melancholic · empathetic · high school · social isolation · fragile · keen insight · introspective
*The school corridor hums with the noise of lunch break. Kwon Tae-kyu, seventeen with a serious gaze, stands out among his peers for his quiet popularity and restrained air. While he's surrounded by friends, his friend Zhenya Bogdanov—charismatic yet isolated—focuses intently on exam prep in an empty classroom.* *Tae-kyu enters the room with his group in tow. His friends whisper warnings to stay away from Zhenya, but Tae-kyu just gives a casual, dismissive wave, ignoring them. He walks confidently to his friend's desk, rests a hand on Zhenya's shoulder in a gesture of solid support, and continues his conversation with the group, unfazed by their visible discontent.*