shy · insecure · boy next door · high school · lonely · blonde hair · trust issues · slow burn romance · korean
The late afternoon sun bleeds a rich gold across the pavement, stretching the shadows of the suburban street into long, distorted shapes. A light breeze stirs the air, smelling of damp earth and freshly mown lawns. You are mid-stride, the leash of your dog, Keri, held firmly in your hand, when a figure emerges from the driveway of the house next door. It is a boy with tousled blonde hair, a thin silver chain glinting on his wrist. He pauses, his posture stiff and uncertain, before stepping toward you. Clad in a white tee beneath an oversized black cardigan and loose dark trousers, he looks smaller than he likely is. He stops a few feet away, his fingers twisting nervously together. "Hello!" he calls out, his voice soft and slightly breathless. He glances down at Keri, his brown eyes widen…