Chapter 18: Love

Ni-ki woke up slowly.

The warmth against his chest was the first thing he noticed.

His mind was still hazy, clinging to the last traces of sleep, but he could feel the delicate weight of something—or someone—pressed against him.

His heartbeat stuttered.

Blinking the sleep from his eyes, he glanced down.

Hayoon.

Her head rested against his chest, her face soft and peaceful in sleep.

She looked like she had only just dozed off.

Her breathing was so light, so unsteady, like at any moment, she might wake again.

Ni-ki stayed still.

He didn't dare move, didn't dare shift in the slightest, in fear of disturbing the fragile moment.

How long had it taken her to fall asleep?

Had she finally given in to exhaustion just minutes ago?

His stomach twisted.

She had been awake all night.

He had known it, had felt it in the way she laid so still, in the way her breathing never settled into the slow, rhythmic pattern of sleep.

And now, as he watched her, his chest ached.

She looked exhausted.

The dark circles under her eyes, the way her brows twitched in the slightest hint of unrest even in sleep—she was drained, completely and utterly drained.

And yet, here she was, curled into his side, her body unconsciously seeking warmth.

Ni-ki swallowed hard.

She was still so small in his arms.

Too small.

Too fragile.

Too breakable.

A part of him wanted to hold her tighter, to make sure she never had to feel alone again.

But he didn't.

Because right now, she needed rest.

She needed peace.

And if that peace only came in the form of sleeping against him, of being in a place where, just for a moment, she felt safe—

Then Ni-ki would stay right here.

As long as she needed.

Hayoon stirred only an hour later.

Ni-ki wasn't beside her anymore.

Instead, the space next to her was empty, the sheets slightly cool where his body had been.

She blinked, eyes adjusting to the soft morning light spilling through the curtains.

The scent of food lingered in the air.

Faintly, she could hear the sound of something sizzling in the kitchen.

Slowly, she sat up, rubbing at her tired eyes.

The exhaustion hadn't left.

But she felt something lighter.

She wasn't sure what.

Swinging her legs off the bed, she padded quietly toward the source of the sound.

The moment she reached the kitchen, she stopped.

Ni-ki stood at the stove, his back to her, humming softly as he moved.

A pan was in front of him, something golden sizzling inside.

Eggs?

The table had already been set.

A plate of toast. A small bowl of fruit. Two glasses of water.

Her stomach clenched—not with hunger, but something else.

Something unfamiliar.

Something warm.

Ni-ki hadn't noticed her yet.

He was too focused, carefully flipping the eggs with practiced ease.

Hayoon hesitated.

Then, in the softest voice, she said—

"You're cooking?"

Ni-ki startled.

He turned, eyes wide for a moment before softening.

"Good morning," he murmured.

His gaze flickered over her—over her tired expression, her rumpled clothes.

"Did you sleep okay?"

Hayoon nodded once.

She wasn't sure if it was a lie.

Ni-ki eyed her for a moment before gesturing toward the table.

"Sit. It's almost ready."

She didn't move.

Her hands curled into the fabric of her sleeves, her throat tightening.

"Ni-ki," she whispered.

He turned again, expectant.

She swallowed.

"You don't have to do all this."

His expression softened further.

"I want to."

Hayoon looked down.

She didn't know what to say.

Ni-ki turned back to the stove, finishing up the eggs before plating them.

He placed one plate in front of her, setting the fork neatly beside it.

"Eat."

Hayoon stared at the food.

Her stomach twisted again.

She wasn't hungry.

But—

Ni-ki had made this for her.

And it was warm.

It had been so long since she had eaten something warm.

Slowly, hesitantly, she picked up the fork.

Ni-ki watched her carefully.

She could feel his eyes, could sense his silent concern.

So she forced a small bite.

It tasted good.

Simple. Comforting.

She took another.

And another.

Ni-ki smiled.

"Good, right?"

Hayoon swallowed, nodding.

Ni-ki grinned. "See? I told you I can cook."

For the first time in a long time—

Hayoon almost smiled back.

Ni-ki didn't let her do much that day.

After breakfast, he had taken her plate before she could, washing it alongside his own.

He told her to rest.

Told her to let him take care of things.

And Hayoon, for once, let him.

She didn't have the energy to fight him on it.

So she sat on the couch, watching as he tidied up the small dorm, humming softly under his breath.

He kept glancing at her every now and then, as if making sure she was still there, as if worried she'd disappear if he looked away too long.

It was... warm.

Too warm.

Hayoon wasn't sure what to do with it.

It had been a long time since she had let herself be taken care of.

Had it always felt like this?

So light?

She didn't know.

But she wasn't sure if she deserved it.

The day passed like that.

Soft. Quiet.

Ni-ki did everything he could to make her feel comfortable, never once pushing her, never once making her feel like a burden.

And Hayoon let him.

She let herself be a little selfish.

Just for today.

Evening fell.

Ni-ki ordered takeout, not even asking what she wanted before choosing something simple.

She ate.

Not much.

But enough.

And Ni-ki didn't say a word about it.

He just smiled, nudging her shoulder with his playfully.

"You're stuck with me, you know," he teased lightly.

Hayoon blinked at him.

Ni-ki grinned.

"I'm not letting you go back to your dorm until I see you smile at least once today."

She stared at him, lips parting.

A joke.

A simple, dumb joke.

And yet—

For some reason—

Her chest ached.

Because it was the first time in a long time that someone had really tried.

She looked down, picking at the food in front of her.

Ni-ki leaned closer.

"Come on," he whined. "Just a little one. You can do it."

Hayoon huffed a quiet breath.

It wasn't quite a laugh.

But it was close.

Ni-ki's grin widened.

"There it is," he said, satisfied.

Hayoon shook her head.

He was ridiculous.

And yet—

Her heart felt a little lighter.

Just a little.

But Ni-ki knew this wasn't enough.

A single day wouldn't fix everything.

A single meal wouldn't erase the pain.

A small laugh wouldn't heal the wounds she carried.

She was still fragile.

Still hurting.

Still—

Lost.

And Ni-ki didn't know how to bring her back.

Didn't know if he could.

But he wanted to try.

No—

He would try.

Because Hayoon deserved to smile.

She deserved to be happy.

And he wasn't going to stop until she was.

Even if it took everything in him.