The damp morning air under the university’s stone arches was thick with the sound of mocking laughter.

"Look at this giant canvas, bro. All that muscle and not a single brain cell to use it," Jax sneered, shoving his shoulder hard into Luca’s chest.

Luca Ashbourne didn't move. He stood pinned against the brick wall, physically towering over the group of frat boys cornering him. With his broad, heavily muscled frame stretching his black t-shirt and his sharp wolf cut—golden blonde on top with dark blue strands framing his neck—he looked like a varsity athlete who could easily crush them. But his piercing blue eyes were wide with pure, childlike panic. He had never learned how to use his strength maliciously. To him, violence was terrifying.

"Yo, Chad, check out his wallet," Jax laughed, snatching Luca’s designer leather wallet right out of his trembling hands. "The Ashbourne heir is literally a walking bank. Too bad he’s a total pussy. What's wrong, Luca? Gonna cry for daddy?"

"P-Please just give it back..." Luca whispered, his deep voice cracking with nerves. His hands shook violently at his sides, completely helpless despite his size.

"Make us, wealthy boy," Chad mocked, tossing the wallet to another guy. "You're pathetic."

"Hey! Back the fuck off!"

Your voice sliced through the courtyard like ice. Pushing past the crowd, you stepped directly into the circle, placing your body squarely between the bullies and Luca. You didn't show a single ounce of fear as you glared up at Jax.

"Don't you losers have anything better to do than flex on someone who clearly wants nothing to do with your broke asses? Beat it before I drag the campus security over here."

Jax’s jaw tightened. "The hell is your problem? Mind your own damn business—" "I made it my business," you snapped back, stepping closer, completely unfazed. "Move. Now."

Stunned by your absolute fearlessness and aggressive attitude, Jax mumbled a bitter curse.

"Whatever. Let's go, guys. This shit is boring anyway," he muttered, tossing Luca’s wallet onto the wet pavement before the group turned on their heels and scattered into the crowd.

You didn't wait around for a thank-you. Turning around, you spared the towering, breathless boy a brief, unreadable glance, handed his wallet back to him, and walked away, disappearing into the sea of students without saying another word. Luca was left frozen on the spot.

A deep, burning blush crept up his neck, staining his cheeks a brilliant crimson. His chest heaved as he stared at the empty space where you had just been standing.

Nobody... nobody has ever stood up for me like that before. The thought echoed in his mind, striking a chord so deep it made his chest ache. He wanted to run after you, to scream a thank-you, but his legs felt like lead. He had absolutely no stamina left; his heart was hammering so fast he felt dizzy.

Overwhelmed, his hands still shaking uncontrollably, he gripped his wallet tightly and stumbled blindly toward his next class.

After that day, everything just changed. Five days had passed.

But Luca Ashbourne hadn’t.

Not in his mind.

Not even close.

The first night after it happened, he told himself it was nothing.

Just shock.

Just embarrassment.

Just gratitude.

But sleep didn’t agree.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw it again.

By the fifth day, Luca Ashbourne finally understood something he didn’t know how to name.

It wasn’t gratitude anymore.

It wasn’t confusion either.

It was worse.

It was expectation.

Like something in him had already decided you mattered.

Now, sitting at the back of the massive lecture hall, Luca was completely lost to the world. His textbook was open, but the words blurred together into a total haze. He was drowning in his own thoughts, helplessly tracing over every single memory of you. He couldn't stop thinking about how beautiful you were. He kept replaying the sharp, flashing intensity of your eyes, the way your hair caught the light when you stepped into the circle, and the fierce, commanding ring of your voice.

He desperately wanted to confess his feelings to you. He wanted to find you, to tell you how completely you had shattered his quiet world, and to thank you properly. But the raw weight of his own anxiety paralyzed him. He had absolutely no social power, no confidence, and his lack of stamina made him feel too weak to even face the terrifying rush of adrenaline that came with just planning a confession. He was completely trapped in his head, terrified that his stuttering, clumsy nature would just make him look pathetic to someone as brave as you.

"Mr. Ashbourne?" The professor's voice suddenly broke his trance.

"Is something wrong? You look incredibly flushed. Are you feeling ill?"

The entire lecture hall turned to look at him. Luca’s heart leaped into his throat.

"I... I need to use the restroom, sir," Luca stammered, his voice thick with nerves. He didn't wait for permission. He practically bolted from his seat, grabbing his bag and rushing out into the quiet hallway, desperately needing a place to breathe.

He walked quickly down the corridor, pulling at the collar of his shirt. But as he turned the corner near the lockers, his breath caught. There you were, leaning against the lockers, completely relaxed.

Luca’s heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird. Every instinct told him to run away out of pure embarrassment, but his legs moved toward you entirely on their own. He stopped just a couple of feet away from you. Because of his height, his massive frame cast a shadow over you, yet his posture was completely submissive, his head bowed as his blonde and blue hair fell forward to shield his blushing face.

He opened his mouth to speak, but his throat was completely dry. No sound came out. He gripped his notebook tighter, causing the papers inside to crinkle loudly in the quiet hallway. His hands were trembling so violently that it was impossible to ignore. Noticeable friction filled the quiet air as the towering, muscular boy stood frozen in front of you, looking like a stuttering, beautiful mess.

Luca swallowed hard, finally forcing his piercing blue eyes to lock onto yours with total, helpless devotion.

"I... I'm Luca," he managed to whisper, his voice shaking as a fresh blush exploded across his face. "You saved me five days ago. I just... I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since it happened. Please... what is your name?"