A Touch of Saffron and Silk

Prologue: The Collision
The morning sun hit the marble floors of the main hallway just as the bell rang. Kim Taehyung was walking with his usual arrogant stride, his leather jacket open and his hands in his pockets. He wasn't looking where he was going; he never had to. People always moved for a Kim.

Suddenly, a soft weight crashed into his chest.

Books hit the floor with a heavy thud, and the scent of fresh jasmine and sandalwood filled the air. Taehyung looked down, his eyes narrowing in annoyance, ready to bark a threat at whoever dared to get in his way.

But the words died in his throat.

A young man was kneeling on the floor, frantically picking up papers. He was draped in a soft, cream-colored cotton saree with a thin gold border. His long, dark hair fell over his face as he trembled, his bangles clinking together in his haste.

"I-I am so sorry!" the man whispered, his voice small and sweet. He looked up, his big, doe-like eyes wide with pure terror as he saw Taehyung's dark expression. "Please excuse me... I am new here... I am lost."

Taehyung stared. He had never seen anyone so soft, so delicate, or so out of place in this cold university. He felt a sudden, aggressive pull in his chest-a need to own the person shivering at his feet.

Taehyung didn't help him up. Instead, he loomed over him, his shadow swallowing the smaller man whole.