TANTIANA UNIVERSITY | RED

CHAPTER 20: THE FIRST STEP FORWARD

It was almost 8 PM when Donghyuck stirred awake, the dull ache of sleep still lingering in his limbs. He let out a deep, drawn-out yawn, rubbing his face and stretching his body to shake off the fatigue. Slowly, his senses flickered back to life. His body, once heavy with exhaustion, now hummed with an unfamiliar energy.

The smell of food wafted toward him, and his empty stomach growled in response, reminding him of the hunger that had been gnawing at him since his nap. He glanced around, his mind sluggishly piecing together the events of the afternoon.

It didn't take long for him to remember where he was—or rather, who he was with. His eyes scanned the room, looking for Gayoon, and the realization hit him.

His gaze shot around the small apartment, the space cozy but functional. It wasn't as big as his place, but it was comfortable enough for two people to move freely. He could feel the weight of the emotions between them still lingering in the air, unresolved, but before he could dwell on that too much, a voice broke through his thoughts.

"Oh, you're up," Gayoon said from the kitchenette, her voice carrying the same quiet warmth he'd heard earlier. She stepped into view, a plate in her hands, already preparing to serve the food. "Come here and eat."

Donghyuck hesitated for a moment, his eyes meeting hers as she set the utensils on the table. He tried to read her expression, but something felt... off. The unspoken tension hung in the air, and for the first time, he couldn't quite feel the usual pulse of emotion radiating from her.

He focused, digging deeper into his mind, trying to sense what she was feeling.

Nothing.

A cold shiver ran down his spine. He could feel the absence of their usual connection—no warmth, no distress, no echo of her emotions that had always been there.

He opened his mouth, but the words came out as a startled whisper. "What's this? Why can't I feel anything?"

Gayoon, clearly confused by his sudden outburst, blinked at him, her brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"

Donghyuck shut his eyes tight, trying to steady himself. "I can't feel you!" he exclaimed, his voice rising with panic. "Have you... given up too?"

Gayoon's eyes widened at his words. She pulled her hand away from him, as if his touch burned her. "I didn't," she said softly. "If I had, I wouldn't even cook for two."

Donghyuck's gaze shifted to the table in front of him—two plates of food, two sets of utensils, everything laid out as if they were meant to share. The truth of the situation hit him like a wave, and he slowly exhaled, trying to calm his racing thoughts.

"Sit down and eat," Gayoon said gently, a subtle shift in her tone as she looked up at him.

But Donghyuck didn't move. He stood frozen, staring at the table but not really seeing it. His mind was too clouded with questions and doubts.

"Was it hard?" he asked quietly, his voice almost a whisper. His eyes turned to her, looking for an answer. "Getting along with me... was it hard?"

Gayoon met his gaze for a moment before looking away. "What do you think?" she mumbled, her words laced with an exhaustion he hadn't fully understood. "You're burning me every day, Hyuck."