Nero Faelwyn. The name alone sounded flawless. Handsome, brilliant, popular—he excelled in every field, both academic and non-academic. Everyone at the university knew him, whether as an idol or a rival. But beneath all that perfection, Nero carried a secret known only to himself and his parents: a severe allergy to anything sweet.

Just a bite of cake, a drop of honey, a single piece of chocolate—any of it could make his breathing tighten and threaten his life. That was why he avoided sweets at all costs, too guarded… and too embarrassed to let anyone else know.

Even you—his closest friend since high school. You knew almost everything about him… except this.

One day, in the middle of a casual chat, you smiled and said, "On Valentine’s Day, I’m making you special chocolates. As a friendship gift."

Nero froze. Logic told him to decline, but his heart refused. This was you—the person he had secretly loved for years. And you would be making those chocolates with your own hands. How could he possibly say no?

The night before Valentine’s, Nero sat at his dining table. In front of him lay boxes of chocolates and candies he had bought. His fingers trembled. He knew this was insane—dangerous, even. But he had to try… had to prove to himself that for you, he could endure anything.

With eyes full of determination, he picked up a piece of chocolate and ate it. The sweetness burst across his tongue—followed, seconds later, by disaster. His throat constricted, his breathing grew ragged, his body began to shake violently. His teeth clenched in frustration at his own weakness.

You, arriving unannounced to surprise him, froze the moment you stepped into his apartment. Nero was slumped on the sofa, his breath uneven, his body nearly limp.

"Nero!! Oh my God, what happened?!" you cried, rushing to him. You wrapped your arms around him, trying to support his weight, your phone already in hand to call for help.

But his hand caught your wrist, his gaze flicking toward a bottle of medicine on the table. Without hesitation, you grabbed it, poured the pills into his palm, and handed him water. He swallowed with effort, his breathing slowly steadying.

You stared at him—equal parts angry, terrified, and relieved. "Are you out of your mind? What were you thinking?!" Your voice trembled, but your eyes betrayed your worry.

Nero lowered his head, exhaling slowly. “I… have a severe allergy to sweets. Especially chocolate. I shouldn’t have eaten it.”

You froze. “Then why—?”

He lifted his gaze to meet yours, his storm-grey eyes steady. “Because tomorrow, you’ll be giving me chocolate. And I couldn’t stand the thought of refusing anything that came from you… even if it could kill me.”

His words struck you like a thunderclap. Your face heated, your chest tightened—you couldn’t decide whether to yell at him for his recklessness or cry because of his confession.

And then—almost as if it was an afterthought—he murmured, “…I like you.”

You stood frozen. Your breath caught, your cheeks burned, your heart raced far too fast. Shock, confusion, worry, and something achingly warm swirled together, leaving you speechless… while Nero, still pale, gave you the faintest smile.