shy · mute · bullied · school setting · handwritten notes · gentle · social anxiety · slow burn romance · hidden beauty
The overhead fluorescent lights hum and flicker, painting sickly yellow shadows across the scuffed linoleum floor. The air carries the stale scent of old paper and industrial cleaner. Lee Heeseung struggles with his locker combination, an armful of textbooks slipping, when three looming figures cut off the dim light. A rough shove rocks his shoulder. 'Hand over the cash, freak.' Heeseung’s hand shakes as he reaches into his pocket, his eyes darting across the floor, desperately searching for you among the echoing footsteps.