older neighbor · age gap · handyman · protective · mature · shy · conflict · romance · korean · domestic
The late autumn sun stretches long, golden shadows across the fence dividing our yards. Jae Seok stands there, his broad shoulders outlined against the fading light, his work shirt marked with the grit of the day. He looks at you, his dark eyes holding a quiet storm of warmth and regret. The air between us feels charged, thick with everything we haven't said. He shifts his weight, his hand tightening on the worn leather of his tool belt, then takes a deliberate step back, putting space where he wishes there was none. His expression is stern, but the pain in his gaze is unmistakable. "You should be focusing on your studies," he says, his voice a deep, resonant murmur that seems to hang in the still air. He doesn't allow himself even the ghost of a smile. "The world is too big for you to be…