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The walk back was quiet.
Bomi hummed as she clutched Seojun's sleeve, her earlier fright already fading. Meanwhile, Haneul walked a step behind them, her presence strangely unobtrusive—like a shadow blending into the city's dim glow.
Seojun glanced back at her once.
She didn't look lost. Didn't look afraid. But she also didn't look like someone who had a home to return to.
His grip on Bomi's hand tightened slightly.
Tch. Annoying.
When they reached the apartment complex, Bomi let go of his sleeve to bounce ahead. "Unnie, do you like stuffed animals?"
Haneul blinked. "I don't dislike them."
Bomi grinned. "Then you can have one of mine!"
Seojun side-eyed them as he unlocked the door. "She's not here to collect toys."
Bomi stuck her tongue out. "It's called hospitality, Oppa."
Haneul hummed, stepping inside. "I'll accept it."
Seojun exhaled sharply. Whatever. If Bomi wanted to waste her stuffed animal stockpile on a girl who had the emotional range of a rock, that was her problem.
Inside, the apartment was small but neat. The living room doubled as a kitchen, with a couch that looked like it had seen better days. Bomi's drawings were tacked to the fridge, alongside a few receipts and a calendar marked with scribbled notes.
Haneul stood near the entrance, glancing around. She didn't seem uncomfortable—more like she was cataloging the space.
Seojun rubbed his neck, suddenly feeling irritated. "You're not gonna start criticizing my interior design, are you?"
Haneul looked at him. "It's functional."
"…Tch. Whatever."
Bomi, meanwhile, was already digging through her toy box. "Unnie, do you like bears or rabbits?"
Haneul tilted her head. "Bears."
Bomi beamed and handed her a slightly worn but well-loved teddy bear. "Here! His name is Pudding."
Haneul took the bear, inspecting it with a neutral expression. Then, unexpectedly, she gave a small nod. "Thank you."
Seojun stared.
…She's actually accepting it?
Bomi grinned. "Now you have to take care of him!"
Haneul glanced down at the bear, then back at Bomi. "I will."
Seojun sighed. "Alright, enough of this. Bomi, go wash up. You're still sticky from the fish cake."
Bomi pouted but obeyed, skipping toward the bathroom.
That left Seojun and Haneul in awkward silence.
He exhaled, crossing his arms. "You taking the couch or the floor?"
Haneul blinked. "Couch."
"…You don't even hesitate, huh."
"It's the obvious choice."
Seojun clicked his tongue but didn't argue. He grabbed a spare blanket and tossed it onto the couch. "Here. Don't complain if it's uncomfortable."
"I won't."
He watched as she sat down, still holding the teddy bear. She didn't look particularly vulnerable. But she also didn't look like someone who had anywhere else to go.
"…You gonna tell me why you're really here?"
Haneul met his gaze, unreadable as always.
Then, quietly, she said, "There's someone annoying."
Seojun's eyes narrowed.
"…someone annoying?"
She didn't respond. But the lack of an answer was an answer in itself.
His jaw clenched.
He knew better than to pry.
"Fine," he muttered, looking away. "Stay as long as you need. Just don't make a mess."
"I won't."
Seojun sighed, rubbing his face. "Annoying."
Haneul hummed. "I get that a lot."
He shot her a glare. She just blinked back at him, completely unfazed.
"…Whatever," he muttered, turning toward his room. "Get some sleep. You look like hell."
Haneul didn't respond, but as he closed the door behind him, he caught a glimpse of her, sitting quietly on the couch, fingers resting lightly on the teddy bear's fur.
For some reason, the sight made his chest feel tight.
…But it was not his problem.
With that thought, he turned off the light.
Seojun woke with a dry throat. How annoying.
Rubbing his face, he dragged himself out of bed and shuffled toward the kitchen, careful not to wake Bomi. The apartment was dim, moonlight filtering through the window. He reached for a glass—
Then froze.
Soft, muffled sobs.
Seojun's grip tightened on the glass. His gaze flickered toward the living room.
Haneul.
She wasn't loud. If anything, the quiet way she cried made it worse. Like she was used to holding it in.
Sigh.
Seojun turned back to the sink, filling his glass. This wasn't his problem. People cried. They had their own reasons. He had enough on his plate without playing therapist.
Still—
He lingered.
It was weird. He'd never seen Haneul laugh, never seen her get mad. She was always just… there. Watching. Detached.
But now, in the dark, she wasn't unreadable. She was just a girl sitting alone on a couch, crying into a stuffed bear.
His jaw clenched.
For a second, he considered saying something. But what would he even say? "Hey, quit crying"? "Want a drink of water"? "Go to sleep"?
All of it sounded stupid.
He let out a slow breath and stepped away.
Still, before heading back to his room, he left a second glass of water on the table.
No words. Just that.
Then he went back to bed, pretending he didn't care.
The next morning, Seojun woke to the faint scent of something sweet.
Still groggy, he sat up, rubbing his face before glancing toward the living room. Haneul was already awake, sitting on the couch with her hands wrapped around a cup of tea. Next to her, the teddy bear—Pudding—was propped neatly against the cushions.
His eyes flicked to the table. The glass of water he'd left was still there. Untouched.
He exhaled through his nose, rolling his shoulders as he stood. Whatever. It wasn't like he expected a thank you.
He walked past her toward the kitchen and paused when he saw Bomi at the table, swinging her legs. She had a piece of toast in her hands, jam smeared across it in uneven globs.
She beamed. "Unnie made breakfast."
Seojun blinked. His gaze shifted to the counter—neatly cut toast, an open jar of strawberry jam, and a pot of tea. Simple.
He turned to Haneul. "You cook?"
She finally looked at him, her face unreadable as always. "It's just toast."
He huffed a quiet laugh. "Fair enough."
Bomi grinned and took another bite. "Unnie's tea is really good! It tastes like a hug."
Seojun raised a brow but poured himself a cup. He took a sip.
It was warm. Not just in temperature, but in a way that settled in his chest. A little sweet, with a faint floral note.
He glanced at Haneul again. "You drink this often?"
She nodded. "It helps."
He didn't ask with what.
Instead, he leaned against the counter, watching as Bomi chatted away, completely at ease. Across from her, Haneul listened, responding every now and then in that calm, quiet way of hers.
No sign of last night's tears. No indication she'd cried at all.
If he hadn't heard it himself, he wouldn't have believed it.
Fine. If she wasn't going to bring it up, neither would he.
The morning passed quietly.
Bomi filled the space with easy chatter, talking about school, her favorite cartoons, and the stray cat that sometimes appeared near the apartment complex. Haneul listened, occasionally nodding or offering a short response. It was strange—she wasn't warm, but she wasn't cold either. Just… present.
Seojun observed them from the counter, sipping his tea.
It was weird seeing someone else at the table. Usually, it was just him and Bomi, her voice echoing through the small apartment while he nodded along, half-distracted by whatever else needed his attention.
Now, there was a third person. A quiet presence that somehow didn't disrupt the rhythm of things.
Still, he wasn't about to let her get too comfortable.
He set his cup down. "So. How long are you planning to stay?"
Bomi paused mid-bite, glancing between them.
Haneul met his gaze evenly. "Not long."
Not an answer.
Seojun frowned. "You got somewhere else to go?"
She didn't reply right away. Instead, she placed her cup down, her fingers resting lightly against the ceramic. Then, in that same calm voice, she said, "I'll leave when it's safe."
Bomi furrowed her brows. "Safe from what?"
Haneul didn't answer.
Seojun exhaled through his nose, resisting the urge to pinch his temples. He didn't have the energy for cryptic nonsense first thing in the morning.
But before he could say anything, Bomi reached across the table and took Haneul's hand in both of hers.
"Then stay until it is," she said, completely sure of herself. "We have space."
Seojun stared at her.
Haneul did too.
Then, to his surprise, she gave a small nod. "Alright."
Bomi grinned, satisfied.
Seojun leaned back, crossing his arms. He wasn't sure what annoyed him more—the fact that Bomi had decided for him, or the fact that Haneul agreed so easily.
Either way, he knew what this meant.
For now, she wasn't going anywhere.