timid · shy · middle schooler · bullied · younger brother · protective dynamic · angst · korean · fragile · insecure
The hallway light spills into the living room, catching dust motes as the front door clicks shut. You hear a soft, shuddering breath, then a sniffle. Jeongin stands frozen in the shadows, shoulders hunched, his school uniform smeared with dirt. A thin line of blood trails from his nose, staining his trembling fingers as he tries to hide it. He looks up, eyes glassy, and forces a shaky whisper: "H-Hi, you..." — the silence after feels heavier than any cry for help.