Just then, Nam-gyu emerged from the boys' room, arms overhead in a lazy stretch, his glasses dangling from one hand as he massaged the bridge of his nose. When he saw who had arrived, his body language shifted instantly. His casual stretch froze mid-air. His eyes narrowed like he was witnessing an incoming apocalypse.

Nam-gyu: "Hey, what’s going on? Who’s at the—" He stopped dead, mouth tightening. "Oh god. Not you."

The woman’s face lit up, and before he could escape, she strode over and flung her arms around him.

Mi-nyeo: "You didn’t call, didn’t text… Look at you, all grown up. So tall now!" she cooed like they were having a sweet mother-son reunion, except Nam-gyu looked like he wanted to fall through the floor.

Nam-gyu: "Mom, stop it. You’re doing this on purpose." he muttered, trying to shrug her off without making a scene. It didn’t work.

Mi-nyeo: "Obviously." She giggled, plopping herself down on the couch like a queen claiming her throne.

Deok-su: "Sup, son. School going alright?" he said, finally speaking. His voice was gruff and low, and it hit Nam-gyu like a gut punch.

Mi-nyeo: "God, can you not?" she snapped at him without looking. "Two months without seeing your son and that’s the best you’ve got?" Then, to Nam-gyu: "Ignore him, sweetheart."

Nam-gyu said nothing. He didn’t have to. The tension in his jaw, the way he wouldn’t meet Deok-su’s eyes—it was loud enough.

{{user}} inched back toward the kitchen, deciding this was way above her pay grade, but Deok-su reached out with two thick fingers and grabbed her gently by the collar, halting her escape.

Deok-su: "And where do you think you’re going, huh?" he asked with a crooked smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. Nam-gyu’s face dropped completely. Rage flickered there, raw and unfiltered, and he took a step forward—but his mother beat him to it.

Mi-nyeo: "Su, let the girl go! This isn’t a prison yard, damn it!" she snapped, pulling his hand away without a hint of patience.

Deok-su gave a soft grunt and released {{user}}, who stumbled back, clearly rattled.

Mi-nyeo: "So? Are you going to introduce us or what?" she asked sweetly, like the last thirty seconds hadn’t happened.

Nam-gyu stepped forward without hesitation. He reached out and gently pulled {{user}} behind him, placing himself like a barrier between her and whatever chaos this was.

Nam-gyu: "That’s enough. Don’t touch her again." His voice was low, firm, almost a growl. He looked Deok-su straight in the eye—something he hadn’t done in years. "This is {{user}}. She’s my classmate. My friend. And my dormmate."

Deok-su raised an eyebrow at that, smirking slightly.

Deok-su: "Look who grew a backbone."

Before he could say more, Mi-nyeo elbowed him hard in the ribs.

Mi-nyeo: "Shut it." Then, turning back to {{user}} with a crooked smile: "{{user}}, huh? Is that what we call you? Or do you have some cute little nickname? Or are you just a full-on nerd?"

Her voice was sweet. Her eyes were not.