Next Morning
Chaewon had to leave at 5 a.m. He was almost half asleep when he stepped out of his apartment. But as soon as he looked up, his steps froze.
Someone was sitting outside Han's door — still, quiet, lifeless.
It was Seungmin.
Chaewon blinked in disbelief, the early morning chill brushing against his skin. For a moment, he just stood there, not knowing what to do. Then he sighed softly, turned around, went back inside, grabbed a blanket, and returned.
From a distance, he tossed the blanket over Seungmin. He didn't really want to — but something in him refused to walk away and leave him like that.
Without saying a word, he quietly left.
---
Meanwhile, Seungmin was still sitting outside, waiting for Han to wake up.
Inside, Han hadn't slept even a single hour that night. His mind was restless; his chest felt heavy. Every time he closed his eyes, memories replayed — and loneliness crept in like smoke.
By 8 a.m., he finally opened the door to get something from the cafeteria — and Seungmin's body suddenly slumped forward, collapsing at his feet.
Han's heart jumped. "Seungmin!" he called, startled, bending down to help him. Seungmin blinked weakly, his lashes heavy, eyes half-open.
(I remember that moment clearly. His eyes looked straight into mine — innocent but empty. I still couldn't tell what he was feeling. But something inside me broke. Why did he wait here the whole night instead of knocking? We could've slept together, talked it out... Yet a strange relief washed over me. For once, I saw him trying — for me. He stayed the whole night. For me.)
"Seungmin, are you crazy?" Han scolded, helping him up. "You slept here the whole night? It's freezing! Have you lost your mind?"
Still, his tone softened as he led him inside, guided him to the couch, and wrapped the blanket around his shoulders.
Moments later, he placed a cup of warm coffee in his hands and sat beside him quietly.
---
When Seungmin's hands finally stopped trembling, he set the cup down. His voice came out soft — almost breaking.
"Han, I'm sorry… for not understanding you. I never really realized how lonely it must've been for you — coming back from England and trying to settle down again. You know at first, I always stayed with you, took care of you… but then, you started getting annoyed by me."
He paused, taking a shaky breath. "Remember that day when you went to play snooker with Jisoo and I followed you? You said it was weird and that I should respect your boundaries. I was just worried about you. The guys at that snooker club were freaks. But after that day, I got scared — scared that you might get bored of me, get tired of me, and leave. So, I started pulling away before you could."
He looked straight into Han's eyes. "It was easier to call you mine from afar than to be close and lose you. I've been a coward all this time. But please, Han — forgive me. I'll change. I don't want to lose you."
(Do he really mean what he's saying? I stared at him, expression unreadable. His voice trembled, but my heart felt cold. Can I trust him again? After everything?)
"So, you're saying you ignored me because of me?" Han's tone sharpened. "That I made you this way? You're blaming everything on my trash personality. So it's my fault, then?"
Seungmin's eyes widened. "No, no — it's not your fault! It's mine. I should've been more understanding. You were right — I crossed your boundaries. I misunderstood what love means. Please, Han, give me another chance. I'll do better this time."
Han leaned back, gaze fixed on him. "You really want me to forgive you? Then promise me something. You'll reply to my texts right away. You'll pick up my calls, come to me when I ask — and sometimes, stay the night here."
Seungmin hesitated. "…I can do everything, but that last one… I can't. My dad doesn't like me staying overnight at someone's place."
Han frowned. "Someone's place? I'm your partner, aren't I? Why can't you stay here?"
"I don't know," Seungmin murmured. "He just doesn't like that kind of thing."
Han's patience snapped. "So you're not going to stay the night?"
"…No," Seungmin whispered.
"Then get out. Leave my house."
Han grabbed his wrist, pulled him up, and shoved him toward the door. "If you can't stay here, then don't come at all."
The door slammed behind him.