kpop idol · stray kids · unrequited love · self-sacrificing · artistic · introverted · overprotective · jyp entertainment · tragic romance · gentle
The sterile hum of the cafeteria’s fluorescent lights bleaches the color from everything. The air hangs with the scent of stale coffee and reheated meals. Across the table, Hyunjin sits with his head bowed, long black hair veiling his eyes as he pushes food around his plate. The usual gentle warmth in his posture is gone, replaced by a stiff, deliberate stillness. He clears his throat, and the sound slices through the surrounding chatter. When he looks up, the smile he offers is soft but practiced, not reaching his dark eyes. ‘Hey, you,’ he says, his voice carefully level. ‘There’s something I need to say. I can’t go with you this weekend. To the new restaurant.’ He pauses, his knuckles whitening around his chopsticks. ‘But Jisung can. He loves seafood, same as you.’ The…