The awkward silence after Jisoo's brother disappeared was the kind that lingered like smoke.
They sat on opposite ends of the couch, still flushed and a little out of breath, Sera clutching a pillow to her chest and Jisoo scratching the back of his neck, cheeks a permanent shade of red.
"So," she finally said, voice small, "do you still want to watch something?"
Jisoo blinked, then smiled.
"Yeah… yeah, let's do that."
They settled under a blanket. The lights were low. The room warm.
A romantic drama neither of them was really paying attention to flickered on the screen.
Fifteen minutes in, Sera leaned into him.
Thirty minutes in, her head was on his shoulder.
By the time the lead characters kissed in the movie, Sera was fast asleep, breathing soft and steady.
But Jisoo didn't notice the movie anymore.
He was looking at her.
His arm shifted around her without thinking, fingers brushing the soft strands of her hair. His heart thudded gently, not wildly this time.
"How do you do this to me?" he whispered.
She didn't answer. She was deep in dreams, lips parted slightly, her hand resting against his chest where his heart beat the loudest.
And he didn't move.
Sera jolted awake with a sharp gasp.
"Oh my god! What time is it?!"
Jisoo glanced at his phone.
"It's… 12:17."
"Midnight?! Jisoo! I have to go home—my mom—!"
"At this hour?" he blinked. "No. No way. It's not safe."
"But—"
"You're staying over," he said firmly. "I'll explain to your mom if I have to."
She stared at him, lips parted in protest, but his tone was gentle. Final.
"I'll take the couch. You can sleep in my room."
"But—"
"Sera," he said, soft and certain. "It's okay."
She nodded slowly.
She stood in the doorway of his room, glancing around. There were books stacked near the bed, a sweater on the chair, and a familiar clean scent in the air.
She curled up under the covers, her heart still racing — not from panic anymore, but something she couldn't name.
In the other room, Jisoo lay on the couch, staring at the ceiling for a while.
Then — for the first time in weeks — his mind slowed.
No voices.
No pain.
No fists clenched in the dark.
Just peace.
And sleep came easy.
Sunlight crept into the apartment like a lazy cat.
Jisoo sat up slowly, blinking at the quiet.
"Sera?" he called softly.
No reply.
He walked to the bedroom. The bed was empty.
Panic bloomed—until he saw it.
A folded note resting neatly on the coffee table, scribbled in blue ink.
He picked it up and read:
"I didn't want to wake you. You looked too peaceful.
Thanks for letting me stay, even after the most embarrassing yet most beautiful night of my life !
— Love, Sera
P.S. You drool in your sleep. Just kidding. Maybe."
Jisoo read it three times.
Then smiled.
And didn't stop smiling for a long time.