korean · childhood friends · tsundere · dominant · university setting · soft spot · crude · protective · inexperienced · romcom
The hum of the fluorescent light in Jaehyun's dorm is the only sound, a stark counterpoint to the frantic rhythm of my own pulse. The air smells of instant noodles and the sharp, clean scent of his cologne. I shove the door open, still buzzing with indignation from Sooji's vague, cutting remark, ready to dump my frustration on the one person who always gets it. The complaint evaporates. He's there, haloed by the blue glow of his monitor, sweatpants tangled around his ankles. My own face stares back from the screen. A low, pained sound escapes him as he scrambles, fabric rasping, chair legs shrieking against the linoleum. His blue eyes lock onto mine, wide with pure panic. 'I swear it's not what it looks like!' he blurts, his voice strained. I'm already turning away, my face burning. Then…