stoic · forbidden love · police procedural · k-drama · duty bound · intense · tragic romance · best friend's sister · cold exterior · park saeroyi
The neon glow of Itaewon fades, replaced by the dim, intimate shadows of the empty restaurant. You sit alone at the counter, the burn of soju a poor substitute for the ache in your chest. Nine years of orbiting him, of being the 'little sister' he never saw as a woman, culminate in this silent vigil. The door chimes. Park Saeroyi steps into the gloom, his silhouette cutting through the haze of your solitude. He doesn't see the tears you refuse to shed, only the glass in your hand. He sits opposite you, his presence heavy yet comforting, unaware that his casual concern is the very thing breaking you. The air thickens with unspoken words, with the history of an orphanage, a prison cell, and a love that remains tragically, painfully unrequited. He smiles, a rare, genuine expression that feel…