Soojin climbed off her bed, rubbing her puffy eyes. She combed her hands through her hair, tucking the locks in place, and her eyes barely opened, adjusting to the light beaming in through the windows. 

She slipped her feet in her slippers, and saw that the door to her room was still open, just the way Chan had pleaded the previous night. He had said that he was going to watch over her, but where was he? 

She stepped closer to the door, and saw the back of a man against the doorframe outside her room. She scurried over to the hallway and saw Chan sitting right outside her door, dozed off. His forehead had creases of stress, even as he slept, and his mouth was slightly ajar as his head and his back rested against the doorframe. 

Soojin crouched down beside him, wondering why he was still there. Had he really been watching over her? Was that the reason why he had fallen asleep at her door? Why was he doing this? 

She kept a shaky hand on his shoulder, and as soon as her skin made contact with his hoodie, he jolted awake, breaths coming erratic and eyes bloodshot. 

"Soojin?" he spoke in his hoarse morning voice, clearing his throat thereafter, "What time is it?" 

"About 7 AM, I guess," she mumbled. 

Chan nodded quickly, and then immediately held her wrists and checked for any sort of marks on them. He then pushed her hair away from her neck and checked for marks yet again. It took him a minute to examine her, and when he was sure that she had not done something stupid to herself, he sighed in relief, "You're alright. Thank God." 

"Why are you doing this?" Soojin questioned, looking straight at his face, her eyes softening upon his act of care. 

"What?" he questioned. 

"Why are you pretending to care so much? Is it because of the child inside me? Because from what I remember, you called it a 'mistake'," she looked at the ground, and he sighed. 

"No." 

She gazed up at him, and he continued speaking, "I'm doing this for you." 

"Why would you?" 

"Because... I don't..." he exhaled, "I've wronged you. I overheard your conversation with Ae Ra, and... I'm sorry for ruining your life when I thought you were ruining mine." 

"I did. I ruined your life, Chan," Soojin pursed her lips, "Which makes it even. We're both damaged." 

"This isn't a comparison," Chan said, "I never thought... I'm so sorry for blaming you for everything. The truth is that I started this. I should've never, ever, gone to that place. I should've never insulted you that way. I should've never... used you." 

Soojin gazed right into his chocolate-brown eyes, and he continued, "And I'm sorry for being bound to you by lust. I'm a terrible human being, I know, and I hate it. How could I...!" he timidly took her hands in his, and when she did not resist, he relaxed a little, continuing, "But I promise, Soojin, I'll try to be a better person. I'll do everything I can to make you happy and I won't stop working on myself until our child sees us as a safe haven. We will heal, and we will raise a child that does not need to heal." 

She had not realized when she had started crying. 

"But, Chan... I cannot force you into loving me." 

He fell silent for a brief moment before speaking, "But you can stay, right?" 

She tearfully nodded. 

Chan used the pad of his thumb to wipe off her tears, "Then that's all I want." 

And, for the first time in a while, she felt comfortable. 

(a/n: things are getting betterrrrrr~ 

what are your views on this? 

thanks for reading! i love you!)