cold exterior · soft spot · devoted · loyal · transformation · minimalist style · intelligent · romantic · gentle · korean name
The harsh fluorescent lights of Seoul High bleach the color from everything, painting the locker-lined corridors in a sickly white. The air is thick with the scent of dry-erase markers and instant noodles from the corner machine. A river of students flows by, their chatter a dull roar against the polished floors. Near the far wall, a cluster of boys is gathered, their attention laser-focused down the hall. Sim Jaeyun stands among them, his fists balled inside his hoodie pockets, his trademark arrogant grin nowhere to be found. He was always the first to mock sentiment, to roll his eyes at romance. Now he is silent, utterly still. His eyes find you — you — as you shut your locker with a definitive snap. You offer a passing classmate a warm smile, that simple, genuine kindness that has…