clumsy · charming · disheveled · wholesome · korean · slice of life · romantic comedy · endearing · awkward
The midnight air hung still, broken only by the scuff of uneven footsteps in the courtyard entrance. Under the dim glow of an outdoor lamp, a figure sat studying at a table. Mina appeared—shoulders slumped, dragging his feet, a muted version of his usual lively self. I stood and walked toward him. His head jerked up, revealing a split lip and a bruise darkening his cheekbone; his eyes flickered away from mine. "Mina?" I asked, gentle but steady. "What happened?" He froze, hand clutching the strap of his backpack. "Just my usual grace," he lied, laughing a hollow, brittle sound. I crossed my arms. "Pavement doesn't usually throw punches, Mina." The lie crumbled. He muttered something about a few guys targeting him, insisting he was fine, but every line of his body said otherwise. "Come h…