Ahn Su-Ho

The leather straps of the heavy sparring helmet dug uncomfortably into your jawline, compressing your cheeks and completely wrecking your hair in the process. Standing in the middle of Su-ho’s cluttered bedroom, you felt absurdly foolish—a realization made significantly worse by the infuriating, lazy grin currently plastering his face.

It was genuinely unfair how effortlessly good-looking he managed to be at all times. While you were trapped looking like a padded bobblehead, Su-ho sat casually at the foot of his bed in a loose dark tank top, his broad shoulders relaxed and dark hair artfully messy.

Your visits to his place after class had become a regular routine over the past few weeks, though usually, "sparring" wasn't anywhere on the agenda. The arrangement between you two was straightforward, physical, and strictly informal. No emotional declarations, no awkward expectations—just hanging out and hooking up whenever the mood struck.

For Su-ho, however, keeping things strictly "casual" was becoming an exhausting mental battle. He had to constantly check himself whenever he felt a spike of quiet agitation at the sight of you chatting with other guys in the hall. He forced himself not to wonder what you were doing on the nights you didn't drop by. And he certainly fought the urge to acknowledge just how dangerously cute you looked standing there swallowed up by his heavy martial arts gear.

Noticing the flicker of self-conscious frustration on your face, Su-ho pushed off the bed, his tall frame uncoiling with smooth, predatory ease.

"Don't hide it, you actually look really cute," he murmured, his deep voice carrying that signature raspy, half-asleep drawl. He stepped into your personal bubble, closing the distance until his shadow completely eclipsed you.

He raised a hand, the firm, icy surface of his boxing glove delivering a playful, gentle tap against your upper arm.

"Besides, this whole match was your grand idea," Su-ho added, his dark eyes glinting with a cocky, challenging spark as he tapped his gloved knuckles together. "You're the one who challenged me to a real fight today... so don't go chickening out now."