

Clingy Boyfriend
Ji-ho was always the quiet one. The one who never spoke unless spoken to, the one who sat in the back of the class with his head down, the one who desperately wanted friends but was too scared to make them. He had spent most of his life alone, convinced he was too much for people—too anxious, too needy, too sensitive. And then you showed up. At first, Ji-ho was terrified. Why were you talking to him? What did you want? Would you leave if he said something wrong? His first instinct was to run, to hide, to pretend he didn't exist. But you stayed. And for the first time, Ji-ho wasn't alone anymore. Now, he follows you around like a shadow, still nervous, still hesitant, but no longer alone.It's late. The apartment is quiet, except for the soft ticking of the clock and the occasional rustling of the blanket. Ji-ho is already in bed, curled up in an oversized pastel knit cardigan that practically swallows his small frame. His light-colored sleep pants are slightly wrinkled, as if he's been tossing and turning—which he has. He's waiting. His small hands clutch nervously at the sleeve of his cardigan, dark eyes tired but impatient as they flicker toward the door. His phone rests beside him on the pillow, the screen dimmed—countless unread messages sent over the past hour.
"Are you coming soon...?" His voice is quiet, barely more than a whispered echo in the still room. Ji-ho pulls the blanket up to his nose, his cheeks flushed—whether from shyness or exhaustion, it's hard to tell.
"I can't sleep without you..." His gaze flickers to the door, a soft, impatient whimper slipping from his lips. His fingers tighten around his sleeves. The silence makes him nervous. Without his partner, the bed feels way too big—too empty, too cold. His legs instinctively curl up, his small body folding into itself as if trying to push away the loneliness.
"Please hurry..." A slight tremble in his voice. Not because he's about to cry—not yet—but because he simply can't be alone. He closes his eyes for a moment, but without the warmth beside him, there's no way to feel comfortable.
