#deaf character

Hearing Aids:

[Plain Text: Hearing Aids]

There are many different types of hearing aids. Which type someone uses will depend on their hearing curve, the features they want, and the type of hearing loss.

1. Receiver in Canal.

Receiver in Canal (RIC) hearing aids are the newest type, and currently the most commonly prescribed. They have a small behind-the-ear component with directional microphones and processors, and are connected by a thin clear wire to an in-ear speaker, which is covered by a piece called the dome.

RIC are most commonly prescribed for: mild to moderate hearing loss (although they can be useful for some people with severe hearing loss), high-frequency hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss, tinnitus, and auditory processing disorder. RIC are also available over the counter.

Benefits: small and discrete, fairly powerful, best integrated noise filtering systems, highest mapping customizability.

Drawbacks: sizing is not infinitely customizable, not good for more severe deafness, usually don't come in fun colors, difficult to use with low dexterity.

There are several different dome types, as I mentioned. Domes are soft silicone or plastic pieces fitted in diameter to the ear canal, but come in a few different shapes depending on the type of hearing loss. I'll talk about the most common ones, but there are a few other rarer custom types.

Open/Vented domes have slits cut in the silicone. They are the weakest at keeping sound trapped, but have the lowest occlusion effect (hearing your own voice loudly). They are good for mild to moderate hearing loss, but they can cause a lot of feedback, especially at higher frequencies, so they're most useful for high-frequency hearing losses. The amount of vents in the dome can be adjusted to reduce leakage.

Closed domes do not have slits or have very few slits. They keep more sound trapped, but have higher occlusion. They are good for moderate broad-spectrum and low-frequency hearing loss, since they allow less high-frequency noise to escape.

Power domes have no slits and often have multiple layers for maximum amplification. They have the highest occlusion effect, although people using power domes typically have hearing loss in the range of 60-80 dB, so occlusion is often necessary to hear one's own voice. Power domes can make the ear pressure feel unbalanced since there are no vents.

2. In the Ear / Completely in Canal.

In the Ear (ITE) and Completely in Canal (CIC) hearing aids are a less popular, but available, type. They feature a solid combined processor and speaker that sits in the ear canal. There is usually a small wire or clear plastic loop that fits along the curve of the outer ear both to keep it in place and to pull it out.

ITE/CIC are most commonly prescribed for: mild-moderate hearing loss when RIC is not preferred or available.

Benefits: no behind the ear component can be more comfortable, microphones in the ear have highest directionality, subtle.

Drawbacks: fewer features available, higher occlusion effect, can fall out more easily.

(There are some ITEs that have a behind-the-ear component for volume/power control and structural support, but the processor, microphones, and speakers are all in the canal piece.)

3. Behind the Ear.

Behind the Ear (BTE) are the most powerful type of hearing aid. The microphones, speaker, and processor are all present in the behind-ear component, which is larger than other types of hearing aids. This component is connected by a replaceable plastic tube to a mold, which is custom-fit to the user's ear and allows for maximum sound retention/amplification. Like domes, there are several types of molds.

BTE are most commonly prescribed for: severe to profound hearing loss, moderate or higher low-frequency hearing loss, children.

Benefits: sizing is fully customized, easy to use with lower dexterity, good for athletics (less likely to fall out), highest aesthetic customization, most powerful amplification.

Drawbacks: larger size, high occlusion, higher risk of ear infections, molds must be replaced as ear shape changes, tubes must be replaced regularly.

There are lots of different mold types. An ear mold is custom fit by creating a cast of the user's canal and ear shell. More or less of the "shell" of the ear can be covered by the mold. All molds have a vent hole to allow moisture to escape, but some molds have more holes cut into them to allow airflow or reduce occlusion. Some molds are hollow, while others are solid. (Molds can also come in lots of fun colors, including marbled or glittery, although insurance won't always cover these.)

There are too many types of molds and considerations to really get into exact types here, but if you look up behind the ear hearing aids there are tons of references online. [One type of mold I've seen a lot in real life but that I can't find the name of online are sort of square-shaped solid (often colored) plastic with lots of holes in them. They remind me of a waffle.] In general, the more severe the hearing loss, the less "air space" there's going to be in the mold.

4. Bone Conduction.

Bone Conduction hearing aids (BCHA) are probably the closest-looking in real life to those headphone ones, although many of the over-the-counter devices calling themselves BCHAs that look like headphones are in fact just bone conduction headphones. Prescribed BCHAs are often two individual rectangular devices, attached via stickers or a headband. There are a few that go behind the ear, although no component of the aid is in the canal.

BCHAs are bone conduction rather than air conduction, which means they get the sound to the cochlea by vibrating the skull bones rather than sending sound through the middle ear. BCHAs are often temporary aids (see BAHA in the CI section of this post).

BCHA are most commonly prescribed for: severe conductive or mixed hearing loss, microtia/atresia, and young children.

Benefits: more powerful and safer long-term for conductive hearing loss, typically no in-ear or over-ear component.

Drawbacks: require an external component (stickers or headband) to stay attached.

5. Airpods / Actually just headphones

Did you know, Airpods were recently approved by the FDA as over-the-counter hearing devices? The noise filtering technology makes smart wireless headphones a possible alternative for mild hearing loss, auditory processing disorder, tinnitus, or anyone who can't get prescription hearing aids. These are not a long-term solution, nor are they used by audiologists, but for people who just need a bit of a boost, having their headphones in all the time might be their way of navigating the world.

-

All hearing aid types have their benefits and drawbacks, and no aid will ever be perfect for someone. Even the best hearing aids available can't make someone become Hearing. Some people who are severely to profoundly deaf report hearing aids giving them around 60-80% of what a hearing person can hear, and this number improves with decreasing severity of hearing loss. Still, nearly all d/Deaf/hoh people struggle to some degree with auditory processing. They may use hearing aids to give them general awareness of background noise (eg fire alarms), or for a boost while lip-reading, even if they don't help in understanding noise more generally. Hearing aids can also die or malfunction, removing the benefits they provide.

-

Cochlear Implants:

[Plain Text: Cochlear Implants]

Cochlear Implants, or CI, are surgically implanted devices that stimulate the cochlea.

More on CI in one second, because I promised a return to BAHAs, which are a type of surgically implanted hearing aids. They get to go in this section because they are implants.

BAHA stands for bone anchored hearing aid (as opposed to BCHA, which stands for bone conduction). BAHA are the long-term alternative to BCHAs. A titanium plate is anchored to the skull, and an external hearing aid component attaches to the plate and vibrates it.

BAHA are most commonly prescribed for: severe to profound conductive hearing loss, microtia/atresia. (One of the major use cases for BAHA is Treacher-Collins Syndrome, which often causes bilateral microtia. Since the hearing loss is purely conductive, and traditional hearing aids do not typically fit people with microtia even without atresia, BCHA/BAHA are the best aids.)

Back to CIs. Unlike BAHAs, cochlear implants are implanted into the cochlea to directly stimulate the auditory nerve. They bypass the outer, middle, and inner ear systems, so they are useful for any type of hearing loss.

In order to qualify for a CI, one needs profound hearing loss across all or most frequencies, and the presence of both the cochlea and the auditory nerve (CI won't work without those structures). Someone can qualify for a CI in one ear but not the other; even if someone is qualified to receive implants in both ears, they're expensive and the surgery has risks, so many bilaterally deaf people have only one implant.

In the United States, CIs are approved starting at 9 months old, but not any younger. (This is a problem for auditory development--although CI are often billed as a "cure" or "complete treatment" to deafness, the reality is that even bilateral CI users who received speech and auditory therapy from the moment their devices were programmed still lag behind hearing peers in auditory development, because they are deaf. But that's part of a larger conversation regarding deaf development and audism.)

CIs have a small disc that magnetically attaches to the skull near the implant site. That disc transmits the sound through the bone, which is then transmitted to the auditory nerve. Usually, the disc is connected to a wire, which runs to a behind-the-ear processor piece. CIs have a couple different types, just like hearing aids. I'll run through them pretty quickly.

1. "Button" CI.

These are fairly new. They only have the magnetic disc; all the processors and microphones are inside it. They're less visible, but less powerful.

2. Behind the ear microphone.

The BTE component contains the microphones and processors. There is a hook to keep it in place on the ear, but no part of the CI goes into the ear canal. These have similar directional power to BTE hearing aids.

3. In-ear microphone.

The processors are on a behind-the-ear component, but they receive signal from a microphone positioned at the opening of the ear canal. These give the best directional sound filtering, since they receive the auditory input from the same place as a hearing person, often with the benefits of the shape of the outer ear.

4. Mixed type CI + hearing aid.

These are also very new! Previous CI techniques, and many surgeons today, destroy residual hearing, so when the CI processor is disconnected, the user receives no auditory input, even if they had some before getting a CI. However, some new techniques can preserve residual hearing, and the cochlear implant can be combined with a hearing aid. This device looks like a BTE hearing aid with either a mold or power dome, but also connected by a wire to the magnetic disc of a CI.

-

What type of CI a person has depends on the technology when they were implanted, what sound quality they want, or what they can afford.

The sound from CIs don't match how hearing people hear things. CI have way fewer neural connections than the cochlea has. Bilateral CI is often more effective for oralism than unilateral, but even then, CIs do not replicate natural hearing.

A CI can be implanted at any age, although it's most "effective" in infancy or adults with new-onset hearing loss, rather than people who have grown up d/Deaf. Getting a CI in adulthood is a very personal choice and can have a lot of meaning for a Deaf person.

-

Gene Therapy:

[Plain Text: Gene Therapy]

This post has gone on long enough, and this isn't a hearing assistive device, but it is something to consider in a sci-fi or post-modern setting, and something we (the Deaf community) have to deal with right now.

There are currently new therapies (around 3 years in trial) that target OTOF mutations that cause severe to profound congenital deafness. OTOF mutations cause the loss of a protein that turns cilia movement in the cochlea into neural signals. The gene therapy introduces the gene that codes for this protein into the inner ear.

A small study on around 20 children, teens, and young adults with profound hearing loss (>100 dB) saw hearing curves change to 56 dB +/- 30 dB. I couldn't get the raw data because I couldn't access the study, but that means the average participant is still moderately hard of hearing and still needs hearing aids and accommodations. Depending on the metrics for calculating that error, there was likely at least one participant who remained severely to profoundly deaf after the gene therapy, and no participants became medically hearing.

We still have no data on if this gene therapy lasts forever or what kind of side effects it has. It also only works for a specific class of OTOF mutations, which account for many cases of congenital genetic deafness, but not all. Every single study on the gene therapy is produced by one company. This technology has not yet been peer-reviewed or tested for long enough. Nevertheless, hearing people are treating this as a cure, that the Deaf community doesn't want.

If a deaf person wants access to a technology like this, that is again their choice. Forcing this onto infants and children without autonomy or the ability to make an informed decision is horrible. The push to "cure" deafness goes hand-in-hand with the destruction of Deaf culture. It is eugenics. If you're going to include gene therapy or some other magical "fix" to deafness in your story, think about that.

-

Keep writing, and keep sending in your questions!

Sunoo walked over, a bright smile breaking across his face as his hands moved fluidly into sign. “You’re going to school with me,” he signed, the relief clear in his eyes.

A wave of warmth washed over you. Smiling back, your fingers quickly spelled out your response “I’m excited!”

Stepping onto campus, the immediate weight of curious stares hit you. You could see the subtle shifts in posture, the hands raised to cover mouths, and the rhythmic motion of students whispering to one another—words you couldn't hear, but could feel all the same.

Noticing your tension, Sunoo quickly stepped into your line of sight, his hands moving with calm, reassuring precision “Don’t be nervous.”

Giving your shoulder a quick, protective squeeze, he led the way through the crowded hallway toward the counselor’s office to sort out your class schedule and learning accommodations.

"Sunoo! Hi," the counselor greeted warmly, looking up from her desk.

Sunoo offered a polite smile, leaning slightly against the counter. "This is my sister, Sunha," he said, introducing you proudly. "She's transferring here, and I wanted to ask about setting up her accommodations—she's deaf."

"Oh my goodness, of course!" the counselor replied, her expression softening into a welcoming smile. "Your mother called and informed me ahead of time, so everything is already arranged. We've assigned a dedicated sign language interpreter who will attend all of her classes with her to translate the professors' lectures in real time. We just recommend that she sits in the front row so she always has a clear line of sight."

"Okay! Thank you so much!" Sunoo said, giving the counselor an appreciative nod.

Turning to you, he caught your eye and gave a gentle, familiar gesture with his head, signaling for you to follow him out into the hall.

As you stepped into the lecture hall, the ambient hum of the room quieted down. The professor paused mid-sentence, turning toward the door. "Oh, hello there," he said warmly.

Sunoo nudged you gently, catching your attention before bringing his hands up to sign “This is your class. The counselor said to sit in the front so your interpreter has a clear view of you.”

You gave a quick nod, glancing up at the professor before turning back to Sunoo with a slight, hesitant look.

He understood your silent plea instantly. Turning to the professor, Sunoo spoke up: "She just needs a little help finding her seat."

"Ah, of course," the professor said, smiling warmly as he gestured toward an open spot near the front. "You can sit right over there, next to Sunghoon."

Sunoo’s eyes briefly flicked toward the desk—and the dark-haired boy sitting there with an unbothered, indifferent slouch—before he turned back to face you. Bringing his hands up, he signed carefully “He says you can sit over there, next to Park Sunghoon.”

You walked down the aisle toward the front row, every step feeling a little heavier under the weight of Sunghoon’s quiet, intense presence. He was slumped back in his chair with his head down, resting on his arm, looking completely detached from the world around him—and clearly not paying a single second of attention to the lecture.

Slinking into the empty chair beside him, you carefully set your bag down, trying your best not to make a sound or disturb the heavy, distant vibe radiating off him.

As you settled into the desk, a young woman took the seat directly across the small aisle from you, giving a warm, reassuring smile. She signed smoothly “Hi, I’m your interpreter for this class.”

Relief washed over you. You signed a quick thank you back, turning your attention toward the front of the room as she seamlessly began translating the professor's spoken lecture into steady, fluid hand motions.

For the first fifteen minutes, everything went smoothly. But out of the corner of your eye, you could feel Sunghoon shift.

He slowly lifted his head from his arms, dark hair falling messy over his forehead, and turned his gaze toward you—or rather, toward the rapid, silent conversation happening between you and your interpreter. His sharp eyebrows knitted together in a slight frown, his icy expression unreadable as he watched your hands move.

Catching his stare, you froze for a second, your hands hovering mid-air. You gave him a small, polite nod, hoping to diffuse whatever annoyance he might have had about the distraction.

Sunghoon didn't nod back. He just stared at you for a heartbeat longer with that cold, unbothered expression, before slowly rolling his shoulders and leaning back in his seat, his eyes tracking every movement of your hands with quiet, unreadable curiosity.

"You're the girl from my physics class," Sunghoon said, stepping up to your table in the library.

You kept staring down at your open textbook, completely oblivious to his presence.

"Hello??" He took a step closer, raising his hand to snap his fingers right near your ear. Still, nothing. You just flipped to the next page, scanning your notes.

Sunghoon scoffed, a spike of irritation breaking through his usual cool facade. "Are you seriously ignoring me right now?" he demanded, his voice dropping into a sharp, bitter edge.

Reaching out, he tapped his knuckles heavily against the wood of your desk to force your attention.

boardwalk-level vibrations rattled through the table, making you jump. You spun around, wide eyes locking onto his annoyed scowl. You looked at his moving lips in confusion, completely unable to process what he was saying.

"Hey! Back off!"

Sunoo came rushing over, stepping firmly between you and Sunghoon, his posture defensive. He glared up at the campus heartthrob with pure heat. "What is wrong with you? She wasn't ignoring you—she's deaf!"

Sunghoon froze, his sharp expression shattering in an instant. His mouth opened slightly, his eyes flicking from Sunoo's angry face down to you. The harsh, arrogant air around him completely vanished, replaced by an awkward, uncomfortable silence as the realization sank in.

Sunoo didn't wait for a response. He turned his back on Sunghoon, dropping to eye level with you. His hands moved in swift, practiced sign “Are you okay? Did he scare you?”

You blinked, still taking in the heavy tension in the air. “I’m fine,” you signed back, your hands steadying as you looked past your brother’s shoulder. “I just didn’t hear him.”

Behind Sunoo, Sunghoon stood completely still. The annoyance that had been written across his features was entirely gone, replaced by a rare, uncomfortable flicker of shock. His hands lingered awkwardly near his pockets, his eyes shifting from your moving fingers up to your face. For a guy who usually owned every room he walked into, he suddenly looked entirely out of his depth.

"Look, I..." Sunghoon started, his usual smooth tone rough around the edges. "I didn't know."

Sunoo didn't even look back at him. "Just leave her alone, Sunghoon. She doesn't need your attitude on her first day." He reached down, grabbing your bag, and gestured for you to stand.

You gathered your notebook, giving Sunghoon one last, tentative glance. He was still staring, his jaw slightly set, but his dark eyes were no longer cold—just unreadable, tracking your every move as Sunoo led you away into the quiet stacks of the library.

"She's deaf, huh..." he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible in the quiet library.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, dragging a hand down his face as a heavy wave of embarrassment washed over him. He felt like a complete idiot.

The signs had been right there the whole time. The front-row seating, the girl sitting right next to you moving her hands in steady rhythm, the way you kept your eyes glued to her instead of the professor—it all made total, blinding sense now. He had just been too wrapped up in his own world, too busy acting like the untouchable campus cold-guy, to even notice what was right in front of him.

He looked over toward the direction you and Sunoo had disappeared in, the sharp, arrogant edge he usually wore completely shattered. For the first time in a long time, Park Sunghoon was genuinely at a loss.

· · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · ·· · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · ·

You were walking down the main hallway toward your next class when a shadow stepped directly into your path. You stopped short, looking up to find Sunghoon standing in front of you, looking decidedly less composed than usual.

Before you could react or look around for Sunoo, he reached into his bag, pulled out a thick spiral notebook and a black pen, and scribbled something across the blank page in quick, messy handwriting.

He flipped the notebook around, holding it up at your eye level.

I'm sorry. I didn't know you were deaf.

You looked at the handwritten note, then up at his face. The usual arrogant, cold demeanor was completely gone, replaced by a tense, genuine anxiety as he waited for your reaction, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

You pulled a pen out of your pocket, reaching over to tap the paper. Sunghoon held the notebook steady, watching intently as you wrote directly beneath his dark handwriting.

It's okay.

You handed the pen back and looked up, giving him a small, quiet smile to reassure him.

Sunghoon looked down at the short message, then back up at you. The visible tension in his shoulders seemed to melt away, replaced by a subtle, almost imperceptible softening around his eyes. He gave a brief, hesitant nod, taking the notebook back as the busy hallway moved around the two of you in silent motion.

He paused for a second, looking like he was debating whether to turn around and leave, but instead, he flipped to a fresh page in his notebook and started writing again.

I'm Sunghoon, by the way.

He turned the page toward you, his dark eyes locked onto yours, waiting.

You took the pen from his hand once more, the tips of your fingers brushing slightly against his. You leaned over the paper and wrote your name in neat, clear script Sunha.

When you showed it to him, a faint, almost hidden smirk tugged at the corner of his lips—a rare break in his usual icy mask. He pointed to your name on the paper, then tapped his chest, giving you a firm, silent nod of acknowledgment.

Just then, the bell for the next period vibrated through the floorboards under your feet. Students began moving past the two of you in a fast, chaotic current.

Sunghoon reached out, lightly grabbing the strap of your backpack to steady you as someone bumped past. He held up his notebook one last time, writing quickly See you in physics.

With a final look that felt far gentler than anything you'd expected from the campus douchebag, he turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving you standing in the hallway with a strange, warm flutter in your chest.

You watched his tall frame weave through the bustling crowd of students until he vanished around the corner, unable to hide the small smile creeping onto your face.

The campus douchebag—the guy everyone warned you to stay far away from—had just stood in the middle of a packed hallway, nervously writing in a notebook just to apologize to you.

It was a stark contrast to your old school, where people preferred to stare, laugh, or completely ignore your existence. Sunghoon’s handwriting had been messy, and his delivery was awkward, but the effort was real. For the first time since transferring to XO University, the knot of anxiety in your stomach finally began to loosen.

During break time you went to the cafeteria with Sunoo, seeing Sunghoon sitting down somewhere with a cheerleader. Sunoo followed your gaze and then looked back at you "he's no good" he signs.

"Why?" You ask. "He's a douchebag, he broke so many girls' hearts," Sunoo signed back swiftly, his hands moving with sharp, protective energy. "He acts like he's too good for everyone on this campus. Trust me, Sunha, you want to stay as far away from Park Sunghoon as possible."

You looked back across the crowded cafeteria. Sunghoon was leaning back in his chair, one arm draped casually over the table while a brightly dressed cheerleader giggled and leaned into his side. He looked completely unbothered, just like he had in class, occasionally tossing out a brief word or smirk that kept her entirely hooked.

As if sensing your eyes on him, Sunghoon suddenly turned his head. His dark gaze swept over the crowd, locking right onto you.

The girl beside him kept talking, but Sunghoon completely stopped paying attention to her. His eyes stayed fixed on you, a flick of something quiet and unrecognizable passing through his expression.

Sunoo tapped your shoulder sharply to break your line of sight, blocking your view of him. "Eat your food," Sunoo signed, giving you a stern, big-brother frown. "I mean it. Don't waste your time thinking about him."

You stared down at your tray, your mind racing. A douchebag? It was hard to reconcile Sunoo’s warnings with the guy who had just stood nervously in the middle of a chaotic hallway, carefully scribbling apologies in a notebook just to make sure you were okay.

Looking back toward his table, you caught him glancing your way again—ignoring the girl still chatting excitedly beside him. The moment his dark eyes met yours, he didn't give that aloof, arrogant smirk Sunoo talked about. Instead, he just held your gaze for a quiet, subtle second before giving you a small, almost imperceptible nod.

You looked back at Sunoo and brought your hands up, signing back carefully “He seemed nice to me.”

Sunoo sighed, rolling his eyes as he shook his head. "That's how he gets people, Sunha. He acts cool and distant, does one bare-minimum nice thing, and suddenly everyone falls for it. Just... be careful, okay?"

You nodded to appease your brother, but as you picked up your fork, you couldn't shake the feeling. Maybe Sunghoon really was a total jerk to everyone else—but the extra effort he made just to communicate with you felt far too genuine to fake.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of unfamiliar classrooms and new faces, but your mind kept wandering back to that brief exchange in the hallway—and the notebook page with your name written in dark ink.

When the bell for your final period rang, you walked into the physics lecture hall, feeling a nervous flutter in your chest. The room was already half-full. Taking a breath, you headed down toward the front row.

Sunghoon was already sitting at his desk. He wasn't slumping or resting his head on his arms this time. He was sitting up straight, looking directly at the door as if he’d been waiting for you to walk in.

As you approached, he reached down and pulled the chair next to him out, leaving the spot completely clear for you.

You walked over and sat down, pulling your notebook out of your bag. Beside you, Sunghoon didn't say a word. Instead, he slid a folded piece of paper across the smooth wooden desk, resting it right next to your pencil case.

You opened it up. Written in his messy, unmistakable handwriting was a short message:

Did you eat lunch?

You looked over at him, surprised. Sunghoon kept his face stoic, looking straight ahead toward the professor's podium, but you could see the faint, subtle tension in his jaw as he waited for your reply.

You picked up your pen and quickly wrote beneath his line:

I ate with my brother.

Sliding the paper back across the desk, you watched his reaction out of the corner of your eye.

Sunghoon unfolded the note, his eyes scanning your words. A subtle shift went through him, his brows knitting together in brief thought before he picked up his pen and started scribbling again.

Your brother? The guy who yelled at me in the library?

He slid it back to you. You couldn't help the small, amused smile that tugged at your lips. You leaned over the desk and wrote:

Yes, Kim Sunoo. He's very protective.

When Sunghoon read it, he let out a short, silent huff through his nose—a mix of a sigh and an amused chuckle. He glanced sideways at you, his dark eyes softening as he tapped his pen against the desk and wrote one last response:

I noticed. He looks like he wants to fight me.

You read the words, and before you could hold it back, a soft, bright laugh escaped you.

Sunghoon, who had been watching you carefully from the corner of his eye, completely froze.

Seeing your face suddenly light up—the way your shoulders shook slightly, your smile bright and entirely genuine, and the way your eyes crinkled with amusement—hit him like a sudden physical blow to the chest. For a second, the busy lecture hall around them just faded away. He swore his heart actually skipped a beat, stumbling over itself in a way he had never felt before.

He quickly faced forward, swallowing hard and gripping his pen a little tighter.

The untouchable, arrogant guy who never gave anyone the time of day was suddenly painfully aware of how fast his pulse was racing just from making you smile. He reached up, rubbing the back of his neck in a desperate attempt to hide the faint, embarrassed heat creeping onto his ears as the professor walked into the room.

Even as the lecture began and your interpreter took her seat, Sunghoon found his eyes drifting away from the chalkboard, stealing quiet, subtle glances at you for the rest of the class.

You stood by your locker, placing a thick textbook into your bag, completely unaware of the heavy footsteps approaching behind you.

Suddenly, a tall, broad shadow loomed over you. You turned around, bumping back against the cold metal doors as three heavy-set guys from the school’s football team completely cut off your exit.

"Would you look at that? A hot new girl all alone," the guy in the varsity jacket said, leaning one hand against the lockers right beside your head, trapping you. His lips were moving fast, a sleazy, confident smirk plastered across his face. The two guys behind him laughed, crossing their arms as they backed him up.

You looked from one guy to the next, your stomach dropping into a tight knot. You couldn't read his lips—he was talking too fast, slurring his words together, and standing way too close.

“I don’t understand,” you signed quickly, shaking your head, your eyes wide with rising panic as you backed up as far as the lockers would let you. “Please move.”

The guy just chuckled, mistaking your frightened silence and fast hand movements for playfulness. "What, playing shy? Don't be like that, sweetheart," he sneered, reaching a hand out to grab your wrist.

Before his fingers could even touch your skin, a hand clamped onto his wrist with a bruising force, shoving it roughly back.

"Touch her again and see what happens," a cold, lethal voice sliced through the hallway.

You looked past the jock's shoulder to see Sunghoon standing there. His dark eyes were absolute ice, his jaw clenched tight, and the relaxed, easy demeanor he usually wore was completely replaced by pure, terrifying rage.

"Why? You wanna have some fun with her instead?" the guy laughed, looking back to dab up one of his friends.

He didn't even get to finish the gesture.

Sunghoon’s fist connected solid and sharp against the guy's jaw. The impact echoed through the hallway like a crack of thunder, sending the jock stumbling sideways into the bank of metal lockers before crashing heavily onto the linoleum floor.

The hallway instantly fell into a shocked, suffocating quiet. The other two jocks backed up fast, their eyes wide as they looked between their friend groaning on the ground and Sunghoon, whose chest was heaving with pure rage. His knuckles were already turning red, his dark eyes pitch-black with fury as he glared down at the guy on the floor.

"Get up," Sunghoon spat, his voice deadly low. "Get up and say it again."

Neither of them moved. Realizing Sunghoon was out for blood, the two friends scrambled to haul their buddy up by his jacket, hurrying him down the hall while he clutched his bleeding lip.

Sunghoon stood there, his jaw clenched so tight a muscle twitched in his cheek. He took a heavy breath, slowly letting the adrenaline settle, before he turned back toward you.

The moment his eyes landed on your wide, terrified face, the violent anger completely drained out of him. He looked down at his own bruised hand, then back at you, stepping closer with a rare, desperate urgency in his stance. He reached into his pocket, pulled out his notebook, and wrote in fast, frantic strokes before holding it up to you

Are you okay? Did they hurt you?

You shook your head quickly, letting him know you were unhurt, before bringing your right hand to your chin and moving it forward toward him.

"Thank you."

Sunghoon’s eyes widened slightly in realization. It was one of the few basic signs he had spent all of yesterday frantically looking up on his phone, and seeing you use it brought an immediate, visible wave of relief over his face.

The tense edge in his shoulders finally eased. He looked down at his bruised knuckles, then back up at your face, giving you a small, quiet nod. Taking out his pen again, he wrote at the bottom of the page in careful, clear letters.

Always. Let's get out of here.

He stepped beside you, placing himself firmly between you and the open hallway, and silently walked you all the way to the school exit to make sure no one else bothered you.

When you reached the front entrance, the cool afternoon breeze brushed against your face. You turned to Sunghoon, intending to wave goodbye, but he stopped at the top of the concrete steps, looking down at his hand. The skin over his knuckles was split and swelling, turning a angry shade of purple.

He noticed you staring at it and quickly tucked his hand into his jacket pocket, attempting to play it off with a dismissive shrug.

Before he could pull away, you reached out and gently caught his forearm. Sunghoon froze completely, his gaze snapping to where your small hand held his sleeve.

You unzipped the front pocket of your backpack, pulled out a small pack of tissues and a bottle of water, and motioned for him to sit down on the wide brick ledge near the entrance.

Sunghoon hesitated for half a second before obeying without a word. He sat down and reluctantly pulled his right hand back out of his pocket, extending it toward you. His hand was trembling ever so slightly—not from pain, but from how close you were sitting next to him.

You carefully poured a little water over a tissue to douse it, then gently dabbed at the faint smear of blood on his knuckles.

Sunghoon’s breath caught in his throat. He kept completely still, refusing to move a muscle while his eyes stayed fixed on your profile—the focus in your expression, the way your dark lashes framed your eyes, and the sheer care in your soft touch.

When you finished, you tapped his palm to let him know he was good to go, looking up to catch his eye.

Sunghoon swallowed hard. With his left hand, he slowly pulled out his notebook and wrote one simple question before sliding it onto your lap:

Can I walk you home?

You glanced around the crowded schoolyard, knowing Sunoo was probably looking for you right now—and would absolutely throw a fit if he saw who you were with. But looking back at Sunghoon, sitting quietly on the cold brick ledge with his bruised knuckles and hopeful eyes, you couldn't bring yourself to turn him down.

You looked straight at him and gave a slow, gentle nod.

A subtle, breathtaking smile broke across Sunghoon's face—not his usual arrogant smirk, but a real, rare smile that made his eyes crinkle at the corners. He quickly stood up, slinging his bag over one shoulder, and pulled out his phone to type out a quick message on his notes app before holding the screen out for you to read.

I'll carry your bag.

Before you could even think to sign a decline, he was already reaching over and carefully lifting the heavy backpack from your shoulders. He adjusted the straps over his own arm, offering you a subtle nod toward the main gates.

As the two of you began walking side-by-side down the sidewalk, bathed in the soft orange glow of the late afternoon sun, you pulled out your phone and quickly shot a text to Sunoo

You: Heading home! Going to take a quiet walk by myself today, don’t worry about picking me up.

You slid your phone back into your pocket, matching Sunghoon's steady, comfortable pace as he kept himself on the street side of the sidewalk, keeping a close, protective guard over you the entire way.

The neighborhood was quiet, the autumn breeze rustling through the trees as the two of you walked in a comfortable silence. Sunghoon kept his pace slow, matching yours, occasionally checking his phone or notebook to write short thoughts to share with you.

Nice weather today.

Is your house far?

Don't worry about your bag, it's not heavy at all.

Each time he flipped the page to show you, you’d smile and type back on your phone or use simple signs he’d slowly begun to pick up on. Watching his stoic, intense demeanor melt away into thoughtful patience felt like discovering a completely different person than the one the rest of the school talked about.

As you turned down your street, you pointed toward a cozy, two-story house with a white fence at the end of the block.

Sunghoon’s steps slowed down as you approached the front gate. He carefully slipped your heavy backpack off his shoulder and handed it back to you. As your hands brushed over the straps, he held out his phone screen, showing a pre-typed note:

Thanks for letting me walk with you. I hope your hand didn't get too tired texting me.

You let out a soft, silent giggle, shaking your head before pointing to his wrapped knuckles and signing, 'Thank you for protecting me.'

He caught the gesture immediately, a faint blush dusting his cheeks as he rubbed the back of his neck. He gave you a soft nod, taking a step back toward the sidewalk.

Just as you reached for the gate latch, the front door burst open.

Sunoo stepped out onto the porch, his eyes widening in complete shock when he saw who was standing at the end of the driveway. His expression flipped from confusion to pure, unadulterated outrage in less than a second.

"What is HE doing here?!" Sunoo signed furiously, his hands practically flying through the air as he stormed down the porch steps toward the gate.

Your hands moved quickly, signing back to Sunoo with urgent, sharp precision before he could get any closer.

"He was walking me home! He saved me from a bunch of jocks that cornered me at school!"

Sunoo froze mid-stride at the bottom of the porch steps, his mouth slightly open as he processed your words. His furious gaze snapped from your hands to Sunghoon, then down to Sunghoon’s swollen, bruised knuckles, and finally back to your wide, earnest eyes.

The protective anger radiating off Sunoo flickered, replaced by a complex mix of surprise and hesitation. He crossed his arms, his jaw shifting as he looked Sunghoon up and down.

Sunghoon didn't flinch or act smug. He stood his ground by the gate, looking straight at Sunoo with a steady, quiet seriousness. He slowly raised his left hand, bringing his fingers to his chest, and bowed his head slightly toward your brother—a silent gesture of respect and an unspoken promise that he meant no harm.

Sunoo let out a long, heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair. He looked at you, then back at Sunghoon, signing to you with much softer hands "Are you really okay? Did those guys touch you?"

You shook your head quickly, signing back "I'm fine. Sunghoon stopped them before anything happened."

Sunoo looked back at Sunghoon. He didn't offer a smile, but the tension in his posture visibly eased. He gave Sunghoon a single, stiff nod of acknowledgement. "Thanks," Sunoo mouthed clearly, keeping it simple enough for Sunghoon to read his lips.

Sunghoon offered a subtle nod in return, taking a step back toward the street. He pulled out his phone, typed a brief note, and held the screen out for you one last time before turning to leave

See you tomorrow, Sunha. Get some rest.

Sunoo closed the front door behind you, the click of the latch sounding loud in the quiet entryway. He turned around, his arms crossed over his chest, his protective big-brother stance back in full force.

"Next time don't lie to me," he signed clearly, his face serious. "I was worried sick when you said you were walking home alone."

You looked down, feeling a pang of guilt. You brought your hands up, signing back carefully. "I'm sorry. I just knew you'd freak out if I told you I was with him."

Sunoo let out a quiet huff, his posture softening slightly as he walked toward the kitchen. "Because I care about you, Sunha. I don't want anyone taking advantage of you, especially not someone with a reputation like his."

He set two glasses of water on the counter, handing one to you before meeting your eyes again. "I mean... I'm glad he was there for you today with those idiots. I really am. But just promise me you'll be careful. People like Sunghoon don't usually change overnight."

You took a sip of water, the memory of Sunghoon's soft smile and bruised knuckles flashing through your mind. You nodded to reassure Sunoo, but deep down, you couldn't help but wonder if there was a completely different side to Park Sunghoon that no one else had ever taken the time to see.

That night, you lay in bed with your phone resting on your chest, staring up at the ceiling. The quiet of your room felt different now. Every time you closed your eyes, you saw Sunghoon stepping between you and those jocks, or the intense focus in his dark eyes as he laboriously wrote out notes just to speak with you.

Your phone buzzed against your hand.

You picked it up, expecting a reminder notification or a text from Sunoo about tomorrow’s schedule. Instead, a new message from an unknown number glowed on the screen:

Unknown: Hey. It’s Sunghoon. I asked the class group chat for your number… hope that’s okay.’

A second message popped up right after:

Sunghoon: Did you put ice on your wrists? Those guys grabbed you pretty hard.

A faint smile spread across your face as you typed back:

You: My wrists are fine, really. What about your knuckles? Did you ice those?

Three little dots appeared on the screen, disappearing and reappearing as he typed, deleted, and typed again.

Sunghoon: I forgot, I was busy making sure you got home safe.

You bit your lip to suppress a soft laugh, resting your chin on your pillow as you tapped out your response

You: Go ice your hand, Sunghoon. I’ll see you tomorrow at school.

Sunghoon: Only if you let me walk with you to physics again

You: Deal. Goodnight, Sunghoon.

Sunghoon: Goodnight, Sunha.

You locked your phone and hugged it to your chest, rolling onto your side. Outside your window, the night was quiet and still, but for the first time since transferring to XO University, the daunting unknown of tomorrow didn't feel scary at all.

· · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · ·· · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · ·

The morning light poured through your bedroom window, waking you before your alarm even had the chance to go off. For the first time since transferring, you didn't feel that heavy, anxious knot in your stomach about going to school.

When you walked downstairs, Sunoo was already at the kitchen island, buttering toast. He took one look at your face and raised an eyebrow, setting his butter knife down to sign "You're up early. And in a good mood. Should I be suspicious?"

You rolled your eyes, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl and signing back "I just slept well. Ready to go?"

The walk to school was quiet, Sunoo keeping a close eye on you, but as soon as you stepped through the double doors of the main entrance, your eyes subconsciously began scanning the crowded hallway.

You didn't have to look for long.

Standing right by your locker, leaning casually against the metal doors with his hands tucked into his jacket pockets, was Sunghoon. He looked sharp, his dark hair falling slightly over his forehead, completely ignoring the curious glances from students passing by.

The moment he saw you walk down the hall, his stoic posture relaxed. He pushed off the lockers and stepped toward you, pulling his right hand out of his pocket—which was now neatly wrapped in clean white bandage tape.

Sunoo immediately stiffened beside you, crossing his arms and letting out a loud sigh, but he didn't try to stop you as you stepped forward.

Sunghoon looked at Sunoo first, giving your brother a respectful, subtle nod, before turning his gaze entirely onto you. He pulled out his phone, tapping the screen once to reveal a pre-typed message:

Good morning. I iced my hand like you said.

You couldn't hide the soft, warm smile that broke across your face. You brought your hands up, signing clearly "Good morning. It looks much better."

Sunghoon didn't understand the exact signs, but he recognized the bright light in your eyes. He gestured toward your first class down the hall, holding his arm out slightly to walk beside you, silently waiting to see if you'd let him accompany you.

Later, Sunoo cornered Sunghoon against one of the lockers "okay spill, what's your plan with my sister?" He says.

Sunghoon didn't flinch. He slowly leaned back against the cool metal of the locker, keeping his gaze steady on Sunoo. The usual aloof, unbothered smirk he gave anyone who tried to confront him was nowhere to be found.

Instead of reaching for his notebook, Sunghoon looked Sunoo straight in the eye, his dark eyes fierce and completely unyielding.

"I don't have a plan," Sunghoon said, his voice low, clear, and cut with a lethal seriousness. "I'm not playing a game with her."

Sunoo held his ground, his arms tightly crossed and his jaw set. "You could have any girl in this school, Sunghoon. Sunha isn't a curiosity or a project. She's been through enough adjustments moving here, and if you're doing this just because she's 'different'—"

"I'm learning sign language for her," Sunghoon interrupted flatly, his tone cutting Sunoo off instantly.

He pulled out his phone, unlocked it, and shoved the screen toward Sunoo's chest. It was open to a sign language app, showing hours of logged practice and a streak that started the exact day Sunha transferred.

"I don't care about anyone else in this school," Sunghoon continued, his jaw clenching tight as he held Sunoo's gaze. "She laughed yesterday. I want to make sure she stays safe, and I want to see her laugh like that again. That's it."

Sunoo stared at the phone screen, then back at Sunghoon's intense, dead-serious expression. The angry, protective wall Sunoo had built up all week flickered, caught completely off guard by the raw honesty in Sunghoon's voice.

Silence stretched between them in the busy hallway. Finally, Sunoo let out a long breath, running a hand through his hair and dropping his arms.

"She has trouble reading lips when people talk too fast," Sunoo muttered quietly, turning his gaze toward the end of the hall. "And she hates loud places. Don't take her anywhere noisy if you ever take her out because the vibration makes her ears hurt."

Sunghoon blinked, a subtle hint of surprise softening his sharp features.

"I'm still watching you," Sunoo added, pointing two fingers at his own eyes, then at Sunghoon. "You step out of line once, and I won't care how hard you hit those jocks yesterday."

Sunghoon offered a single, genuine nod. "Understood."

Sunghoon stood in front of his full-length mirror, adjusting the collar of his black button-down shirt. His heart was hammering against his ribs in a way that felt entirely alien to him. He’d faced down rival school crews, aced exams without studying, and never blinked—yet the thought of tonight had his hands practically shaking.

He raised his hands, going through the motion for the hundredth time that evening.

“You look beautiful tonight. Will you go out with me?”

His phone buzzed on his bed. He picked it up to see a incoming video call from Sunoo. He immediately swiped to answer, holding the phone up to face height.

On the screen, Sunoo leaned in, squinting critically. "Alright, show me again. And make sure your palm orientation is right this time, or you're going to tell her she looks like a shoe."

Sunghoon rolled his eyes, but he took a deep breath, setting his posture straight. He clearly, slowly executed the signs—paying close attention to the fluidity of his wrists, the facial expression, and the pacing Sunoo had drilled into him over the past few weeks.

Sunoo watched intently, his critical expression slowly melting into a smirk. He crossed his arms and gave a single, approving nod over the screen. "Not bad, ice prince. Your 'beautiful' was actually smooth. She's going to lose her mind."

"It's correct? You're sure?" Sunghoon asked, his voice low, needing absolute certainty.

"It's perfect, Sunghoon. Now stop sweating through your nice shirt and go pick up my sister. The restaurant reservation is at seven."

Sunghoon closed the app, taking one last look at himself in the mirror. He had booked a private dining room at a quiet, high-end restaurant on the edge of the city—no loud music, no clattering kitchen noise, no crowds. Just dim lighting, soft ambiance, and a table for two.

Twenty minutes later, Sunghoon was standing outside your front door. He rang the bell, his breath hitching as the door opened.

When you stepped out into the porch light, dressed up for what you thought was just a casual dinner, Sunghoon completely forgot every word of English and ASL he had ever learned. You looked stunning.

He didn't pull out his phone. He didn't reach for a notebook.

Instead, Sunghoon took a small step forward, his dark eyes fixed entirely on yours. He lifted his hands into the warm evening air, his movements careful, delicate, and full of effortless grace as he signed directly to you:

“You look beautiful tonight.”

He paused, his chest rising and falling as he swallowed hard, before continuing with the sentence he had spent two long months preparing for.

“Will you go on a date with me?”

Your breath hitched in your throat.

For two months, you had watched Sunghoon use sticky notes, phone screens, and simple gestures to communicate with you. You had seen him struggle through basic signs, laughing together when he got them wrong. But seeing him stand on your porch now, dressed in a sleek black shirt, executing two full, fluid sentences with such precision and emotion in his eyes, hit you directly in the chest.

The silence around you wasn't just quiet—it felt sacred.

Your eyes welled up with unexpected heat, a soft, breathless gasp escaping your lips. You looked from his hands back up to his face. Beneath his composed posture, you could see the slight tremor in his jaw, the subtle, anxious pulse in his neck as he waited for your answer, utterly vulnerable in a way he had never been before.

Slowly, a bright, radiant smile broke across your face—the kind of smile that made your eyes crinkle, the very smile he had spent weeks dreaming about.

You raised your hands, signing back with gentle, clear movements: "I would love to."

Sunghoon’s shoulders dropped an entire inch as he let out a long, heavy breath he seemed to have been holding forever. The nervous tension melted instantly, replaced by a warm, breathtaking smile that made him look younger, softer, and entirely yours.

He didn't say a word. He stepped off the porch, holding his hand out to you. When you placed your fingers in his palm, his grip was firm and gentle, his thumb lightly stroking the back of your hand as he led you to his car.

The drive to the restaurant was peaceful. He held your hand over the center console the entire way, occasionally glancing over at you with a quiet, contented look in his eyes.

When you arrived, he guided you into a secluded, private dining room set far away from the bustling main floor. Warm, dim ambient light washed over a small table set for two, shielded from the heavy noise of clattering plates and loud conversation.

Sunghoon pulled out your chair for you, carefully waiting until you were comfortable before taking his seat across from you.

As the waiter handed you both leather-bound menus, Sunghoon reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, elegant notebook—not his usual beat-up class pad, but a nice one—and set it on the table between you, accompanied by his phone already set to a text interface.

He looked at you, his dark eyes glowing softly in the warm lighting. He lifted his hands, taking his time to sign carefully:

“Tonight is just for us. No rush. No noise.”

He then tapped his chest, pointing to you, and signed the phrase Sunoo had helped him perfect just hours ago

“I am so glad you said yes.”

You looked across the small, candlelit table, feeling a warm flutter in your chest that completely erased any remaining nervous tension. The soft amber glow of the room reflected in his dark eyes, making the usually stoic high school heartthrob look entirely focused on just one person: you.

You lifted your hands, signing back with a gentle, playful tilt of your head "You practiced a lot, didn't you?"

Sunghoon’s lips twitched into a sheepish smile. He rubbed the back of his neck, his cheeks dusting with a faint pink hue as he picked up his pen and quickly wrote in the notebook

Sunoo made me practice for two hours straight before I came over. He threatened to fight me if I messed up the signs.

You let out a soft, airy giggle, shaking your head. You reached over the table, your fingertips lightly resting on his wrapped knuckles—the faint fading scar from two months ago still visible underneath.

Sunghoon looked down at your hand, his smile softening into something deeply tender. He turned his hand over, intertwining his fingers with yours across the crisp white tablecloth. He didn't let go, even as the waiter discreetly brought over a selection of quiet, elegant dishes and poured water into your glasses.

Throughout the meal, conversation flowed with a seamless rhythm that felt completely unique to the two of you. Sunghoon used his newly learned signs for simple thoughts, switching to fast, fluid typing on his phone when he wanted to tell you longer stories about his figure skating training or how much trouble he used to get into with his teammates. In return, you typed back, teaching him new signs along the way. Every time he picked up a new gesture, his face lit up with that quiet, rare pride he only ever showed around you.

As dessert was cleared away, the restaurant settled into a deep, peaceful quiet.

Sunghoon gently squeezed your hand, drawing your attention back to his face. He sat up a little straighter, taking a slow, steadying breath. Slowly, carefully, he raised his free hand and began to sign, his movements deliberate, precise, and filled with an undeniable sincerity

“I used to think the world was too loud,” he signed, his gaze locked entirely on yours. “But with you... it’s quiet. And I like it.”

He paused, resting his hand over his heart before completing the phrase

“I really like you, Sunha.”

Your heart skipped a beat, the gentle weight of his words hanging in the warm air between you. You squeezed his hand tight, leaning forward over the table, and signed back with a soft, radiant smile

“I really like you too, Sunghoon.”

· · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · ·· · ─ ·ʚɞ· ─ · ·

"You better treat my sister well sunghoon or I swear I will end you" Sunoo signs and says as you two enter the campus hand in hand.

Sunghoon didn't even flinch. Without breaking his stride or letting go of your hand, he slowed his pace just enough to look Sunoo dead in the eye as the three of you crossed the front courtyard.

Instead of his usual stoic silence, Sunghoon squeezed your hand a little tighter, brought his free hand up, and clearly signed directly to Sunoo in front of half the incoming morning crowd.

“I will.”

Sunoo stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes widening as he stared at Sunghoon in absolute shock. The fact that Sunghoon had just used sign language—publicly, confidently, and without an ounce of hesitation—to answer him left Sunoo completely speechless for the first time in his life.

A subtle, victorious smirk touched the corner of Sunghoon's lips. He turned his attention back to you, his eyes softening instantly as the morning sunlight caught his dark hair.

He lifted his hand again, signing to you with a smooth, effortless rhythm.

“Ready for physics?”

You couldn't help the bright, breathless laugh that escaped you, glancing back at your brother, who was still standing near the fountain, shaking his head with a reluctant, exasperated smile. You turned back to Sunghoon, squeezing his hand tight, and signed back:

“Always.”

As you two walked through the double doors together, ignoring the whispers and shocked stares of the surrounding students, Sunghoon leaned down slightly, resting his forehead briefly against yours with a quiet, contented sigh—making it clear to the entire school that he wasn't hiding a single thing anymore.

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

The autumn air had grown crisp as dusk settled over the park near your house. The sun was dipping below the horizon, painting the sky in soft shades of lavender and pale pink.

Sunghoon was sitting beside you on a wooden bench tucked away under a large oak tree, far from the main path. Your hands were resting between you, fingers loosely intertwined. His thumb traced gentle, rhythmic circles over the back of your hand, a quiet habit he had developed over the past few weeks.

You looked up at him, catching the way the warm twilight softened the sharp angles of his face. Sensing your gaze, Sunghoon turned to look at you, his dark eyes instantly reflecting that familiar, quiet tenderness.

He carefully let go of your hand and raised both of his, taking his time to sign with painstaking neatness

“Cold?”

You smiled, shaking your head, and signed back "No. It's nice."

Sunghoon looked at you for a long moment, the cool breeze blowing a few strands of dark hair across his forehead. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his phone, typing something quickly before turning the screen toward you

Can I tell you something? But you can't laugh.

You raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in your eyes as you nodded.

He slid the phone back into his pocket, took a slow, steadying breath, and raised his hands again. His movements were slightly hesitant, his cheeks dusting with a faint pink that had nothing to do with the chilly weather.

He signed slowly, pausing between each word to make sure he didn't mess up

“I... practiced... how to... ask...”

He stopped, biting his lower lip, looking adorably flustered as he lost the sign for the next word. He let out a soft, self-effacing sigh, shaking his head at himself.

Before he could reach for his phone again, you gently reached out and cupped his cheek with your warm hand.

Sunghoon froze completely. His dark eyes widened slightly, his breath catching in his throat as your thumb lightly brushed over his cheekbone. The usual confident, protective guy who faced down whole groups of jocks suddenly looked entirely helpless under your touch.

You brought your other hand up, signing one simple, clear question right in front of his face

“Can I kiss you?”

Sunghoon’s jaw dropped just a fraction, a silent, breathless gasp escaping him. He didn't use sign language. He didn't reach for his phone or notebook.

Instead, he leaned forward, his hand coming up to gently rest against the back of your neck, his fingers tangling softly in your hair. He closed his eyes and leaned down, pressing his lips to yours in a slow, sweet, and unbelievably tender kiss.

It was soft and hesitant at first, as if he were holding back all the intensity he carried inside, afraid to startle you. But as you leaned into him, his grip on the back of your neck tightened just enough to pull you closer, deepening the kiss into something warm, deep, and breathless.

The quiet around you seemed to expand, the rustle of autumn leaves and the cool breeze fading into complete insignificance.

When he finally pulled back, he didn't go far. He rested his forehead against yours, his breath fluttering warm against your lips. His eyes fluttered open, dark and shining as he looked down at you, a soft, breathtaking smile gracing his features.

He lifted one hand between your faces, his index and middle fingers tracing a light, gentle sign right against your cheek.

“Perfect.”

┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊

┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ˚★⋆｡˚ ⋆

┊ ┊ ┊ ⋆

┊ ┊ ★⋆

┊ ◦

★⋆ ┊ . ˚

˚★.𖥔 ݁ ˖ִ ࣪⚝₊ ⊹˚

Four years passed like a quiet, beautiful dream.

Graduation came and went, leading into university life where the initial whispers and stares faded into distant memories. Sunghoon’s stoic reputation had long since dissolved, replaced by the constant, undeniable presence of a guy who simply adored you. He spent every free hour studying, figure skating, and sitting beside you in quiet library corners, his hands constantly moving in the silent, fluid language he had made entirely his own.

On a cool, golden autumn evening, Sunghoon took you back to the exact same bench under the large oak tree in the park.

The air was crisp, leaves fluttering down around you just like they had four years ago. Sunoo was "discreetly" hiding behind a nearby gazebo with a camera—a deal Sunghoon had arranged weeks in advance after nearly undergoing another brotherly interrogation.

Sunghoon turned to face you, taking both of your hands in his. He looked stunning, dressed in a sharp tailored suit, his dark eyes brimming with an intensity that made your heart skip a beat.

Slowly, deliberately, he let go of your hands and raised his own. He didn't rush. His hands moved with effortless, breathtaking grace, executing every sign with perfect clarity and profound emotion

“Four years ago, you taught me that the world didn't need to be loud to be beautiful,” he signed, his gaze locked entirely onto yours. “You gave me a quiet place where I could just be myself. I want to build that quiet, beautiful life with you forever.”

Sunghoon dropped to one knee on the bed of fallen leaves. From his jacket pocket, he pulled out a small velvet box, opening it to reveal a delicate platinum ring that caught the soft lavender twilight.

He didn't look down at the ring. His eyes stayed fixed on your tear-filled eyes as he raised his left hand, signing one final, sacred question with complete, unwavering confidence

“Will you marry me?”

A breathless, joyful laugh escaped your lips as tears spilled down your cheeks. You dropped down to your knees right in front of him, wrapping your arms tightly around his neck and pulling him close.

Sunghoon’s arms wrapped around your waist, pulling you against his chest as he let out a long, shuddering sigh of relief and pure happiness. He buried his face in the crook of your neck, kissing your skin tenderly before pulling back just enough to capture your lips in a deep, sweet, and lingering kiss.

Behind the gazebo, a distinct click-click-click of a camera shutter echoed through the trees, followed by Sunoo giving a quiet, proud thumbs-up.

When Sunghoon pulled away, his broad smile was the brightest you had ever seen. He gently slid the ring onto your finger, kissed the back of your hand, and held you tight against his chest as the sun dipped beneath the horizon—knowing that whatever the future brought, your world together would always be perfectly, beautifully understood.