"I don't wanna be alone," he says as he drops his pillow near mine, which I tuck in the corner.

"Why? What's wrong?" I whisper, rubbing my eyes. He lies down on his flat before my face and covers himself with his blanket. "Nothing. I just feel better here."

Despite the darkness, I keep my eyes on what I can perceive of him, wondering what is going on.

"Does your head still hurt?" I ask softly, reaching out for his hair. "No. I feel better."

A sigh escapes me. I can tell something bothers him, but I cannot quite figure out what it is.

As no word leaves him anymore, I grab the small lamp I always have within reach and turn it on. I run my fingers through his hair and lean towards him, resting my arms on his pillow. I press a kiss on his head and whisper, "You can tell me if something's wrong. Did you have a nightmare?"

He opens his sleepy eyes and stares into mine, his expression filled with sadness. I continuously comb his hair back and keep my face very close to him. "Hm? Do you not like the sound of hail?" I trace my fingers over his face, trying to comfort him.

He moves his head up to face me, remaining oddly quiet. As I stroke his cheek with my thumb, he slightly pushes his face into my hand, closing his eyes. "The sound of it scares me..." he whispers and comes closer, making his way to my pillow. I follow his movement as he drops his head on it, and I see the vulnerability in his eyes.

I tangle my fingers in his hair, knowing this is the best way to reassure him right now. "Do you know why it scares you?"

He does not break eye contact, hugging his pillow and toying with his lips. "It reminds me of something..."

Slowly, I begin to understand where this comes from. "What's that something?"

"A night...When my dad found out he was cheated on...They had a huge fight, dad cried all night long, Minjun too," he starts tearing up, my heart breaking. "It was hailing on that night. Every time I hear it, I remember that, and it brings back everything..."

"I'm sorry you have to deal with those thoughts, sweetheart. I'm going to try and replace them with better memories for you. Like this, next time you hear some hail, you'll remember this night instead," I press a kiss on his forehead and rub the side of his face gently.

"I need you near me all the time...You're the only one able to make me feel so good, safe, and loved. Dad is never home, but even when he is, he's always tired. No one else listens to me or helps me like you do..." he speaks his heart out for the first time, his honesty and sorrow affecting me in a way I never knew possible.

His puppy eyes are filled with emotion as he looks up at me, begging for comfort and understanding.

"I care for you more than you know, so I'm happy to hear you say this, but I believe your dad would also take time to listen. I don't want you to feel like he doesn't care about you enough," I run my finger over the bridge of his nose, feeling the warmth of his skin under my touch. "It's not the same...My dad doesn't show his emotions, so I don't feel comfortable doing it with him either."

"Have you tried to talk about it with him?" I wipe his tears away. "No. It would be awkward anyway, so I don't want to. It's much better with you."

"Why don't you just try to open up with him? It might surprise you how he reacts," I suggest gently, offering him a reassuring smile. He does not share the same opinion. "No...I just don't want to."

I do not force or pressure him, I simply respect his decision. "Well, I'll try to always be here for you, even if I'm not here physically. You can call or text me, and I'll help you the best I can, okay?"

"Why do you do this for me?" he asks, his pretty eyes glistening. "Because you're important to me. You're my favorite boy," I reply, smiling softly. He drops his gaze down to my lips. "Do you really mean it?"

"Yes, I mean it," I tell him, tucking a lock of hair behind his ear. "You should know by now that I don't say anything I don't mean."

He licks his lips and does not respond, melting me with his eyes. I find myself smiling at it and feeling a warmth spread through my chest. "You should try to go back to sleep," I graze his jawline with my fingers. "Can I get one last kiss?"

I lean in and press my lips against his forehead, not refusing his request. "Here," I hold the side of his face, giving him a gentle smile. "Does that help?" I pamper him with attention and care, stroking his cheek. "Yeah," he closes his eyes and sighs softly, feeling comforted by my touch.

Feeling too sleepy to think about what I am doing, I continue to stroke his cheek. I rest my head on my fist and look into his eyes. I smile and feel a warm sense of peace wash over me as I see the contentment in his expression.

I drift my eyes to his lips and brush my thumb over them, noticing how soft they are. "Did you apply lip balm before going to bed?"

"Yes," he replies. "I didn't want you to scold me," he smiles. "I knew you'd do it on your own at some point."

"Is it better like this?" he brings his face closer to mine, our lips almost touching. My heart races in my chest as I feel the warmth of his breath against my skin. I slide my fingers to his ear and rub it. "Yes. Doesn't it feel better for you as well? When you have such pretty lips, you should take care of them."

"It's not like anyone's gonna kiss me, so it's useless," he mutters, picking his words thoughtfully. I smile at his response, kneading his earlobe. "You never know."

"Hmm. Now I understand. You gave me that lip balm 'cause you like my lips, and you want to make sure they're ready for yours. I got it now," he grins, the tone of his voice telling me he is not joking.

I laugh and slap his arm. "Shut up. You didn't understand or get anything, you dummy."

He hums and glances down at my lips. "I'll pretend to believe your lie and moisten my lips for somebody else."

I shake my head, chuckling nervously. I put my face back closer to his and squeeze his cheeks. "Go back to sleep."

"Fine," he moves to the left to not steal my pillow anymore, and he drops his chin on his own. He stares without saying another word, so I make sure he is okay. "Are you feeling better?"

He nods lightly, a blush on his cheekbones, still gazing at me like a sad puppy. "Sure? Because if you don't, we'll eat some snacks, watch a movie, or I'll put some white noise on to take your mind off things. Whatever could help you."

He peeks down at my lips. "The only thing that'd truly help me is forbidden."

"Forbidden?" I risk asking him to tell me more, but he doesn't answer, giving me the look I cannot resist. I will never understand why, but no one ever made me feel that way with a mere look.

"What's that forbidden thing?" I rest my head on my hand, his attention lowering to my lips again. "Sleeping close to you, to hug you."

He knows we cannot do that due to the circumstances. I cannot say yes; there is no way this would end well if we sleep against each other. He is already way too attached, and I already feel way more than I should.

"Well, isn't there anything else that would help?" I avoid what he asked for. "Hm...As long as you're near me, I'm okay," he puts his face back in the pillow. I cannot give in this time. I know what will happen if I do, and it wouldn't end well for either of us.

– Next day –

Sunday, January 28th, 2024.

10:30 am.

Breakfast now served after cooking and being stared at the whole time, I serve Jungkook, who is already sitting at the table, and join him.

I sit down in front of him and take a spoonful of cereal. He looks up at me with some warm food in his mouth. "Why don't you eat what I'm eating?"

"I'd rather eat something light," I say. "Why? Are you feeling sick?" his curiosity lingers in his voice. "No, I just got my period, so I feel too bloated."

"Oh, are you in pain? I can take care of you if you want. I feel better, so it's my turn," he offers, smiling sweetly. "No, I'm fine, don't worry. I took a painkiller; it should be okay soon."

"Alright. If you ever feel lightheaded or tired, tell me," he says reassuringly, showing so much care. I smile and nod in agreement, feeling grateful for his concern.

"Did you sleep well last night?" I change the subject. "Yeah," he smiles warmly. "I sleep better when you're around."

"Good to hear," I take another spoon. "And you? Did you sleep well?"

"I did," I nod, savoring the memory of the peaceful sleep. "I had a pretty good night too."

"See, we make each other's night good," he does not miss such an opportunity, making me chuckle. "Sure."

"You know, it's a bit dumb to drive me back home today when you could just do it tomorrow morning. Less fuel consumption. Less pollution," his attempts bring a bright smile to my face. "Less hassle for you too," he continues, a bit of laughter bubbling up in my throat.

I touch my bottom lip with my spoon, still smiling at his adorable behavior. He is right, but I cannot let him sleep here again. This causes too much intimacy between us.

"Stop trying," I say, taking another spoonful while hiding my smile. "I'm not trying to convince you. You can't deny it's the smarter choice."

"Yeah, but no," I smile, and he pouts.

I feel like I will give in to him again.

•••

1 pm.

After making some payments, I check what Jungkook is doing. I peek over the sofa and find him sitting on the floor, facing the steamy windows with my kitten in his hands, a gleam of sunshine illuminating them. He gently pets him and picks him up, holding him close to his chest as I can hear him purr.

I lie down on my flat and watch everything silently. He presses a kiss on his head and whispers something before holding him up to the window. For whatever reason, he pushes his paws against the windows and pulls him back.

"What are you doing?" I laugh, getting him to turn around. He smiles and hugs Kohi. "I'm putting his paw prints on the window."

"Can you stop being so damn cute?" I cannot even hold back from saying it. "Really? Am I a cute boy?" he crawls up to me, my kitten following him, being very playful. Jungkook kneels down in front of me and grabs Kohi, who is attempting to attack.

"Who's cuter?" he asks, putting his finger near Kohi's mouth to let him bite it. "It's too hard to choose. I can't."

"I'm happy with this answer," he grins and goes back to the windows. He plays with my kitten again and continues drawing a path of paw prints over the window, making Kohi walk it up.

"Be careful that he doesn't bite into your injured hand," I warn him. "He's just a baby."

"Yeah, but he's got some sharp teeth," I move back and stand up, and I head towards him. As he pulls my baby down and does not let go, I cross my arms over my chest and look at him. "You'll clean that window, right?"

"What do you mean?" he puts Kohi down, this little one fighting to run away. "I'd draw those prints with a permanent marker if I were you."

"Yeah, and I get my ass beaten by the landlord," I reply with a chuckle. "Nah. I wouldn't let him," he comes closer and cups my face with his warm hands. "I'd never let anyone touch you or disrespect you."

"Technically, I'd be the one disrespecting the rules," I hold his wrists and bring them down as I finish my sentences, "So, no matter how much I'd love to, I won't draw my kitten's paws on the windows."

"That landlord is trash," he walks away and drops his body on the sofa, sticking his hands in the pockets of his sweatpants. "Well, at least I'm allowed to own a pet. Some landlords don't allow that."

"True," he replies, sliding one hand under his hoodie.

I hate how weak this gesture makes me feel whenever I see a man do it.

"Don't you have to study for tomorrow?" I sit down next to his head, and he hums at me. "No...Absolutely not."

"You better move your ass and study," I command him, noticing his hand move over his stomach. "I got all day to study. Let me enjoy some time."

"You better get an A or C, I don't want you to fail," I grab the remote control to turn the TV on, but he raises his arms up, revealing his bare stomach as he stretches. He lets a moan slip out and sneaks up to me, dropping his head on my lap. "What rewards do I get if I get good marks?"

"Well, if you get a C, I'll give you a hug. If it's a B, a kiss. And if it's an A, a hug and kiss. Maybe a bonus depending on your behavior on that day." I tell him, motivating him to study hard and do his best.

His eyes meet mine in an instant. "For real?"

"Yes, for real," I confirm, giving him my word. I see the excitement and determination in his eyes, knowing that this promise will push him to excel.

"You better not lie, 'cause I'm gonna get A's in all my classes," he states, confident and ready to take on the challenge. "I'm not lying. I promise I'll do it, but you better not cheat either. That doesn't count."

"I would never," he turns his head back towards the TV, using my lap as a pillow. "I trust you."

•••

4 pm.

As I am watching a livestream, I take a bite of my snack and mindlessly chew on it while watching the screen. I rarely get to enjoy some time in front of my favorite livestreamer, so this really feels like a treat.

I feel a warmth spreading through me as I relax and unwind from the day, and Jungkook's body leans towards mine. He stops studying and rests his body on mine. "What are you eating?" he asks, behaving exactly like Kohi does whenever I eat.

"A cinnamon bun," I reply and swallow, his eyes on the pastry. "And what's that...thick white liquid on top?" he asks, a mischievous grin on his face. I glare at him, knowing what he has on his mind. "Don't you dare ruin my food. Alright? It's some frosting. Get your mind out of the gutter."

He smiles and glances down at my lips. "My mind is exactly where it should be. I don't even know what you're talking about. I'm an innocent child."

"Yeah, sure, I believe you," I say with a sarcastic tone. "Hm, I am," he leans forward and steals a bite of my bun. I do not complain but let him have it, holding the pastry still.

"You-" I change my mind when I see him lick the frosting that was about to drip down on my chest. He giggles and moves back, covering his mouth while chewing. "You should have asked if I wanted one!"

"You left your saliva over it, you brat," I say, trying not to laugh. "I'm sorry, look," he bends over again and eats the part he licked. "Here, happy?"

"Now there's saliva over that part too," I point my finger at it and smile, annoying him too. "Well, give it to me if that bothers you."

"No, it's mine," I bite into it nonetheless and put my eyes back on my screen. "Don't you wanna share with me?" he comes closer again, constantly asking for some physical contact. "Hm hm," I shake my head, his face inches from mine.

"Just a little bit?" he asks, leaning in even closer. His breath tickles my skin, and I can feel his body heat radiating against mine. "You don't even savor the food. You gobble it down. It's a waste," I run my tongue over my sticky lips, his attention shifting to them.

"That's not even true! That's how I enjoy it anyway, so it's not a waste," he argues, a smirk playing on his lips. His eyes filled with amusement. I smile and ask, "How can you even enjoy it if you barely get the taste in your mouth?"

"I do get the taste, you're just a slow eater," he retorts. "Nah," I mimic him. "Well, to make up for it, you let me sleep here," he brings this back up. "And in all honesty, I'm still a little tiny bit sick, so you can't send me back home."

I tongue my cheek and give him a playful smile. "You're lucky I'm too lazy to go out," I move the pastry to his mouth, and he takes a bite. "So I can sleep close to you again tonight?"

"Just like last night, but this will be the last time," I say, my voice filled with a mixture of affection and weakness. "Last time? Why?"

"Well, I only kept you here because you were sick, which you're obviously not anymore, so this won't happen again," I state. "What if I get sick again?"

"Then maybe, but this won't happen. You're a very strong boy, you won't get sick again," I feed him the last piece of what I wanted all for myself, and he takes it in his mouth. "I'm not. I'm a fragile and weak boy; I'll get sick again."

I pretend not to hear his words and lean forth to grab my bottle of water and drink. After all, I can't let him know that I enjoy having him here too.

– Next day –

Monday, January 29th, 2024.

6:30 am.

As Jungkook is quickly taking a shower before leaving the house, I put Kohi in his travel carrier and walk to the front door with him. I give him one of his favorite toys to try and calm his nerves for the car ride, but my phone rings.

I check who is calling me and pick up when I see this is Mister Jeon. "Hello?"

"Hey, good morning. I don't know if you saw my text, but it's pretty slippery outside this morning; there's a lot of black ice on the road, so I wanted to make sure you'll be okay driving up here," he says with genuine concern in his voice. "Hey, I didn't know, so thank you for warning me, but don't worry. I'll be very careful."

"Alright. If you ever change your mind, call me, and I'll come pick you up, okay?" he kindly offers to help. "Okay, I'll make sure to do it," I respond gratefully. "Good, see you later then. Be careful on the road."

"I will. See you later," I wait for him to hang up and turn around. Jungkook's presence startles me. I didn't realize he was standing there the whole time.

"Who was it?" he asks, grabbing his jacket. "Your dad. He warned me to be careful on the road because there's some black ice."

"Black ice? And I'm gonna be in your car?" he puts his scarf around his neck as I send him an unfriendly look. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Well...I might be leaving my last minutes on earth," he grins. "I've been driving for years, so shut up, you dumbass," I pick Kohi up and open the door. "Chill, don't be so mean," he lets me go out first and follows, turning the lights off on the way. I lock the door of my apartment house and lead him downstairs.

'So, we're passing by your best friend's house right now, right?" he puts on the hood of his hoodie under his jacket, already feeling cold. "Yes," I confirm and take my car keys out as we reach it out. I unlock the doors for him, and he immediately goes in without waiting. I put Kohi in the back and join them.

As he wears his seatbelt, he drops his bag between his legs and tucks his hands in his pockets. I turn the heater on to make sure he feels warm, and I check up on my kitten.

"Is it a guy?" Jungkook questions me. "A girl. Why?" I ask while leaving the driveway, and he shrugs. "Just curious."

"Just curious," I repeat as I focus on the road ahead. I can feel his eyes on me, but I don't look back. "Yeah. I'm a curious boy. You know it."

I smile and continue driving. "I bet you would have reacted differently if that was a guy."

"Don't know what you're talking about. I'd have reacted the same way," he says, slouching back in his seat and lying. "Sure. Totally not your type," I tease.

"What makes you think I'd react differently?" he turns his head towards me. "Oh, I don't know. How jealous you can be."

"I'm not jealous," he denies the truth, trying to play it cool. "Sure, Jungkook. Sure. So if Hugo wasn't such a jerk, you wouldn't mind me taking care of him the same way I take care of you. Right?"

He purses his lips and shakes his head. "Nope. Not at all."

I can tell he's lying just from the lilt of his voice, the look on his face.

"Not at all? Alright then," I nod, pretending to believe him. "What's that 'alright then'? Are you gonna treat the same way now?"

"No, I'm probably gonna work for another family instead of them anyway. So no more Hugo," I tell him about it after receiving the good news this morning. "A new family? How many kids?"

"Three. One girl, and two older boys," I say, eager to start taking care of them. "How old?"

"The girl is five. The boys are sixteen and eighteen," I add, answering all his questions. "Sixteen and eighteen..." he shows some bother. "Do they have a girlfriend? Are they gay?"

His behavior is so obvious; that is cute.

"I don't know about that, dummy. The youngest is very shy, though. He barely talked to me when I visited them. The older one did like cracking jokes, and he seemed pretty comfortable, so he's definitely more on the extrovert side," I explain. "Hm. He was joking with you or with everyone?"

"With me, I was alone with them," I reply, feeling like this is only the beginning of an interrogation. "Of course. He's already joking with you. Was he flirty?"

"No, he wasn't," I chuckle. "He was very respectful."

"Yeah, still. I don't like him already," he says with a scowl. "I'm not even sure if he doesn't go to the same school as you. He told me about it, but I can't remember exactly."

"Good, I hope he is. I'll bully this asshole and make sure to remind him he'll never be your favorite," he says confidently, knowing he has no intention of letting anyone else take that spot. This really is very important to him.

"Hey! Don't say that; you're not that type of boy. If you bully anyone, you won't be my favorite no more," I say sternly, my voice laced with a hint of warning, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. He looks up at me, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and confusion. "That'd make me really sad. I'm not even joking."

"Be respectful and good. As simple as that," I do not joke about this topic at all. "What if he asks for it?!"

"What do you call 'asking for it'?" I raise my eyebrows, waiting for him to answer. "Being too close to you and not respecting me," he crosses his arms, looking adorable in his puffy jacket. "You won't treat him the same way you treat me, right?"

I slow down in front of a red light and look at him. "Would that really make you sad? Genuinely?"

"Yeah. I'd be really hurt. You said I'm your favorite boy, you can't treat another guy the same way. I'd actually cry if you get closer to him," his eyes convey his sincerity. "Like, I'd be so upset if you called him pretty boy, baby boy, or some stuff like that. Same goes with that sixteen-year-old, that little shit's not innocent."

That is much more serious than I thought. He is definitely deep in love.

"Jungkook," I smile and go back on the road. "I barely spent two hours with them, and you're already talking about giving them some pet names," I say, shaking my head as I drive away. 'Yeah. Whether it's now or in a few months, and like, uh," he pauses and glances out of the window, expressing some extreme jealousy. "That'd be even worse in a few months. What's his name, by the way?"

"Diego," I reply. "Such an ugly and generic name," he judges him, being mean for no reason at all. "What does he look like? I bet I've already seen him if he's at my school."

"Let's talk about something else. I gotta bring my kitten to my friend's house," I park in front of the house, regretting the decision I made to talk about this. "You're driving me to school today, anyway, right?"

"Yes, I don't want you to go alone in this weather," I turn the ignition off and take my seatbelt off. "Then you'll tell me if you see him," he hides the bottom of his mouth under his scarf, which I lent him but never retrieved.

"You really think I'm gonna let you know who he is after all the things you just said? I'm keeping that boy safe," I open the door to get out, but he glares at me. "No, you're not. You'll tell me. What if he is-"

"Quit arguing," I cut him off and open the door in the back, picking my kitten up. "No, I won't quit. I haven't seen him, but I already know he deserves to be hated."

I smile at his childish jealousy and close the door. I head to my best friend's house, carefully walking to not step on some black ice and fall.