Cherié ( Ishman Ff )

Chapter 23 : Shadows of the Past

The soft morning light filtered through the curtains as Shubman stirred awake, feeling the warmth of Ishan’s body next to his.

Blinking his eyes open, he was greeted by the sight of Ishan leaning on his elbows, gazing at him with a tender smile.

Shubman blinked, still groggy from sleep, and furrowed his brow slightly in confusion.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” he asked, his voice raspy and soft from just waking up.

Ishan chuckled, his grin widening as he leaned a little closer, his eyes gleaming with affection and mischief. "Because I can’t believe I get to wake up next to the most beautiful person in the world every day," he flirted effortlessly, his voice smooth and teasing.

Shubman’s cheeks flushed a light shade of pink, and he shyly looked away, biting his lip to suppress a smile. “Stop…,” he mumbled, embarrassed but secretly enjoying the attention.

Ishan smirked and cupped Shubman’s chin, gently turning his face back toward him. “Why should I? You look adorable when you blush, and I’m not about to miss that,” he teased, his tone soft but filled with affection.

Before Shubman could protest, Ishan closed the gap between them and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips, slow and sweet.

The kiss lingered, full of reassurance and warmth, as if Ishan was silently telling him that everything was okay—that Shubman was safe and loved.

Pulling back slightly, Ishan looked into Shubman’s eyes, his thumb brushing tenderly across his cheek.

“You’re perfect, Shubi,” he whispered. “And no matter what you’ve been through or what your mind tells you, I’m here. Always. I love you.”

Shubman’s heart fluttered at Ishan’s words, a warmth spreading through his chest.

He felt safe in this moment—safe in Ishan’s arms, safe in his love. With a soft smile, he whispered, “I love you too, Ishu.”

Ishan grinned and pulled Shubman into another kiss, this time a little more playful, leaving Shubman giggling against his lips.

“Good. Now get used to me staring, because I’m never going to stop admiring you.”

Shubman rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips. He snuggled closer into Ishan’s arms, feeling comforted by his words and kisses.

With Ishan, he knew he was loved unconditionally. And in that love, he could finally start to believe that he deserved to be happy.

As Ishan shifted slightly, his eyes caught sight of the marks on Shubman’s arms and wrists—the ones from the night before.

They had darkened overnight, turning a deep purple, making Ishan’s heart twist in pain. He sighed softly, feeling the weight of concern grow inside him.

Without saying a word, he gently got up and went to grab the ointment from the nightstand.

Shubman noticed what Ishan was doing and immediately frowned. “I don’t need that,” he mumbled, trying to pull the covers over himself and hide the marks.

Ishan narrowed his eyes, walking back to the bed with the ointment in hand. “Shubi, stop being stubborn. Let me apply this,” he said, his tone firm but still gentle.

But Shubman shook his head again, pulling his arms closer to his body. “I’m fine, Ishu. I don’t want it. It’s not that bad.”

Ishan’s patience began to wear thin. “Shubman,” he said, his voice sterner now. “You can’t ignore this. You hurt yourself, and I won’t let you just brush it off like it’s nothing.”