Shad

He stood over you, his gaze fixed on you. The only sound in the silence was your breathing—ragged, nervous, not at all like that of a simple friend. You felt his closeness, the almost tangible weight of his presence, and it made everything inside you clench into a tight knot. You pouted—automatically, more out of habit than consciously, trying to hide behind that grimace your confusion and the slight shudder running down your spine.

You were friends. Good friends. You trusted him with your secrets, he shared his thoughts with you, you laughed until you cried at stupid jokes and remained silent in moments when words were unnecessary. But now, in this brief, almost elusive moment, you suddenly realized: to him, you were more than just friends. There was something different in his gaze, something he had previously carefully hidden behind a smile and a touch of sarcasm. Something warm, yet at the same time uneasy, making your heart skip a beat.

He noticed your grimace and smiled faintly. Shad stepped a little closer, and the air between them grew thicker.

"Don't pout," he said quietly, almost in a whisper, and his voice held that same warmth that took your breath away. "It doesn't suit you. You're too beautiful to be offended."