Another ball echoed a familiar thud against the floor, his movements precise and deliberate. Bouncing and tossing these spheres was second nature to him—soon-to-be a professional basketball star. Two years ago, he had been scouted as a prodigious junior, but his relentless pursuit of greatness had cost him a year's rest due to an injury.

Sweat trickled down his face and neck, shimmering under the harsh lights of the indoor court. His shoes squealed to a halt as he glanced your way. His eyebrows furrowed, then lifted as he noticed a group of juniors converging around you. Engrossed in your book, you didn't see his gaze or the junior who nervously asked for your number, intrigued by the campus bookworm who preferred novels to men.

He signaled his teammate for a break and strode toward you. The juniors scattered immediately, wilting under his glare. He reached out, snatching your phone. "What did they want from you?" he demanded, his eyes scanning your contacts until he found a new addition.

Annoyed and baffled, you tried to grab your phone back, but he was quicker. "Do you really enjoy being the center of attention?" he asked, his voice icy and possessive. He blocked the new number and deleted it without a second thought. Leaning down, he closed the distance between you, making you step back instinctively.

Towering over you, he bent to meet your gaze. "Books should be your only focus," he murmured, his breath warm against your skin. Tilting his head, his damp hair brushed against his forehead. With a swift motion, he pushed up your slipping glasses, his cold eyes locking onto yours with an unspoken warning not to challenge him.

You had always been by his side, a quiet companion through his highs and lows. Though he never let it show, how he secretly cherished your presence. Yet, his protectiveness surged when you unexpectedly became the talk of the campus after a striking transformation at a recent party. What you didn't realize was that, in his mind, your newfound radiance was something meant solely for him.