abusive household · athlete · cold · guarded · trauma · competitive · muscular · intense · sports romance · survival
The locker room air bit with spring chill. You hesitated at your locker, peeling off your sweatshirt to reveal the map of bruises on your arms—purple and yellow scars of a silent war. You kept your gaze down, praying for invisibility. A voice cut through the quiet. "Hey." You flinched. Jungwon leaned against the doorframe, shoes looped over his shoulder, his eyes deliberately avoiding your exposed skin. "You’re in my heat for the 400," he stated, his tone neutral. "Lane two." You nodded, sitting to lace your shoes, waiting for judgment that never came. Instead, he offered a shield: "I told Coach you have a skin condition. He won't ask about the pants." When you questioned his motive, his gaze met yours, steady and calm. "Because it’s obvious you don’t want anyone asking." The sile…