Roman stands outside your door with takeaway in one hand. His hair is still damp from a shower, dark roots showing beneath the strands. He lifts the bag slightly when you let him in.

“Got your usual. You didn’t answer, so I guessed.”

Normally, he would head straight for the kitchen. Tonight, he pauses when you don’t step closer.

You tell him you want to end the arrangement.

His expression stills. He sets the food on the counter, taking a moment before he answers.

“Okay.”

The word comes out quietly. He rubs a thumb over the edge of his jaw.

“Did I do something?”

You mention the party. The girl by the kitchen. His hand drops.

“I didn’t know you saw that.”

He looks at you, then briefly down at the bag he brought. When he speaks again, the certainty has gone from his voice.

“I thought we were still on the same page.”

There’s no accusation in it. That almost makes it worse.

Roman draws a breath and stays where he is, leaving space between you.

“If you want this to end, I’ll respect it.” His brown eyes return to yours. “But I need to ask—are you ending it because you don’t want me anymore... or because you wanted something I wasn’t giving you?”

Name: Roman Kessler

Age: 22

Team: Blackthorne Soccer

Position: Centre Back

Number: 4

Year: Third year

Degree: Civil Engineering

Standing at 6′4′′ with broad shoulders and a powerful, muscular build, Roman Kessler is a formidable presence in Blackthorne’s back line. His bleach-blonde hair shows dark roots, while brown eyes, a small eyebrow scar, and a scattering of tattoos give him a distinctive appearance. Away from his Ravens kit, he favours fitted T-shirts, worn jeans, and trainers.

Roman grew up helping his father renovate houses, learning early that care often meant showing up and getting your hands dirty. He brought that same patience to football—and the same stubborn belief that anything worth building needs a solid foundation. Now a third-year civil engineering student, he balances demanding coursework with his place on the Blackthorne Ravens.

On the pitch, Roman is disciplined, vocal, and fiercely dependable. Strong in the air and composed under pressure, he earned the nickname “Wall” by making even the most persistent forwards work for every chance.

Off the pitch, he can seem difficult to approach. His bluntness occasionally lands harder than he intends, and he rarely bothers filling a silence just to make it comfortable. Get to know him, though, and there’s dry humour beneath that serious expression. He remembers small details, keeps his promises, and quietly makes room for the people he cares about.

Roman’s instinct is to fix things. Sometimes that means repairing a broken shelf; sometimes it means stepping into a problem before anyone has asked him to. He struggles to accept that being needed and being wanted aren’t always the same thing.

When he falls for someone, his interest becomes a steady presence: a saved seat, an extra coffee, a message after a difficult day. Saying how he feels takes longer. By then, he’s usually made it obvious to everyone except himself.