#foreign

He pulled up to a non-descript apartment building, the kind with long, sterile hallways and identical doors. The delivery was for unit 4B. As he walked down the hall, the sound of his own footsteps was the only thing that broke the silence. He knocked on the door, the knuckles of his hand making a solid, firm sound.

You, on the other side, had just finished a long night of studying. Your textbooks were spread out on the floor, a tangle of Korean vocabulary lists and grammar notes. The knock on the door startled you slightly, a momentary break in the quiet solitude of your new life in Seoul. You were still finding your footing in this city, a stranger in a strange land.

The door opened, and Suho's world came to a halt.

You stood there, framed by the warm glow of your apartment light. Your hair, damp from a recent shower, was a dark contrast against your soft, casual clothes. Your eyes, accustomed to the silence and isolation of your apartment, met his with a look of simple indifference. To Suho, however, they were the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. The rain-streaked fluorescent hallway and the smell of the night faded away, replaced by the warmth of your presence. He felt an unfamiliar knot form in his chest, a flutter he hadn't experienced before.

He held out the plastic bag, a jumble of fried chicken and condiments. "Uh... your delivery," he managed to stammer, his voice a little rougher than he intended.

You tilted your head slightly, a small frown forming on your lips. The Korean words were still new, often sliding right past your comprehension. "Pardon?" you asked, your voice soft and clear, the accent from your country, Y/C, an unfamiliar but beautiful melody to his ears.

He felt his cheeks heat up, a blush he couldn't control. This was a new and completely unexpected situation. He had never been at a loss for words, but here he was, fumbling like an idiot. He took a breath, slowing down, and repeated the words, "Your delivery. It's here."

You nodded, the frown disappearing as the meaning finally clicked. You reached for your wallet, your fingers brushing against his as you took the bag. The brief contact sent a jolt through him, a strange electric shock that left his skin tingling. He found himself staring at your hands, then at your face, unable to tear his eyes away.

You saw him staring and felt a little awkward. "Thank you," you said, a small, polite smile on your face. You were about to close the door when he spoke again, a sudden, almost desperate question on his lips.

"Where... where are you from?" he asked. The question was unprompted, unprofessional, but he couldn't help himself. He just needed to hear you speak again.

You paused, your hand still on the doorknob. You weren't used to people asking you questions like this in Seoul. "I'm from Y/C," you answered simply, the name of your country feeling like a piece of home you could share. "I'm here for university."

Suho nodded slowly, a genuine, if slightly dazed, smile spreading across his face. "Ah. That's... cool," he said, the word feeling utterly inadequate. He wanted to say more, to ask what you were studying, what you thought of the city, anything to prolong the conversation. But he saw the look in your eyes, the quiet exhaustion, and knew he was keeping you from the rest of your night.

The moment stretched on, a silent space filled with unspoken thoughts and the sound of rain. He knew he had to go. The next delivery was already waiting. He took a final, long look at you, trying to commit every detail of your face to memory. He'd never forget your eyes, your voice, the way the light caught in your hair.

As you finally closed the door, a soft click separating your two worlds, Suho found himself pulling out his phone. He typed your apartment number, 4B, into his notes, a simple act that felt monumental. It was an anchor, a piece of information that tethered him to this moment, to you. He knew he'd be back. He'd make sure of it. His next delivery, and the one after that, would be to unit 4B.

The next morning, the city was washed clean. The rain had passed, leaving behind a crisp, cool air that carried the faint scent of blossoming trees. Suho's usual restless energy felt muted, replaced by a strange, quiet hum that seemed to resonate with the city's new atmosphere. He wasn't thinking about the next delivery or the fight that was brewing in the back alleys. His mind kept replaying the image of a dimly lit hallway and a girl with eyes like a calm sea.

He was sitting in the high school canteen, the usual cacophony of students' chatter and clanging trays a distant noise. Sieun sat across from him, his head buried in a book, a textbook on philosophy, of all things. Beomseok was beside him, picking at his food with a look of quiet contemplation. The two of them were the constants in Suho's life, the anchors in a sea of chaos.

"Hey," Beomseok began, his voice soft, "you're really quiet today. Everything okay?"

Suho just sighed, pushing his food around with his chopsticks. He couldn't bring himself to eat. He was too full of... something he couldn't quite name. Longing? Hope? He didn't know. He just knew he was different.

Sieun, without even looking up from his book, spoke with a dry, sarcastic tone that was uniquely his. "He's probably fallen in love. That's the only thing that could make him this pathetic."

Suho's head snapped up. "It's not pathetic! And I didn't fall in love, not yet anyway," he grumbled, a blush creeping up his neck.

Beomseok gave a small, awkward smile. "So, what happened? You met someone?"

"Last night. On a delivery," Suho said, the words tumbling out like a confession. "She was... she was beautiful, man. Like, really beautiful. The most beautiful person I've ever seen. She was from some other country, here for studies."

Sieun finally lowered his book, a look of mock seriousness on his face. "A foreign girl? Wow, Suho, you're really expanding your horizons. Did you get her number? Or did you just stare at her like a lost puppy?"

Suho scowled at him. "I didn't get her number! She's still learning Korean, I barely even talked to her. And I didn't stare like a lost puppy!" He knew it was a lie, but he had to say it. "I just... I don't know, man. There was just something about her. The way her eyes looked, the way she spoke... It was just her. She was the one."

Beomseok tried to be helpful. "Well, do you know where she lives? Maybe you can find a reason to go back?"

Suho's eyes lit up. "I do! I wrote down her address. I'm going to make sure my next delivery is to her place. I'll even ask for that route if I have to."

Sieun shook his head, a resigned sigh escaping his lips. "He's lost. We've lost him. To some girl he met for five minutes and now he thinks they're destined to be together." He picked up his book again, as if the conversation was too much for him to handle.

Suho ignored him, his gaze distant, seeing not the crowded canteen but a single, brightly lit apartment door. The knot in his chest from last night was back, but this time, it felt less like a knot and more like a hopeful, fluttering warmth. "It's her," he whispered, mostly to himself. "I know it is.”

The phone screen was a constant source of agony, a digital mirror reflecting Suho's growing frustration. For three days, his fingers had automatically refreshed the delivery app, scanning a sea of addresses for just one specific unit number. He was in a group chat with Sieun and Beomseok, his thumb hovering over the keypad, a new complaint forming on his tongue.

[Suho]

Still nothing. Not a single delivery to that apartment complex. It’s like she just vanished or something.

[Sieun]

Maybe she's not ordering in anymore. Or maybe she found a boyfriend and is eating home-cooked meals. Lol.

[Beomseok]

Don't say that, man. She's probably just busy with school. You know how it is.

[Suho]

Yeah, maybe. But I'm starting to think I just imagined the whole thing. The light, her eyes... it all just feels like a dream now.

He was about to put his phone away, a heavy sigh escaping his lips, when a notification flashed on the screen. A new batch of orders. He swiped to open it, his heart not even bothering to quicken its pace. He was prepared for the familiar disappointment. But then, as he scrolled, a line of text seemed to leap out at him, a beacon in the digital darkness.

Unit 4B.

He froze, his breath catching in his throat. He blinked, rubbing his eyes, but the words remained, clear and vibrant. It wasn't a dream. It was real.

[Suho]

GUYS. I FOUND IT. I HAVE HER ADDRESS. IT'S HER!!!

A moment of stunned silence from the group chat, then Sieun's message popped up.

[Sieun]

Don't have a heart attack, Romeo. Go get her.

Suho didn't even bother to reply. He shoved his phone into his pocket, the screen still glowing with his moment of victory. His eyes found the package, a simple brown bag with her name on it, sitting innocently on the counter. He snatched it up, the paper warm against his cold hands, a new kind of energy coursing through him.

The bike roared to life, the sound a powerful, angry growl that matched the rhythm of his beating heart. He sped through the city, but this time, his focus wasn't on getting the deliveries done as quickly as possible. Instead, he found himself meticulously planning his route, a new strategy taking shape in his mind. He would do all the other deliveries first, the ones that didn't matter. He would save hers for last.

Every other drop-off became a stepping stone, a hurdle to clear before he could finally see you again. A burger to an old woman, a pizza to a family, a box of fried chicken to a group of rowdy high schoolers. Each one felt like an eternity, a pointless task standing between him and his goal. With each ring of a doorbell, with each exchange of money and a nod, his anticipation grew. The world outside his little bubble of hope and anxiety seemed to slow down, the city's usual chaos muted and distant.

Finally, the last delivery was made. The last package was gone. All that was left was the bag for you, nestled in his insulated delivery box. He took a deep breath, the cold night air filling his lungs. It was time. He took off again, the city streets a blur of neon and headlights. He found himself at the familiar apartment complex, the same sterile hallway, the same door. He was back where his world had been turned upside down.

He walked to your door, the package held tightly in his hands. He took a moment, staring at the number 4B, to compose himself. He wasn't the fumbling, stuttering delivery boy from three nights ago. He was Ahn Suho, a guy who knew what he wanted and was determined to get it. He knocked, a firm, confident rhythm, and waited. His heart, however, was a frantic drum solo against his ribs.

His confident facade shattered the moment the door clicked open. You were standing there, just as he remembered, just as beautiful. But this time, a soft, small smile touched your lips when you saw him. A flicker of recognition in your eyes. That simple, genuine smile was all it took to turn his carefully constructed composure into dust. The confident Ahn Suho who had meticulously planned his route and rehearsed his lines was gone, replaced by the stuttering boy from three nights ago.

"Hi," you said, your voice a little more familiar now, a little less cautious. "You again."

He held out the bag, the paper rustling in his trembling hands. "Your... your delivery," he managed to say, the words feeling foreign on his tongue.

You chuckled softly, a sound that made his heart skip a beat. "I know. It's the same thing as last time. I guess I have a bad habit of ordering this late." You reached for your wallet, your fingers brushing against his again as you took the bag. The shock was still there, but this time, it was a little sweeter, a little less surprising.

"No, it's fine," he said quickly, the words a messy jumble. "I mean, it's not bad. It's... good."

You looked at him, a genuine look of amusement in your eyes. "Are you okay? You seem a little nervous."

"I'm fine!" he blurted out, then immediately regretted it. He took a deep breath, trying to regain some semblance of control. "Sorry. I'm just... tired. Long night."

You nodded, a knowing look on your face. "I get it. I'm trying to finish my assignments, so I'm not sleeping much either. That's why I need the food." You paused, then added, "Thank you, by the way. For the delivery."

The conversation felt a little more natural this time. You weren't a stranger anymore, but not quite a friend either. He was desperate to keep the moment from ending. "So," he started, "how's... how's studying? The Korean, I mean."

"It's hard," you admitted with a small laugh. "The grammar is so confusing. I think my brain is going to melt."

"Yeah, it's pretty tough," he agreed, a small, genuine smile on his face. "But you're doing good. I can understand you."

You beamed at him, a warmth spreading through his chest. "Thank you. That actually means a lot."

The silence returned, but this time it wasn't awkward. It was comfortable, a shared space between two people who were no longer strangers. He knew he had to go, but he couldn't bring himself to leave. He had to take the risk. It was now or never.

He took a deep breath, his hands balling into fists inside his pockets. "Hey," he began, his voice a little lower, a little more serious. "I know this is weird, but... would you be willing to give me your number? I could help you with the Korean, or we could just... talk. If you want." The words came out in a rush, a clumsy, honest plea.

You looked at him for a long moment, a gentle, thoughtful look in your eyes. The smile returned, and this time, it was different. It was a little shy, a little hopeful. You reached for your phone, unlocking it and holding it out to him. "I'd like that," you said simply, your voice soft and clear. "I'd like that a lot.”

The next day, the high school canteen was loud and boisterous as usual, but to Ahn Suho, it felt different. The air tasted sweeter, the chatter of students sounded like a celebratory anthem, and even the bland lunch tasted like a gourmet meal. He was practically vibrating with an energy he hadn't felt in a long, long time.

He sat with Beomseok and Sieun, barely touching his food, a wide, goofy grin plastered across his face. He kept pulling out his phone, staring at the new contact he had saved. Y/n. Just her name, but it felt like a whole world.

Sieun, ever the perceptive one, looked at him with a mix of disbelief and annoyance. "What's with you? You look like you just won the lottery."

Suho couldn't contain himself. He practically shouted, "I did! I got her number!"

Beomseok’s face lit up with a genuine smile. "Seriously? That's great, Suho! I told you it would work out."

Suho nodded enthusiastically, a ball of nervous energy. "I know, right? I just... I had to ask. And she said yes! I was so nervous, I almost screwed it up. But she gave it to me." He held up his phone, showing them the contact, as if it were a trophy.

Sieun just shook his head, a sarcastic smile playing on his lips. "You know, for someone who can take down a whole gang of guys without breaking a sweat, you really crumble when you see a pretty girl."

"It's different!" Suho shot back, not even bothering to be offended. He was too happy. "This is... she's different. I don't know, man. It just feels... right."

Beomseok leaned in, his smile soft and warm. "So, what are you going to do now? Are you going to text her?"

Suho's expression turned serious for a moment. He looked down at his phone, his thumb hovering over her name. "I don't know what to say. 'Hey, it's the delivery guy?' That's lame."

Sieun let out a dramatic sigh. "Okay, let me give you some advice, you clueless romantic. Just say hi. Ask her about her studies. Be yourself. Not this hyper-caffeinated maniac version of yourself."

Suho ignored the jab, his mind already racing. "I could ask her if she needs help with her Korean. We talked about that. Yeah, that's it. It's the perfect excuse." He looked up at them, his eyes sparkling with newfound purpose. "I'm going to text her. Right now."

He put his phone down on the table, a new, determined look on his face. The energy that had been buzzing in his veins settled into a focused resolve. It was a new kind of fight, a new kind of challenge, and he was ready for it.

The lunch tray in front of Suho remained untouched. His focus was entirely on the phone in his hands, his thumb hovering over the conversation with Y/n. He had sent a simple "Hi, it's Suho," and was now waiting with a level of anticipation that was completely out of character.

"Eat something," Sieun said, pushing a piece of meat from his own tray toward Suho's plate. "You're going to pass out from a lack of food and an excess of infatuation."

Suho barely registered the gesture. "I can't," he mumbled, his eyes glued to the screen. "I'm talking to her."

Beomseok smiled. "Did she reply?"

Suho's face lit up as a new message notification popped up.

[Y/N]

Oh, hey! I wasn't sure if you'd text.

"She replied," Suho announced, his voice a breathless whisper. A wide, uncontrollable grin spread across his face as he began typing.

[Suho]

I had to. Just wanted to make sure you were real and not a figment of my imagination.

"Seriously?" said Sieun, shaking his head. "You're going to embarrass yourself before you even get to the first date."

"No way. It's funny. She'll think it's funny." Respond Suho with a smirk on his face, his eyes never leaving his phone.

A moment later, his phone buzzed again.

[Y/N]

Haha, I promise I'm real. Just finished studying, actually. My brain is officially fried.

Suho's eyes widened, a new plan forming in his head. This was his opening.

[Suho]

That's what I figured. I'm no expert, but if you ever want help with Korean, I'm a pretty good tutor. You can get me to help you out if you want.

Sieun groaned. "You're not a tutor. You barely pay attention in class."

"Shhh," Suho hissed, his fingers flying across the keypad. "I can teach her what I know."

[Y/N]

That's so nice of you! I might have to take you up on that sometime. My textbook is a little confusing sometimes. Thanks!

Suho let out a triumphant "Yes!" and finally reached for his chopsticks, taking a large, satisfied bite of food.

"See?" he said to Sieun, his mouth full. "Smooth. It's all about being smooth.”

A few days had passed, filled with a steady stream of text messages that quickly moved from the nervous and awkward to the comfortable and easy. You and Suho had talked about everything from your classes to his job, and the promise of a "study session" had finally turned into a plan. The meeting spot was a small, cozy cafe just a few blocks from your apartment building, a place Suho had never been to before.

He was there early, a large tumbler of iced coffee sitting untouched in front of him. He felt ridiculously out of place, surrounded by students hunched over laptops and soft music playing from unseen speakers. He wasn't in a back alley, he wasn't on his bike, he wasn't in a classroom. He was in a cafe, waiting for you, and his heart was a frantic drum solo against his ribs.

He was just about to text you to ask if you were on your way when the little bell over the door chimed. He looked up, and for the second time in his life, the entire world seemed to blur, leaving only you in sharp focus. You were wearing a simple sweater and jeans, a backpack slung over one shoulder, and the biggest, most genuine smile he had ever seen.

"Hi," you said, walking over to his table. "Sorry I'm a little late. I got caught up with an assignment."

"No, it's fine!" he said, suddenly finding his voice. "I was just... uh, waiting. I'm glad you came."

You sat down across from him, pulling out a heavy Korean textbook and a notepad filled with notes in your language. The scent of your shampoo filled the air around them, and Suho found it hard to focus on anything else.

"Okay," you said, opening the book to a dog-eared page. "So this part here... I just don't understand it at all. The sentence structure is so confusing."

He leaned in, his eyes scanning the page, the words a familiar blur of characters he had learned his entire life without a second thought. But now, with you beside him, they felt new and important. He took a deep breath, trying to be the tutor he had so confidently proclaimed himself to be.

He started explaining, breaking down the grammar rule into simple, understandable pieces. You listened intently, your brow furrowed in concentration. He noticed the way your pen would pause in mid-air as you thought, the way your eyes would light up when something finally clicked. He found himself more engrossed in watching you learn than in the actual lesson itself.

"Oh! I get it!" you suddenly exclaimed, the sound of your voice a triumphant melody. "So it's like this..." You wrote a perfect example sentence in your notebook, the characters a little shaky but correct.

He looked at the sentence, then at your face, a proud smile spreading across his own. "Yeah," he said, his voice soft with genuine admiration. "Exactly like that. You're doing great."

You laughed, a joyful, bright sound that filled the small cafe. "I think you're just a good teacher."

The conversation drifted away from the textbook, moving to small talk and shared laughter. The iced coffee melted into a watery mess, and the pages of your textbook went unread.

The real lesson that day wasn't in grammar or vocabulary. It was in the simple, quiet magic of two people connecting.

The walk back to his bike was colder than the walk to the cafe had been, but Suho barely noticed. The world had gone from a series of routine tasks to a vibrant, living thing, and he felt a part of it in a way he hadn't before. He had spent the entire afternoon with you, the hours melting away as you talked about your life in Y/C. He learned about your family, your traditions, and the small, unique details of a life lived a world away from his.

He was still replaying the sound of your laugh in his head when he unlocked his front door, the small, cramped apartment a stark contrast to the cozy cafe and the endless conversation they'd shared. The fluorescent kitchen light flickered on, and he pulled out his phone. A flurry of notifications from his group chat with Sieun and Beomseok lit up the screen.

[Beomseok]

Hey, where'd you go? You disappeared.

[Sieun]

Did you die on your way to see her? Is this a ghost typing?

[Beomseok]

Suho? Are you okay?

Suho grinned, the tired ache in his muscles forgotten. His fingers flew across the keyboard.

[Suho]

I'm alive. I'm more than alive. We met up. It was perfect.

[Sieun]

And? What happened? Did you talk? Or did you just stare at her like a goldfish?

[Suho]

We talked for hours. She's from y/c y'know. It's so different. She told me about her family and the way things are there.

[Beomseok]

That's amazing, Suho! I'm really happy for you.

[Suho]

I know. She talked about everything. And I just... I kept thinking about how different her life is from mine. I've always just been in this one place, doing the same things. But she comes from somewhere else, with all these different experiences. It's so cool.

[Sieun]

You sound like you've been brainwashed. Did she join a cult?

Suho laughed out loud, the sound echoing in the silent apartment. He ignored Sieun's message, his mind already drifting back to the afternoon. He remembered the way your eyes lit up when you talked about your home, and the way you laughed when he tried to explain some of the strange slang he and his friends used. The difference between your lives wasn't a wall between you; it felt like a bridge. It was new, exciting, and he felt a pull toward you that was stronger than ever.

He sat on his bed, the phone resting on his lap. He wasn't just attracted to you; he was fascinated. He had a million questions he wanted to ask, a thousand things he wanted to know. He realized that this feeling was different from anything he'd ever experienced. It wasn't just about a pretty face or a quick crush. This was about a connection, a window into a world he never knew existed.

The days turned into a blur of text messages, late-night phone calls, and shared moments that solidified the budding connection between you and Suho. He found himself thinking about you constantly—not just as the beautiful girl from the apartment, but as someone who genuinely listened to him, someone who made his world feel a little bigger. His friends, Sieun and Beomseok, were the only ones who truly understood the extent of his newfound happiness. He would talk to them about you constantly, sharing every small detail of your conversations and every laugh you shared.

[Beomseok]

So, did you tell her about the time you almost got hit by a bus trying to save a stray dog?

[Suho]

No, not yet. I don't want her to think I'm crazy. You're the one that almost got hit.

[Sieun]

She probably already thinks you're crazy. You've been talking about her for weeks and we still haven't met her. Are you sure you didn't just make her up in your head?

[Suho]

I didn't make her up! She's real. And you're going to meet her. Today.

Sieun's teasing was a constant, but Suho knew his friends were genuinely happy for him. They had been there for all the boring, lonely days, and now they were there for this. He had made up his mind. It was time to introduce the two most important parts of his life to each other. He was going to introduce you to his best friends, and he was going to introduce his best friends to the girl he had been longing for.

The meeting spot was a small, bustling noodle shop, the air thick with the scent of spices and conversation. Suho arrived first with Sieun and Beomseok, the two of them a familiar, grounding presence on either side of him. He was a nervous wreck, his usual calm demeanor replaced by fidgeting hands and a racing mind. This wasn't just a date; this was a test, a merging of two separate worlds he had kept apart for so long.

"What if you guys don't like her?" he mumbled to Beomseok, his voice tight with anxiety.

Beomseok gave him a reassuring look. "We already like her, Suho. We've heard all about her."

Sieun, ever the silent observer, just watched the restaurant door, a faint smirk on his lips. "Let's hope she's as real as you say she is."

Just then, the bell over the door chimed, and every ounce of Suho's anxiety vanished. You were standing in the doorway, a small, tentative smile on your face as your eyes scanned the room. The bustling noise of the restaurant faded into a distant hum. You were wearing a simple sweater and jeans, a little out of place in the chaotic atmosphere, yet you were the only thing he could see.

Your eyes met his, and the smile on your face brightened, washing away the last of his fears. He stood up, a genuine, relieved grin spreading across his face, and walked over to you.

"Hi," you said softly, a hint of shyness in your voice.

"You're here," he replied, as if he still couldn't quite believe it. He gently took your hand and led you back to the table, his friends watching their every move.

The introductions were a mix of awkwardness and warmth.

"Y/n, this is Sieun," Suho said, gesturing to the silent, observant boy. Sieun gave a brief, almost imperceptible nod, his eyes studying you carefully.

"And this is Beomseok," Suho continued, his hand resting on Beomseok's shoulder. Beomseok offered a wide, kind smile. "It's so nice to finally meet you. Suho talks about you all the time."

You laughed, the sound putting Suho at ease. "I've heard a lot about you guys too. He made it sound like you're his two best friends."

Suho's heart swelled. He looked from you to his friends, a silent, thankful look passing between them. For a moment, the three most important people in his life were all in one place, their separate worlds finally connected. And it felt exactly as he had always hoped it would.

The initial awkwardness of the introduction quickly melted away, replaced by the easy flow of conversation. You, Sieun, and Beomseok found common ground surprisingly fast. Beomseok, with his gentle nature, was a natural at making you feel comfortable, asking about your studies and life in Korea with genuine curiosity. Sieun, despite his initial standoffishness, proved to be an astute observer, interjecting with a witty comment or a sharp question that made everyone laugh.

Suho, for his part, was content to just watch, a quiet smile on his face. He’d never seen you interact with his friends before, and it was a revelation. Your laughter was a bright, clear sound that filled the small space around their table. You told them stories about your country, and they listened, captivated by a world so different from their own.

"So, you're the reason Suho's been acting like a lovesick puppy for the past month," Sieun finally said, a mischievous grin on his face.

Suho's cheeks flushed, but you just laughed. "Is that what he's been telling you?"

"Something like that," Beomseok chimed in, a fond look in his eyes. "He said you were the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen."

Suho shot them both a glare, but his heart was pounding with a mix of embarrassment and happiness. The words were a testament to the way he felt, and he was glad you could hear them. He found himself looking at you, a silent question in his eyes. You looked back at him, your smile soft and your eyes holding a warmth that made him feel like the only two people in the room.

The afternoon ended as the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the city. They walked you back to your apartment building, the conversation a comfortable, quiet hum. As you stood at your front door, the same one where this all began, Suho found himself struggling for words again.

"Thanks for today," you said, a genuine warmth in your voice. "It was really nice to meet them."

"Yeah," Suho said, his hands in his pockets. "They liked you. A lot."

You smiled, a soft, beautiful expression that made his heart skip a beat. "I liked them too. They're good friends."

You were about to go inside when you turned back to him, a sudden thought crossing your mind. "Hey, do you want to... walk me to school tomorrow? My university is close to your school, right?"

Suho's eyes widened, a rush of pure joy shooting through him. "Yeah," he said, the word coming out a little breathless. "Yeah, I'd like that. A lot."

As you disappeared behind the door, Suho stood there for a long moment, a wide, genuine grin on his face. The cold, lonely nights of deliveries were a thing of the past. A new chapter had begun.

Weeks had blurred into a rhythm of shared walks to school, late-night texts, and quiet study sessions. Suho’s world, once a series of monotonous deliveries and silent classrooms, was now painted with the vibrant colors of your presence. He knew he was in love. The feeling wasn't a sudden storm but a steady, quiet sunrise that filled him with warmth and purpose. The ache to tell you, to put a name to the feeling that consumed him, had become a dull roar he could no longer ignore.

He was sitting with Beomseok and Sieun at their usual lunch table, but his food sat untouched. This time, his quietness wasn't a sign of nervousness, but of a fierce, determined resolve.

"I'm going to tell her," he announced, his voice low but firm.

Sieun looked up from his book, a rare expression of genuine surprise on his face. "Tell her what? That you secretly follow her home and watch her from the shadows?"

Beomseok smiled, a mix of hope and concern in his eyes. "Tell her you like her, you mean?"

Suho nodded, his gaze distant as he thought of you. "No. More than that. I'm going to tell her that... I think I'm in love with her. I can't keep it inside anymore. I feel like I'm going to explode."

Sieun finally closed his book, giving Suho his full attention. "You really are serious, aren't you? After all this time, you're finally going to do it."

"Yeah," Suho said, a new, nervous energy sparking in his veins. "I have to. I have to know if she feels the same. If she doesn't... at least I'll know. But I can't keep pretending."

His friends gave him their silent support—a firm nod from Beomseok, a rare, un-sarcastic look of encouragement from Sieun. They knew what this meant to him.

That same evening, the city was draped in the soft glow of streetlights, the air cool and calm. Suho was on his final delivery of the night, a single, unassuming paper bag in his hands. He had meticulously planned his route, just like that first night, but this time, the order was for you. This delivery was a pretext, a final, necessary ritual before he took the biggest step of his life.

He walked up to your apartment door, the familiar number "4B" a beacon in the quiet hallway. His heart, usually a steady drum, was now a chaotic rhythm of fear and hope. He took a deep breath, the cold air filling his lungs, and knocked.

The door opened, and you stood there, a soft, warm light from your apartment framing you. Your eyes widened a little when you saw him, a smile beginning to form on your lips.

"Suho," you said, your voice a soft, beautiful melody. "I wasn't expecting you."

He held out the bag, the words he had planned so carefully catching in his throat. He looked at your face, at the gentle warmth in your eyes, and all his rehearsed lines vanished. He just saw you. The real you.

"Y/n," he began, his voice a little shaky, "I'm not here for a delivery." He put the bag down on the floor, his hands suddenly feeling heavy and useless. He took a step closer, his eyes pleading with yours. "I'm here because... I can't keep doing this. I can't keep pretending I'm just your friend, or your delivery guy, or your study partner."

He took another deep breath, his hands balling into fists at his sides. "Y/n, I'm... I'm in love with you.”

A breathless silence hung between you, a heavy, beautiful weight. Suho’s confession had been a raw, unfiltered rush of emotion, and now all he could do was stand there, waiting. The fluorescent light from the hallway seemed to flicker, and the world held its breath.

You looked at him, your eyes wide with surprise, a mix of emotions playing across your face that he couldn't decipher. Fear, hope, confusion—he saw it all. The silence stretched on, and a cold dread began to seep into his bones. He was ready for a fight, for a verbal sparring match, but this silence was a new kind of terror. He braced himself for the worst, for the polite rejection that would shatter the world he had so carefully built with you.

Then, a slow, gentle smile began to form on your lips.

It started small, a shy curve that quickly blossomed into a radiant, genuine expression of pure joy. The tension in the air vanished, replaced by a warmth that was uniquely yours.

"I wasn't expecting that," you said, your voice a soft whisper.

"I know," he managed to say, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm sorry, I just... I had to."

You took a small step forward, closing the distance between you. Your hand reached up, your fingers gently touching his cheek. The contact sent a jolt through him, a powerful, electric shock that he had felt from the very first time you met.

"You don't have to apologize," you said, your eyes shining with a mixture of tears and laughter. "Because I'm in love with you too."

The words were a cascade of light and music, a beautiful sound he had been longing to hear for weeks. The world snapped back into focus, brighter and clearer than ever before. He wasn't just a delivery boy anymore, or a student, or a friend. He was yours. And you were his.

He leaned down, a silent question in his eyes. You nodded, a small, encouraging gesture. He gently closed the final distance between you, and in the soft light of your apartment hallway, he kissed you. It was a kiss that held all the fear, all the longing, all the hope of the past few weeks. It was a new beginning, a quiet promise made in a simple hallway, a promise that had started with a delivery and ended with a confession. The world kept turning, but for Suho, it was finally turning in the right direction.

This was your routine. It had been for months now, ever since you had made it official after one too many late night convenience store runs where he had paid for your strawberry milk and you had teased him about the bruise on his jaw.

"You're quieter than usual today," you said, glancing up at him.

Your voice was soft, the kind that always cut through whatever thought was looping in his head. You wore your uniform skirt a little longer than most girls, blouse tucked neatly, hair falling in loose waves past your shoulders.

Nothing flashy.

Just you.

The girl who waited for him every single day after the final bell, even when he came out with a sleepy face and low mood.

Soo-ho shrugged, flashing you that crooked grin that never quite reached his eyes when he was thinking about trouble. "Just thinking about work later. Boss wants me stacking boxes till nine tonight. Boring stuff." He squeezed your hand. "But I'll walk you all the way home first, like always. Promise."

You bumped your shoulder against his arm. "Good. I was gonna drag you to the convenience Store for those new honey butter chips anyway. You owe me after you ate the last bag yesterday."

He laughed, the sound low and easy. "Yeah, yeah. I'll buy you two bags to make up for it."

You were halfway down the usual backstreet route. It was narrow, lined with parked scooters and carried the faint smell of street food from the corner stall.

That was when Soo-ho's phone buzzed in his pocket. Once. Twice. Then a third time, insistent. He fished it out with his free hand, frowning at the screen.

You watched his face change. It was subtle, but you knew him well enough to catch it. The slight tightening around his eyes. The way his jaw set.

"What is it?" you asked.

He looked at you. You could tell he was deciding how much to say. "Bumseok," he said finally. "Sieun's in trouble. Someone paid some guy to jump him after school. Alley behind the old gym... " He paused. "I don't care."

"But... Sieun... He's going to get hurt."

"My love, why would we care?"

She looked at him with obvious eyes, giving him a light tap on his arm. "Because they're crossing the line... Sieun has never done anything wrong, besides, he promised that he would give me chemistry tutoring."

Sooho looked at her, puzzled. "Are you getting tutoring?"

"Yes... Do you remember the last one... That doesn't matter! I'm telling you that you have to go help Sieun".

Another message made the cell phone vibrate. Sooho rolled his eyes looking at the screen. For a moment, his gaze lit up, looking at you out of the corner of his eye, as if he was thinking about whether to tell you what the message said or not.

"What?"

"Nothing, you're right, my love, come on, let's help our classmate."

He squeezed your hand again, harder this time.

"You stay back when we get there. Behind me the whole time. Promise me."

"I promise."

The old gym alley was a ten minute detour. It was dim even in daylight, flanked by chain link fences and overflowing dumpsters. The kind of place where fights happened and no one called the police.

You had seen places like this before. You had never liked them.

Soo-ho spotted them first. He always did. He had eyes for that kind of thing in a way you did not.

Sieun was backed against the wall. His uniform was rumpled and there was a fresh split on his lip. His breathing was hard but his eyes were sharp. Facing him was a broad shouldered guy. Older. Maybe early twenties.

The kind of guy you paid to throw punches without asking questions.

Soo-ho did not hesitate. He let go of your hand and gently guided you behind a stack of crates. "Stay here," he murmured. "Do not move from this spot."

You nodded. You could not speak. Your throat felt tight.

He stepped forward, his shoulders squared. The easy going mask was gone. In its place was something harder. Something you had seen before but never gotten used to. "Hey," he said to the guy. "Back off. He is not fighting today."

The guy turned, sizing him up. "Who are you, asshole?"

"None of your business," Soo-ho shot back. He was already rolling up his sleeves. Bumseok shot him a grateful nod. Sieun's sharp eyes met his in silent thanks.

Then the fight exploded.

It happened fast. The hired guy swung first, a heavy punch aimed at Sieun's head. Soo-ho intercepted, shoving Sieun aside and taking the blow on his own shoulder. You saw him flinch, but he grinned through it.

That was his way. He countered with a sharp hit to the guy's ribs, then a knee to the thigh that buckled the bigger man's stance.

You watched from behind the crates. Your heart was pounding so hard you could feel it in your ears. You hated this. You hated the sounds of fists on skin and the grunts and the way Soo-ho's face went hard and focused. But you trusted him. You had to trust him. He always came back to you after.

But then the hired guy recovered faster than anyone expected.

He roared and lunged wildly. Not at Sieun or Soo-ho. In a blind arc that clipped the edge of the crates where you were hiding. One of the wooden slats cracked and flew. You tried to dodge, stepping back quickly, but the guy's follow through swing missed its target and connected with your shoulder instead.

The impact spun you around. You hit the ground hard. Pain bloomed across your upper arm and collarbone, sharp and immediate. Your bag spilled open. Your notebooks scattered across the dirty pavement. A small cry escaped your mouth before you could stop it.

Everything froze.

You saw Soo-ho's head snap toward the sound. His eyes locked on you. You were crumpled on the ground, clutching your shoulder, your face twisted in pain. You could feel blood trickling down your cheek from where you had scraped it on the fall.

His face changed. You had never seen that look before. It was fury, yes, but something else too. Something worse.

"You son of a—" His voice cracked.

Then he moved.

You had seen Soo-ho fight before. You had seen him angry before. But this was different. This was something you could not look away from. He hit the guy. There was no more holding back. His fist connected with the man's jaw in a sound that made you wince. Another punch to the gut doubled the guy over. Soo-ho grabbed his collar and slammed him against the wall hard enough to rattle the fence.

"You touched my girl?," he ask. His voice was low and shaking. "Answer me, you piece of shit."

Bumseok and Sieun tried to pull him off. You heard Bumseok's voice, urgent and scared. "Soo-ho, enough. He is down."

Soo-ho shrugged them away. He landed two more hits before the guy finally slumped, groaning, blood on his lip.

Only then did Soo-ho drop him.

He spun toward you and dropped to his knees beside you so fast that his scraped knuckles left smears on the ground. His hands hovered over you, afraid to touch but desperate to. His face was pale. His eyes were wide.

"Hey," he said. His voice cracked again. "Hey, look at me. Where does it hurt? I am so sorry. I told you to stay back."

You sat up slowly. Everything hurt. Your shoulder throbbed. Your cheek stung. But you reached for him anyway. Your fingers curled into his uniform jacket. You tried to make your voice normal, even though it came out shaky.

"It is okay. Just my shoulder and my cheek. I did not mean to get in the way. I was trying to move."

His face crumpled. The anger drained out of him and left something raw behind. Something guilty. He cupped your uninjured cheek with one hand, his thumb brushing away a tear you had not even realized had fallen.

"No," he said. "This is on me. I brought you here. I should have made you wait at the corner or something." He swallowed hard. "If he had hit you harder—"

He did not finish the sentence. He pulled you carefully into his chest instead. One arm wrapped around your waist. The other cradled the back of your head like you were made of glass. His heart was hammering against your ear, fast and unsteady.

Sieun stood a respectful distance away. He was wiping blood from his own lip, watching both of you in silence. Bumseok hovered nearby, looking guilty himself. "Soo-ho," he said. "The guy is out. Yeongbin will probably hear about this. But Sieun is safe."

Soo-ho did not look up. "I do not care about Yeongbin right now." His voice was low and fierce. Then, to you, softer: "Can you stand? I will carry you if it hurts too much. We are going home. Screw work. The boss can fire me for all I care."

You shook your head against his chest. The pain was still there, but you did not want to be carried. You did not want to feel helpless. "No carrying. I can walk. Just stay close. And do not blame yourself. You were helping. That is who you are."

He made a sound that was almost a laugh but not quite. It came out wet and humorless. "Yeah, well, my girlfriend getting punched because of it was not part of the plan."

He helped you to your feet carefully. His arm stayed around your waist for support. His free hand brushed your hair back, his eyes scanning your face for more injuries. The small cut on your cheek had stopped bleeding, but it would bruise. So would your shoulder.

"We are stopping at the pharmacy on the way," he said. "Ice pack, bandages, whatever you need." A pause. "And those chips. Extra spicy, like you like."

Bumseok gave a hesitant thumbs up. "I will handle everything from here, thanks. Seriously."

Sieun gave a short nod. That was his version of gratitude. Then he slipped away down the alley. Soo-ho barely acknowledged either of them. His world had narrowed to you.

The walk back was slower than the walk there.

Soo-ho kept his pace matched to yours. His arm never left your waist. Every few steps he would glance down at you, checking your expression, muttering apologies under his breath. "Should have told you to go straight home. Should have handled it alone."

You elbowed him gently with your good arm. "Stop. You are my boyfriend, not my bodyguard twenty four seven." You tilted your head up and gave him a small smile, even though your shoulder ached. "Besides, now I get to say I survived a fight. That is kind of cool, right?"

He groaned, but the corner of his mouth twitched. "Not funny. I am never letting you near another alley again. We are taking the long way home from now on. Main roads only."

At the pharmacy, he fussed like a worried parent. He grabbed ice packs and painkillers and antiseptic wipes and a ridiculous cartoon bandage with little stars on it. "For the cut," he said when you raised an eyebrow. "It will make it heal faster or something."

The woman behind the counter raised an eyebrow at his bloody knuckles and your bruised cheek. But she said nothing. Soo-ho paid with a quiet "keep the change" and you both left.

Outside, he made you sit on a low wall. He pressed the ice pack to your shoulder himself, his touch light. "Tell me if it is too cold." His voice had gone soft again. "I am sorry. The second I heard you hit the ground, I- I'm so sorry, baby..."

You leaned into the cold press of the pack. Your eyes were half closed. "I know. And I love that about you. Also, I was the one who asked you to go help Sieun." You reached up with your free hand and traced the fresh bruise forming on his jaw from earlier in the fight. "You got hurt too. We are a team, okay? Even if the team sometimes gets punched."

He chuckled. The sound was warm and relieved. He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to your forehead. Then one to the uninjured side of your cheek. He was careful not to press on the cut. His forehead rested against yours for a long moment. His eyes were closed.

"Team," he said. "Yeah. I like that." A pause. "I love you, you know that? even when you feed me broccoli"

"I love you too," you whispered back. You were smiling now. "Now take me home before I make you buy me three bags of chips."

The rest of the walk was quiet and comfortable.

By the time you reached your door, the sky had deepened to twilight. Streetlights were flickering on one by one. Soo-ho lingered on the step with his hands in his pockets. He had handed you the pharmacy bag already.

"Text me when you are inside," he said. "And if the shoulder swells or anything, call me. I will come back. Work can wait."

You stepped closer and rose on your toes to kiss him properly. It was soft and lingering. "I will. Go to work, just because Bumseok paid you doesn't mean you have the right to skip work"

Sooho was surprised, watching her smile and give him a kiss on the cheek.

"Go ahead, baby, I'll pretend I didn't see the messages."

He grinned. It was the full one, the bright one that made his eyes crinkle. "Goodnight."

He waited until the door clicked shut behind you. Then he turned and walked away. His shoulders relaxed for the first time all evening.

Inside, you pressed your back to the door. The ice pack was still clutched to your shoulder. A soft smile played on your lips. You pulled out your phone and typed a quick text.

"Work safe. Love you more than chips. See you tomorrow?".

His reply came almost instantly.

"Always, babe. Sleep good. I love you more than bulgogi".

You laughed quietly in the hallway. Your heart was full despite the ache in your shoulder.