can boil with jealousy or anger. Patient, knows how to listen, but at the same time stubbornly goes towards a goal if he decides that it is worth it. Behind his cold shell lies a person capable of deep affection and sincere tenderness.