[S]eated on the still-warm couch where Jin-ho had been sleeping moments ago, Lee Ju-hee used Ha-eun's offered towel to wipe her neck.
Just then, Jin-ho emerged from the kitchen, holding a glass of water. He approached her and handed it over with a casual smirk. "So, you thinking of switching to something drier?"
Taking the water cautiously, Lee Ju-hee eyed it skeptically before taking a few tentative sips. Once she realized it was just plain water, she replied nonchalantly, "Yeah, I think I'll ditch the t-shirt and stick with the hoodie."
Jin-ho let out a thoughtful sigh, as if he had something in mind. He then headed to the living room drawer, rummaged around, and retrieved something.
He handed her a black t-shirt, and Lee Ju-hee looked at it with a hint of curiosity, not entirely sure of his intention.
Sensing her confusion, Jin-ho decided to clarify, "You can borrow this if you want. It's way comfier and less sweaty."
After a brief moment of consideration, she simply nodded and accepted the t-shirt. "Sure, thanks."
A slightly awkward silence lingered between them, leaving Jin-ho unsure of how to transition into a more typical conversation.
"Feeling a bit hungry or thirsty? Craving some snacks or a drink, perhaps?" Jin-ho asked with a hint of awkwardness, finally breaking the silence.
In moments like these, a matcha latte sounded tempting, but could she trust him? She hesitated, her gaze avoiding his as she weighed whether or not to ask.
"What's on your mind? Don't hold back," he encouraged.
"I wouldn't mind some matcha," she admitted truthfully.
"Ah, matcha? Alright! I'm not sure if there's any in Han-sol's kitchen, but I'll go check!" Jin-ho took the now-empty glass of water from her and headed towards the kitchen.
With no one else awake and Jin-ho in the kitchen, she decided to swap out her hoodie and white top. Lee Ju-hee neatly folded them and placed them on the coffee-table.
Knowing she had some privacy, she effortlessly changed into the black t-shirt Jin-ho had given her. It was slightly oversized and mostly clean, but she caught another scent that piqued her curiosity.
"Just so you know, this shirt is perfectly clean," he assured her, clearing his throat.
Lee Ju-hee snapped to see Jin-ho standing by the kitchen entrance, his gaze intense and dark emotions grazing his eyes.
With her face buried in the black cotton fabric, inhaling his scent, a shiver ran down her spine, and she suddenly realized what she was doing.
She hastily let go of the shirt as if she'd been burned and frowned, muttering, "Hmm."
Jin-ho took a few steps closer to her, and the room seemed to warm up. Her ears tingled, and goosebumps appeared on her skin.
Can't believe she got caught sniffing his clothes. So embarrassing!
Not knowing what to say, Jin-ho simply sat down beside her and handed her the drink. "Fortunately, we had some matcha here," he mentioned casually.
"Thanks," she replied evenly, accepting the drink. Unlike before, she'd let her guard down, and it appeared he hadn't tampered with her drink.
She had to admit, it tasted amazing. After a few sips, she examined the cup as if trying to decode the recipe.
"What's wrong? Doesn't it taste good?"
"No," she pondered, "it tastes... great."
"Oh? I added honey since I couldn't find sugar," Jin-ho admitted with a sheepish grin, scratching the back of his head. "I'm not used to this kitchen setup; Han-sol's place is a bit unfamiliar to me."
"I see," she responded.
There was another awkward pause. She wondered if she was reading too much into his efforts in the kitchen. Was he doing it for her?
This time, Lee Ju-hee decided to break the silence. "Well, at least you have a place to stay for a while."
Jin-ho sighed wearily, rubbing his eyes as if trying to shake off drowsiness. "Yeah."
"Why were you... umm..." She wanted to ask why he had been wandering without a place to stay, especially given his codename. It was puzzling to meet the infamous Reaper in a back alley.
To her surprise, as if understanding what she wanted to ask, he opened up about it. "Broke up with my ex, so I moved out," he said dismissively, leaning his head against the couch's backrest.
"I see," she replied honestly. "I shouldn't have brought it up; my apologies—"
"No need to apologize."
As she finished her latte and placed the cup on the table, Jin-ho's brown eyes followed her every move.
"Are you heading back to sleep now?" he asked, turning his face towards her.
"Not yet. I don't want to disturb Ha-eun," she explained with a shrug, sensing his intense curiosity.
"Plus, I'm not sure I can go back to sleep."
"Nightmares?" he inquired gently.
Her body tensed slightly, but she admitted after a brief pause, "Yeah."
"Because of what happened at the club earlier?"
"Yeah," she reluctantly confirmed, avoiding his piercing gaze.
"Is that why you look so tired?" He turned to her, his face coming close as he gently brushed his thumb against her dark circles, earning a soft hiss from her. Apparently, she didn't mind his touch. "Earlier... what did you mean by what you said at the club?"
"Stop!" She hissed, getting up from the couch, needing some distance between them.
Just as she was about to leave, he firmly grasped her wrist, preventing her from walking away.
'Don't go,' his thoughts seemed to echo in her mind.
Simultaneously, he said, "Sleep here. I'll watch over you."
Turning to face him, she raised an eyebrow in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," he licked his lips, attempting to clarify, "you might feel safer knowing someone is looking out for you while you rest."
Her eyes widened at his words. What was he implying? Watching over her? Wasn't that something you'd say to someone special?
For some reason, even though she wasn't particularly tired, she found the offer strangely tempting.
"What about you?"
As she subtly tried to free her wrist from his grip, Lee Ju-hee suddenly lost her balance and stumbled forward, bringing their faces just inches away from each other. Their breaths tantalizingly danced against each other's skin.
Biting her lower lip, she turned her head to the side, avoiding the whirlpool of raw emotions in his gaze. The room felt unexpectedly hot.
Jin-ho cleared his throat to regain her attention, then slid his hands to her waist, effortlessly guiding her back to the couch as if she weighed nothing.
Jin-ho got to his feet and effortlessly lifted her legs to rest them on the couch. Without much ado, he gently pushed her down and tucked her in.
"What are you..." Lee Ju-hee began to protest, but he wasn't in the mood for objections.
He placed a hand over her eyes, and he could feel her squirm at his touch, her captivating gaze hidden. "Sleep!" he commanded with a hint of authority. "You need rest!"
"I... I can't sleep." She wasn't trying to be difficult, but it was true. She couldn't relax, not with him around and in an unfamiliar place.
Jin-ho straightened up, deep in thought. Lee Ju-hee couldn't help but wonder what he was up to when he walked off and returned holding a familiar black plush toy.
"You still have this?"
"Y-yeah..."
"Why?" She furrowed her brow, her eyes probing him for an explanation.
He gently pressed the black rabbit plush into her arms and answered honestly, "Because it reminded me of you."
In that moment, she noticed how he was leaning closer, their faces mere inches apart. His breath teased her skin, and everything else seemed to fade away as her gaze involuntarily lowered to his lips.
She couldn't help but remember how it had felt to be kissed by him, the delicious sensation of it.
"O-okay!" Lee Ju-hee stammered abruptly, attempting to break free from the enchantment. She hugged the plush tightly and scooted backward on the couch, as if trying to create some distance between them.
Yoo Jin-ho noticed her reaction, blinked a few times, adjusted the blanket over her, and then settled into the couch opposite hers.
It was only when he had taken his seat that she realized she had been holding her breath. As she took a deep inhale, a familiar spicy scent, his scent, enveloped her senses, making her feel strangely at ease, like being wrapped in a cocoon of warmth.
"Sleep!" he ordered once more, and this time, her body felt oddly heavy.
Lee Ju-hee stole one last glance at him before closing her eyes and burying herself deeper into his comforting aroma, pretending to sleep.