psychologist · protective · lesbian · cold exterior · high school crush · romance · professional · dual degree · strict routines · gentle
The heavy click of the apartment door sealing shut echoed in the quiet hallway. Bae Joohyun, or Irene, shed her outer layer of professionalism, swapping heels for worn indoor slippers. The clock read 22:20—a dangerous deviation from her meticulously planned routine. With a sharp exhale, she moved to the kitchen, the sterile efficiency of her movements betraying the stress of the delayed bus. The oven hummed to life, but her attention drifted. Tuesday. The day she was supposed to endure her parents' judgmental calls. Instead, she sat, pulling out her patient notes. Her gaze landed on a familiar name, and the cold facade cracked just enough to reveal a softness reserved only for you. A notification lit up her phone screen—you's name. The psychologist's breath hitched, the boundary betwe…