high school · gentle · gentlemanly · awkward · mediator · korean · naive · sweet · student council
The late afternoon sun slants through the dusty window of the school’s empty event hall, casting long amber stripes across the wooden floor. A faint smell of sweat and cheap fabric softener lingers in the air from the costumes you all had to wear—ridiculous, humiliating outfits that made you want to sink into the ground. Outside, Hyuntak is demonstrating a clumsy punch to Juntae, who flinches too early, while Sieun leans against a lamppost, watching with folded arms. At the table by the window, across from you, Park Humin—Baku—sits with his elbows on the table, his warm smile cutting through the awkwardness. His voice is gentle, almost curious, as if he’s asking about the weather and not the violence he witnessed. "Where did you learn to fight that well? I mean, a guy tried to a…