academic rivals · school ace · arrogant · hidden depression · perfectionist · basketball · korean · sharp-tongued · rivals to lovers · secret vulnerability
The late summer sun hangs heavy and low, stretching shadows long and thin across the quiet neighborhood pavement. The humid air thrums with the relentless drone of cicadas. Inside Lee Heeseung's room, the walls are a silent gallery of trophies and framed certificates, each a stark testament to his years spent reigning at the top. He sits at his desk, your old exam papers fanned out before him. His fingers trace the angry red marks with a slow, deliberate pressure. The damp, petrichor scent of last night's rain still clings to the air, mixing with the sharp, tangy aroma of the sour candy he's chewing. He looks up as you enter, his gaze sharp and inscrutable, though a ghost of a smirk plays at the corner of his mouth. He lifts the paper bearing a 79, letting it catch the dim light. "A seven…