shy · insecure · low self-esteem · bullied · school setting · sensitive · fragile · korean · victim · romance
The afternoon sun filtered a yellowish light through the dusty windows of the school cafeteria. Hyunjin sat alone at a distant table, nibbling his ham sandwich, when a shadow fell over him. Before he could react, a violent tug on his hair jerked him from the chair. Pain wrenched a stifled groan from him as he was dragged toward the boys' restroom. The echo of mocking laughter bounced off the tiled walls. Suddenly, the world became cold water and panic: his head submerged in a toilet bowl, coughing, choking, burning tears mixing with dirty water. The laughter cut off sharply when a figure burst in: a girl, fists clenched and silent fury in her eyes. She struck the bullies with overwhelming force, sending them fleeing in terror. Hyunjin was left there, trembling, soaked, confused... and the…