Affection's Facade

For the sake of romance

Tae-hyung's present  POV:

The room was suffused with the soft early morning light, the edges of the window panes casting shadows on the floor. Elera's rhythmic breathing and our shared warmth were a comfort, a scene that felt far removed from the realities of the outside world. Her hair, tousled from sleep, lay across my arm.

By then the jarring ringtone persisted, breaking the spell. Carefully, trying not to disturb her, I untangled my arm from around Elera and reached out to the coffee table where my phone was buzzing incessantly.

Elera murmured something incoherent, pulling the blanket closer, as I answered the call. Raising my left hand, I shielded her eyes from the growing brightness, though a few strands of her coils continued to catch the golden sunlight.

"So-yeon?" I croaked, the remnants of raspy sleep still evident in my tone.

A pause, and then her voice, sounding impatient and strained, filled my ear. "Were you sleeping?"

I hesitated, taking a deep breath, feeling the weight of the situation. "Yeah, just woke up."

There was a tinge of exasperation in her voice. "Tae-hyung, where the hell are you? It's morning! Why didn't you come home?"

Listening to her while remembering everything that was shared last night I took a moment to relax before I responded.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling the beginnings of a headache. "Look, So-yeon, I... we'll talk about it when I get home."

"You're not acting like yourself," So-yeon fired back, dismissing my want to end the call.

"I said we'll talk at home," I reiterated, and without waiting for a reply, ended the call, and turned it off.

At this Elera began to stir beside me, her eyelids fluttering open to reveal dazed eyes. She looked vulnerable for a moment, her gaze darting around, trying to piece together fragments of her memory. I could see her tensing up, uncertainty clouding her.

Mr. Chang moved gracefully, taking a seat on an armchair across from us. His demeanor was relaxed, yet there was a certain keenness in his eyes as he observed our interactions. "You gave us quite a scare last night. How are you feeling now?" He asked Elera, genuine concern evident in his tone.

She hesitated, her gaze darting to me before returning to Mr. Chang. "I'm... I'm alright, I think. Just a little disoriented." She swallowed, her fingers lightly gripping the fabric of the couch.

Mr. Chang nodded, his gaze sympathetic. "Take your time. I've asked for breakfast to be prepared for all of us."

I released my hold on Elera, giving her space to sit up. The soft sound of the air conditioning system was the only sound that punctuated the brief silence that followed.

Elera shifted uncomfortably, her eyes darting to her rumpled clothes, then darting between Mr. Chang and me. She pulled her lips inward as if contemplating her next move. "Do you have a restroom I could use?"

Mr. Chang, with a gentle nod, gestured toward a discreetly hidden door off to the side. "Right through there."

As she hurried off, Min-ji entered from an adjoining room, a smile playing on her lips. "Hey there my love."

Upon seeing her, Elera exhaled a little, relief evident in her eyes. "I, I don't even want to talk about it."

Min-ji chuckled softly, touching Elera's arm in a comforting gesture. "It's okay my love."

I watched the exchange, then shifted my attention back to Mr. Chang, who was watching me intently. "So," he began, his voice deep with unasked questions, "How are you dealing with everything?"