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Chapter 5 - The Unknown Words That Hurt The Most

AN: Many thanks to all of you for your interest, votes, and comments for this story. A small announcement, next chapter will come roughly in two-three weeks time due to work (I have a two-week business trip abroad which will include very sparse free time and (unfortunately for my introvert self) a lot of unskippable social events. Please expect the next chapter hopefully around the 26th of June.

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It is early.

Chaeyoung knows she hasn't slept nearly as many hours as she would have liked. She doesn't feel like she has been asleep at all and doesn't know why she is awake now. Chaeyoung is glad she didn't drink much last night, as she could have felt way worse than she does. Her head feels a little fuzzy, and her stomach is knotty with the need for food, but mostly, she feels cold.

It is a little confusing because she was so warm when she fell asleep. She had felt so soft and heavy. When she remembers why she felt those things, Chaeyoung realises she is cold because the blankets aren't on them but, instead, are smothering her hand. They pile over her arm where it presses against Jisoo's back to keep her close. They must have got tangled up and discarded when Jisoo turned over in her sleep.

Chaeyoung moves closer with her eyes closed and opens them when she suddenly feels Jisoo's breath against her face. Chaeyoung likes that their bodies are squashed together and that Jisoo's arms aren't held protectively between their bodies like usual. Her arms fall limply around Chaeyoung's waist as her head tilts sleepily forward, as her fist is not there to prop it up. The other arm folds across her stomach to clutch at the arm Chaeyoung has wrapped around her.

They are so close that it is easy for Chaeyoung to edge across the pillow and nudge her nose against Jisoo's. Jisoo barely stirs and lets out the softest, prettiest, sleepiest sigh. It causes a smile to stretch across Chaeyoung's face, and she bites her bottom lip to stop herself from giggling. The sound leaves Jisoo again when Chaeyoung leans back in and squashes their nose together. It is gentle and delicate, and it is so endearing. Chaeyoung untangles her hand from the blankets, lazily pulling them back over their bodies as a wave of protectiveness washes over her. She makes sure every bit of them is covered before she lets her hand disappear back underneath.

It is probably a little bold - and her touch is probably freezing - but she allows her hand to slip under Jisoo's T-shirt and stroke the skin beneath. Her fingers make delicate patterns up Jisoo's back, and Chaeyoung knows when Jisoo wakes up exactly.

Her breath hitches, and her body stiffens for a long, confused moment. Her brow furrows before realisation sets in, and her entire being softens and sinks completely against Chaeyoung.

"Your hands are cold," she whispers, her eyes still closed.

Chaeyoung doesn't stop and lets her fingertips venture close to the waistband of Jisoo's underwear instead. "You stole all the blankets," she breathes back. "It woke me up."

Jisoo hums out another sleepy sigh, except it rumbles happily in her throat. "Pretty sure that was the rain."

Chaeyoung tilts her head and looks at the window above Jisoo's bed. Sure enough, the rain beats heavily against the glass, and Chaeyoung doesn't know how she missed it.

When she turns back, she is surprised to find dark, sleepy eyes watching her.

They are so clear and pretty that it forces a gulp up her throat. She gets stuck staring into them for a long time before she thinks of something to say.

"Do you want your glasses?" she whispers.

Jisoo shakes her head. "I can see you," she whispers, curling the arm across her stomach up around the pillow. Chaeyoung tries not to jolt when soft fingers start playing with her hair. "How are you?"