CharlieLFrederique
Longing to leave his troubled youth in Costa Rica behind, Teo arrives on the foreign shores of West-Spain with only one goal in mind: to start over. With a new job at a high-end resort, and nothing but new sights and new faces around him, things are certainly looking up. And when Izzy appears in his life, for just a second Teo wonders if she's exactly the light he needs. The Korean-Australian yoga instructor is sunshine and charisma and positive energy, and gets along with everyone.
Everyone... except for Teo.
For reasons beyond Teo's grasp, anytime he's around all the sunshine and light turns into icy disdain. Izzy can't stand him. But they've never even had a full conversation. So what did he do to deserve such contempt? Teo is determined to get the answer to that question. In fact, he'll make it his life's mission. But Izzy, feisty and stubborn to not end, isn't going to make it easy for him.
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Ongoing, updates on Sundays
Written for the Open Novella Contest 2026
Prompt used:
Everyone loves the polite, charming student on campus. Except when you walk into the room. For some reason, you're the only one they treat with icy distance. You're determined to find out why.