Your phone buzzed against your leg, drawing your attention away from the advertisement on television. You had been half-heartedly watching a drama while waiting for your boyfriend to come home from work. When you checked your messages, the little icon had popped up to indicate that you had a text from him.
DM: "Sweetheart, I'm going to be late tonight. Really, really late. I'm sorry. Don't wait up for me, okay? I mean it~ ^^"
You sighed.
In fact, your boyfriend had come home late every night this week, but it seemed that he would be even later than usual tonight. It wasn't that you were annoyed with him for not being able to come home earlier; that wasn't the case at all. You only wished that he didn't have to work such long hours. He was in desperate need of rest. No matter how much he tried to hide it, you could still distinguish the fatigue in his normally cheerful face. It was always like this when his group was promoting.
You knew that Dong Myeong would worry if he found out you had stayed up, but you wanted to stay up because you were worried about him. You settled back into the couch cushions, curling your legs beneath you as you waited.
At some point, you must have fallen asleep, because the next thing you knew, someone was opening the door to the apartment and quietly removing their shoes. You didn't open your eyes until the couch sagged slightly as that same someone sat down next to you and placed a hand on your cheek for a brief moment.
DM: "Y/n?"
Your boyfriend's concerned face came into view.
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DM: "What are you doing up? Don't you know how late it is?"
You glanced at the clock and nearly did a double-take. It was almost five in the morning.
"Oppa!" You cried. "Ah, I must have fallen asleep."
DM: "I should hope so," he said. "Didn't I tell you not to wait up?"
"I had to make sure you were alright. You're so tired lately. And I wanted to see you."
His expression softened, and he shifted closer to you, putting an arm around you.
DM: "I'm really sorry for being so late. I thought practice would never end."
You lowered your head onto his shoulder.
"When do you have to leave to go to the salon?"
DM: "In a few hours."
His tone did not betray his weariness, but his voice did.
"Good thing I stayed up so I can spend some time with you now," you replied.
DM: "Yah!" He reprimanded you, but the way in which he did it was gentle. "You need to take care of yourself when I'm not around, jagi."
"Okay."
DM: "It was really cold outside. Especially after practice," he murmured.
"Mmm, I'm cold too," you shivered.
He stretched a bit so that he was holding you in both his arms. You rested your head on his chest and snuggled into him. His body head instantly warmed you, and you both started to relax.
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DM: "I missed you today," he said.
You could feel the vibrations of his quiet words above you. His chest rose and fell softly.
DM: "On days like today," he said, "I wish we could stay like this forever."
"Mmm," you agreed as your eyes drifted closed.
It was so peaceful to be there in his arms. Your breathing began to slow, your mind began to wander, and then...
DM: "Y/n, are you sleeping?"
Your eyes shot open.
"No!"
Dong Myeong craned his neck so that you could see him when you looked up.
DM: "Are you sure? You should go to bed. You must be tired."
It was typical of your boyfriend to think of you being tired before he came to terms with his own fatigue. You felt slightly guilty for keeping him up, but you had been waiting for some quality time with him for what felt like ages, and you knew that he had, too.
"I'm not tired," you protested, but a moment later you were stifling a yawn.
He laughed a little.
DM: "You're yawning."
"But oppa!" you cried, wrapping your arms around his torso.
Unfortunately, you were betrayed once again by a yawn.
DM: "All right," he said, leaning over to kiss you on the top of your head, "I think it's time for bed."
He began to disentangle himself from you, and you instantly shivered.
"But I'm cold! And I want to cuddle with you more."
He got up from the couch, stretched, and slid one arm beneath your legs and one behind your back, picking you up in one swift motion.
DM: "We can cuddle more in bed. Besides, it'll be warmer with the blankets."
You nodded in sleepy consent, letting your head fall back against his shoulder as he carried you to bed. You didn't want to think about him leaving again in just a few hours to be at the salon before his schedule. For the time being, you just wanted to be with him. As promised, you fell asleep in bed with his arms around you, listening to the sound of his heartbeat.
