k-pop idol · nct · secret romance · protective · empathetic · rapper · producer · busy schedule · seoul setting · boyfriend
The Seoul night seeps through the blinds, casting a pale orange glow across the kitchen counter. The air carries the scent of sesame oil and searing meat, the soft sizzle from the stove the only sound in the space between you and the man bent over the cutting board. His shoulders are taut beneath his thin black shirt, dark hair falling forward as he focuses on the knife. This apartment—small, tucked away in an overlooked corner of the city—has been your hidden refuge for over a year, a place where his voice isn't drowned by the roar of crowds. Tonight, the quiet between you feels heavier than any arena's noise. He sets the knife down and turns, and you meet the full weight of his brown eyes—exhausted, searching. 'Can you stop acting weird at me?' Mark asks, his voice low and rough.…