I drifted in and out of a half sleep on the couch in Seokjin's bedroom, peeking over the back every time I opened my eyes to make sure he was okay. He stayed in the same position, his breathing so light I had to put effort into listening every time I checked.

Sunlight filled the room the following morning, coaxing me awake when I couldn't fight against brightness. I stretched my neck from the discomfort of lying against the arm of the chair before peeking behind me to Seokjin's bed, both sides perfectly made as the one had been the day prior.

I'd kicked my socks off during sleep, my feet padding against the shiny floor to tap at the bathroom door and out of the bedroom once I realized it was empty. The faintest smell lingered in the air the closer I got to the front of the hallway, turning to see Seokjin with a spatula in his hand and laying an egg over a single slice of plated toast.

"What are you doing? You should be in bed." I scolded while he ignored me, carrying the saucer in one hand and using the other to pull a barstool from under the island.

"It's only an egg and toast. It took like five minutes." He set the plate in front of a seat while taking the one next to it. "Plus, I'm feeling better today."

I held out the toast for him to take a bite before eating, lecturing him between chewing and swiping away the crumbs that fell onto my sweatshirt. "Fine, but you still need to rest today."

"Yes ma'am," there was a drawl to his voice as he leaned into the elbow he set on the counter so that he was closer to me, "I already took more medicine just in case, but it'll make me really drowsy." He added as evidence that he would be okay.

I nodded, finishing the last bite. "Okay, do you need me to do anything for you? Dad keeps reminding me that I forgot to bring some of his soup for you."

"Go home, I'll probably sleep all day. You can bring some of the soup when you come back for dinner."

"Seokjin." I cut him off, growing impatient to the way he minimized how sick he'd been only hours ago.

He stood, pressing his hands onto the countertop so that he still leaned to my level. "Seline." He drew out my name at the end. He would come to say my name this way every time he wanted me to soften toward him. It worked every time. "I'm going to sleep all day. I'll even rest for an extra day before having you come back for dinner so that you'll feel better."

"I can stay." I pressed as he moved closer to the door that led into the garage, returning with a keyring that hung from his index finger, a jumble of keys clinging against each other.

"Take the car." He switched to hold out a single key fob to me, letting the others dangle by his wrist. "You can drop off your dad at the airport, come back for dinner with soup and a packed bag."

I followed up quickly. "A packed bag?"

He nodded, reaching forward to put the keys in my hand.

"Okay, but I'm not taking your car." I protested.

He stepped in the way of me placing the keys on the countertop, covering my hand with his and so close that he felt intoxicating. "Everything here is yours. Take the car, Seline." He said and repeated my name in that same way, so that I softened toward him a second time.

I made sure he was comfortable in bed, watching his eyelids get droopier the longer I stalled and at some point he realized I wouldn't leave until he was asleep. He pretended to be, but I still didn't leave until I felt his hand go slack from where it rested in mine.

Seokjin surely didn't realize that I didn't have vast experience with driving when he offered me his car. I'd been living in cities where I walked or used public transportation for most of my adult life, and on trips someone else typically volunteered to drive.

I could drive fine, but when I spent five minutes trying to start Seokjin's high-tech electric car I started to question if I needed another lesson.

My dad laughed at the flushed look of alarm on my face when I entered the apartment, having struggled with finding the perfect pressure for the gas and brake pedals that wouldn't jerk the car forward or to a stop. I'd already called him from the garage when I couldn't figure out how to get it open.

"You made it in one piece." He joked, zipping a final compartment on the backpack he always used for his personal item when flying. He flitted around the apartment like he was eager, snapping his fingers every time he thought of another item to carry home.

"I have a clear pouch under the sink we can put your medicine in. Are you still feeling good to go?" I asked, standing at the end of the hallway to talk to him while he moved from one room to another.

Bottles of half full pills shook as he transferred them from the bathroom cabinet, squinting at the names until I stepped in. "I feel good. I miss her." He knew I'd fill in the gaps to understanding that his excitement was about being closer to my mom, my hometown carrying the bulk of our memories of her. He kissed the top of my head as he passed me, gripping toiletries between his fingers. "We'll get you used to the car on the way to the airport."

By the time I dropped him off it was smooth sailing. He showed me how to set the self-driving function but I quickly disabled it, uncomfortable with the car being in complete control.

The quiet of the apartment felt out of place when I returned and settled in for the afternoon. I played music extra loud in the shower and made a grilled cheese sandwich to go on the side of my dad's soup. I was nodding off on the couch, the haze of an after dark dating game show in the background when my phone vibrated from where it fell between cushions.

"Hello." I hadn't checked the caller ID or time, assuming it was my dad calling to let me know he landed.

Seokjin chuckled through the speaker and I sat up, both of us suddenly aware that it was just past two in the morning. "I didn't think about the time. I just woke up, wanted to let you know that I'm okay."

"Okay." I replied, muting the TV just as a host started on their opening lines and introduction of the episode's contestant.

I was right on the edge of sleep again, Seokjin's voice waking me. "Go get in the bed, Seline. You already slept on my couch last night."

I mumbled in response, already seconds away from drifting off again. I barely heard the goodnight wish he left me with and wondered when I woke a few hours later to climb into bed how long it'd taken him to hang up.

On Sunday mornings I typically woke at the same early time that I did during the week, but my body's alarm decided to shut itself off for once. The sun had been long up when I woke and I pulled the blanket over my head, beckoning for more rest.

Unsure of whether I'd dozed back off for another five minutes or an hour, I reached out to swipe my hand around the mattress in search of my phone. It wasn't there, the missing device coaxing me from the comfort of my bed.

I found it behind the throw pillow where I laid on the couch that night, a missed call and text from both my dad and Seokjin. I started with my dad, ruffling my messy hair when he quickly switched to a video call, the battery bar on my phone changing from yellow to red.

"Look familiar?" He sounded more upbeat just being in the restaurant. I easily recognized the view from the swinging doors that led to the kitchen, cast on the few customers packed into tables for a post-church lunch.

My eyes watered at the photo that always hung on the wall in an open space by the window, of my mom and dad in front of the restaurant on the day it opened. My dad looked like his biggest dream had come true while she couldn't get rid of the worry line in her forehead, having more fear about the projected success of their business venture. Still, she'd taken the risk for him.

He showed me around as if I could forget the stain on the far counter that was victim to one too many coffee spills or even the smell of deli meat being sliced. Before I could go he was called over by an old customer who hadn't seen him in a while, turning the camera around so that I faced the man I hardly remembered with my bedhead on display in an awkward interaction that ended our call.

Seokjin called again in the middle of me brushing my teeth, laughing at my garbled greeting through a foam filled mouth.

"What are you doing today?" He asked, the scattered voices in the background letting me know he was out. 

I finished brushing, wiping at the edges of my mouth with a cloth. "I slept pretty late but I don't have plans. I realized I haven't had a day alone in a long time so I'm not sure what to do. You're supposed to be resting at home."

"I needed to grab a few things for tomorrow," he answered. "How do you feel about coconut?"

"I like it in small amounts." I shrugged, leaving my bed unmade and choosing to stay in my night clothes for the day. My phone vibrated, alerting me that my battery's charge dropped below five percent. "I only have a few minutes until my phone dies."

There was the clink of something dropping into a metal basket. "Okay, I'm going to send you some money to do whatever you want today. Gouda or havarti?"

"Don't send me money. I also can't tell if you want a real answer or if I'm right on the edge of hearing some horrible pun, but I like both." I responded.

Somehow, I could hear that he was smiling. "You said you haven't had a day alone in a while. I'm doing this because I want you to take care of yourself too. I want to take care of y—"

He was cut off by my phone shutting down. I left it to charge while I considered his offer, changing into an outfit for a day out instead. I could at least go for a facial if there was a place accepting same-day appointments.

My phone buzzed a few times when it powered back up as notifications came through. I gaped at the absurd amount of money Seokjin sent, ignoring the other unread messages and sending him one before I accepted the transaction.

You can't just send me that much money.

He replied quickly, three bubbles appearing and disappearing just as fast as the back to back messages that came in.

I can send you as much money as I want.
Spend however much you need and do whatever you want with the rest.
Have a Gouda day.

I shook my head, stifling a giggle at his final message and became easily overwhelmed with the amount he sent. I contemplated my day, settling on sticking to the initial plan.

Thirty minutes later I was out the door, deciding to sit down at a cafe to eat while I searched for a nearby spa or salon.

I was sucked in by a bundled deal that included a facial, massage, and hair treatment, set for a few hours of getting rubbed on and pampered. The salon was quaint and every employee I came into contact with was friendly with a smile as bright as the crisp white walls.

Tranquil music played during every service and I was so relaxed that I couldn't keep from nodding off throughout the day. I opted for a haircut after seeing my dry ends and requested that the specialist cut off a few inches so that I left feeling lighter, rejuvenated.

It was the perfect day by myself. With my favorite takeout for dinner I snuggled back into the couch with a fuzzy blanket and addictive reality show, smelling of lavender. It took me two hours to finish eating between talking on the phone with my dad and then Faye. Even though my phone had been attached to my ear for most of the night, I still answered when Seokjin called just as I climbed my bed of freshly washed sheets.

"If you plan to call me this late every night you can never be upset when I fall asleep on you." I teased, sitting up with a comforter pulled to my chin.

"I'm in bed too," he chuckled, "but I wanted to see how your day went."

My scalp felt almost breathable from the mint based products used at the salon and my skin was softer than it'd ever been. "It was really amazing. I didn't know I needed that, thank you." I replied.

"It's nothing." I could imagine him shrugging so that he looked like a football player wearing shoulder pads. He was wrong, it was everything.

The lamp on my bedside table was so dim that it didn't help with fighting the heaviness in my eyes. "What time should I come over tomorrow?"

"You can come over whenever you want, but dinner will be ready around six." The length of silence after his answer was an indicator that we both needed to sleep. I didn't want to be the first to say it, a tired laugh rolling off my tongue when he spoke again. "Goudanight."