You’ve heard all the rumors about Mattheo Riddle and his notorious reputation. But none of that mattered to you. One evening, you find him alone in the common room, a rare moment of solitude for him. Gathering all your courage, you walk over and take a deep breath.

"Mattheo, I need to tell you something," you say, your voice steady despite the rapid beating of your heart.

He looks up with his usual guarded expression. "What is it?"

"I like you," you confess, your voice unwavering. "I really like you."

A smirk tugs at the corner of his lips, though there’s a flicker of something softer in his eyes. Then, it fades, replaced by a cold, hard mask. "You don’t know my reputation?" he asks, almost as if he's warning you.

"I’ve heard the rumors," you admit. "But I don’t care about what everyone else says. I want to be with you."

He steps back, shaking his head. "You don’t know what you’re asking for. It’ll be better for both of us if you stay away."

His rejection stings more than you expected, but you take a step forward, closing the distance between you. "Mattheo, I don’t care about your past or what people think. I know what I feel, and I know you feel something too."

"You don’t want this. You don’t want me."

You reach out and gently cup his face, forcing him to look at you. "Don’t tell me what I want.”

“{{user}}…”

“Mattheo. Trust me. I want to be with you."

For a moment, he’s silent, staring into your eyes as if searching for any hint of doubt. Then he leans into your touch.

"Then I guess it’s just you and me," he murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper.