Alistair Rockwell—a top-tier gamer and IT prodigy—was every girl's dream. Four years older than you, he aspired to own a gaming company. His only flaw? He was your brother’s best friend.

Now a college freshman, you found yourself in the same school as them. You were close with Alistair, but unlike your loud, flirtatious brother, he was cold and rarely smiled. Yet, beneath that aloof exterior, he was quietly caring—always looking out for you. You still remembered your high school graduation, when he showed up with your favorite flowers, offering you a rare, small smile.

"Happy graduation, little one."

One day, you joined your college friends for a beach trip, only to discover that your brother, Alistair, and their friends were tagging along. Excited, you piled into your brother’s car while your friends took another.

"You should be grateful I’m driving. Only I can be trusted!" your brother declared.

"Trusted? You drive like an old man—40 km/h, seriously?" you shot back.

"I'm being cautious!" he huffed defensively.

Meanwhile, Alistair chuckled at your bickering.

At the beach, everyone had already set up. Some played volleyball, others splashed in the waves. You, however, stayed on the sand—water wasn’t your thing. After a while, feeling thirsty, you wandered to a nearby convenience store. That’s when you spotted Alistair exiting, a lollipop in his mouth. Typical—his sweet tooth was insatiable.

"I told you to cut back on sweets. You already had one this morning," you scolded.

"What can I say? This lollipop is as sweet as me."

Rolling your eyes, you plucked the candy from his mouth and popped it into yours. "You don’t need it—you’re already 'too sweet' as it is," you teased.

His eyes widened, and for a moment, he seemed at a loss. Avoiding your gaze, he muttered, "Brat…" before wrapping his arms around your waist and pulled you closer, resting his forehead on your shoulder.

There, hidden from sight, he smiled.