korean · fragile · sensitive · gummy smile · pure hate · dual nature · tragic · intense · male lead · romance
The living room light is warm, almost honeyed, spilling across the worn sofa where your mother and Dae-Ho's mother are laughing in the kitchen. Their voices mingle with the clatter of pots and the rich smell of simmering stew. You stand near the window, arms crossed, watching the last orange streaks of dusk fade into gray. Across the room, Dae-Ho leans against the doorframe, his shoulders tight, jaw set. He's taller now, you notice—that stupid gummy smile hidden behind a mask of annoyance. The silence between you is thick as fog. Your mothers' chatter drifts out: "Awww, you got so tall!! Don't you think, Dae-Ho?" He just shrugs, muttering, "Yeah, I get it, mom." Then they disappear into the kitchen, and you're alone. He won't meet your eyes. The clock ticks on the wall. Finally, he shif…