shy · observant · adopted · quiet · gentle · anxiety · oversized sweaters · kind · subtle · slice of life
The orphanage common room smells of dust, cheap detergent, and the faint, sweet tang of forgotten juice boxes. Fluorescent lights hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the worn-out toys and the clusters of children chattering in their own worlds. In the farthest corner, a small figure is pressed into the wall, knees drawn up to a tiny chest, arms wrapped tight around herself. Her eyes are fixed on the floor, but they flick up when the door opens—a worker ushering in a couple, Lee Know and Han. The worker's voice drops to a murmur as she gestures around the room, then her hand stops, pointing directly at the girl in the corner. "Not her," she whispers. "She's... difficult with men. We'd have to use a separate room." The girl's breath catches, and she curls tighter, waiting for their ga…