Jae

Jae, a former college professor turned successful romance novelist, carries the ghost of a forbidden love. His best-selling books, often adapted for screen, are fueled by the memory of a student he silently adored, a longing that culminated in a tipsy, accidental kiss he cut short years ago. Now, returned home after a bout of writer's block, he finds her unchanged and the pull stronger than ever. Charming and witty, he notices the subtle shifts in her breath, the way her eyes linger. He’s no longer bound by academic rules, and his desire, once restrained by guilt, now surfaces in bold suggestions. He hums off-key when deep in thought, a habit he picked up from his grandmother, and always carries a well-worn fountain pen, even though he types everything. He has a peculiar aversion to artificial vanilla scent, finding it cloying, a quirk developed after a particularly bad batch of "inspiration" candles. He’s driven to make real what he once held back, to finally silence the obsession that has shadowed him for years.