The door clicked shut behind her.
She stepped inside.
And for a moment, the only sound was the quiet hum of the fridge and the rain outside — falling heavier now, as if the world knew something was about to crack.
The apartment was dim. A single lamp glowed in the corner. The air smelled like cold instant noodles and detergent.
Sera stood in the entryway, unsure.
Jisoo hovered near the door, still shirtless, his body half-turned as if deciding whether to run or just disappear into the wall.
"You shouldn't be here," he said.
She didn't move. "But I am."
He clenched his jaw.
"Don't make this harder."
"Then stop trying to make it hurt."
He flinched like she'd slapped him.
Her voice was low. Careful. Brave.
"I came here because I was worried. You just....disappeared."
"Because I needed to," he said bitterly. "Because I ruin things."
"No," she said, stepping forward. "You ran from things. There's a difference."
Jisoo backed away, eyes on the floor. "You don't get it."
"Then help me understand."
He laughed — dry, hollow, angry. "What part? The part where I shouted at you in front of everyone? Or the part where I'm a walking mess who breaks his own face to feel normal?"
Sera froze.
The room went still.
Her voice cracked. "You did this to yourself?"
Jisoo's fists clenched. "Don't look at me like that."
"I'm not."
"You are. You're feeling sorry for me. Don't, i don't need your pity."
"I'm not," she repeated. "I'm feeling something, but it's definitely not pity."
He sat down heavily on the couch, arms draped over his knees, head hanging like he couldn't hold it up anymore.
Silence.
Then—very slowly—Sera walked to the bathroom, found a first-aid kit on the shelf. He didn't stop her.
She sat across from him, opened it quietly, and reached for his hand.
He looked at her. "You don't have to—"
"I want to."
Her fingers brushed gently over the bruises on his knuckles.
He winced.
Not from pain. From something else.
Shame.
She cleaned them gently, applied the bandages with care.
Neither of them spoke.
Then she reached up.
Touched the edge of the cut near his eye.
His breath hitched.
"I'm not scared of you, Jisoo," she whispered.
His voice was barely there. "You should be."
"I'm not."
She finished the last bandage. Closed the kit.
And looked at him.
Really looked.
Eyes full of everything he didn't think he deserved.
And maybe that was the worst part.
Because suddenly—his eyes burned. And he blinked fast. Once. Twice.
But a tear slipped anyway.
Sera saw it.
She didn't say anything.
Just… reached forward and held his hand.
And this time—he didn't pull away.