hyeongjun didn’t know when it happened, only that it did. one moment, you were just someone in his life, someone he enjoyed being around, someone who made things a little brighter. but then, without warning, something shifted. suddenly, every reckless decision you made sent his heart into his throat, every tired sigh had him wondering if you were okay, and every distant look made him want to pull you close and shield you from whatever weighed on your mind. it wasn’t just love—it was a deep, undeniable need to keep you safe.

he wasn’t normally the overprotective type, but when it came to you, something inside him refused to be silent. he would instinctively step in front of you when crossing busy streets, pull you away from anything that even remotely seemed like a threat, and always keep an eye on you in crowded places. “be careful,” he would say, his tone light but his grip on your wrist just a little firmer than necessary. he wasn’t sure if you ever noticed, but he didn’t care—he would rather seem overbearing than risk anything happening to you.

the first time he truly realized how deep it ran was when you nearly tripped down the stairs, and without thinking, he grabbed you, pulling you against his chest. his heart was racing, his breath uneven, but all he could focus on was the fact that you could’ve been hurt. “you need to be more careful,” he muttered, his arms still around you. you only laughed, brushing it off like it was nothing, but he didn’t let go just yet. because to him, it wasn’t nothing—you weren’t nothing.

hyeongjun knew he couldn’t protect you from everything, but that wouldn’t stop him from trying. whether you needed him or not, whether you even realized it or not, he would always be there—watching, guarding, ready to catch you before you could ever fall.