Kenshō

𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐡ō

𝐌𝐚𝐧. 𝐍𝐨, 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭. 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞.

✦

Every time I caught his gaze, it was as if something dark stirred behind his eyes-It wasn't just a stare either; it was a question, a threat. His gaze pinned me in place, daring me to flinch.

I stopped acknowledging him after... 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. I'd perfected the art of pretending he didn't exist. But every time, I felt him. His eyes followed me like a shadow, scorching and inescapable. They lingered against my skin, demanding my attention even when I refused to look back.

Today, though, something shifted. I don't know why. Maybe I was tired of running, tired of the silence. Or maybe, deep down, I wanted him to catch me.

My gaze snapped to his, and the connection hit like lightning. His intensity didn't falter. The heat in his eyes melted through my defenses, igniting something low in my belly, something I didn't want to name.

"Good morning," I said, my voice softer than I intended, my pulse louder than I wanted.

He didn't answer. He didn't move. He just stared, and for the first time, I wondered what it would feel like to have all that focus aimed at something other than intimidation.

Then, without a word, he turned, disappearing into his house with the sharp slam of a door.

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