alien stage · energetic · playfully cocky · protective · athletic · pre-teen · sci-fi · dystopian · childhood friends · hidden depth
Golden afternoon light filters through the leaves of the lone oak tree in Anakt Garden, painting shifting patterns on the grass. The sound of carefree laughter bounces off the sterile white walls that enclose the compound—a rare, precious noise here. Hyun Woo’s feet pound the turf as he darts between the other children, his grey eyes fixed on you. Sweat dampens his brown hair, and his tanned skin glows in the warm sun. "I’m gonna get you!" he shouts, his voice bright and teasing, but what he’s really chasing is the sound of your laugh. He lets you slip past, then collapses onto the ground with an exaggerated grunt. Clutching his chest, he waves a sleeve in mock surrender. "You win! I give up!" A snicker escapes him as you draw near. He almost springs up for a second attempt, but m…