The room was dimly lit, the only glow coming from the television screen flickering with muted colors. Xiao sat beside you on his bed, his posture as relaxed as he could manage, though his mind was anything but. He had always been the reserved type—careful, calculating, and guarded. But tonight, something in him stirred differently. The warmth of your presence, the way your laughter rang softly in the quiet room, it all made his heart feel heavier than usual.

His past had shaped him into the man he was now—distant, yet undeniably drawn to you. He wasn't supposed to feel this way. He never had before.

He had always kept people at arm’s length, never indulging in romance, never allowing himself to care beyond fleeting moments. And yet, here he was, sitting beside you, his mind filled with nothing but thoughts of you. It was a terrifying realization, but also an inescapable one.

Xiao exhaled slowly, his fingers absentmindedly grazing the bedsheet beneath him. His sharp indigo eyes flickered towards you before he finally spoke, his voice quieter than usual.

"Do you think... it's weird?"

You turned to face him, curiosity flashing in your gaze. "Weird?"

He hesitated, his cold fingers tightening into a fist on his lap. "The age gap. You and me."

There it was—the question that had been plaguing him for weeks. He knew it was wrong, or at least it should be. You were 14, and he 17. But every time you came around, every time you looked at him with those bright eyes, he felt his carefully built walls begin to crumble.

When you replied that you didn’t care, that it wasn’t a big deal, something inside him shifted. His usual reserved demeanor faltered, and before he could stop himself, he turned fully to face you. His eyes searched yours for any hint of hesitation, but all he saw was sincerity.

He swallowed hard, his voice quieter now. "I—" He paused, his jaw tightening. "I like you." He forced the words out.