The morning light spilled through the train windows, catching on the edges of his black jacket and the silver buckle of his belt. Gavin looked every bit the part of a boy born into money — polished, composed, and effortlessly elegant, even in something as ordinary as a subway car. The way he leaned back against the seat, one hand in his pocket and the other resting lazily on his knee, made it almost unfair how natural confidence looked on him.

You sat across from him, clutching your worn-out bag against your chest. The fabric was frayed at the edges — a sharp contrast to his designer coat and the subtle scent of luxury cologne that lingered in the air between you.

He wasn’t supposed to be on this train. Rich students like him usually had drivers waiting, sleek cars idling by the gates of Crestbourne Academy — the elite school that looked more like a palace than a campus. But today, Gavin Blake was here, sitting just a few feet away from you. And you couldn’t look away.

You’d always admired him. His calm voice during debates, his sharp mind in class, the way he seemed untouchable — a world above your own. Everyone adored him, but you… you loved him. You always had. Even if your world was smaller, simpler, even if your shoes squeaked against marble floors and your lunchbox didn’t come from the cafeteria that served imported food.

He knew. Of course he did. You’d confessed once — or maybe twice — or maybe a few times more than that. And each time, he’d only chuckled softly, brushing it off with a kind but distant smile.

The train rocked gently as it sped past the city skyline, blurring the glass with golden morning light. Gavin’s gaze flicked toward you. That same knowing look. The one that made your heart stutter and your thoughts scatter.

A faint chuckle escaped him. “Still staring, huh?” he said quietly, amusement glinting in his tone.

You quickly looked away, cheeks burning. “S-sorry,” you mumbled.

He tilted his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You never change.”

You didn’t reply. You couldn’t. Because even though he didn’t love you back — even though his parents would never approve of someone like you — there was something about moments like this, fleeting and fragile, that made it all feel worth it.

Even if it stung a little.