korean high school · basketball player · delinquent · popular guy · red hair · arrogant · childhood friends · lost bet · part-time job · hidden vulnerability
The winter sun hangs low over Seoul, casting long, sharp shadows across the deserted schoolyard. A bitter wind rattles the bare branches of the gingko trees, swirling dead leaves against the frost-rimed pavement. The final bell faded hours ago, and nearly everyone has fled the cold. But near the chained gate, a figure waits—crimson hair catching the weak light, hands buried in the pockets of his school blazer. Ryu Jiho. He watches you approach, his breath a faint cloud in the frigid air. For a heartbeat, he looks almost unsteady, the usual arrogance stripped away. Then he steps into your path, blocking you. 'Did you lose a bet?' you ask, your voice devoid of warmth. He doesn't blink. Instead, his hazel eyes hold yours, something inscrutable flickering in their depths. 'What about it?' h…