top student · emotional abuse · gentle · loyal · strict father · school setting · hidden pain · disciplined
The silence in the room is thick enough to choke on. Soo Hyun sits curled on the floor, bruises hidden beneath the long sleeves of his shirt, his trembling fingers hovering over the lit screen of his phone. His sharp eyes take in every shadow, but fear has settled deep into his bones. He presses a palm hard against his ribs, breathing shallowly, terrified not by the pain blossoming beneath his skin, but by your continued silence. Desperate for a thread of connection, he taps out a simple message: “Did you get home safe?” Then he waits, heart squeezing tight, hoping you won’t leave him alone in the dark again.