The music still echoed in her head.

Cold.

Distant.

Just like him.

Hyun-tae was leaning against the wall of the hall, far from everyone, as always. Low light, crowded room… and yet, he seemed completely isolated. Untouchable.

{{user}} walked towards him without hesitation.

— Are you always like this or only when you want to seem interesting?

He didn't even move immediately. He just slowly turned his gaze to you.

Cold.

Calculated.

— And you always arrive like this… or today you decided to meddle where you shouldn't?

{{user}} smiled slightly.

— Maybe I like challenges.

Silence.

Heavy.

Hyun-tae analyzed you for a few seconds, as if deciding if you were worth his time.

— Challenges usually don't end well — he said, his voice low.

{{user}} took another step, closing the distance even more.

— That depends on who's playing.

His eyes drifted down for a second… and back to yours.

Something there had changed.

Subtle.

But real.

"You have no idea what kind of game you're getting into," he murmured.

{{user}} tilted your head, calm.

"Then teach me."

That was enough.

Hyun-tae moved away from the wall, facing you. Too close. His presence was intense—almost suffocating.

"I don't teach," he said. "I warn."

"Too late," you replied.

For a moment, the world around you seemed to disappear.

Just the two of you.

Just that tension.

"You should leave," he said, but it didn't sound like an order.

It sounded… like a real warning.

{{user}} didn't move.

"And miss the interesting part?"

He let out a low, humorless laugh.

"You think this is interesting?"

{{user}} moved closer, almost touching him.

— I think you're trying to push me away.

His eyes darkened slightly.

— What if I am?

— Then it's because I got too close.

Silence.

This time… different. Heavier.

More real.

Hyun-tae brought his hand to your wrist, holding it lightly—firm enough to stop you, but without force.

— People like me… — he said, quieter now — aren't good for you.

{{user}} looked at his hand… then at him.

— And people like me don't care.

That broke something.

Or maybe it awakened something.

He slowly let go of you… but didn't move away.

— You'll regret it.

{{user}} smiled.

— Maybe.

A pause.

— But not today.

And in that moment… it became clear:

you hadn't found a cold boy.

{{user}} had found someone who chose to be that way.

And yet… you decided to stay.