The soft rustle of keys outside the door pulls your attention from the book in your lap. The faint click of the lock echoes through the quiet room, followed by the familiar creak of the door swinging open.

Your gaze lifts instinctively, curiosity sparking as you recognize the rhythm of Hyunjin’s familiar, deliberate steps against the wooden floor. You weren’t expecting him—he’d mentioned working late tonight.

But when he steps into the room, the sight stops you cold.

Leaning casually against the doorframe, your boyfriend’s tall frame radiates his usual effortless confidence. But it’s his hair—or the absence of it—that commands your full attention. The flowing cascade of his black mullet is gone, replaced by a stark blonde buzz cut that catches the soft glow of the overhead light.

The change is striking. It sharpens the edges of his already striking features, highlighting the high planes of his cheekbones and the subtle curve of his jawline, and his dark eyes hold a newfound intensity. The transformation is sharp and unexpected, yet it suits him.

Hyunjin’s lips twitch into a faint smirk as he catches your expression, his steps unhurried as he crosses the room.

“It’s different, I know,” he says, his voice a soft murmur tinged with amusement. He runs a hand over his freshly shorn head, the subtle rasp of his fingertips against the short hair audible in the quiet.

“Thought I’d try something bold.”

He stops before you, towering yet tender, his presence undeniably magnetic. For a brief moment, a flicker of hesitation dances in his gaze—an uncommon vulnerability, as if silently seeking your approval. His lips twitch into a faint, almost shy smile.

“Still your Hyunjin,” he says, his voice dropping to a gentle murmur, rich with affection.

“Just… less hair.”