The door closed. He hadn't planned to share a room, but you pulled him in anyway. Sharing a bed, you even placed a big pillow in the middle — yet when he offered to sleep on the couch, you refused to let him go.

Morning came quickly. With the help of the air conditioner, both of you stayed asleep, comfortable... though that big pillow had somehow ended up on the floor. He'd lain there all night like a log, arms crossed over his chest, completely still ..until someone's foot landed squarely on his stomach and startled him awake.

"Dunk... Dunk, move..."

He gently stroked your back and called out to you, but you just nuzzled deeper into him without waking up.

"Time to get up, it's past 9 already."

"Mm~... still sleepy..."

"If the little rascal doesn't get up, I'm gonna tickle you."

"Mm... tickle what..."

Your eyes stayed closed, your face scrunched as you grumbled a reply. Who would've thought he'd go and poke you in the waist with his finger...

"Hey..that tickles, Joong... I'm awake, I'm awake! Haha!"

"See? That's what it takes, huh?"

You sat up, hair all messy, lips pouting, and gave him a playful smack.

"Hm! Not playing with you anymore."

He just chuckled sheepishly.

"What, were you planning to sleep till evening?"

"Mm... sleep forever."

"So you're never getting up?"

"Yup, never ever— ahhh!"

Before you could even finish, he pulled you back into his arms, exactly how you'd been lying before.

"There, now sleep. If you get up, you'll see what I'll do."

At first, it was nice .. you were still half-asleep, so everything felt soft and cozy. But after an hour or two, the parts of your body pressed against the mattress started to ache. Still, he didn't move at all, eyes closed, completely still. He could feel your little head shifting slightly, and the corners of his lips curved up.

"Go back to sleep."

"I can't lie like this anymore... it's sore..."

"Not my problem. You said you'd never get up, remember?"

You wriggled a bit but didn't dare pull away..that big arm draped over your waist was heavy. After fifteen more minutes, realizing you weren't trying to escape anymore and were just holding onto a corner of his shirt, fidgeting with it...

"From now on, get enough sleep. Don't try to force yourself to stay in bed, alright?"

"...."

Finally, your small face tilted up to look at him ..eyes red and watery.

"Oh no, hey, I'm not teasing anymore. Don't cry, don't be a baby... such a little softie..."

"...hic..."

"Oh no, don't cry. I'm sorry, okay? "

He sat up, bringing you with him, pulling you onto his lap like a backward backpack, gently patting your back.

"Let's go brush your teeth, yeah?"

"Only if you hold me tight."

He "wore" his backpack into the bathroom, gave you a once-over, then set you down on the cabinet next to the sink.

"You brush your teeth."

He squeezed some toothpaste onto your brush and handed it to you.

"...umm...a...one...brush...how...you...brush?"

There was only one toothbrush after all.

"You go ahead. I'll just rinse with this mouthwash."

Luckily, your house had mouthwash, so that worked. He finished rinsing, filled a cup with water and handed it to you.

"How did you even get foam all the way up to your cheek?"

He wiped your foamy cheeks with a tissue, then grabbed a towel to clean your face and neck. Once everything was clean, you looked at him with that puffy, adorable face and smiled.

"What's up?"

"You're not even my boyfriend, but you take care of me like this?"

"Well... this is just a way of taking care of yourself too."

"Oh."

Your voice got quieter. Hands braced beside you, legs swinging slightly... which made him want to come closer. He stepped in between your knees, one hand resting lightly at your lower back.

"You know... you've got to take better care of yourself, okay? Can't keep neglecting things like that."

"But I have you, don't I?"

"You really believe I'll take care of you?"

"Hmm... nope."

"No? Then why say that?"

He leaned in just a little closer.

"Well... we'll see what happens, I guess."

That made his lips curl into a smile. It carried the weight of a silent promise — he wasn't leaving you behind. Not now, and probably not ever.

"Right?"

"Hm?"

You wrapped your arms around his neck.

"You're going to keep taking care of me, right?"

"Mm, I will."

Chuu~

You puckered up and gave him a little kiss — it made your cheeks turn pink.

"Hey! I was asking if you'd take care of me, not... that."

"I told you I would. And that little kiss? That's proof, okay?"

Gentle. Unhurried. A tight hug, a deepening kiss — warm, dreamlike, like a sauna. He carried you back from the bathroom to the big bed again, still gentle, still slow...

"Joong... I've never done this before."

You pressed a hand to his chest.

"I'll take care of you... okay?"

"...yeah... mm~"

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#sapo🇻🇳 (13:32/ 250525)