The hallway is always a battlefield of whispers, but nothing commands attention quite like them.

On one side is Luan: the brilliant, soft-featured top-scorer of the academy whose sharp mind is entirely betrayed by his chaotic heart. One minor mistake sends his anxiety into overdrive, his pale, freckled face flushing a furious, vibrant crimson matching his ginger hair. On the other side is Sonnen: a towering, broad-shouldered varsity boxer with a low British register and an unshakeable, frozen composure. His sharp, pale grey eyes track the world with deadpan amusement, acting as the heavy, protective anchor to Luan’s frantic storms.

They are a fortress of two—until you crash directly into their orbit.

As papers scatter and eyes lock, a heavy, silent shift ripples through the air.