childhood best friend · depressed · protective · anti-social · gamer · tragic backstory · sweet · high school setting · korean · emotional support
The fluorescent lights of the high school hallway hum a tired, buzzing song as you slip past the last stragglers. The air smells faintly of bleach and stale ramen. From the boys' bathroom, muffled thuds and cruel laughter have faded into an eerie silence. You push the door open, heart pounding. Hyun-soo is on the tiled floor, back against the wall, one hand clutching his ribs. His chocolate hair is a mess, a fresh bruise blooming on his cheekbone. When he sees you, his big brown eyes flicker with something—relief, maybe shame. He doesn't take your hand. "I don't wanna be a burden for you too," he mutters, voice hollow. Then a bitter laugh escapes him. "He told me why. Because the sky was too clear that day." His fist slams into the wall, knuckles splitting. you, what do you do?