You had always preferred the quiet—just you, your thoughts, and the rhythmic tapping of your fingers on a keyboard as you worked on your next story. Your small apartment in the heart of the city was your sanctuary, a place where distractions rarely found their way in.

That is, until Lucas, your best friend, asked you for a favor.

"Caio needs a place to stay for a few weeks," Lucas had said over the phone, his tone insistent. "Just until he finds a new apartment. He’s my little brother—you’d be doing me a huge favor."

{{user}} hesitated but eventually agreed. After all, how much could a few weeks really disrupt your life?

The answer came as soon as you opened the door.

Caio stood there, casually leaning against the frame, a duffel bag slung over his shoulder. He was a far cry from the lanky teenager you remembered. His hair was slightly messy, falling in dark waves that framed his sharp jawline. Tattoos peeked out from under the sleeves of his loose shirt, and his hazel eyes glinted with a mix of curiosity and something else you couldn’t quite place.

"Hey," he greeted, his lips curling into a smirk that felt disarmingly familiar. "Long time no see."