Morning came in pale, golden stripes through the window.
Seo Yunhan woke first, as he usually did — and then went very still, taking stock of his situation.
His sleep robe had come undone sometime in the night, the front falling open to bare his chest and stomach. Aran's hand was splayed across his abdomen, fingers loosely curled. Her head rested on his shoulder, one leg draped entirely over both of his.
He felt, for a moment, absurdly, completely happy.
"Good morning," he said softly, once her eyes finally fluttered open.
He smiled down at her, unable to help himself.
"You're even prettier than yesterday, somehow."
Aran blinked up at him — and then her expression slammed shut, sharp and defensive, as if she'd only just realized where her hand currently was.
She yanked it back so fast she nearly elbowed him in the ribs.
"Move," she snapped, shoving at his chest. "Get off. Why are you even still here."
"…That's a bit harsh for a good morning," he said, a little wounded, though he kept his tone light.
"Don't 'good morning' me. Get out."
It stung more than it should have — sharper than her usual scowling, colder than the familiar back-and-forth he'd come to enjoy. Something tightened in his chest, small and unwelcome.
He sat up slowly, watching her turn away from him, arms crossed, jaw set.
"Can't you be a little honest," he said quietly, the playfulness draining out of his voice, "just once? You liked it too. You spent half the night with your hand on my stomach like you'd found a new favorite hobby."
"That's not — I didn't —"
"Fine." He cut her off gently, something tired and a little sad beneath the words now. "Say whatever you actually want to say. Right now, the way you're already doing. I'll take all of it — every insult, every complaint, anything."
He paused.
"But say it to me. Say your heart out loud. No one else can hear it. Not even you."
Aran stared at him like he'd lost his mind.
"What kind of nonsense is that," she snapped. "Are you even listening to yourself? Get out of my room."
Seo Yunhan decided to test it properly.
"Do you like me," he said, watching her closely. "Or do you like Baek Jinho more?"
Aran's eyes narrowed to dangerous slits.
"That's the stupidest question I've ever heard in my life," she said, voice dripping with contempt. "You're an idiot. A complete and utter idiot. I can't believe I have to share a roof with someone this dense."
She turned away from him, nose lifted in the air, the very picture of disgust.
"Wasn't that enough insults for you?" she added, smug, glancing back over her shoulder.
"Of course it's you," she continued immediately, in the same breath, the same cool tone — though her eyes, for just a moment, were anything but cool. "How could anyone even compare you to him. You're the only one. You're—"
She paused, scowl still firmly in place, completely unaware that her voice had carried the words out loud at all.
"—my lifeline," she finished — flat, certain, exactly the same tone she'd used to insult him moments before.
Seo Yunhan didn't say anything.
He simply stared at her, frozen, something soft and overwhelmed written plainly across his features — completely unguarded, completely unable to form a single word.
Aran frowned, confused by his sudden silence. She had no idea what had caused it.
"…What's wrong with you," she said, waving a hand in front of his face.
Nothing.
"Hey. Did I break you?"
She pressed the back of her hand against his forehead, checking for a fever, brow furrowed with genuine concern.
Seo Yunhan caught her hand against his skin and just looked at her for a moment, eyes warm.
"…I'm hurt," he said solemnly.
Aran's worried expression deepened immediately. "Where? What's wrong?"
He brought both hands up to clutch dramatically at his chest.
"Here. It hurts so much."
"…You're an idiot," Aran said, yanking her hand back, though the corner of her mouth twitched suspiciously, like she was fighting not to laugh.
"A very hurt idiot," he agreed cheerfully, still clutching his chest. "Dying, probably. From how cute you are."
"Get out of my room."
"Stay with me while I die, then. At least hold my hand."
She threw a pillow at his face instead — and when that didn't work, she lunged forward to swat at him properly, fists half-raised in mock fury.
He let her hit him, laughing, taking the blows without flinching. Then, mid-swing, he caught her wrist gently and held it still.
"Stay with me," he said, suddenly serious, his thumb brushing softly over her knuckles. "Talk to me. For real, this time."
"Get out," Aran said immediately, yanking her hand back, scowling harder than ever.
Was that too much? she thought, the scowl never wavering. What if he gets upset and doesn't want to kiss me later? Maybe I should've just let him win that one.
No. Absolutely not. I refuse.
…But I really do want to kiss him right now.
Should I just grab him and kiss him fiercely?
The words came out of her mouth exactly as she thought them — flat, certain, completely indistinguishable from everything else she'd just said aloud. She had no idea any of it had left her lips at all.
Seo Yunhan, watching her face cycle through approximately four different expressions in the span of two seconds — fury, doubt, fury again, something suspiciously close to longing — had heard every word of it.
"You look like you're having an argument with yourself," he said, voice carefully light.
"I am not," Aran snapped. "Shut up."
Just grab him and kiss him already, she thought — and said, in the same breath, never noticing the difference. What are you waiting for.
He blinked, certain now that he hadn't misheard the first time.
"…What was that last part," he asked carefully.
"Nothing," Aran said. "Leave."
Don't leave. Kiss me. Right now. I'm done waiting.
That one, too, came out loud and clear — and Seo Yunhan, who had been doing an admirable job of holding himself together until that exact moment, felt his ears go faintly pink.
He didn't leave.
He didn't need telling twice.
Later that night, after Seo Yunhan had left the room, Aran lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
The room was quiet. Too quiet.
She closed her eyes, trying to push away the confusing feelings from earlier.
Do I like him?
The thought wouldn't leave her alone.
Of course not. He's the one who dragged me back here like a dog. He's the one who slapped my ass in front of people. He's—
Sleep finally took her.
In the dream, she was wearing a beautiful silver collar around her neck. A delicate chain was attached to it, and Seo Yunhan held the other end gently in his hand.
He leaned down, his face close to hers, his voice low and possessive.
“You’re mine. Completely mine. You have to stay by my side forever as my woman. I took care of Baek Jinho a long time ago. He won’t appear in front of you again.”
He grabbed the back of her neck with one hand and pulled her toward him. He kissed her left cheek roughly, then her right cheek, and finally pressed his lips to hers in a deep, fierce kiss.
When he pulled back for a moment, he whispered against her lips,
“Every night, you have to sleep in my bed. You’re my pet.”
Aran crawled on all fours toward him and nestled into his arms. He stroked her hair gently.
“Good girl,” he murmured, placing a sweet treat in her mouth.
Aran smiled, filled with happiness.
Then her eyes opened.
She sat up in bed, breathing heavily, her face flushed.
What the hell was that dream?
That bastard… how could I dream something like that?
She covered her face with both hands, mortified.
It felt… good.
The realization made her even more embarrassed.
Am I going crazy? Why did my body react like that?
She lay back down, staring at the ceiling, her heart still racing.