A World of our Own | K.TH *COMPLETED*

Shiver

"You have to name him, V. I bought him four years ago and I'm still calling him Teacup. He was your present, you know. Stop stalling."

It'd become a habit to turn the silver sterling ring whenever I was nervous— the wedding ring that V had bought me. It was a sparkling band with a magnificently carved diamond nestled into the center, faceted so brilliantly it would reflect light into a thousand different shades.

It was the most beautiful thing that I'd ever received, and would remain the most beautiful thing I'd ever received.

"I don't know— I'm not good with names. Just stick with Teacup or something." He mutters as he places the yipping puppy on his lap, trying to evade the dog's enthusiastic paws to his face.

"No way— be creative. You don't really have a problem doing that, don't you? Besides, part of the reason why I bought him was because I was curious on what you'd name him."

V pretends to think as he avoids another playful lash to his right cheek, eyes narrowed with concentration. Watching him egg on the puppy by tickling him makes me laugh.

If he wanted him to quit attacking his face, he should probably stop tickling him first.

"Yeontan."

"Huh?" I look up, not expecting that he'd come up with an answer so fast. The word had sounded so peculiar that I couldn't help but ask for another repeat.

"Yeontan. I don't know— you asked me for a name, so you get one. No complaining." He adds the last sentence just to set me off, probably knowing that I'd start asking him questions.

"Okay. That's okay, I guess." I admit, trying to be nice. Honestly speaking, I'd expected he'd say something traditional, like Spot or Max. But he'd escaped my predictions completely.

And oddly, the sound of the name seemed to fit the little Pomeranian perfectly.

Restraining my urge to snatch the fluffy creature away for myself, I lean back lazily against the plush chair. I'd practically made V's home ours by now- it just seemed unthinkable to be apart from him by mere yards, but still not being able to see him.

And besides, I always worried something bad might happen if I wasn't looking. Like if I turned my eyes somewhere else even for a split second, he'd disappear and leave me alone.

Or something might take him.

Delirious, I know. If I told this to V, he'd probably think I was paranoid, for thinking such things. But getting ripped apart from him for a brutal four years did things to my brain— things that couldn't be reversed. Things that couldn't be erased, or undone.

It is what it is.

"A penny for your thoughts?" V interrupts, eyes fixed on me now instead of Yeontan. "What are you thinking?"

"Nothing that would interest you," I answer back, dead set on concealing the traces of fear pulling on my throat. "You could try to read my mind, though. You're completely welcome to."

He makes a face as he lets Yeontan free from his grip. The puppy instantly jumps out from his lap and runs off towards the kitchen— probably to steal some food that we'd been too careless to leave around.

When he motions for me to come, I stand from my chair and take Yeontan's place just a few seconds ago. I can feel his heartbeat like he can feel mine.

It's a good feeling, to feel someone else's heart following yours.

"I'm not a magician." He whispers, drawing a tentative circle against the exposed skin of my wrist. I feel a soft sensation against my cheek as he kisses me. "But at long as your thoughts are about me."

"That's cheesy." I smile, trying to hide the nervousness in my voice. He'd gotten that right— somehow. "You haven't suddenly become all cliche and whatever, huh?"

"I don't know." He muses, voice musical. "Half the time I'm around you I can't seem to realize what I'm doing."

As my fingers dance across the soft curves of his palm, I can't help but think how many obstacles we had to endure to get here. A place where there was no one else set on ruining us. A time where everything was peaceful— how it should've always been, but unfortunately hadn't.

It was like we'd fought a war— and thankfully won.

"You're doing that again." He places his cool hands against both of my cheeks, squeezing lightly so that he transformed me back to when I was a baby. "You have a very one-track mind, Tzuyu. Very easily distracted, but hard to bring back. And once I do, you drift off somewhere again."

"Oh!" I exclaim. "Sorry."

Breathing a soft laugh that shouldn't be allowed to exist in this world, V slides off the bed and tucks the plush blanket around my figure. Even though spring had begun to show through, he was still a firm believer that post-winter seasons couldn't be taken lightly.

"Where are you going?" I say, shifting the blanket down from my mouth to speak. The moment he left from my side, the space had suddenly felt so empty it hurt.

Was that normal?

"To check on Yeontan. It's unnaturally quiet— and he hasn't come in for a while."

I totally understood, but that still didn't mean I wanted him to leave my range of sight. Just thinking about it sent shivers twisting up my back.

"I'll come with you."

When I start to rise, he gives me a glance that stops me straight at my tracks. It's not anything hostile, but there's just something to it that makes me quit my small rebellion against him.

"You'll be fine, Tzuyu. It'll only be a second— and I promise I'll come back. Just stay in the bed, okay?"

When I nod, he leaves the room. The air feels strange and unfamiliar without him here, and I shiver with a sudden chill. Had I become to depend on V this much? It was like even a minute without him beside me seemed like an hour of torture.

My heartbeat grows more faster and faster until it's a frantic race in my chest, and my breathing grows rougher with each and every second. My sight blurs around the edges, reducing my peripheral vision into nothing but a mess of colors and shades.

I didn't think this was normal.

It wasn't normal.

Then everything goes black.