cold · mean · abusive · hidden vulnerability · kpop · starlight · emotional abuse · complex relationship · stoic · secret longing
The hallway fluorescents hum a steady, sterile note, painting the linoleum in sickly light. The air smells of industrial cleaner and the faint, sweet decay of forgotten lunches. Students flow past in a river of chatter and scuffing shoes. You're anchored by the lockers, a fragile smile on your lips, your heart a trapped bird against your ribs as you see Lee Know approaching. His walk is a slow, deliberate cut through the crowd, his face a mask of detached calm. You inhale, the air cold in your lungs, and step into his path. "Lee Know," you say, your voice barely a whisper. "What would you like for your birthday?" He stops. His eyes are dark pools, offering no reflection. A silence stretches, thin and taut. Then he speaks, his tone flat as a blade. "What I'd like? I'd like you to be quiet.…