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Minho POV:

"You don't look okay."
I said as soon as she sat down beside me.

"Huh?"
I watched as she fumbled with her words, clearly exhausted.

"Your face, it looks worn out. Rough day?"
I said taking in the weariness in her expression, the paleness of her skin.

"I guess you could say that."
But it was all mumbling.

"I'll be quiet now—you should eat first. Maybe food will give you some energy"
I said, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze before pushing a plate of food toward her.

She looked up and said,
"No, keep talking. I need something to keep me alert."

"Alright," I chuckled. "Well, for starters, I had an amazing day. It felt great to be back to work—actually, back to training. But they changed my diet, so I need to gain a bit more muscle weight and shed some fat that I put on during my break. You know what's the difference right?"

"Of course i know the difference, you're seriously doubting me, a med student?"
She said smiling weakly, but her remarks were still on point.

"Hey, I was just making sure!"

As we ate—well, as I ate and she mostly just sipped on water—she stared blankly at the food, her thoughts seemingly miles away.

"Hana?"

She blinked and shook her head slightly, as if coming back to the present.
"Sorry, just a bit distracted. It's been a long day."

I nodded, understanding.
"I get it. If you need to talk about anything or just need some quiet, I'm here. But let me ask you one thing."

"Yeah, yeah of course"
she replied, her voice still distant.

"Is the food not good? Because you said you were starving but you've barely eaten. I can make-"

"No Minho, what- no it's not the food. It's amazing, really. Thank you for cooking.
I know I said I was starving, and I am, but I just can't seem to eat right now."

"What happened today? Something more than just a rough day?"

She shook her head, though the strain was evident in her voice.

"No, it's not that. It's just... I don't know. I'm so exhausted and my stomach feels off.
I really am hungry, but it's like my appetite just disappeared."
She glanced down at her plate, her expression distant.

"Okay, well, you don't have to eat right now," I said gently. "Do you want to drink something instead? Maybe that will help you feel a bit better."

"No, it's fine," she said, pulling her plate slightly toward herself.
"I'll just finish whatever is on this plate."

"Whatever sounds good to you,"
 I replied with a reassuring smile.

She took a bite then another sip of water before asking,
"Are you tired? From training and all that?"

I noticed the effort she was making to keep the conversation going and appreciated her attempt to shift the focus.

"Honestly, yeah, I'm a bit tired, but not as much as you look. Training was intense, but it's the kind of exhaustion that feels good, you know?"

"I'm glad you had an amazing day"
She said smiling and scraping the last grains of rice off her plate.

"Don't gobble your food like that, I saw you swallow food with water, you didn't even chew properly."

She winced slightly and looked down.
"I'm sorry. I've been feeling a bit nauseous, so I was just trying to wash down the food.
 Chewing made me feel worse."

"I told you I'd make you something to drink instead."

"But you're tired too, and you made food for us already."

"I would have taken a sip or two from you anyways, so it would be for both of us."

"Next time, maybe"

I reached over, my hand moving to caress her forehead.
 Checking her temperature, the gesture was almost paternal.

"Do you still feel nauseous? Is your head spinning?"

She shifted slightly, guiding my hand away with a soft touch.
 "I'm feeling better now. It's just been a really long day.
 All I can think about is the pile of work I still need to tackle and how badly I want to sleep."

"You still have work to do?"

"I do, but I think I'm going to skip a few things and take care of them tomorrow."

"Can't you skip it altogether and get some sleep? It's late already."

She hesitated, glancing at the clock on the wall.
"I wish I could, but there are a few things that need to be done tonight.
If I don't handle them now, it'll just pile up even more tomorrow."

Hana POV:

I helped him carry all the dishes and pots to the sink. Just as I reached for the gloves, he gently stopped me with a kind smile.

"I know you prefer to handle things yourself, but you should finish your work as soon as you can and get some rest. Don't worry about this."

"But washing dishes is my—"

"Okay, well not today. Go finish whatever it is that you have to do."

I gave him a hesitant look, knowing how stubborn he could be, but his smile was insistent. "Alright, if you say so," I said, reluctantly stepping away from the sink.

He turned back to the dishes, and I couldn't help but watch him for a moment. Despite how tired I was, seeing him take over made me feel a little lighter. It was nice to know he cared enough to handle this for me.

When I got back to my room, I pushed aside any lingering distractions and focused completely on studying. I spread out my textbooks and the notes I'd taken earlier, but despite my best efforts, my mind felt hazy, and the information seemed to drift just out of reach.

Frustration began to set in as I struggled to concentrate. I read the same sentences over and over, but they refused to sink in. My eyes grew tired, and I could feel the weight of the day pressing down on me. I decided to take a short break, hoping that a brief pause might clear my mind and help me regain my focus. 

"Hana, you can do this, just another 30 minutes, and you'll be done,"
I told myself. With renewed determination, I refocused on my notes. However, by the end of the session, even though I managed to retain the information, it didn't feel rewarding. Instead, I found myself more frustrated, agitated, and exhausted than before. I felt overwhelmed, I wanted to cry and could barely stand the thought of sitting with my books or working for another minute. I was at my breaking point.

"Do I even want this?"
 I whispered to myself, the weight of doubt pressing heavily on my shoulders. The relentless effort and growing frustration had left me questioning my own commitment and whether all this struggle was truly worth it.

I sat with my hands on the table, cradling my head, as I tried to calm down. My breaths were uneven, and I focused on steadying them, hoping to find a moment of peace amid the chaos of my thoughts.

 But I knew better than anyone, I wanted this.

 I hear a knock on the door, followed by Minho's voice.

"Hana-ya, can I come in?"

I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I was ready to face anyone. But the warmth in Minho's voice and the gentle knock on the door gave me a sliver of comfort.

"Yeah, come in,"
I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

Minho entered quietly, his expression softening when he saw me. He took in the scene—the scattered books, my disheveled appearance, and the tears threatening to spill.

"I'm done, I was just going to pack up."

I said, my voice wavering as I panicked about what he might think of the mess.
 I turned away from him, closing my books and placing them back on the shelf.

"Yeah, me too. Just came to say goodnight,"
he replied nonchalantly, as if nothing were amiss. There was something deeply comforting in his casual demeanor, an unspoken understanding that allowed me to breathe a little easier. I appreciated that he didn't push or pry, especially when I was so tangled up in my own emotions.

His presence was a soothing balm amidst the chaos. Though I felt like a mess, he acted as if everything was perfectly fine, and that was a relief. It was like finding a small haven from the storm inside me. 

Minho glanced around at the scattered books and papers, then moved closer to the table. He began picking up the mess, shutting the laptop with a gentle click.
"You know," he said softly, "sometimes it helps to just take a moment and breathe. We all need that now and then."

I nodded, managing a small, grateful smile. "Yeah, I guess so."

He stood up, giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze.
"Well, I'll let you get some rest. If you need anything, you know where to find me."

Goodnight, Minho.

"Goodnight," he replied, his voice warm and reassuring.

I nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. As he walked out, I took a deep breath, letting the stillness of the room settle around me. His simple act of kindness was a small anchor in the tumult of my thoughts. I knew I could go to bed peacefully now.

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A/n: Hiiiii, I think updates will slow down, since I've got exams starting in a few weeks, and as much as I love writing, I WILL HAVE TO SACRIFICE (not studies, girl's still gotta pass-)

How's everyone been doing? 

I hope you know that  I LOVE YOU 🫵🏼🫵🏼🫵🏼