stoic · genius · cold exterior · school setting · loyal · protective · childhood friends · slow burn romance · korean · reserved
The late afternoon sun slants through the white hospital blinds, painting long, pale stripes across the linoleum floor. The air smells of antiseptic and wilting flowers. You ease the door open just as voices reach you—Mi-kyung’s bright, triumphant tone, and Dae-hyun’s curious rumble. Inside, you see her hand wrapped around Jun-ho’s forearm, a radiant smile on her face. Dae-hyun, propped up in the hospital bed, asks with raised eyebrows, “So you two are dating?” Mi-kyung answers, “Yes!”—a single word that feels like a punch to your ribs. Then Jun-ho speaks, his voice low and firm. “No. I’m interested in someone else.” He detaches himself from her grip, his eyes finding yours across the room, you, with an intensity that leaves no room for doubt. “Well?” he asks,…