Yu POV

I felt familiar with this place. The air, the vibe, even those walls.

It's the beginning of all this.

I took some time to move forward. Still trying to make a decision. Should I walk? Or should I stay?

"Yu..." I turned around when I felt a warmth touching my shoulder a bit. But, everything was dark. I tried to find the light. But, it seemed to be impossible.

"Yu..." I ran across the road, looking for the voice. Deep down inside, I know it was ridiculous. There's no way...

Soon, I heard a scream. I fell on my knees as I stared at the floor under my feet. The blood pool slowly sipped under. My eyes got larger and wider.

There's a gun in my hand.

***

The body springs up from the bed. Chest moving up and down. The room fills with hitching sounds of a man who looks suffocated right now.

It's still dark outside.

Yu sweeps his hair to the back. He is sweating so much. Soaking bad, even worse than when he had a session of kickboxing. Like he stumbles into a pool, and desperately swims for his life.

"Shit..." he curses under his breath. It's been a long time since he had that dream. It never returned after some time. But, now it is.

He slowly gets up from his bed, checking his iPhone. 20 missed calls from his mother. Looks like someone will get a piece of mind.

Or maybe, a warning.

He quenches his thirst first with some aqua from his mini fridge. It's time for him to change the glass. So, he decided to bring the glass to the kitchen himself.

And when he steps out of his room, he smells something. It's been a long time since this house has been scented with that smell.

A smell of something yummy.

***

It's 4.30 am.

According to some people, it's ridiculous to wake up at this time. Well, obviously. It's still early. Some even just fall asleep at this hour. The night owl type of people.

It's not something strange for Peony. Waking up at 4 am is a routine of her family. Her father wakes up even earlier than this, because he needs to prepare noddles for his shop. He loves preparing them fresh, in the most high quality.

That's how he preserves his loyal customers.

Once a routine, stays a routine. Even though she's not in Lee Residency, she still caught on the same routine. Her eyes immediately wide open when the clock strikes 4.

At first, she decided to laze around. But then, she feels hungry. She take a look at the schedule that Grey gave her yesterday.

No breakfast.

This household skips breakfast. She shakes her head. How can they survive the morning? No wonder why Yu looks sluggish sometimes!

There's no way she's keeping up with that! She needs to eat, at least a piece of bread in the morning.

That's when she decided to rummage the kitchen and cook something. Since everyone probably still in dreamland at this hour, she moves silently like a ninja. Luckily, the kitchen is just next to her room.

She opens the fridge and finds some eggs, milk, and some frozen food. She rummages the cabinet. More ready to cook meal. Nothing made by scratch thing. It's a whole new world for Peony who used to eat a proper meal, made by scratch.

There's no way she will eat those at this hour!

When she sees the bread, she smiles ear to ear. A saviour food. Now, she's ready to start her morning.

She flips the pan, smears some butter and toasts a piece of bread. Then, she put more butter, put the heat lower, crack two eggs into the pan and slowly stirs the egg until they scramble perfectly.

She takes a plate from the top shelves. Toast with scramble eggs served!

"What are you doing at this hour?" Peony's heart skips a beat when she hears the voice behind her. She turnd around, with the plate on her hand, only to see Yu, standing in front of kitchen entrance.

"Eek!" she squeaks a bit and turns around when she realizes the man came in shirtless. Yu, however, casually walks in and place the glass into the sink.

"Try to surpass the home owner?"

"Sorry, but I'm hungry..."

"At this hour?"

"It's normal for me to have breakfast at this hour," says Peony.

"No wonder why you look like this,"

"What do you mean?" Peony glares at Yu. The boy sneers as he checks her up and down.

"Chub,"

"If you come here just to body shaming me... I guess I should probably leave now," Peony puts the plate on the counter and ready to leave the kitchen when Yu grabs her hand and stop her.

"Let me go,"

"Not before a breakfast..." he takes the plate and drags Peony to the island.

"Sit,"

"No,"

"Stop being an asshole and sit," his voice now sounds like an order. Peony slowly sits on the stool. But her eyes still on fire.

"You can't skip breakfast just because someone says you are a chub..."

"Ah, really?" she throws a sarcastic note.

"I can help you with that. And, you can still have your proper breakfast," says Yu.

"How?"

"There's no way you gonna eat the whole plate. Let's share," Peony pouts a bit but later she agrees.

"Lemme grab a spoo-"

"No need. I'll feed you,"

"Sorry, but I'm not a 5 year old kid,"

"Shut up and open your mouth," says Yu. He brings up a spoonful of scramble egg near Peony's mouth. The girl slowly opens her mouth. Yu shoves the spoon inside and pulls it out.

Peony huffs and frowns, but she still munches the food so she will not get choke. Yu's eyes fixes on her, as usual. It's Peony who find it difficult to have a proper eye contact.

"Can I say something?" she is trying her best to speak when Yu keeps shoving her food.

"Don't talk when your mouth is full, Miss Lee. Where is your manace, huh?" Yu maintains his poker face. Peony huffs as she bottle up her frustration.

Yu takes a bite, finally after he feels like Peony is done with her share. His eyes still fixes on Peony. The girl drinks a glass of water and hop down from the stool.

"Where the hell are you going?"

"My room..."

"Did I said you can leave now?" there's stern note in Yu's voice. It's different than before. Peony can sense the different. He used a subtle and calm voice at first.

But right now, the voice get deeper and words come out more like a direction. A command.

Peony has no choice but to sit back on the stool. Yu continues finishing the food. After he is done, he pushes the plate towards her.

"Clean up the mess," Peony nods a bit. She takes the plate when Yu grabs her hand and stops her once again.

"What now?" she asks.

"Last warning for you. Don't leave the table when we have meals together, unless if I say so. In anytime, anywhere. Understand?" says Yu. Peony stares deep into his eyes.

Suddenly, she feels different about his gaze. It's not scary, not eerie also. More like... Different.

Begging?

"As you wish, but with one condition..." Peony smiles, realizes that she perhaps has a chance to be a bit demanding.

"No, you have no rights to make a demand..."

"Aha? Are you sure? No negotiation? I'm being respectful here, Mister Owner. Remember Rule #2?" Yu sneers a bit. He bit his own tongue this time.

"Fine."

"I'll agree with your demand, with one condition. You shall always be on clothes while you're around me. Anytime, anywhere," Yu looks down a bit and realize his top is gone.

(Now that you realize? You sneaky bastard!)

"This is my house..."

"It's not good for your health. You will have pneumonia."

"Are you afraid?"

"Of what?"

"You know... Losing control..." Yu hops down from the stool, leaning closer. He places his thumb onto Peony's lips and rub it slowly. She can feel hotness around her cheek.

It will get intense if she remains silent.

"Nah, I've seen better..." she smirks, slaps his hand softly and walks straight to the sink. She ignores Yu, who looks rather shock or frustrated by her comment. She can hear the stomping sounds when the man leaves the kitchen.

She laughs inside.