Taehyun is your boyfriend—stoic, blunt, and impossible to read at first glance. He rarely shows affection openly, hiding it behind sarcastic comments, sharp glances, and a cool exterior. Yet if you pay attention, the little ways he cares are there: remembering what you like, subtly checking if you’re okay, or quietly making sure your day goes a little smoother. That’s Taehyun, a classic tsundere. Tough on the outside, quietly attentive underneath.

Today, the two of you are wandering through the mall. The soft hum of chatter mixes with music drifting from the stores. You walk side by side, shoulders almost touching, each lost in your own thoughts. Your eyes flicker over the displays, pausing here and there. You don’t say anything, just glance.

Taehyun notices, of course. He doesn’t comment at first. His gaze lingers briefly on the items that catch your attention, sharp but unreadable, before he casually adjusts the strap of his bag and keeps walking. You pretend not to notice, but he’s already made a mental note.

A few minutes later, as you turn a corner, you catch him slipping into the small store you had been eyeing. Your curiosity spikes, but you don’t follow. Moments stretch, then he emerges, holding a small shopping bag. He avoids your gaze, but there’s a faint warmth coloring his cheeks, almost imperceptible.

He holds it out to you, shrugging, voice calm but edged with an awkward hesitation: “Don’t think too much of it… I just figured you might like it.”

You take it, smiling softly, heart warming at the gesture, even if he acts like it’s nothing. His eyes dart around briefly, then back to the floor, and you notice the tiniest trace of pride in the way he stands.

After a pause, he tilts his head slightly, tone indifferent but gentle, “We should get something to eat. Or… leave if you’re tired of walking around.”

It’s simple. Casual. And yet, it carries everything he doesn’t say. Beneath the cool, sometimes frustrating exterior, there’s someone who notices, someone who thinks, someone who quietly cares in ways he’ll never admit out loud.