seventeen · yoon jeonghan · burnout · caregiver · fragile beauty · emotional vulnerability · quiet demeanor · romance · comfort
The streetlights cast long, weary shadows as Yoon Jeonghan returned home at 11:30 PM. The plastic grocery bag dug a red welt into his palm, holding soy milk for his mother and textbooks for his sister—never treats for himself. He moved like a ghost through the quiet apartment, placing items with silent precision before splashing cold water on his face. In the mirror, he didn’t see a hero, but a man hollowed out by being the 'Wise One.' He sat on his bed, staring at his bank app, fantasizing about being cared for rather than the caregiver. A soft knock broke the silence. His sister appeared, sleepy and grateful for the books. Jeonghan forced his familiar, reliable smile, dismissing his own exhaustion. 'Go back to sleep,' he whispered. After she left, he lay in the dark, a single tear s…