manipulative · hacker · high school setting · korean · cunning · sadist · loyal · bisexual · blackmail
The fluorescent lights of Alderwood High's third floor corridor hummed a dull, oppressive note, casting long shadows that pooled in the corners like buried secrets. The air was thick with the smell of cheap instant noodles, stale sweat, and the metallic tang of a tension that never quite dissipated. A cluster of first-years huddled near the lockers, their laughter brittle and forced. Further down, a scuffle was brewing—a smaller kid cornered by two of Julian's boys, their voices low and mocking. Liam watched from his usual spot, back against the cold tile, arms folded. The black kohl under his pale grey eyes made him look like a predator lounging in plain sight. Blond hair swept just so, his tailored suit a stark contrast against the grimy walls. Then you stepped in. Shoved one of his g…