Painted Love | Hwang Hyunjin

13

I woke up in the middle of the night. The lights were on, and Hyunjin was up, wearing only his sweatpants and no shirt. "What are you doing?" I mumbled still sleepy, barely able to process what was happening.

"Painting," he said. I now noticed the canvas in front of him.

"In the middle of the night?" I asked, closing my eyes again.

"Sorry. I couldn't really sleep. Did I wake you?" he asked.

"No, I had a weird dream," I mumbled, slowly sitting up. I stared at my sleeping self on the nearly finished canvas. Hyunjin turned towards me.

"You fell asleep, and you looked so beautiful... I couldn't stop looking at you, so I needed to get up," he whispered, placing his colors next to him on a small table. I smiled, looking down shyly. He came over and sat down next to me. I sighed and lay my head on his lap.

"Sometimes I think you're straight out of a romance novel," I mumbled, closing my eyes as he began to play with my hair.

He chuckled softly. "I do feel like I'm in a romance novel," he murmured.

I hummed quietly. "You should sleep a little more," he said.

"Can't you come and cuddle me?" I asked quietly, already half asleep again.

"I'll pack up and then come, okay?" he replied, and I nodded slightly. I felt him gently place my head onto the pillow and heard him packing away his stuff. I fought to stay awake, wanting to feel his arms around me first. Finally, the lights went out, and the mattress next to me sank. Hyunjin wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close.

"Sleep well, love," he whispered, placing a kiss on my hair, "I love you."

My heart started racing. I opened my eyes slightly and looked up at him. "Wait, you're not asleep yet?" he asked, embarrassed.

I grinned and shook my head. "I love you too," I whispered and stretched up to kiss him. This time it was a sweet, gentle kiss, and when I pulled away, he yawned.

"I guess you're tired as well," I said.

He stroked my cheek, smiling like a mad person. "It's fine. Can you say that again?" he whispered.

"I guess you're tired as well?" I asked, confused.

"No, silly. What you said before," he said, brushing my hair out of my face.

"Oh," I said, blushing, "I love you." My voice was barely a whisper.

Hyunjin chuckled. "I love you too," he replied, placing a kiss on my forehead. "I hope you sleep well, love," he mumbled as he pulled me closer again.

"You too," I mumbled, closing my eyes again and falling asleep happy and warm in his arms.

***

When I woke up the next morning, Hyunjin was still asleep. I sighed and stayed a moment longer in his arms before wiggling out of his grip. I really needed to pee. I quickly pulled his shirt over my head and waddled to the bathroom. After that, I decided to get myself some water, so I stopped by the kitchen next. Seungmin and Lee Know were sitting at the table, already having breakfast. I didn't expect to meet anyone, so I felt slightly embarrassed. I probably looked like a mess, and even though Hyunjin's shirt hung down to my knees, I felt slightly uncomfortable wearing nothing but this shirt.

"Morning," I mumbled, grabbing a glass and filling it with water.

"Morning," both mumbled back. Apparently, they were still tired because Seungmin was leaning his head on his hand with his eyes closed while chewing, and Lee Know was just staring at the wall opposite him, not even realizing he was spooning air into his mouth because everything had fallen off his spoon. I giggled.

"Maybe you two should get a bit more sleep," I said, leaning onto the counter with my elbows, hiding behind it a little.

"Can't. We're scheduled first for recording," Lee Know mumbled. Just as he said this, Chan also came into the kitchen.

"Morning," he mumbled, looking a little squished, and started to search for something to eat.

"I think Seungmin fell back asleep," I said, pointing at him. His head was slowly falling, and Lee Know shoved him a little to wake him up. I giggled again. Just then, Hyunjin came into the kitchen. He looked me up and down and raised an eyebrow, eyeing the other boys suspiciously. They were all minding their own business, still tired. Hyunjin came over to me and hugged me from behind, also looking a little tired.

"Can you at least wear pants when the boys are around?" he whispered in my ear as soon as Chan joined the other two at the table.

"Everything is covered," I whispered back, turning towards him. I stood on my tiptoes. "You're the only one who knows that I'm wearing nothing underneath this," I whispered into his ear. He groaned, causing the boys to look at us, but he quickly saved the situation by turning it into a yawn.

"Don't do this at this ungodly hour," he hissed at me.

I just grinned. "Fine, I'll go and put on pants," I said and walked back to his room, leaving him behind in the kitchen.