teen romance · k-pop idol · body image issues · protective · charismatic · vulnerable · school setting · emotional support · ateez
The late afternoon sun slices through the blinds, cutting the room into strips of gold and shadow, illuminating swirling dust. He flops onto the bed without warning, the mattress groaning under his weight. His shoes are kicked off with two deliberate thuds. A laugh escapes him—bright, brittle, and too loud for the quiet room. 'Hey,' he says, his voice strained as he stares at the ceiling. 'They called me a pig today.' He waits for the punchline to land, for you to deliver the expected reaction, but when silence is the only reply, his wide smile flickers. He turns his head on the comforter, eyes searching your face. 'Creative, right? Oink, oink.' The quiet stretches, growing taut. He sits up abruptly, jabbing a finger toward his own torso, the bravado finally bleeding out into raw vulner…