𝑃𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑛 / 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑛𝑔

S2 ch 66

The house was quiet. Everyone else had gone to bed hours ago, sprawled out in their rooms or curled up on the couch after the sugar crash from Jiwon's cupcakes and brownies.

The only light in the house came from the soft glow above the kitchen stove, casting a faint golden hue across the counter.

Jiwon tiptoed in, wearing one of Minho's oversized hoodies, sleeves falling past his hands. He opened the fridge, grabbed a brownie from the tray he'd tucked away, and sat down at the table with a tiny satisfied sigh.

That was, until-

"You really gonna eat that without sharing?"

He jumped slightly, turning to find Rafayel leaning against the kitchen doorframe, arms crossed, still in that same hoodie from earlier. His hair was a bit messy, like he had just rolled out of bed or maybe never even went to sleep.

"I didn't hear you," Jiwon muttered, mouth full of brownie. "Don't sneak up on people."

Rafayel smirked and walked over, pulling out the chair across from him and sitting down.

"I wasn't sneaking. You're just easy to sneak up on."

Jiwon rolled his eyes. "You're annoying."

"You like it."

"I tolerate it."

Rafayel reached out casually and broke off a corner of Jiwon's brownie.

"Hey!" Jiwon smacked his hand instinctively with a light slap. "That was mine!"

Rafayel laughed, genuinely, quietly, and leaned back in the chair with the stolen brownie bit in his hand.

"You hit like a kitten."

"Do it again and I'll throw the rest at your face."

"I dare you."

They sat in silence for a few seconds. The mood shifted-softer. Quieter. The room felt still, like it belonged only to them for a moment.

Jiwon slowly chewed the rest of his brownie and said without looking up, "You... didn't have to stay up."

Rafayel leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. "Didn't feel like sleeping."

Jiwon glanced at him, suspicious. "Work stuff?"

"No," Rafayel said simply. "Just... thinking."

"About?"

There was a long pause.

"You," Rafayel admitted, then added quickly before Jiwon could speak, "Not in a weird way. Just... wondering how you're doing. I know everyone watches you like you'll shatter if you sneeze, but I know that look in your eyes. Like something's stuck behind your ribs and you can't reach it."

Jiwon stared at him, quiet, caught off guard.

"...You see that?"

"I used to wear that same look," Rafayel said, voice low, not teasing now. "Still do, sometimes."

Jiwon looked down, picking at the crumbs on his plate. "It's weird. I don't remember everything. But sometimes... I feel stuff. Around certain people. You especially. Like I should hate you, but I don't. I just feel... scared sometimes. Then sad. But also... warm."

Rafayel nodded slowly, the corners of his mouth tugging downward slightly. "That's fair."

"You're not gonna tell me why?" Jiwon asked softly.

Rafayel stared at the plate in front of him for a second. "I'm trying not to mess up this time, Jiwon. Even if you don't remember... I remember every bad thing I said. Every time I hurt you."