His Addictive ARCHNEMESIS ~ Ishman

Ch: 19 ~ Serene Realization

The room was bathed in a soft silver glow, the moonlight seeping through the sheer curtains and casting a celestial sheen. The room was quiet except for the rhythmic ticking of the wall clock and the muffled rustle of the city outside.

Ishan had already drifted to sleep due to painkillers, Shubman sat right beside gazing Ishan. He was supposed to leave right after Ishan dozed off, but battling against all the if's & but's, he didn't find it in heart to leave Ishan unprotected-- unattended, he corrected his dramatic mind.

Shubman sat by Ishan's side, his fingers absentmindedly brushing through Ishan's hair, admiring him-- Ishan's face, serene in even in slumber. His pale skin, kissed with the faintest hints of exhaustion, glowed under the moonlight like porcelain-a delicate, fragile beauty that made Shubman's chest ache.

There was a faint bruise near his temple, a shadow of his stubbornness and recklessness, but even that couldn't mar the perfection of his features.

His lips, soft and rosy, were slightly parted as he breathed in a rhythmic cadence, the kind that lulled Shubman into an almost hypnotic state. Those lips-pouty, inviting, and maddeningly tempting-held a touch of innocence yet carried the memory of fire, of passion that still lingered on Shubman's own.

The dark lashes that framed Ishan's closed eyes seemed impossibly long, resting like delicate brushstrokes against his pale cheeks. His brows, naturally sharp and expressive even in sleep, were relaxed now, lending an almost childlike softness to his face.

Shubman's gaze drifted to Ishan's nose, straight and perfect in its symmetry, slightly twitching as if caught in the remnants of a dream. A lock of unruly hair had fallen across his forehead, its inky strands in stark contrast to his luminous skin.

His jawline, sharp and angular, was softened by the vulnerability of his slumber, a reminder of how fierce and tender he could be all at once. Shubman chuckled at his thought. Even in sleep, Ishan held a quiet magnetism, a presence that demanded attention and yet invited care.

The moonlight danced across his form, highlighting the curve of his neck and the slight rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. Shubman couldn't help but marvel at how someone could look so peaceful yet evoke such chaos in his own heart.

He's like the moon, Shubman thought, smile tugging at his lips. He reached out tentatively, brushing that rogue strand of hair away from Ishan's face, his fingers barely grazing the warm skin of his temple. Ishan stirred slightly, a soft sigh escaping his lips, and Shubman froze, his heart leaping at the sound.

He leaned down, his gaze lingering on Ishan's face for a moment longer, before pressing a feather-light kiss to his forehead.

"Sleep well my moon," he whispered, his voice a tender caress.

☆☆☆

The room was eerily silent, save for the faint rustling of leaves outside and the occasional hum of the night breeze. Shubman stirred slightly, half-dreaming, but his hazy thoughts were abruptly shattered by a sharp, muffled sound. He blinked awake, his body stiffening as he turned toward the source-a sound like a stifled gasp, followed by the rustling of sheets.

"Ishan?" Shubman whispered groggily, his voice still laced with sleep.

His eyes adjusted to the dim moonlight filtering through the curtains, and his heart sank at the sight before him. Ishan was curled into himself on the bed, trembling violently, his breath coming in short, shallow gasps.

His fists gripped the sheets so tightly that his knuckles turned white, his body convulsing as though trying to fend off an unseen attacker. "Ishan!" Shubman called, sitting up instantly and reaching out to touch him.