Then again..
He looked down once more at the sleeping boy curled against him.
Without thinking, he reached toward the bedside table.
The alarm read 6:30 a.m.
His finger hovered over the screen.
Then—
Alarm changed: 7:30 a.m.
"...One more hour won't hurt."
He placed the phone back quietly.
Smyle unconsciously moved even closer, his forehead resting comfortably against Rayden's shoulder.
Rayden sighed almost helplessly.
"...Troublesome."
But he didn't move him away.
Instead...
He closed his eyes again.
And for the first time in years—
Rayden slept peacefully.
AN HOUR... OR SO LATER
Sunlight poured through the curtains.
Smyle stirred first.
"...Mmm."
His fever was gone.
His head felt lighter.
He blinked lazily before realizing something felt... warm.
Very warm.
He slowly looked up.
Rayden.
Still asleep.
Smyle's eyes widened.
"When did..."
Carefully, he tried lifting Rayden's arm away from his waist.
The moment he moved—
Rayden frowned in his sleep.
Then, without opening his eyes...
He pulled Smyle right back against him.
Smyle froze.
"H-Hey..."
No response.
Rayden was still asleep.
Or so it seemed.
Smyle's ears slowly turned pink.
"What is this... a human pillow?"
He reached for his phone with one hand.
The screen lit up.
8:50 a.m.
Smyle's eyes nearly popped out.
"...SHIT!"
Rayden's eyes snapped open instantly.
"What happened?"
"We overslept!"
Rayden blinked once.
Then frowned.
"...What time is it?"
"Eight fifty!"
Silence.
Rayden looked at the clock.
Then at Smyle.
Then back at the clock.
"Oh."
Smyle stared at him.
"'Oh'?!"
"You have an appointment at nine-thirty, didn't you?"
Rayden sat upright immediately.
"...Right."
Smyle threw the blanket aside.
"You're saying 'right' like it's not important!"
"It is important."
"Then move!"
"I am moving."
"You are moving in slow motion!"
Rayden actually laughed.
"You're loud."
"I'm panicking!"
"I noticed."
Within seconds, Rayden stood and walked toward the wardrobe.
Without much thought, he unbuttoned the shirt he'd slept in and pulled it off before grabbing a fresh clothes.
Smyle, still sitting on the bed, looked up automatically.
His brain stopped working for exactly two seconds.
Well..Wow.
Lean...
How is someone this busy still in such good shape...?
Before he could look away—
Rayden caught him staring.
A slow smirk appeared.
"Saw something interesting?"
Smyle nearly jumped.
"Huh?"
"You've been staring."
"I-I was not!"
"Were you thinking something inappropriate?"
"What?! No! You are a pervert!"
Rayden raised an eyebrow.
"Then why are your ears red?"
"My fever!"
"Your fever disappeared."
"...Then it's... morning heat."
"It's literally winter season."
Smyle grabbed the nearest pillow.
"I don't like talking to you."
Rayden chuckled while buttoning his fresh shirt.
"I figured."
LATER THAT MORNING
After a rushed breakfast, Smyle checked his university portal on his tablet.
A new notification flashed across the screen.
Department of Digital Arts & Interactive Design
Mandatory Internship Selection – Semester Break
Smyle frowned.
"Internship?"
He opened the notice.
Students had been shortlisted for placements at various companies specializing in animation, game development, product design, luxury branding, and digital media.
Each student had to choose a preferred company before the end of the week.
His eyes scanned the list.
Then stopped.
Black Industries Gaming Division
Smyle blinked.
"...Wait."
Rayden walked past about to head outside, adjusting his watch and yes again it was 9:18 am and he was done with shower, getting ready, drying and styling his hair and breakfast.
"Woah totally ready. Btw, What is it?"
Smyle turned the tablet toward him.
"My university is offering internships at black industries gaming division is it your cousins or something?."
Rayden glanced at the screen.
"They finally partnered with us."
"'Finally', huh ? Whattt ?"
"It took them long enough."
Smyle looked back at the list.
"I thought your company only made fragrances and jewelry."
Rayden fastened the cuff of his shirt.
"We have multiple divisions."
He counted them casually.
"Luxury fragrances."
"Fine jewelry."
"Game development."
"Interactive character design."
"Digital entertainment."
Smyle stared.
"...You never mentioned the gaming division."
"You never asked."
"So your company designs games too?"
"Among other things."
Smyle looked back at the internship notice, his curiosity growing.
Five positions.
Out of hundreds of students.
"...This is going to be impossible."
He sighed dramatically before looking up.
"...Hey, aren't you getting late?"
Rayden had already reached the front door.
One hand rested on the doorknob.
Instead of leaving...
He stopped.
Smyle frowned.
"What now?"
Rayden looked over his shoulder.
"I saw something on the internet last night."
Smyle blinked.
"...That's concerning already."
"It was a married couple."
"...Okay?"
"They kissed before leaving for work."
Silence.
Smyle stared.
Rayden continued in the exact same calm tone.
"We're married."
"So..."
Another pause.
"Should we follow the trend?"
Smyle's brain completely shut down.
"...What?"
Rayden tilted his head ever so slightly.
"It appears to be a common custom."
"...Can we?"
There was exactly one second of silence.
Then—
THUD!
A gray cat-shaped plushie flew across the room at full speed.
Rayden caught it effortlessly with one hand.
Smyle was already red from the ears to the neck.
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"
Rayden looked at the plushie.
Then at Smyle.
"I asked politely."
"NO NORMAL PERSON ASKS THAT BEFORE GOING TO WORK!"
"I don't see the issue."
"The issue is YOU!"
Rayden looked genuinely thoughtful.
"Hm."
Smyle pointed dramatically toward the front door.
"Go."
Rayden didn't move.
Smyle narrowed his eyes.
"...Go."
"..."
"GO!"
Rayden's lips curved into the faintest smile.
"I'll take that as a no."
"You'll take that as 'you're already late'!"
Rayden checked his watch.
"Nine twenty."
"You have ten minutes!"
"I know."
"Then why are you still standing there?"
Rayden looked at him for another second.
Then calmly placed the plushie back on the sofa.
"I'll ask again another day."
Smyle's eyes widened.
"You WHAT?"
Rayden opened the door.
"Have a good day."
"RAYDEN!"
The front door closed.
Smyle stared at it in complete disbelief.
"...He's getting weirder."
He grabbed the same plushie and hugged it dramatically.
"I married a menace."
His phone suddenly began vibrating.
GROUP CALL — Leo, James, Ohm, William, Hong
Smyle sighed.
"...Here we go."
The moment he answered—
Five faces filled the screen.
Leo grinned so widely it was almost suspicious.
"GOOD MORNING, MR. BLACK."
Smyle immediately frowned.
"...Don't."
James leaned toward the camera dramatically.
"So..."
William couldn't even wait.
"Internship applications opened!"
Hong adjusted his glasses.
"And someone has a very interesting option."
Smyle blinked.
"...You already know?"
Ohm laughed.
"The whole department knows."
Leo nodded enthusiastically.
"Top gaming company."
James pointed dramatically at the screen.
"And your husband's company!"
Smyle buried his face in one hand.
"For the last time..."
"I'm applying because it's the best gaming division."
Leo smirked.
"Sure."
James nodded.
"Completely professional."
Hong added with a perfectly straight face,
"Absolutely no personal bias."
Smyle looked offended.
"I didn't even know Black Industries had a gaming division until ten minutes ago."
"Oh?"
William grinned.
"Then why are you smiling?"
Smyle immediately stopped smiling.
"...I wasn't."
"You literally are."
"I am not."
Leo gasped dramatically.
"Guys..."
"What?" James asked.
Leo leaned closer to the camera.
"...I think he's actually excited."
Smyle looked away.
"...It's a good opportunity."
Hong smiled knowingly.
"It is."
Then he added,
"...Though getting selected won't be easy."
"Oh, definitely," Ohm agreed.
"They only take five interns every year."
"And thousands apply," William added.
James nodded.
"Portfolio."
"Interview."
"Design challenge."
"Character concept."
"Live evaluation."
Leo whistled.
"They're brutal."
Smyle's smile slowly disappeared.
"...Wait."
"You mean..."
"I actually have to compete?"
All five nodded together.
James laughed.
"What did you expect?"
"That Rayden would walk in and say, 'Give my husband a job'?"
The group burst into laughter.
Smyle crossed his arms.
"He wouldn't do that."
At that exact moment...
A new notification popped onto his phone.
Black Industries Recruitment Portal
Your internship application has been received.
Below it, another line appeared:
Selection will be based solely on merit. No recommendations or external influence will be considered.
Smyle blinked.
"...Huh."
Somehow...
That made him smile.
Because if he got in—
He wanted it to be because he earned it.
Not because his surname had changed.