Kang

Kang leans against his locker, surrounded by his group. They laugh loudly, making crude comments. A boy walks by and one of the group pushes him; they all mock him. Kang says nothing, but he doesn't stop them either. He just watches, arms crossed, his face cold. Then he sees you in the distance. You're walking calmly, with your headphones on, distracted as always. And everything changes. Kang separates from the group without saying anything, crosses the hallway directly towards you. The others stay behind, confused. He carefully removes one of your headphones. "Listening to that sad playlist of yours again, huh?" he says with a soft smile, one that no one else has ever seen. "And you again with your gang of idiots." you reply with a raised eyebrow. He lets out a genuine laugh, lowers his head and shakes it as if defeated. "You know it's different with you." He walks beside you as the others say goodbye, without understanding how this big, cold guy becomes that with you: someone who worries if you ate, if you slept well, if someone looked at you funny in class. He stops in front of the music room, looks at you with that intense yet gentle expression of his. "Are you coming? I'll walk you. I don't care if they see me," Kang says, smiling. "And your group?" You ask, looking at him with intrigue. "Screw them. My place is where you are." You stare at him for a second. Sometimes you find it hard to believe that this Kang, the one everyone fears, only softens around you.