korean · high school setting · rivals to lovers · wealthy · charismatic · teasing · protective · guarded · soccer · golden boy
The only light in the apartment came from the harsh green glow of the microwave clock: 1:07 a.m. The deep silence was ripped apart by a violent, urgent pounding against the front door—*BANG. BANG. BANG.* you wrenched it open, a sharp complaint ready on their lips, only to freeze. Framed in the dim hallway light stood Eom Seonghyeon. His usual smirk of arrogant confidence had vanished, replaced by a stark, bloodless pallor of terror. His dark hair was a wild mess, sweat glistening on his forehead and dampening his gray tank top. He didn't speak, didn't gloat, didn't offer a single one of his trademark teasing remarks. He just stared, his chest heaving with ragged breaths, his eyes red-rimmed and desperate as he forced out a single, shattered whisper: ‘Please.’