TANTIANA UNIVERSITY | SCARLET LIGHTS

CHAPTER 32: GLUED AT THE SOUL

Days turned into weeks, and weeks slipped seamlessly into months. With the seasons shifting, the bond between Donghyuck and Gayoon only deepened, growing more unbreakable with every shared laugh, touch, and glance.

The two were inseparable—practically glued at the hips. If it weren't for their separate classes, they'd likely spend every moment together. Even then, they found ways to bridge the gap, sneaking moments during breaks to exchange hugs, kisses, or snacks as tokens of affection.

Lunch dates became a ritual, a daily oasis amid the chaos of student life. And at the end of the day, the question wasn't if one would sleep over but whose place it would be.

Tonight, after a cozy visit to the Shin residence, Gayoon had sprawled herself atop Donghyuck the moment they got back. Her arms and legs wrapped around him like a human koala, and she showed no sign of moving anytime soon.

Donghyuck laughed softly as he brushed a strand of hair from her face. "So... who's going to get the delivery when it arrives?"

"You," she mumbled into his chest.

"How exactly am I supposed to get up?"

Gayoon whined, her response a lazy roll to his side. But even then, her limbs stayed locked around him, tightening like a trap.

Donghyuck grinned, his hand lazily tracing circles on her waist. "Are you still tired?"

"What do you think?"

He chuckled, leaning down to kiss her temple. "I'm sorry," he said, though his grin was anything but apologetic. "I guess I went too hard again."

Gayoon huffed against his chest. "Since when do you not take it hard?"

"For the record, my sweet, sweet girl," he drawled, his tone teasing, "you're the one begging me to go faster."

"Shhh! So noisy, Lee Donghyuck!"

"Ask the walls who's the noisy one between us, baby."

"Hyuck!" Gayoon slapped her hand over his mouth, her face heating up at the implication. Donghyuck just laughed, peeling her hand away before peppering it with kisses.

A text notification buzzed on his phone, drawing his attention.

"It's the delivery," he announced, sitting up.

Gayoon groaned, rolling onto her back and clutching a pillow. "Go fetch it, then."

Donghyuck smirked as he leaned over her, stealing a lingering kiss before getting up. "Come on, let's feed you."

"Do I look like a dog to you?"

"My kitten," he teased, his voice playful. "Now c'mere, little kitty-kitty."

Gayoon narrowed her eyes, grabbed the nearest pillow, and tossed it at his head. He caught it mid-air, laughing as he dodged her next attempt.

Their banter carried on, filling the room with warmth and laughter—a testament to how effortlessly they fit together, as natural as the changing seasons.

Donghyuck was a lot of things.

Annoying—yes, but in a way that made you both roll your eyes and smile at the same time. He had this way of teasing, of poking and prodding, that left Gayoon wanting to hide just so she could have a moment of peace. Yet, when he wasn't around, the silence felt dull, like something vital was missing.

Clingy? Absolutely. Physical touch was his love language, and he wielded it like a master craftsman. A casual arm around her shoulder, an unexpected kiss on her forehead, fingers laced together—it was endless, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

But beneath all the teasing and affection, Donghyuck was deeply layered. A top student who toiled tirelessly behind closed doors, fueled by a relentless drive for success. A devoted son and a protective brother, whose face lit up with pure love when he talked to his family.

And, most importantly, her soulmate.

Donghyuck sat stiffly across from his grandfather, Mark and Jeno flanking him like silent sentinels. The old man's words rang sharp and unforgiving, cutting through the air like a blade.

"You've been at bars the whole night, threading girls like dolls; is that what you want to do with your life?"

Donghyuck's jaw tightened, his fists clenching beneath the table.

"I..." He sighed heavily, forcing himself to keep his tone even. "I'm sorry."

"I didn't bring you here so you could dirty the family's reputation. You met your soulmate; do you plan to leave her too, just like your useless father did to your mother?"

The accusation hit like a punch to the gut.

"I don't plan to leave her!" Donghyuck's voice rose unexpectedly, trembling with emotion. "I love her."

For a moment, silence filled the room. Donghyuck's head hung low, but when he raised it, his eyes burned with determination.

"I'm not leaving her, nor will I move schools again. I left the kind of freedom I once had a long time ago, and I don't plan to abandon what I've built here. I may be the son of the man you called useless, but I will never follow his path."

The conviction in his voice left the room heavy with unspoken acknowledgment.

The ride home was a blur, Donghyuck's hands gripping the steering wheel with white-knuckled intensity.

When he reached Gayoon's place, his safe haven, he didn't hesitate. She opened the door and immediately pulled him into her embrace, letting his weight press against her as he buried his face in her neck.

She didn't ask any questions.

Instead, her fingers wove gently through his hair, her other hand rubbing soothing circles on his back. The silence was broken only by the sound of his quiet sobs, the tears soaking into her skin as he clung to her.

"I love you," he whispered, his voice raw and trembling.

Gayoon smiled softly, her lips brushing against his temple.

"I love you too."

And in that moment, Donghyuck felt something he hadn't in a long time—peace. With her, he knew he could stay, fight, and love without fear of losing himself. She was his anchor, his home, and the one he would hold onto, no matter the storms that came their way.