The morning light seeps gently through the curtains, painting the room in soft gold. Two figures lie side by side, still wrapped in the quiet warmth of sleep.
Alice is the first to wake.
Her eyes slowly open, adjusting to the calm glow of dawn. For a moment, she says nothing—just watches.
Sana's face is peaceful, almost too peaceful… like the world hasn't touched him at all.
A faint smile forms on her lips.
"Good morning… my hero…" she whispers.
The words slip out before she can stop them.
Her eyes widen slightly.
Did I really just say that…?
She quickly looks away, embarrassed, and tries to sit up.
But then—
She freezes.
Her hand.
Still tightly holding his.
Her face flushes instantly.
Why… am I like this…?
She gently shakes her head, as if trying to push the feeling away. It doesn't work.
Sana remains asleep, breathing softly, unmoving.
"He must be exhausted after the accident…"
Her gaze softens again.
"I should do something before he wakes up."
Reluctantly, she loosens her grip and lets go of his hand. The warmth lingers for a second longer than it should.
Then she stands and quietly steps outside, pulling out her phone.
The screen lights up—
Notifications. Dozens of them.
Her expression darkens immediately.
…him.
Her childhood friend.
The weight of it presses down on her chest.
But then—
She pauses.
Sana's voice echoes in her mind from last night.
"You should show your feelings more to the people you love… maybe they'll understand you… my tsundere girl."
Her cheeks turn pink again.
A small, hesitant smile appears.
"…I'll try."
She scrolls… and presses call.
It rings.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
"What's wrong, my daughter?"
Her father's voice.
Alice's fingers tighten slightly around the phone.
There was a time… when that voice felt like home.
Before work took him away.
Before silence replaced presence.
Her chest aches.
"Dad… I have a problem…"
Her voice trembles.
So many words try to escape at once—her loneliness, her pain, everything she's been holding in—
But they get stuck.
Her father goes quiet.
"What happened?" His tone shifts, worry breaking through.
Alice feels something warm… something fragile… bloom in her chest.
"Can you… take a day off and stay with me?"
Silence.
She already knows why.
Today is important.
Work. Meetings. Money.
Always something more important.
"Dad… I know your work matters… but please… just today…"
Her voice cracks.
On the other end, he closes his eyes.
My job… or my daughter…?
"…You don't even care about me."
The words slip out, sharp and broken.
She ends the call.
Tears fall before she can stop them.
—
Her father stands still, phone in hand.
Memories rush back.
A small girl running toward him.
Laughing.
Calling him "Dad" like he was her whole world.
He exhales slowly.
And makes a choice.
—
Alice sits alone.
Empty.
"I wish… Mom was still here…"
Her voice is barely a whisper.
Her chest tightens.
"I don't want to be alone anymore…"
Her phone starts ringing again.
Dad.
She stares at it.
…then turns it off.
She doesn't want to hear it.
Not now.
Not after everything.
She hugs herself tightly.
She hates him.
His job.
Her life.
Everything feels cold.
Everything—
Except one thing.
…him.
—
She returns to the room.
Sana is still there.
Still sleeping.
Still peaceful.
And somehow… just seeing him like that makes the cold fade away.
Warmth returns to her chest.
A soft, fragile warmth.
She smiles, even as tears continue to fall.
"My precious hero…"
She reaches out—
And this time, she doesn't hesitate.
Her fingers slip into his, holding his hand again.
Tightly.
As if letting go would break something inside her.
Slowly…
She leans closer.
Closer than she should.
But she doesn't stop.