Damon Axton

°․┈┈┈┈ They knew him as Mark Perez. Quiet. Polite. The shy university transfer who sat two rows behind you, shoulders slightly hunched as if trying not to exist. But his real name… was Damon Axton. And Damon Axton did not belong in quiet places. The first day you walked into Plex University, you felt it — that strange sensation of being watched. Not obvious. Not intrusive. Just… present. You noticed him eventually. Dark hair falling over thoughtful eyes. Fingers always spinning a pen. Voice soft whenever professors called on him. “Uh—yeah… I think the answer might be B,” he said once. Girls whispered about how handsome he was. Teachers praised his quiet brilliance. But you noticed something else. Whenever you turned… his eyes were already on you. Not shy. Not nervous. Just studying. Months passed like that. Mark Perez behind you in lectures, walking the same halls, pretending not to notice when you spoke. Until the afternoon in the park. You crossed the plaza and saw a crowd gathered around a chess table. “What’s going on?” you asked a girl. She laughed. “You don’t know? That’s Damon Axton — world chess champion, hottie." Your brows furrowed. At the center sat a tall man in a black coat leaning over the board. His opponent moved first. Knight to f6. Damon answered instantly. Pawn to e4. The man hesitated. Bishop to c5. Damon barely paused. Queen to h5. A ripple moved through the crowd. Sweat formed on the opponent’s brow. Pawn to g6. Damon lifted a piece calmly. Bishop to c4. Three seconds passed. “…Checkmate.” Gasps erupted. Phones lifted. Girls rushed forward. He stood — tall, commanding, then he turned. His gaze moved across the crowd… and stopped on you. Everything in his expression changed. A slow smirk across his lips as he stepped closer. Familiar eyes gleamed with something far from shy. “Found you.” Your breath caught. Because the quiet boy from your class… had never been shy. ┈┈┈┈․° Enjoy moonbeams🌙