Sehun stirred from his sleep when he heard his phone ringing. It was still midnight. His hand abruptly groping the side of his bed to find his phone, eyes still closing out of sleepiness. Cracking his eyes half open, he slides the screen to accept the call.

“Yes, Sweetheart?” His voice sounded hoarse.

“Sehun… were you asleep?”

“I was, but you woke me up.” Sehun could even see the frown on her voice when she answered him apologizing, Sehun only chuckled at her words. “It’s okay, Baby. Why aren’t you asleep?”

“I can’t sleep. Come to my room, please? Or should I go to yours?”

“Um… Will it be okay? Your brother’s here though. He will kill me if he found out I’m sneaking into your room, won’t he?”

The man heard her laughed at that. “Then I’m going there because he won’t kill me if he found me sneaking into your room. Well, although I’m not very sure if he’s still going to kill you.”

Sehun couldn’t help but smiled at her counterattack. She’s seriously going to be the death of him.

“Hey,” Sehun smiled as he found her already on his bed while he came out from the bathroom. He unlocked the door before going to wash up so that she could just go inside. She, as always, was bringing her teddy with her and already curled up on the side of his bed. Sehun slipped under the duvet before reaching out and pulling her closer. “What is it that made my princess can’t sleep?”

Aerin only smiled before nuzzling herself on his chest, basking in the nice woody and vanilla scent, which was Sehun’s. “I miss you,” She said, tightened her arms around his waist. “I want to be with you for a long, long time, Sehun.”

The man really couldn’t hold the smile from blooming on his lips, but there was something that actually bothered him. Sehun gently pecked the top of her head before looking down, searching for her eyes. “What’s wrong, Sweetheart?”

She held his face and caressed the apple of his cheek before shaking her head. “Nothing. I just missed you. We didn’t see each other these past three days because I had to go to places with Jongin oppa.” Sehun gently held her hand which was still on his cheek. “Do you feel better now? I wasn’t there for you after that night.”

Sehun smiled at the confession. Seriously, would he be able to stop falling for her? No, he knew he wouldn’t. But the thing was, he still didn’t think he deserved to be with her. Deep, deep down in his heart, he was still scared that something around the corner would come up and show him that he wasn’t worth for her even just one bit. “I feel a lot better thanks to you,” He leaned to drop a peck on her lips, earning a soft smile from the girl.

“I didn’t even do anything, though.”

“You, being here by my side already made me feel way much better than I have ever been.”

“Tsk.” Aerin scoffed playfully, “You’re so cheesy don’t you know?”

“Only to you, though.” The man stuck out his tongue, getting a gentle slap from her on his arms.

“I’ll keep that in mind and I’m going to kill you if you ever try to do that to other girl.”

Aerin didn’t know why but Sehun laughed so hard at that. The girl though, couldn’t help but letting the smile blooming on her lips, looking at the man in front of her laughing like there was nothing in the world would stop him. He laughed until his eyes turned into a crinkle. The sound of his laugh was like a music to her ears, she would love to hear it again, and again. However, at the same time, she could feel the pain slowly piercing through her heart. How long would she need to keep everything from him? How would she have the heart to tell him when she had already seen how happy he was being with her?

Her heart never ached this bad before.

“I would never do that to any other girl, Princess.” Sehun said as he leaned to kiss her softly. “You know I love you, right?”

There, the tears she’s been holding finally rolled down her cheeks.

Sehun instantly frowned when he saw it. His thumb went to wipe the tears from her cheeks gently. “Ssh… hey, Sweetheart,” The man scooped her so she could bury her face on his chest. “You’re such a cry-baby you know that?” He smiled affectionately, caressing her hair in the gentlest way he could.

Aerin just didn’t know how to hold her tears anymore, so she let them all out. She let them all out, hoping that it could at least lessen the pain. When she thought that the love and happiness she’s longing for finally came to her in the form of Oh Sehun, she had to let it go for the sake of her family. For the sake of her brother and the company. For fulfilling her parents’ wishes. Not to mention how at the same time Chanyeol was slowly taking his distance from her, leaving her really worried.

Everything suddenly came like a storm, and she just didn’t know if she could handle everything.

Sehun still felt her shoulder shaking and he started to worry. The man kept drawing circle on her back, hoping that it could make her feel better. He wouldn’t ask anything. He knew very well that she would talk to him when she was ready. And the only thing he could do right at the moment was offering himself as a companion. Because he knew how bad it was when it felt like the world was against you and you just had no one around. He had been there, and he wouldn’t let her feel it again after all the things happened to her.

Sehun barged out from the bathroom when he heard a loud bang on the door. He only left to wash up after he woke up, scooting as quiet as he could so that he wouldn’t wake the girl as she was still sleeping soundly. He was welcomed by a terrified face, cheeks wet with tears.

“Se—sehun…” She choked on her tears, “I thought—I thought you left…”

The man pulled her into his arms, “Ssh… I’m here, Baby.”

“You left me, Chanyeol and everyone too, I was… I—“

“Ssh… it’s okay, Baby, it’s okay I’m here… it was just a nightmare, okay,” He caressed her hair while his other hand was patting her back, trying to calm her down.

Aerin buried her face on his chest and clutched her hands on his back tightly, afraid that he might disappear. Everyone in her life suddenly disappear, and she was left with literally no one. Chanyeol disappeared without saying anything, there were people trying to take her away, and Jongin only stood somewhere looking at her with so much hatred. It was terrifying. Not to mention that when she woke up, Sehun wasn’t there beside her.

“Come on, Sweetheart, let’s get you back to bed.” He pulled and helped her to get back on the bed before pulling the blanket to cover her. She was shaking, and the very last thing he wished was her having the episode. Sehun just didn’t want to see her suffer again. “Ssh, darling… it’s okay.” Sehun scooted closer and looked into her eyes, “You’re safe now, I’m here and will always be here you know that, right?” He whispered, trying to assure her, and Aerin could just hear it loud and clear. She nodded weakly as she tried to wipe her tears. The man held her hand on her cheek and smiled. “Um… Shall we go out today, you looked like you need to have at least a short and nice escape.”

Aerin who was slowly getting calm, trying to smile at the suggestion although she was still sobbing.

“Where should we go then?” Sehun asked.

“Anywhere is fine, as long as it’s with you.”

Sehun rolled his eyes and groaned, “Babe, you know being cheesy is my job so you are not allowed to do that to me.” earning a real laughter he really wanted to hear in between of her sniffles.

Aerin came back to her room and found Jongin sitting down on her desk, flipping a book which looked like he just took from the pile at the corner. She tightened her hug on her teddy, wondering