They reached the house.
mochi still carrying Laddu.
Like a sick.
Oversized.
Child.
Keys shaking.
Hands fumbling.
Panic loud.
The door opened.
"Put him here," candy said quickly."Carefully."
Guest room.
mochi lowered him onto the bed.
Gentle.
Laddu groaned.
Eyes half-closed.
Face pale.
Exhausted.
Candy stood at the door.
Chewing her bunny glove.
Nervous.
Mochi grabbed the thermometer.
Hands trembling.
She knelt.
Slid it under his tongue.
Laddu tried to smile.
"I'm… fin—"
"Don't talk," Mochi whispered.
Her voice cracked.
Beep.
She looked.
39.9°C.
Her breath stopped.
"He… he has a very high fever…"
Candy gasped.
maya crossed her arms.
"Told you," she said."This idiot would get sick."
Mochi moved instantly.
Bathroom.
Cold water.
Bowl.
Fresh cloth.
Back again.
She placed the cloth on his forehead.
Hot.
Too hot.
She changed it.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Quiet.
Focused.
Careful.
She helped him sit.
Just enough.
One hand behind his head.
One hand holding water.
Medicine swallowed.
Slow.
"I'm… sorry…" she whispered."You got sick because of me…"
He smiled.
Weak.
"Worth it…"
Her heart jumped.
Painful.
Sweet.
Her ears burned pink.
He drifted back to sleep.
Breathing softer.
Mochi stood.
Panic returned.
"He needs…""Soup.""Warm food…"
Kitchen.
She stopped.
Completely.
Pots.
Vegetables.
Knives.
Spices.
She stared.
Frozen.
"…Where does the water… go…?"
"Unnie," Candy said gently,"the pot is upside-down."
Mochi yelped.
Flipped it.
She tried chopping.
Vegetables escaped.
She sliced onions.
Almost sliced herself.
Then—
A voice.
"My daughter."
Mochi jumped.
Hit the cabinet.
"M-Mother?!"
Her mom stood there.
Smiling.
Knowing.
Dangerous.
"Oh?" she said."Cooking?"
"For who, I wonder."
Mochi turned red.
"N-no! It's not—""He's sick—""He has fever—""I—"
Her mother folded her arms.
"So," she said calmly,"a boy is sick in my house."
"My shy daughter.""Living drama."
"MOM!!"
Candy pointed proudly.
"Unnie is in love!"
Mochi nearly died.
Her mother laughed.
"Move," she said."Before you cut yourself."
Apron tied.
Hands fast.
She guided Mochi.
Teased nonstop.
"He gave you his jacket?""Did you cuddle?""Wedding invitations?""You're redder than tomatoes."
"MOM PLEASE STOP!"
Together—
Soup.
Warm.
Gentle.
Perfect smell.
Mochi poured it carefully.
Tray in hands.
Breathing steady.
She turned—
Click.
Front door.
She froze.
Her father stood there.
Police uniform.
Sharp eyes.
One look.
Soup tray.
Her red face.
Guest room direction.
"…Mochi."
"D-DAD!""Hi! Nothing!""I mean— soup!""Not for— I— HI!"
One eyebrow rose.
"What is behind you?"
"N-nothing!""Just soup!""For me!"
Candy jumped in.
"It's for the BOY!"
"CANDY PLEASE—"
maya saluted.
"Sir," she said,"full report."
"Your daughter stayed out all night.""Boy gave her jacket.""He got sick.""She's cooking.""Major development."
"MAYAAAA!"
Mochi collapsed internally.
Her father stared.
Long.
Unreadable.
Then—
Sigh.
"…Where is he?"
"In… the guest room…"
"You were out all night?"
Nod.
"He gave you his jacket?"
Nod.
Another sigh.
"I raised a seven-foot-tall girl," he muttered,"and she's still a shy baby…"
He stepped aside.
Pointed.
"Go.""Take care of him."
Mochi blinked.
"R-really…?"
"But I'll meet him later," he added.
Firm.
"O-okay…"
Candy whispered loudly.
"He didn't kill anyone!"
maya nodded.
"Promising."
Mochi entered the room.
Quiet.
Laddu slept.
Cheeks flushed.
Breathing slow.
She placed the tray down.
Sat beside him.
Touched his forehead.
Still warm.
"Laddu…""The soup is ready…"
She lifted the spoon.
Blew gently.
Careful.
Brought it to his lips.
He stirred.
Took a sip.
Winced.
"Too hot," he said.
Then smiled.
Laughing.
Joking.
She realized.
He was teasing.
Her lips curved.
Soft.
Relieved.
She fed him again.
Slow.
Careful.
The room stayed warm.
Peaceful.
And Mochi understood—
This wasn't just care.
She liked him.
More than she knew.
More than she was ready to say.
But her heart already had.