"Thank you," Yerin said softly, as Hyunjae led her inside the apartment and locked the door behind them. She closed her eyes for a moment, suddenly feeling dizzy. 

This was too much. There were too many things happening way too quickly, and she wasn't sure she could handle it anymore. And worse, her new feelings for Hyunjae were scaring her. 

She felt sick. 

"Are you okay?" Hyunjae asked, wrapping an arm around her waist to steady her. His touch sent off a thousand butterflies in her stomach. She wanted to look at him and tell him that she was fine, but her eyes remained tightly shut. She felt sick, and for some reason was scared of opening her eyes. She just felt scared. 

Her knees buckled, and she would have fallen to the floor if Hyunjae hadn't been holding onto her. 

"Yerin!" Hyunjae said, his voice full of worry. She felt another wave of guilt wash over her. 

Ever since she'd come here, she'd only caused him more pain. More worry. More suffering.

She was truly a terrible person. 

Hyunjae lifted her into his arms, and her eyes flew open. She studied his face as he carried her to his room, as he gently laid her on the bed and draped the covers over her. He sat beside her for a moment, saying nothing, just holding her hand and staring at the bedsheets. 

"Are you sick?" he asked after a moment. 

"I'm fine," she forced out, though every bone in her body was telling her that she wasn't fine. 

"Don't lie to me," he said firmly. "You look sick." 

Yerin gave him a small smile. "Okay. Maybe I feel a little woozy. But with a little rest, I'm sure I'll be fine," she insisted. 

"I'm sure you will be," he agreed, squeezing her hand. "You're a strong girl." 

He looked like he wanted to say more, but instead he let go of her hand and stood up. "I'll go make us some soup for dinner," he said. "Some chicken soup and you'll be feeling better in no time." 

Yerin laughed, her heart expanding with gratitude. "Thank you Hyunjae," she said softly. "For everything, thank you."

***

"Yerin, wake up." 

She opened her eyes to find Hyunjae sitting beside her, holding a bottle of medicine. His hand was on her forehead, and he looked concerned. 

"How are you feeling?" he asked her. 

Yerin put a hand on her forehead, surprised to find it hot. "I have a fever," she stated dumbly. 

"Yes, you do," he said, placing the medicine on the night table and leaning forward, helping her sit up. A part of her wanted to tell him that she was okay, she could sit up by herself. Because after all, she really wanted to stop worrying him. She wanted to stop being a burden. 

On the other hand, she did like the feel of his arms around her waist, so she let herself be helped. 

"Here, take this medicine," Hyunjae told her, feeding it to her from a spoon. 

"I can do that," she mumbled, starting to take the spoon from him, but he swatted her hand away. 

"I think I'll stay home from school today," he told her. "I'm worried about you." 

Yerin blinked up at him. "What day is today?" 

"Monday." 

"You're not staying home from school," she told him sternly. "I'm already taking up space in your house and using your food and money, so I'm absolutely not getting in the way of your education. I'm fine. You go off to school. I'll call you if there's an emergency..." she started to say, then realized that she didn't have her phone. It hadn't come with her into this world. 

In fact, she didn't have any other clothes either, except the ones she'd come with. She'd been borrowing Hyunjae's and just continuously washing her one outfit, but she probably should buy something else... 

She pushed the thoughts away. She could think about that stuff later. 

"But I-" 

"No buts," she interrupted. "Go to school. I'm fine, honest," she said, smiling through the pounding of her head. 

"Okay," he said after a moment. He placed his phone on the night table beside her head. "But in an emergency, call the school, okay? The number is in my favorites, at the top. Call them and ask for me, and I'll be here as soon as possible. Okay?" 

"I got it," she said, laughing a little. "Truly, you sound like my mother-" 

Her voice caught. Her parents. When would she see them again? Would she even manage to see them again?

"I'm going to go wash up," she mumbled, getting out of bed and stumbling to the bathroom, not wanting Hyunjae to see her tears.