That night,
the house that had once been painfully quiet
was filled with the sound of another person's breathing.
Phat sat on the couch,
her eyes still red,
but no longer empty like before.
Kan remained beside her,
not saying much,
but never leaving.
"Aren't you going home?"
Her voice was soft,
like she was asking without expecting an answer.
"I'm not."
His reply was… too simple.
She turned to look at him.
For the first time,
she looked for that long.
Kan didn't look away.
His gaze was steady,
but there was something in it
she had never seen this clearly before.
"Can you stay with me?"
The words slipped out quietly.
Kan didn't answer right away.
He just moved closer—
close enough for the distance between them to disappear.
"I'm already here."
Phat's heart started to beat faster.
Slow—
but clear.
The silence between them
was no longer uncomfortable.
It was just… close.
Too close.
Phat shifted slightly,
as if she was about to stand.
But before she could—
Kan's hand touched her wrist.
Lightly.
But enough to stop her.
"Don't go."
His voice was softer.
Phat froze.
It wasn't a command.
It was a request.
She sat back down.
The distance between them
grew even smaller.
She could feel the warmth
from his body.
"Phat,"
he called.
She looked up.
Too close.
His breath
was close enough for her to feel it.
Her heart pounded harder.
"…Yeah."
Her voice was softer than ever.
Kan looked at her.
His eyes weren't the same anymore.
No teasing.
No playfulness.
Only truth.
"Don't push me away again."
Those words made her heart tremble.
"…I didn't—"
"You did."
His voice wasn't loud,
but it was direct.
She went silent.
Because it was true.
Kan moved closer again.
Slowly.
Carefully.
As if giving her a choice—
to pull away
or stay.
Phat didn't move.
That was her answer.
His hand lifted,
gently touching her cheek.
The contact made her flinch slightly.
But she didn't push him away.
Her heart was racing,
like it might break free.
"Kan…"
Her voice trembled.
But she didn't refuse.
He paused there.
Not rushing.
As if waiting for her to be ready.
And in that silence,
Phat slowly closed her eyes.
As if accepting something.
Kan leaned in.
Until there was no distance left.
Their lips met—
soft.
Barely there.
But undeniable.
Phat froze.
Her heart stopped for a fraction of a second,
then beat even faster.
She didn't push him away.
But she didn't respond immediately either.
As if she was learning.
Kan pulled back slightly,
his eyes still on hers.
"If you're not okay—"
he began softly.
But before he could finish,
Phat's hand
gripped his shirt.
Light—
but clear.
"…Don't go."
Those words
stopped everything.
Then started it again.
Kan didn't say anything more.
He just leaned in again,
slowly.
This time,
she didn't close her eyes to escape.
She stayed there.
Accepting it.
A closeness that shouldn't have happened—
but could no longer be stopped.