The house,
once a fortress of violence and shattered glass,
was now submerged in an unfamiliar, heavy silence.
Jia had finally found the peace she had prayed for,
yet happiness felt like a ghost haunting the corners of the rooms.
No matter the scars her father had left behind,
the hollow space he left was still shaped like a parent.
As the first golden rays of the sun pierced through the heavy curtains,
they brought a new dawn—a promise of a life Jia hadn't yet learned how to navigate.
Jinu had been awake for hours.
He moved like a ghost through the hallways,
systematically erasing the remnants of the night before—straightening rugs,
clearing dust,
and replacing the scent of stale fear with the aroma of fresh cedar and a warm breakfast.
When the table was set,
he walked toward Jia's room and pushed the door open,
his movements as light as a whisper.
Jia was lost in a deep,
rhythmic slumber.
For the first time,
her brow wasn't furrowed in anticipation of a blow.
In the stillness of the morning,
she looked ethereal—a masterpiece of calm.
Jinu stood at the edge of her bed,
his breath hitching in his throat.
He found it impossible to tear his gaze away from her serene face.
He didn't want to wake her;
he wanted to freeze time in this very moment, where she was finally, truly at rest.
A sharp,
intrusive beam of sunlight began to crawl across her pillow,
threatening to break her sanctuary.
Without thinking, Jinu leaned over her.
He raised his hand, his palm creating a makeshift shield against the glare,
casting a soft, protective shadow over her eyes.
But the subtle shift in light was enough.
Jia's long lashes fluttered, and her eyes slowly blinked open.
Time seemed to fracture.
In the hazy golden glow, she saw Jinu hovering inches away,
his expression a raw mixture of tenderness and silent devotion.
The sudden proximity sent a jolt through her.
Panicked,
Jia scrambled to sit up,
her heart drumming against her ribs like a trapped bird trying to escape its cage.
Jinu jumped back instantly,
a deep,
embarrassed crimson flaring across his cheeks.
He awkwardly ran his fingers through his hair,
his voice cracking slightly.
"I... I was just... breakfast is ready.
I came to wake you," he stammered, his gaze fixed firmly on the floor.
Jia felt a heat rise to her face that had nothing to do with the sun.
"Oh... right.
I—I'll be out in a minute.
I just need to freshen up."
She practically bolted into the bathroom, clicking the lock shut.
Leaning against the cold tiles,
she stared at her reflection.
Her eyes were wide,
her pulse thrumming visibly in her throat.
"What is wrong with you, Jia?"
she whispered to the mirror,
clutching her chest.
"Control yourself.
Why does your heart beat like a wild animal every time he's near?"
Outside the door,
Jinu leaned his forehead against the wood,
a helpless,
lopsided smile tugging at his lips.
"You're going to be the death of me,
Jia..." he whispered to the empty,
quiet hallway.