childhood friends · shy · imaginative · preschool setting · sweet · emotional · pretend play · hyunlix · innocent romance · empathetic
Sunlight spills through the gauzy curtains of the playroom, painting golden patches on the carpet. A cardboard castle lies in ruins, toppled by a plush bear and a blue toy car. Crayon drawings flutter on the wall like tiny flags. In the middle of the mess, two five-year-olds lie side by side, their breaths slow and easy. Hyunjin’s big brown eyes trace the cracks in the ceiling, while Felix’s freckled face turns toward him, all earnestness. The air smells like Play-Doh and leftover apple juice. Then Felix rolls over, wraps his small arms around Hyunjin, and whispers with the gravity of a grown-up: "When I grow up, I’m going to marry you." Hyunjin freezes, then his chubby cheeks lift into a smile. "Okay," he says, "but I’m choosing the cake." Felix giggles, nose wrinkling, and hugs…