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+*___________*+
As I was in the kitchen, I spotted a small sticky note. It was a note left by my parents.
Dear Ji-yoon,
We're sorry, but we have another important matter to attend to and won't be back for a while. We love you and will miss you. Take care.
Love, Mom, and Dad
I sighed before crumpling the note and throwing it into the trash.
I walked from the small kitchen to the living room, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. The forecast had warned of a severe thunderstorm, and yet I had failed to keep an eye on Jungwon, my rival. Despite our mutual dislike, I couldn't bear the thought of leaving him huddled up and hiding from the rain outside.
After finding him, we headed back home. He had already called a cat on our way back home so when we arrived at the door, a cat was awaiting us at my window. Long story short, he kissed the cat, getting his human form back. I gave him some of my clothes that were big on me and they fit him perfectly.
Determined to offer some comfort, I decided to treat him to a movie and hot chocolate. Given the chilly weather, it seemed only fitting to include a warm beverage.
As I entered the living room, my eyes fell upon Jungwon, wrapped up in a bundle of blankets like a burrito, attempting to drown out the sounds of thunder. I let out a sigh, my guilt intensifying. I should have known better, especially since the forecast had predicted such a fierce storm. It was my responsibility to take care of him, and I blamed myself for not doing so. Carrying two mugs of hot chocolate, complete with small marshmallows, I approached him.
"Here," I said softly, placing the cups on the coffee table in front of the couch. Jungwon fluttered his eyes open, his gaze filled with a mix of fear and vulnerability. I could see the apprehension in his eyes, the unease brought on by the thunderstorm.
"Let's watch a movie," I suggested, hoping to divert his attention away from the storm. He simply nodded in response. Taking a seat beside him, I began browsing through our selection of movies, searching for the perfect distraction. As I pondered the options, I noticed Jungwon's hand reaching out toward the mug. Reacting swiftly, I stopped him before his fingers made contact with the scalding cup.
"The cup is hot. Wait a bit for it to cool down," I warned, a rush of relief washing over me as I realized he hadn't burned himself. He nodded in understanding, his gaze shifting back to the television as he retracted his hand. Throughout our time at home, Jungwon remained quiet, lost in his thoughts.
Suddenly, I heard a shuffling sound coming from Jungwon, prompting me to turn and look at him. I watched as he unraveled the blankets from around himself and laid them onto both of us, sharing the warmth. It was a thoughtful gesture that tugged at my heartstrings, but I chose to hide my gratitude. After all, despite the circumstances, we were still not friends, and I preferred to keep it that way.
Finally settling on a movie, we immersed ourselves in the storyline. It was during this time that Jungwon unexpectedly spoke up. "Thank you, Ji-yoon," he murmured, catching me off guard. I turned to face him, finding him already looking at me with the hot chocolate cup in his hand. Offering a soft smile, I nodded in response. Moments later, I noticed Jungwon struggling to keep his eyes open, his exhaustion becoming apparent. I resisted the urge to intervene, deciding to let him drift off to sleep.
As the movie played on, I focused on the screen until a heavy weight made contact with my shoulder. Turning towards Jungwon, I saw that he had fallen fast asleep, his gentle breaths creating a sense of calmness. I contemplated pushing him off, but then I realized that by allowing him to rest his head on my shoulder, he wouldn't be fixated on the raging storm outside. So, despite my claims of disliking his presence, I chose to let him sleep, albeit reluctantly. Deep down, however, I couldn't help but feel a flutter of unexpected flustered emotions.
When the movie came to an end, I glanced over at Jungwon and found him completely snuggled up against me. His arms wrapped around mine, and his head nestled against my shoulder. The sight of him sleeping so peacefully ignited a longing within me for the same serenity. Gradually, my eyelids grew heavy, and I felt my mind surrender to the call of dreams, finding solace in the shared warmth and unexpected connection we had forged at that moment.
+*___________*+ 26th chapter
Hello my loves, how are you guys? I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please vote, comment, and follow to show appreciation. If you've already done that, kisses go out to you.
Question of the chapter: Do you like hot chocolate? Me: Yes!
Alright, goodbye pookies! Leave a chocolate emoji for this chapter in the comments.
