❝Our Safe Place❞

∞

5:01 pm 

How the hell did he sign up for this? 

Sehun questioned himself with an umpteenth time of sigh; exhaustion to be said, and the answer was one thing, in fact, one human being, his woman, Baek Inha; always her for making him sign up for the things he is left with no option but to comply. 

But could he refuse her? She doesn't even give him that option; like he says, no option left. 

"You are so frigging awful at teaching, celeb." 

There she is, seated in front of him, her back against his chest on his bike that he's been trying to teach her on per her demand that she throws on him, and he was suddenly left baffled by her last night, at his apartment where she was sightseeing the city lights on the stool of his kitchen while he was cooking for them that was going with their regular conversation filled with her throwing things at him, and he purposely irritating her in return but surprised him by her will of learning bike ride. 

He remembers clearly of him giving her his 'have you lost it' look to which she had given her always roll of eyes with her surprising dialogue of how she finds him looking cool, and y and how it looks fun so she wanted to be taught by him exclusively and her words surely made him good, yet with a look and his words of, if she was thinking learning a bike ride was cutting her patients. 

Yet he still found himself here, in the street of their neighborhood, teaching her very exclusively; she's the damn answer. 

"Come on, teach me like I'm being taught for the first time, not like you are having a freaking swimming competition!" 

She exclaimed, and tilted her to the side, over her shoulder to meet his eyes with her annoyed ones with her lips puckered; oh, did he find her adorable right now? Hell yes! 

"As if you're an exception," He frowned, placing his chin over her shoulder as his head tilted. "Instead of being a good learner, you keep checking me out." 

Her lips smiled her playful smile. "Come on, you look hot right now." 

And could he ever get angry at her antics? Not happening in this lifetime. 

His ears heated up to frown. "Do you like picking a fight with me?" 

"I love picking a fight with you." 

Another attempt of her flirt; she's been doing that a lot after that night of him and her dad having a good talk; fantastic one with his drunk self being whipped for her as if he wasn't already but that little intoxication had him utter out everything bubbled inside him to her; for her, and she had loved every bit of it to find her flirting with him at every chance she could get that would leave him with his sass of an answer or reply back to her with his own exact flirts, or just blush over it. 

Woman knew what she was doing; his woman. 

"Did you get us here to flirt with me or actually learn to ride a bike?" 

Inha heard him, and scoffed; jerk, as she huffed, placing her hands on the handles beside his; close, grazing with a touch, and her lips puckered. "I should have grabbed Jinsoo for it." 

"And you would have been thrown out until now." 

Her eyes closed; close to calm her urge to throw a punch at him. "Shut up, Oh Sehun." 

He smiled; she was exploding. "If I shut up, how would I teach you, Baek Inha?" 

"I don't care." 

"Okay, focus," He trailed off, tightening his hold on the handles, his chin still on her shoulder like her back against his chest as their thighs were in a grazing contact to glance at her only to find her staring at his arm again, his veins to be precise like always since it was visible by his polo white-shirt as his lips pressed. "Not my arm, doc-lady, focus on me." 

"I am," She nodded, meeting his eyes. "I just wanted to have it too." 

"You can have it." 

Her eyes lit up. "How?" 

"By working out." 

And the glow was gone. "I hate working out." 

"You have to lose to gain, my doc-lady." 

Her heart fluttered again; how can she not flirt with him if he was being this soft, and a smile graced her lips to hold his arm. "I'll just have this one instead." 

He couldn't help but smile. "It's already yours." 

Inha reached out, grabbing his face with a slight squish. "Like this one." 

He nodded. "Like this one." 

She giggled, but dropped off the next second after he asked her to focus as she was holding the handles again; the balance of the bike was already done since it was the same compared to riding a bicycle but handling brakes, and saddles, and engine with a good sense of riding it was a bit harder. 

"Now," He trailed off, leaning his head back as he did his gesture of watch him through his two fingers to his eyes; the gesture they always do and Inha nodded, as she placed her foot on the right brake with a step and he nodded, "Good, now pull over the front brake lever gently," He paused, as he watched her doing it as he had withdrew his hands off the handles to place it either side of her waist, while observing her practicing the brake movements. 

"I'm so fine at it!" 

He heard her exclamation and chuckled silently; his eyes taking a glance at her baby hair on her nape, tucking out of her high bun but enough to make him flutter but instantly focused back on her; his mind unable to focus anything but her, all her fault. 

"Now, focus on the gears," He trailed off, his chin again on her shoulder like his hands had grazed her hands but felt her stare on him and before he could have done anything, he felt her lips on his cheek softly as he was quick to meet her soft eyes; his heart in a warmth, "You must focus, Baek Inha, if you don't want to fall off the bike." 

She shrugged. "You wouldn't let me." 

Sehun pressed his lips and she shrugged nonchalantly; this little adorable doc-lady. 

"Fine, I'll focus, stop looking at me with those wild eyes." 

His lips couldn't stop the soft curve and Inha felt him kissing her cheek back but a long one as her cheeks warmed with a smile curling her lips; oh, this jerk, seriously. 

The next thing she was already learning about the gears much attentively; he was good at being patient with her and after a few moments of it, she had already started the engine nervously and excitedly but not much scared, he was right there; behind her, as Inha had rode the bike with zigzag direction while Sehun telling her to go slow, and carefully straightly as she was doing so, Woo freaking Jinsoo had to come out of nowhere; just in front of them. 

"Yah, Woo Jinsoo, get your aside!" 

Inha screamed at him, and Jinsoo was moving aside in a zigzag direction because of Inha's clumsy way of handling the handles as she screamed loudly. "Sehun, do something!" 

His hands were quick to tightened on hers; on the handles to make the bike steady and enough to stop right in front of Jinsoo, almost flying him over to the rooftop of their hang out house as he was standing still, frozen, to place his hand on his right chest again. "Am I alive?" 

Sehun gave him a look. "Looks like it from your dumb actions." 

"My dumb actions or your flying me over actions?!" 

He looked at Inha who was seated still and Sehun tilted his head, his chin hovering her shoulder with a concerned look and Inha felt his hand on the curve of her waist with his thumb her skin over her thin shirt sending a soothing but chilling warmth to her as she heard him close to her ear. "You okay, doc-lady?" 

Inha nodded. "I think so." 

"What about you running me over?" Jinsoo snapped, and Inha frowned. "You jumped out of nowhere." 

"This is a freaking street not your ground." 

"Then, build one for me so I won't run you over again." 

"Ask your boyfriend for it, not me." 

"Yeah, I'll build it up for her, so go run your errands before Yoo does the deed of running you over." 

Jinsoo's eyes rounded, and he was quick to walk past them to the convenience store for something Yoojung had asked him; they knew it but he was too lazy to do it but Yoojung must have kicked him out, typical of them. 

Inha let out a deep breath; her back leaning against his chest with relief. "I thought I would actually run him over." 

"You didn’t." 

"You didn't let me," 

"You were actually going for it?" 

His question had Inha laugh, her head thrown back on his shoulder blade as he giggled back; his chest vibrating through her back as she felt his arms locking her waist to feel him leaning his head against hers; his cheek pressed against her temple as Inha had laid her hands on his hands over her stomach. 

"Will you really build a ground for me?" 

"If you want me to." 

And her lips smiled. "How's your swimming practice going?" 

He went silent, and Inha frowned to lift up her head as she glanced at him over her shoulder to find him looking at her blankly. "What's wrong?" 

"I tried," He trailed off, sighing softly with a quick brush to his hair. "I tried to swim, and it was fine but I couldn't swim like I usually do, like I couldn't feel that connection like I have, I couldn't swim ahead." 

Inha heard him, and her heart sank at his dropped expression, the same sullen look and she was quick to palm the curve of his neck to caress his jaw softly as his eyes closed for a moment before feeling his head being placed on her shoulder like she intended to do; her head against his and his arms tightened around her; she felt like a soft, but warm comfort, she always has been. 

"It will be fine, just rest your thought, and pour my positive energy into it and if you can't do that, come to me, and I'll be all ears and hold you as long as you want me to." 

His lips smiled. "I should just take you all." 

"And if I got taken all, who would you converse with?" 

Sehun opened his eyes and Inha felt his hand leaving her stomach, grabbing her face with a soft squish as he made her face him to meet his eyes; serious but warm. "You're going to be right here, with me, around me, and handle my stubborn anyhow." 

Her eyes squinted, and Sehun felt his own cheeks getting squished back. "Same goes for you, be the jerk you are, have your sass with me, and handle my smart-." 

He chuckled. "Smart-?" 

"Did you just laugh?" 

And he chuckled again but hissed the next second from the sudden bite of her on the side of his palm; not even soft, as he met her sassy eyes where Inha watched him tilting his head down, his mouth close to her shoulder as his lips parted where she felt him biting her shoulder softly yet she yelped at it but her chest warmed the moment he kissed her shoulder with a few seconds of his lips lingering there. 

"How dare you-" 

"You bit me first." 

"You deserve it." 

"And you don't?" He asked, with a teasing smile as he squished her cheeks; her lips puckering. "You should respect me, I'm older than you." 

Inha scoffed, squishing his cheeks. "Respect, your , we both are of the same age." 

His forehead creased. "I'm a few months older." 

"Still a stubborn sass. " A sass in her tone; his perks indeed as he leaned closer to her lips and Inha watched his head tilting like his eyes on her puckered lips. "Stubborn sass." 

Her eyes glanced at his lips. "Exactly." 

The next moment, he left a soft peck on her lips and Inha's hold had loosened, like his did as their eyes bored for a moment only for him to press his lips against hers again; his eyes closing like hers as she felt his hand still on her cheeks but her hand had held the collar of his shirt as a sudden warmth had followed in the heated weather but this moment somehow felt too pleasing to be displease about the heated weather. 

And his kisses would always leave her in a pool of chilling flutters; he was good at it, and she had to pace to it. 

He leaned back with his forehead against hers; his warmth fanning against her lips with his fingers wiggling her cheeks softly as their eyes met; a smile on their lips and his widened more after she left a kiss on his forehead; it always feels like a safe thing. 

Because that's how it was supposed to be; for them. 

__________________

9:44 pm

Blue. 

His eyes stared at the blue water of the indoor pool, and seated on the couch of the living room was him, where the poolside could be seen with a perfect view, and a view that somehow calms his chaotic mind, the chaos that he was in at the moment, the moment he had decided to go for a practice again but not feeling connecting to it felt adrift; he could swim but not felt that connection of his comfort zone in it. 

Like it was nine years ago; like at this moment. 

And only he knows how he had overcame it, how he had fought his own drowning thoughts that time, how hard it was to fight them, how hard it was for him to not to give it up; how hard it was to deal with it alone by himself there, the place he had no one but himself and he was having that same battle yet again, his mind full of thoughts, how to overcome this, how to find this connection again, how to swim to feel the comfort again. 

Yet, all he could see was that blue in his eyes; the kind of blue that was reminding of how gloomy he felt at the moment, how it was describing him; he felt like crying, and his heart was already welling up to that thought, but he couldn't let this consume him; not the thoughts again. 

He leaned back, and swallowed a harsh lump to his lips as his eyes closed for a moment, and Inha's face had flashed right there, like it has always been etched with his eyes wanting to see her, listen to her; he was missing her so bad like before but something hit his mind, he didn't have to long for her presence again, he didn't have to feel the yearn for listening to her again because this time, she was in his life. 

And in a way that he didn't have to hide again. 

The next thing, he was looking at his phone screen; her contact name, with a contemplation of if he should do it to not, but realized that he didn't want to juggle it all to himself again because that's what they had decided, that's what their depths were overcoming it together, that they were going to juggle or live in the happiness together. 

Meanwhile, Inha had walked out of the elevator to the lobby of the hospital, changed back into her casuals but her hair styled in a side-braid on her shoulder after operating on a patient that her mother had wanted her to assist for that she had as now she was on her way back home; home that Sehun had showed her, naming it theirs. 

But for her; home was becoming him, scratch it, home was him. 

The thought had her lips grace in a soft smile as she approached the reception for a quick check-list of the patients but her eyes rolled to find Dal-mi there; in her white-coat who looked at Inha with a mocking smile. 

"Hope the operation was successful." 

Inha nodded, her eyes looking through the list without any interest in her. "Yes, we made sure to do it." 

"Of course, given an opportunity by your mother's privilege, you had to do your best, Dr. Baek." 

Inha gave the file back to the nurse with a smile to look at Dal-mi with a smile; a mocking one as she tilted her head. "I guess, your privileges aren't working anymore," Her nose scrunched. "Better work hard next time, Dr. Choi." 

The next moment, Inha had walked past her without even listening to her; she was done with her mocks and she didn't want to indulge herself with her anymore to spoil her mood of a happy one for two occasions; one was that the operation was successful, and second one was her meeting Sehun but then again, her mood couldn't be spoiled because just by the thought of him, and going to him was enough to lighten up her mood. 

Funny that before his name of mention would leave her blank to not to think of him but now all she could think was him; just him, always. 

Things really did change with a beautiful one. 

The next thing she was already driving to their home; the address of it was navigated already but the moment she was about to hit a good music, her phone pinged with his contact name; stubborn celeb. 

She was quick to answer; her phone on the stand. "Hey, celeb." 

"Inha." 

He voiced out, in a hushed whisper and her heart sank. "Yeah." 

"Can you talk?" He questioned, in another low tone of gloom, and Inha was reminded of the same scene happened almost two weeks back; him to the other side of the world, while she was going through the gloomy phase as she understood the reason of his gloominess that was enough to worry her, for him before humming while speeding up. "Of course, I can." 

He heaved a deep breath. "Could you please keep talking to me, I want to listen to you." 

Her heart swelled, and hummed with a swallow of her deep breath while rounding the corner; she was close. "You know what happened earlier? You already know I had a patient to operate with mom, and guess what? It was a success and I wanted to tell you the first one about this, and you know what happened after that? That Dal-mi literally mocked me again but I did back and you should have seen her face that time!"

Sehun's head was leaned back against the headrest; his eyes closed while the phone pressed close to his ear as he listened to her, her long talks of the rants, but it was comforting him, comfort of her voice, and that listening to her talks was enough for the distraction, enough for him to get out of his consumed thoughts, but the more he listened to her, the more he wanted her here; he needed her here, with him, around him. 

He wanted her to hug him as long as he wanted; needed. 

Can he do that? 

A familiar question but this time, the answer wasn't the same as before; he could do that, because it was Inha. 

He his lips with a deep breath. "I miss you, Inha." 

"And I'm right here, Sehun." 

The next moment, he heard the front door opening with a slow push and there she was, standing not so far with the phone against her ear and her eyes looking at him with a soft smile; her always beautiful soft smile but enough for him to heave a sigh of relief; a sigh of that he was going to be alright now. 

He watched her walking to him without even taking off her sneakers before nearing the couch; him as his eyes followed her actions of placing her purse and phone on it to stand in front of him, and he was quick to sit straight as she stood between his legs to take his phone away to its place; he felt her hands cupping the sides of his neck to tilt his head as he met her eyes; warmth. 

"And, I am here to give the longest hug for as long as you want." 

Her soft voice was enough for him to well up but her thumb his skin softly had him nod slowly as his eyes teared up and he was quick to wrap his arms around her waist to place his head on her chest, snuggling in the crook of her neck and felt her arms around him; her fingers threading through his hair softly, slowly and he couldn't help but snuggle himself even more in her embrace; in her comfort, in her warmth. 

"I didn't let it consume me." 

Inha heard him through her skin and a smile curled her lips as her head leaned against his; her arms pulling him closer. "You did good."

He felt her lips kissing his temple softly as he felt soothed, and the safest warmth he ever felt. 

The next thing Inha found herself on the couch, leaned back with Sehun's head on her lap lying on the couch while her fingers running through his hair softly as his eyes were closed, her hand in his hold on his chest that had her softening with a silence around them, the lights of the living room were brightened up enough yet not too bright; she could still listen to the waves of the water across from them behind that long glass door. 

However, they had to talk; he had to talk and she had to listen because suppressing his thoughts weren't going to make him better and hence, with a nervous bite of her lips like her fiddling fingers through his hair and in his hold had utter her words out. 

"Sehun." 

He hummed, and she breathed out. "Can I be your all ears now?" 

Sehun's eyes opened to meet her patient but nervous ones; her face hovered over him but likable to this sight, as his temple leaned against her stomach still looking at her as she waited for him while him looking for the words he could express his inner thoughts clearly as he glanced at the pool for a moment only to feel her hand out of his grasp to grab his face as she turned it to her direction and he found a narrowed look on her face. 

"Stop being obsessed with that blue water and be obsessed with me for a while." 

He couldn't help but smile; she always did it, and Inha squinted her eyes. "Don't smile so much after not listening to me." 

"Sorry." He pressed his lips. "I just wanted to swim, and I wanted to do better but the more I did, the more I felt distant from it," He trailed off, his eyes closing with a deep frown of displeasure. "I thought if I kept swimming I might get the comfort, that connection back again but it wasn't easy and I was reminded of the time back then, nine years ago when I felt like I wouldn't be able to do it." 

"But you did it." 

He heard Inha and met her eyes; a glow it was as she continued. "I don't know how you had gone through this phase nine years ago, and I still feel bad for not being there for you but I had one thought," She trailed off, looking ahead to the poolside. "You always had that mindset of working out your way, whatever it is, like how you had overcome that lose of the competition with a win so I was kind of assured that even if we squad, or I, whom you always talk to for things you can't," She paused, meeting his eyes with an assuring smile. "You will do your best, and I was right when I saw your first ever gold medal tournament." 

His lips smiled with a hint of moisten as he heard her more. "Like nine years ago too, we hardly were there for you but you found your way to win, and fought against your thoughts but this time, you have us, and me, and I'll be right here whenever you need me," Inha trailed off, a soft caress of her thumb over his cheekbone. "So, this time you don't have to fight your thoughts alone again, and for now," 

He felt her hands over his eyes to close them as he let her. "You need to give your mind, and your thoughts a rest because you kept pressuring yourself to do it and you get a step back when things are forced on you so let it rest, and we'll solve it together."

He hummed, a slow one but somehow calming one to feel her shuffling through something as the next thing he felt the airpod in his air while the other one in her ear; that he was sure of as a soothing song had played while her fingers tangling through his hair to feel her palm patting his chest gently that he felt comfort engulfing him; enough to let it consume him because Inha was right here, and he wasn't alone anymore. 

Inha stared at his sleeping face with her swelling heart, her mind couldn't help but think of the times he would have gone through this phase alone without having anyone to share; be his all ears and the thought was enough to well up her heart as her eyes teared up to instantly blinked it off before leaning down to place a long but a warm kiss on his forehead and he shifted to her side; his face nuzzling into her stomach and she let him be; for his comfort, for her. 

_______________

11:07 pm 

The sound of utensils went through his ears as his brows knitted in disturbance with another one to which a light groan left his lips to open his eyes; the ceiling greeting him as he adjusted to it to find himself alone on the couch with a cushion under his head and a duvet over him to hold his ear to find no airpod as it was placed on the table with her phone beside his; indicating that Inha was still here and the sound of utensils erupted again. 

Yeah, she was still here with her ways of chaos. 

He was quick to sit up; the nap of who knows how long had rest his mind like she said, and he was feeling a little bit better than before to glance at the direction of the open-kitchen to find her there and he was quick to pace to her with her back facing him but something else caught his eyes; she was wearing his black shirt stopping by her mid-thighs and pajamas folded to her ankles while her hair in a side-braid yet the sight had him smile softly and blissfully. 

Inha had laid out the meal in the plates she had ordered from her dad's restaurant and manager. Kim was considering enough to get it since he was the only one who knew about this place and he was also the one who had called Sehun but him being asleep, Inha had to talk to him, and narrating to him about it that he already knew yet was thankful for her to be with Sehun since he listens to her more than him with a joke of being his manager as a side job leaving them with a good chuckle but ended the call with her requesting him to get the dinner and he did, as it arrived a while ago. 

The moment Inha was done, she felt the footfalls behind her in a cat-like presence as the next moment, she felt his arms around her waist from behind; his chin leaning on her shoulder as her hand was quick to ruffle his already messy hair. "How are you feeling?" 

"Fantastic." He mumbled, and her lips chuckled. "I doubt it." 

"I do though." 

"Okay." 

"What's happening?" He asked, his eyes looking at the meal confusingly and Inha shrugged. "Preparing to stuff ourselves." 

"You meant yourself, because I was sleeping." 

"I was going to wake you up, you big-brain."

"Did you make it?" 

"You dare to mock me, Oh Sehun." 

He let out a soft but deep chuckle; finding her reaction funny to notice her hair in a braid as his fingers were quick to tangle through the tips of it, "So, did you order it from your dad's restaurant?" 

Inha hummed, "Manager. Kim helped me out," She trailed off, striding to the dining table with him still hugging like a clingy baby as she placed the plate on it, to feel him sliding off the hairband off her hair securing the braid to untangle her hair slowly as he spoke. "Did he call?" 

"Yeah, he asked me to take care of you since you listen to me and asked me to be your manager," Inha walked back to stop, he was not letting go as she crossed her arms. "Are you going to keep holding on to me like this?" 

He hummed, and a warming chill ran through her spine as his fingers had brushed her neck while sliding her open hair behind to feel his face snuggling into her neck; his lips against her skin that he mumbled through. "I'm going to keep holding you like this." 

"But what if I have to go home?" 

"Isn't it here?" He questioned, and her brows knitted. "What?" 

The next moment, he had turned her around as his arms held her close; her arms still folded against her chest that leaned against his stomach now as she tilted her head up to meet his eyes; soft, slightly sleepy with a mess of hair while clad in his warm hoodie but oh, how did he managed to appear so gorgeous before her eyes glanced at his lips that seemed to be gracing a smile as she met his eyes again blankly. 

"Your home is here." 

He uttered, softly and her heart warmed at the indication of something she understood yet chose to smile playfully as her head tilted. "Where?" 

Sehun tilted his head with a look; understanding her antics to pull her closer if possible as his lips brushed her forehead with his closed eyes like hers at the warmth to hear him say. "Here, in my arms, with me." 

Her lips smiled a blissful smile to feel him leaning back as she met his eyes; adorably looking at her with his pouty lips. "So, don't go, stay here please," He trailed off, his head dipping back into her neck as he slightly whined against her skin with his hug tightening around. "You said, you'll be right here with me, stay with me, doc-lady." 

And no matter how much Inha tired to hold back her smile; she had to giggle out loud at his behavior of being adorable baby as her head tilted up to laugh softly since she couldn't hug him back because of her folded arms squished between them; oh, how much she loves this man. 

Soon enough, both of them had taken their seats on the dining table; him insisting of her being seated next to him instead of across from and Inha had to give in to it, as right now their stomachs were being filled where she felt him feeding her more after knowing about her not eaten anything from the evening of their bike practice which was Yoojung's baked muffin, and him getting angry at it with his old mister self nags while continued to feed her as Inha did it back; yeah, two can always have a play. 

"Alright, I'm full, seriously, stop before my stomach bursts out." 

Inha leaned back with a whiny face; her hand on her stomach as she glanced at him to find him looking at her with a pondering look and she gave him her scrunched nose smile and he had to melt right there; his smile was his proof. 

"Now you're sleepy?" She asked, as he had drunk his water, to watch him nodding slowly as she sat up straight with a quick squish to his cheeks. "Go upstairs and sleep comfortably, I'll join you after being a good buddy to the kitchen." 

Sehun shook his head. "I'll help you." 

"You said, you'd listen to me." 

He pressed his lips with a look; his cheeks puffing out for a squish. "After this." 

"Yah, Oh Sehun!" 

"Yeah, I know, you adore me so much." 

He was already walking to the kitchen with the utensils; Inha had followed suit with a narrowed look as she stood beside him who was already washing the dishes and shooting his annoyingly beautiful smile to her, she had melted against it as she placed a quick kiss on his cheek leaving him with a smile along with her before she had begun to wipe the dishes with their glances, and smiles being exchanged with a little throw of bubbles. 

Always up for the chaos but theirs. 

Inha had kept the boxes in the side of the counter after Sehun had put the dishes back in the cabinet, and the moment she had turned around while dusting off her hands, her eyes found him looking at her for who knows how long but her eyes stared at him back for a moment unable to say anything; his eyes were soft like always with a glint of admiration leaving her with a sudden warmth. 

"Oh, are you still sleepy?" She asked, and he nodded, taking slow steps toward her where Inha gave him a look. "And that's exactly why I told you to just sleep and I'd do the dishes but you don't even listen to me and then you go like, I listen to you-" 

Her words were cut off the second he left a small, but a soft kiss on her lips; his palm against her jaw with a gentle hold while her eyes closed by the sudden action with a jolt of her heart as she responded back with her hand clutched to the front of his hoodie to have him lean back; his thumb caressing her warm skin as he his lips while his eyes on her lips. "You really talk way too much." 

He whispered, and Inha's eyes squinted. "You like it." 

And his lips smiled, meeting her eyes. "I love it." 

The next thing he did had Inha gasped lightly by him lifting her up again; his arm behind her waist and under her knees while she quickly locked her arms around his neck with a sigh leaving her lips. "And I'm back to being the dumbbell." 

He just chuckled, crossing the living room to the stairs until. 

"Our phones!" 

Sehun frowned. "Let it be." 

"What if someone calls?" 

"We'll ignore it." 

"What if it's really important?" 

He looked up with a deep breath to meet her glowing eyes to immediately walk to the table as he bent himself while her still in his arms for Inha to grab the phones with her laugh at how funny it was and Sehun just let her be with a roll of his eyes; sleep was waiting for him but his woman would always be the first one to have him get her work done. 

The next thing they were already ascending the stairs with her nonstop talks and him listening to her wordlessly; a combination of theirs, perfect one. 

And it was the first time Inha was in his room; not entirely after seeing this place but a first for sleeping here, on his bed, with him beside her while the lights of the lamplight that illuminated the stars around them in the darkness yet it looked so mesmerizing; Inha was left surprise at it but he told her how she likes it sparkling so he had bought it for her and it was enough to have her heart swell with a pleasant warmth. 

This man was going to every extent of loving her in every possible way he can; her man, and she was relieved that he was hers. 

However, at the moment, he didn't seem to be feel comfortable as she was lying on her side facing him who had his back on the mattress with his eyes closed but a displeasing frown as if unable to sleep and she was right after he heaved a sigh to shift on his side facing her; and Sehun's eyes opened to take a look at her but found her eyes meeting his droopy ones calmly. 

Her palm pressed on her cheek on the pillow, her soft eyes staring at him warmly yet worryingly and he couldn't help but stare back; slowly scooting himself closer to her side so that her face was close enough as their eyes bored intently but silently with a calm. 

Like the sparkling stars around them. 

"Can't sleep?" Inha questioned, in a hushed tone, and he hummed, his arms folded to himself over the duvet around them to his dry lips. "What do you do when you can't sleep?" 

Inha blinked. "I read till I fall asleep." 

"Is it fun?" 

"Kind of." 

"Lend me your book to read." 

She hummed. "Alright."

His lips puckered. "But what about now?" 

"A special offer." Her lips smiled, and his forehead creased. "And what's that?" 

"A hug for a lend." She opened her arm for him with a soft smile; a welcoming one and his heart warmed, as his lips smiled a little soft curve. "Lend, my foot." 

"My hugs are unlimitedly reserved here." 

The next moment, he had leaned closer to her; enough for Inha to lay on her back, and welcoming him in her embrace as his head rested on her chest, his face snuggling into her neck with his arm around her waist to feel her fingers tangling through his hair softly but enough to feel the comfort engulfing him in her warmth like her other hand caressing his back gently that had him tightened his hold; and snuggle more into her safe comfort until the sleep had consumed him. 

And her lips smiled as her eyes closed as well and like her, his safe warmth around her had engulfed her in the comforting sleep like it was theirs; always. 

__________________

6:38 am

Bird chirps. 

The faint sound of bird chirping had went through the ears of the sleeping woman, enough for her mind to be awake from her deep yet warm slumber as Inha's eyes opened slowly with a squint to adjust to the world she had woken up to and greeted the sight of the glass window with the view of terrace behind was hidden by the curtains preventing the newly sunlight in the room; but Inha could see the morning hue through the corner of the window of a place where the curtain was a bit slid aside. 

For a moment, her eyes stared with a glow of how long it has been since she was looking at the morning view with this much calm since her mornings would be in a haste of reaching to the hospital but she had taken a half day leave but maybe it wasn't because of her sudden sleep being awaken, or the leave, it was the person whom she had been lying down with; her man to be precise with a feeling of something she had hardly any hope of getting it back; both actually but here she was, having them both. 

Her lips smiled lazily to glance at their interlocked hands in her sight; his arm stretched ahead under her neck as she was laying on her side with his chest against her back like his arm around her waist where her fingers tangled through his fingers slowly yet it had him shift a bit as she felt his face snuggling more into her neck sending a tingling warmth through her system as she stayed still for a moment. 

The next second, she untangled her fingers through his and attempted to turn to him carefully as the moment she had faced him; his lips had uttered out in a whisper. "Stop moving, Inha." 

The mere whisper of words and his actions of pulling her more closer to him were enough to send a chills through her as she stared at him blankly; his eyes closed almost covere