The sun had barely risen, but Seo-jin was already awake, her eyes fluttering open as the first rays of light filtered through the curtains. She looked up to find Min-jae still asleep beside her, his form imposing even in rest. Her heart swelled at the sight of him. The man who had once been so distant, so cold, was now the center of her world. The man who had transformed himself for her, to make sure she would never leave again.
She pressed her face into his chest, inhaling his scent, the warmth of his body soothing her. But even as she nestled closer, she couldn't shake the nagging thought at the back of her mind. She needed his love, craved it, and yet, it always felt like it came with a price. His affection, so lovingly given in small doses, was like a treat, a reward for good behavior. And she was constantly striving to earn more, to be worthy of his love.
As if on cue, Min-jae stirred, his hand reaching out to gently stroke her hair. She closed her eyes, savoring the touch, but deep inside, there was a flutter of anxiety. How much would he give her today? Would she be enough for him, or would she fail?
Min-jae, though, felt none of the same worry. His eyes remained closed, and his mind was a storm of conflicting emotions. He had loved Seo-jin for so long, had reshaped himself to ensure she would stay, but the weight of his own transformation weighed on him. The love he had for her was consuming, but the control he exercised over it was a constant battle within himself.
He was well aware of how he treated her—like a puppy, as if rewarding her for good behavior with doses of affection. But this, he told himself, was for their longevity. He couldn't risk her slipping away again. He couldn't allow his emotions to get the better of him, not after everything he had done to win her back.
His hand paused in her hair, and Seo-jin looked up, meeting his gaze. She saw the flicker of something in his eyes—restraint. He loved her, that much was clear. But the walls he had built around himself were still there, and no matter how deeply he cared, Min-jae held himself back. For both their sakes.
"Good morning," he said softly, his voice low and controlled. "How did you sleep?"
Seo-jin smiled, her heart fluttering as she nodded. "Better, now that you're here."
Min-jae's lips twitched into a small smile, but there was something guarded in the way he looked at her. "I'm glad. But remember, Seo-jin, nothing comes without its place. You know that, right?"
Her smile faltered for a brief second before she nodded, the weight of his words sinking in. She understood, better than anyone. Their relationship was built on rules, on boundaries, on his control. But it was also built on his love. A love that he would only give in measured doses, ensuring that it never became too overwhelming, too suffocating.
She reached out, her fingers brushing against his chest. "I'll do anything to keep this. To keep you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Min-jae's eyes softened for a moment, and for the briefest of seconds, his guard dropped. He wanted to pull her close, to hold her, to show her just how much he loved her. But he couldn't. Not yet. Not when he had spent so much time building this life, this bond, with such careful restraint.
He placed his hand over hers, gently pushing it away. "Not everything is about me giving you what you want, Seo-jin. It's about you earning it. You've come so far, and I'm proud of you. But you have to keep proving yourself, every day."
Seo-jin's heart sank, but she knew it was true. The leash that bound her to him was tight, but it was also the only thing keeping her close to him. She had to keep showing him that she was worthy of his love, that she wouldn't make the same mistakes again.
And she would do anything to make him love her, to keep him by her side.
She nodded, biting her lip to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. "I'll be good. I won't make you regret it."
Min-jae's expression softened just slightly, his hand moving back to her hair, brushing it out of her face. His fingers lingered there for a moment before he withdrew, his gaze distant. "I don't want you to regret anything. But this... our relationship... it's built on trust. If you can't maintain that trust, it will fall apart. Do you understand?"
Seo-jin nodded again, her chest tightening as she fought to control the surge of emotions inside her. She wasn't sure if she could live up to his expectations, but the thought of losing him again, of him slipping away from her, was unbearable.
"I understand," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Min-jae's expression remained neutral, but there was a flicker of something softer in his eyes. "Good. I'll give you what you need when you deserve it. And I'll always be here, Seo-jin. But remember—there are rules, and you have to follow them."
Seo-jin didn't need to hear anything more. She understood. She knew what she had to do to keep him, to keep his love, even if it meant living in a cage of her own making. She would obey, she would comply, and she would prove to him, day after day, that she was worthy of the love he gave her in such small, measured doses.
And as much as it hurt, as much as it scared her, she couldn't bring herself to regret it. Not when this was the only way she could hold on to the man she had always loved. The man who had changed himself so completely, who had controlled every inch of himself, just to make sure she never left.
She clung to that thought, as she clung to him, desperate for more of his love, even if it came with strings attached. Because for her, even this was enough.
For now.