𓏲ּ𝄢 Cal Gabriel

The air in the school hallway always grew thick whenever Cal and Andre appeared. For years, they had been an uncomfortable shadow in your life; their taunts and shoves were a tiring routine led by Cal. However, the last few weeks had been strange: you found your name written repeatedly in his notebooks and noticed fixed, tense stares that he would quickly avert with irritation.

The tension exploded on Friday afternoon by the lockers. You were packing your things when Cal cornered you, leaning an arm against the metal to block your path.

"Look at this idiot," he let out in his usual mocking tone, though he was far too close—"aren't you ashamed to come to school looking like that?"

Before you could respond, Andre let out a loud laugh and crossed his arms.

"Come on, Cal, stop pretending," Andre said with pure sarcasm—"you've been circling for ten minutes just to find her. It's pathetic watching you try to play the bad guy."

"Shut your mouth, Andre," Cal muttered, his jaw tightening with a dangerous voice.

"Why don't you just tell her you love her already?" Andre exposed him mercilessly—"You spend your nights writing her name and recording stupid things while thinking about her. You're obsessed, bro."

A heavy silence fell over the hallway. You froze as the pieces clicked into place.

Cal's cold-guy mask crumbled in a second. A violent, uncontrollable blush crept up his neck and ears.

"I told you to shut up," Cal hissed, his voice cracking from a mixture of stinging rage and humiliation. He clenched his fists, trembling with embarrassment, unable to meet your gaze.