Chasing Perfection || Lee Know

The Overthinker and The Unbothered

The sunlight filtered weakly through Lee Know's living room windows, casting soft, golden streaks across the polished floor. He glanced at his phone for the tenth time that morning, brows furrowed in annoyance that barely masked the unease simmering beneath.

Hyejin was never late. She was meticulous, sometimes frustratingly so, arriving earlier than required just to avoid even the appearance of tardiness. But today, she hadn't shown up. She hadn't even sent her usual short text confirming her arrival.

He scrolled to her number again, his thumb hovering over the call button before pressing it with a sigh.

Ring.

No answer.

Ring.

Still nothing.

A quiet but insistent worry began to claw at his chest, replacing the irritation he'd initially felt. She had seemed fine yesterday, hadn't she? A little damp from the rain, sure, but Hyejin wasn't the type to let something as minor as a chill slow her down.

He pushed back his chair, the sudden scrape against the floor breaking the silence in the room. Tossing on a jacket, Lee Know grabbed his keys and strode out the door.

The drive to Hyejin's apartment was punctuated by the rhythmic drumming of his fingers against the steering wheel, his mind conjuring scenarios he didn't want to entertain. Was she sick? Hurt? Or worse? The thought made his grip on the wheel tighten, his jaw clenching as he pressed a little harder on the accelerator.

When he reached her building, he sprinted up the stairs two at a time, barely registering the strain in his legs. As soon as he reached her door, he began pressing the doorbell, the sharp buzz echoing in the quiet hallway.

Inside, Hyejin stirred at the sound, her body feeling as though it was weighed down by bricks. The incessant ringing tugged at the edges of her awareness, but she was too weak to even groan in frustration. Her throat burned, and her head throbbed in time with the bell's piercing rhythm.

It was only when the ringing didn't stop—persistent, almost frantic—that she forced her heavy limbs to move. Clutching the wall for support, she shuffled to the door, each step feeling like an impossible task.

She opened it with trembling fingers, leaning heavily against the frame for balance.

Lee Know froze at the sight of her.

Her usually composed appearance was replaced by flushed cheeks, bloodshot eyes, and hair sticking to her damp forehead. She looked utterly defeated, her small frame trembling slightly as she tried to steady herself.

"Hyejin," he breathed, his voice soft yet laced with worry.

Her lips parted, but no words came out. Instead, her knees buckled, and Lee Know caught her instinctively, his arms wrapping around her securely.

"Why didn't you answer your phone?" His voice was low, but the frustration was evident. "You're burning up."

She blinked up at him, her vision hazy. A faint smile tugged at her lips, and she whispered hoarsely, "You came... I didn't think... anyone would."

The words hit him harder than he expected. Guilt gnawed at him as he realized how isolated she must have felt to say something like that.

Without a second thought, he scooped her up, her weight negligible in his arms. She didn't protest, too exhausted to muster even a token resistance.

"Idiot," he muttered under his breath, though his tone was tender. "Why didn't you call anyone?"

Her head lolled against his shoulder, her response a faint murmur. "Didn't want to... bother anyone."