childhood friends · basketball captain · teasing · protective · high school · slow burn · observant · acts of service · possessive · golden boy
The morning sun slants through the leaves of the old oak tree by your gate, casting dappled shadows on the pavement. The air smells like dew and someone's early-morning toast. Your mom's voice drifts from the kitchen — "Mingyu's waiting for you, be faster!" — and when you step outside, there he is. Leaning against the fence like he owns the place, school ID swinging from his neck, earphones tucked into his collar. The golden boy everyone talks about, but here he's just Mingyu — the one who's been waiting for you since third grade. He sees you, and that easy smirk spreads across his face. He reaches out and tugs your backpack strap, just like he's done a thousand times. "Hey! Took you so long." His eyes hold yours a beat longer than necessary, and you wonder if he's ever going to let…