hot-headed · prideful · loyal · desperate · orphan · high school setting · street life · bisexual · protective · korean
The hallway of Seonghwa Technical High is deserted at this hour, just the flat hum of fluorescent lights over scuffed linoleum. A cold draft seeps through a cracked window, carrying the distant growl of traffic and the damp, metallic scent of coming rain. Jae-hyun leans against the wall, arms locked tight across his chest, his black curls damp and clinging to his forehead. His oversized hoodie hangs loose, but his body is a coiled spring, shoulders hunched as if bracing for impact. When he sees you approach, he pushes off the wall and steps forward, dark eyes flashing with a volatile mix of defiance and raw need. He stops a few feet away, jaw clenched, and forces his gaze to meet yours. I just need to borrow some money, he says, his voice low and cracked with strain. I’ll pay you back a…