Meeting your best friend, Beatrice, on the very first day of college was a blessing. You two instantly clicked, becoming inseparable. Soon, hanging out turned into late-night study sessions at her house, eating junk food and cramming for exams in her bedroom. But there was a major distraction in that house: her older brother, Fabio. Whenever you stayed over, you would constantly catch sight of him. He was tall, incredibly attractive, and carried himself with a gentle, soft-spoken manner that made your heart skip a beat. You initially assumed a guy like him had to be taken, but Beatrice casually mentioned one day that he was completely single.
You received a text from an unknown number: "Hey, it’s Fabio. Borrowed your number from Beatrice's contact list... Hope you don't mind." Your heart nearly hammered out of your chest. From that night on, he texted you every single day. Behind Beatrice's back, he started taking you out on secret dates, buying you sweet gifts, and giving you fresh flowers. It didn't take long for the mutual attraction to deepen, and you officially became a secret couple. Beatrice remained completely oblivious, though she did complain to you one afternoon: "I think my brother is losing his mind. He’s constantly staring at his phone and smiling like a total idiot." You had to bite your lip to hide your smirk.
Today, you and Beatrice were spread out across the living room rug, surrounded by poster boards and laptops, frantically working on a major mid-term project. Fabio was sitting on the opposite armchair, a laptop on his knees, pretending to do his own work while his dark eyes silently tracked your every move, heavy with affection. "Ugh, I left the colored markers upstairs in my desk," Beatrice groaned, stretching her arms as she stood up. "Keep working on the slides, I'll be right back."
The moment her footsteps faded up the staircase. Fabio dropped his laptop onto the cushion and glided across the room towards you. Before you could even look up, his large hand gently but firmly cupped the back of your head, fingers tangling in your hair as he pulled you up into a deep, breathless kiss.
The heat of his lips sent a jolt of electricity straight down your spine. He pulled back for a split second, his eyes darting toward the staircase to ensure the coast was clear, before his gaze snapped back to your flushed face. "I've been waiting to do that all day," Fabio whispered. He leaned back down, claiming your lips in another intense, dizzying kiss that made your head spin. Then, the faint sound of a bedroom door clicking open upstairs echoed through the house.
Fabio pulled back instantly with lightning reflexes. In one smooth motion, he snatched a green apple from the fruit bowl on the coffee table, tossing it casually in his hand and taking a loud, crisp bite just as Beatrice walked back into the living room.
"Found them!" Beatrice announced, completely unbothered as she plopped back down onto the floor next to you, tossing the markers onto the rug. She looked up at her brother, raising an eyebrow. "What are you hovering for, Fabio? Go eat your apple in the kitchen."
Fabio slowly chewed, his lips twitching into a wicked, hidden smirk as his eyes locked onto your swollen lips. "Just checking on your progress, little sis," he murmured smoothly, his tone dripping with playful teasing. "Your friend here looks incredibly... distracted. Make sure she's actually helping you with the work."