Night terrors (Hiatus)

6

(A cute interlude)

It's been a few weeks since the whole "you could say my life's a little crazy" type situation has begun. Every night is the same routine. I get home after closing the shop and start my nightly routine. By 10 'o clock Sicheng shows up. Since the debacle of the first night he has made sure he ..."eats"... before spending the night.

That first night took me a few days to get over. It was a battle for my mind to decide whether what I thought had happened was real or a dream, though my heart was clearly set on it being real.

The feeling of being held, despite the cold of a demon, had been comforting. But after that first night things drastically changed. Sicheng would show up and after brief small talk that made us seem like strangers, I would climb into bed and he would sit at the side, our hands locked in a frozen handshake.

I could see that the closeness that we had somehow formed in a short time had disappeared as quickly as it had manifested, and a vast distance had taken its place. It was lonely and I didn't understand what had happened to cause it. I eventually accepted that this relationship was clearly strictly business. We were separate companies who had just come to an agreement that benefited us both.

But I have to admit... my heart broke a little at the realization. It was something I tried to deny at first. My heart beat like crazy when he would appear but my brain fought against it. Always saying, "Are you insane? He's a demon!" And maybe it's the fact that I've never felt this way before, but every time he sits a little farther away, new cracks begin to form.

Every morning I woke up alone, he only stayed long enough for me to start waking up, and today was no different. I got up, heading for my kitchen to make some tea when I felt an ache begin to form in my head. The reminder of my grim future dimmed the day grayer than it already was. The overcast skies didn't show any mercy as I walked to work and icy sheets of rain began to come down. I froze to have a moment of cursing myself for not checking the weather.

I don't know if it was the emotions from my tumultuous heart or my disintegrating brain but my eyes began to well with tears. They were stopped short from falling as a shadow covered me and the rain ceased its assault.

I looked up from the ground to meet familiar kind eyes under an umbrella with me. Jaehyun smiled anxiously - apparent that he hadn't forgotten about our last uncomfortable encounter. Neither had I and I felt my muscles tense with nervousness.

"I'm sorry." "Thank you."

Our voices overlapped and silence took over as we took in each others words.

"I'm sorry, Y/N, about last time... I think I came off a little overbearing and I'd like to explain myself if you're willing to listen."

His eyes held nothing but sincerity and hope. My body relaxed, and I nodded my head.

"Sure... Why don't you walk me to work." I gave him a smile, a genuine one even... it's been awhile since I've done that. Jaehyun beamed at my acceptance and nodded eagerly. He began talking as we made our way further into the gloomy day.

"I'll start with my brother, not that he's the cause or anything but... he kind of is. Though I can't excuse the way I handled myself."
"When we met that first time my little brother, who's a little too imaginative, saw and the wheels started turning in his head. He got some idea that we were, uh, involved. I had no idea he has been following you around until that day..."

My eyebrows furrowed and I looked up at Jaehyun. "He was following me?!"

Jaehyun grimaced and nodded.