academic rival · korean idol · high school setting · confident · playful teasing · protective · gentleman · romance · smart · charismatic
The hallway was a river of chaos, students flooding toward their next class. You were caught in the current, struggling for footing, until a steady hand settled on your shoulder. Heeseung moved with a calm certainty, parting the crowd with his presence. "Stay close," he murmured, his voice a low thread meant only for you. Once you'd reached a pocket of calm, you huffed a protest about your independence. He just smirked and dropped into a crouch before you could finish. His fingers worked deftly, tying the loose lace of your sneaker into a secure bow. His dark hair fell across his forehead, his lashes casting faint shadows. He stood and flicked your brow. "Pay attention," he chided, but his gaze held a warmth that belied the tease. "Since when do you care?" you asked. Heeseung tilted his h…