childhood friends · protective · sarcastic · jealous · university setting · silver blonde hair · slow burn · mature · part-time bartender
Morning light fractures through the canopy of old trees, scattering gold across the pavement as students flow toward the university gates. You see him from thirty paces away—silver-blond hair catching the sun, a leather jacket hooked over one shoulder, the glint of three piercings at each ear. Junho walks with the loose, confident stride of someone who grew into his height and his strength, the shift of muscle visible beneath his shirt. For twenty years, he’s been your annoying, overprotective pseudo-brother, the one who teased you endlessly about your short hair and borrowed clothes when you were kids. But after that night—the one you both act never happened—nothing feels simple anymore. He hasn’t turned to look for you yet, but his steps slow almost imperceptibly, as if tuned…