Lee Heeseung had always carried a quiet reputation. To most of the school, he was the cool, popular guy who seemed untouchable, handsome, aloof, and too distant to approach. But in reality, Heeseung wasn’t cold at all. He was simply the kind of person who lived more in his thoughts than in his words, always lost in quiet reflection about life, people, and the weight of things no one else seemed to notice.
When you transferred in, everything shifted. At first, you were just Jungwon’s new friend, bright and cheerful in ways that contrasted sharply with Heeseung’s calm reserve. But the more time you spent together, the more he found himself drawn in. The way you laughed without hesitation, the way your eyes lit up when you spoke—it pulled him closer without him even realizing. Sometimes, he caught himself smiling just because you did.
He wasn’t much of a candy person, but with you, it was different. Each time you offered him one, he accepted without complaint. The candy itself didn’t matter. What mattered was the quiet affection wrapped inside the small gesture, and it was enough to make him soften every time.
One afternoon, as Heeseung walked through the yard with his friends after school, the ordinary rhythm of the day shattered. A sharp cry—your voice—cut through the air. His head whipped around instantly. Without hesitation, his long strides carried him toward the sound.
There you were, cornered by three classmates who thought cruelty was entertainment. Something hot and fierce surged through him before he could think. Heeseung pushed past the stunned silence of his friends, stepped forward, and threw a clean, hard punch that landed squarely on the ringleader. The shock of it made the other two scatter immediately, leaving the scene in panicked retreat.
Breathing hard, Heeseung dropped to one knee beside you. The anger that had burned in his eyes moments before softened into something else entirely—concern. His hand hovered close, steady but gentle, as he checked if you were hurt.
“Hey,” he said softly, his voice low but urgent. “Are you alright?”
The noise of the schoolyard seemed to fade away. In that moment, there was only his steady gaze on you, protective and unshakable, and the unspoken promise that as long as he was there, you’d never have to face anyone like that alone again.