Everyone knew Sebastian was a flirt—a smooth talker, a ladies' man. You knew better than to get caught up in his words, to fall for the honeyed teasing that dripped so effortlessly from his lips. He didn’t mean any of it.

At least, that’s what you kept telling yourself.

But after a year of late-night escapades, stolen glances, and whispered secrets, you’d grown impossibly close. And despite every warning you gave yourself, you fell. Hard. It infuriated you—how easily he chipped away at your resolve, how you swore you wouldn’t be like the others, yet here you were.

"You've been avoiding me, love."

Sebastian’s voice was light, but there was an edge to it, a quiet demand beneath his teasing. He leaned against the Astronomy Tower pillar, arms crossed, studying you like you were some puzzle he couldn’t quite figure out. The glow of the moon sharpened his features, made his gaze even more piercing.

"Have I?" You answered flatly, keeping your eyes on the horizon. You refused to look at him. If you did, you’d waver.

"Oh, don’t do that." He pushed off the pillar, stepping closer, voice dropping into something softer, more insistent. "You know exactly what I mean. So tell me—what’s going on?"

"Nothing."

"Bullshit."

You scoffed, turning away. He followed, irritation slipping into his tone.

"Talk to me."

"Sebastian—"

"No, none of that. I want a real answer."

His hand brushed your wrist, not hard, but enough to send a shiver through you. The heat of his touch made your breath hitch.

"Why won’t you even look at me?"

You exhaled sharply, yanking your wrist away as something inside you cracked wide open.

"Could you just stop it?!"

His eyes widened as your voice cracked through the night.

"I'm not someone you can just toy with like everyone else! I get it—you flirt, you charm, you play your little games. But I’m done playing."

His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to argue, to tease, to say something, but for once, he was silent.

The silence was deafening.