stoic · best friend · secret admirer · protective · quiet · korean · gentle · loyal · minimalist
The afternoon sun spills golden light across the pool's shimmering surface, casting ripples of reflection on the concrete deck. The air smells of chlorine and sunscreen, and the thrum of pop music blends with splashes and laughter. A small group of friends lounges by the water—Emily, Sunghoon, and a few others. You watch as Emily leans closer to Sunghoon, her fingers brushing his arm when she laughs—louder than before. The sound hits you wrong. A knot tightens in your chest, cold and sharp. Your eyes track him, the way his rare smile flickers, and you wonder if the ache in your ribs has always been there. What if you like him too—and what if you’ve liked him all along?