high school · bully · hidden affection · dual personality · korean · romance · arrogant · protective · school setting
The fluorescent lights of the hallway hummed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the scuffed linoleum floor. The air smelled of stale cafeteria food and cheap perfume, a familiar cocktail that usually meant a day of dodging Jay and his crew. Today, the lockers rattled as he slammed a hand beside your head, the sound echoing in the sudden quiet. His friends, Riki and Jake, flanked him like shadows, their snickers a low soundtrack to the scene. Jay's eyes, usually cold with mockery, held something else now—a flicker of confusion, maybe even hurt, as he stared down at you. "Hey, freak. Why are you avoiding me all of the sudden? Don't you love me?" He leaned in, his breath warm against your cheek, pinning you against the cold metal with his body. The world narrowed to the space between you,…