The hotel room was quiet curtains were half drawn, the city lights outside blurred by clouds and falling snow.
Taekyun sat on the couch near the window, his elbows resting on his knees, his gaze fixed ahead but his mind wasn't anywhere close to the present.
At some point, without realizing it, exhaustion won.
His head tilted slightly.
His eyes closed.
Taekyun fell asleep sitting there, still facing the window.
While,
Haneul's eyes opened slowly.
For a moment,
He didn't know where he was.
The unfamiliar ceiling, the dim lighting then memory rushed back.
His body ached, his head felt heavy, and the faint scent of Taekyun lingered around him.
He turned his head.
The bed beside him was empty.
His heart skipped.
Carefully, weakly, wrapped in the blanket, Haneul pushed himself up.
His legs trembled as he stood, but he forced himself forward, one slow step at a time, following the faint light coming from the living area.
And then he saw him.
Taekyun was asleep on the couch, sitting upright.
His head was slightly tilted to the side, his shirt a little open at the collar.
His breathing was slow, steady but something about the way he sat made Haneul frown.
He moved closer.
Haneul gently reached out and touched Taekyun's hand.
Cold.
Too cold.
Without waking him, Haneul carefully lifted the blanket from his own shoulders and draped it over Taekyun.
His movements were slow, cautious, as if even the smallest sound might break something fragile.
Then, hesitating only a second, he sat down beside him on the couch, pulling the blanket partly over himself as well.
Taekyun didn't move.
Didn't wake. Didn't realize.
Haneul leaned slightly toward him, his body still trembling, and closed his eyes.
[Morning came quietly]
Around seven,
Pale light filtered through the cloudy sky, slipping through the window and landing across the room.
Taekyun's eyes opened.
For a brief second, he was disoriented.
Then he felt it weight. Warmth. Something resting against him.
He looked down.
Carefully, he lifted the edge of the blanket.
Haneul was there.
Half curled on the couch.
Half resting across Taekyun's lap.
Asleep.
Peaceful.
Taekyun's jaw tightened instantly, veins standing out along his neck.
He turned his head away, eyes squeezing shut for a moment as if trying to steady himself.
Haneul slept on, unaware.
It was still cloudy outside.
The room remained quiet, heavy with unspoken things.
Taekyun shifted slightly.
Haneul's eyes fluttered open Slowly. Heavy-lidded.
He looked up at Taekyun, blinking once before speaking softly.
"Last night you fell asleep here,"
He said.
"You were cold.
That's why I put the blanket on you."
Taekyun nodded silently.
His eyes moved over Haneul his bandaged hand,
He reached out without thinking, placing his fingers gently against Haneul's forehead, checking for fever.
Haneul froze.
His eyes widened slightly at the touch, his breath hitching just a little.
Taekyun withdrew his hand and straightened.
Without a word, he adjusted the blanket around Haneul properly, covering him carefully.
"I'll ask for breakfast,"
He said calmly, quietly.
"You eat, then get some rest."
Haneul watched him as Taekyun stood and walked toward the bathroom.
The sound of running water followed.
Taekyun washed his face, grounding himself, then came back out, reaching for his phone to make a call.
"I don't want to eat yet,"
Haneul said softly.
Taekyun looked at him and nodded, accepting it without argument.
He picked up his coat.
Haneul stood up slightly from the couch.
One leg slipped out from beneath the blanket, his trousers riding up.
His shirt was half tucked, half loose, giving him an almost childlike, vulnerable appearance as he walked toward Taekyun.
"When you need breakfast,"
Taekyun said calmly, phone in hand,
"just make a call. If you can't call me,
I'll do it."
Haneul stopped in front of him.
"Are you going back?"
He asked.
Taekyun nodded.
"I'll come back in the evening.
I'll take you back then."
Haneul's brows knit together.
"Can't I go with you now?"
Taekyun took a long breath before answering.
"For now, you can't meet my mother."
Haneul stared at him stubbornly.
"Then I'll go to Bora's house."
Taekyun shook his head slightly.
"For now, it's better if you stay here."
"I've installed CCTV in my room here. I'll be watching."
Haneul smiled faintly.
"Like you do at home."
Taekyun looked at him but showed nothing. No reaction. No explanation of how Haneul knew.
He turned away, picked up the blanket, and placed it back on the bed.
"For now,"
He said, looking at Haneul again,
"stay here and rest.
If you need anything, call."
He turned to leave.
Haneul followed him a step.
Taekyun stopped and turned back.
"Do you need something?"
Haneul shook his head.
Then suddenly,
He stepped forward and hugged him.
"I'll be waiting for you."
Taekyun's breath hitched.
His heart raced.
His hands clenched at his sides, but he didn't move away.
"Hm,"
He responded quietly.
"Tell Haru I'll be back,"
Haneul added.
"Hm."
Haneul released him.
Taekyun didn't look back even once as he walked out, the door closing softly behind him.
The elevator ride down was silent.
Taekyun exited the hotel and went straight to the counter.
"Bring my car,"
He instructed.
The staff bowed quickly.
He handed over his card.
"Make sure he's well taken care of."
"Yes, sir. We'll update you regularly."
Taekyun nodded.
The car arrived.
He got in and immediately made a call.
"Lihan,"
He said.
"I'm leaving for the residence.
Send some men to the hotel."
"Tell them to stay there until I return.
I don't want any mistakes."
"Understood,"
Lihan replied.
"And them?"
Taekyun asked
"Last night, I changed the residence guards," Lihan said.
"We took Liya and the guards involved. Some were paid by her.
Others said they followed because she claimed it was Madam's order."
"Where is she now?"
Taekyun asked.
"She's in the hospital."
Taekyun paused.
"Hospital?"
"I sent Mingi to question her,"
Lihan said dryly.
"She ended up beating her.
You know her patience."
"Hm,"
Taekyun replied, unbothered.
"Make sure everything stays under control until Mother leaves Gwanrim."
"Yes."
The call ended.
[Around 8am]
It was already eight when Taekyun returned to the residence.
Mrs. Kim sat at the breakfast table, perfectly composed.
Bora served her tea.
Mrs. Kim lifted the cup.
The moment Taekyun entered.....
She set it down hard.
Tea spilled across the saucer.
The staff froze.
Bora stepped back immediately.
Mrs. Kim stood.
Taekyun walked toward her calmly.
"Where have you been all night,"
She demanded,
"that you forgot your mother had come?"
"Something came up,"
Taekyun replied politely.
Mrs. Kim narrowed her eyes.
"Something came up or you were trying to hide someone?"
Taekyun's jaw clenched.
"If I want to be with someone,
I don't need to hide them."
Mrs. Kim laughed coldly.
"Do you think I don't know you?"
"You're not afraid of us.
You're afraid we might hurt that person."
"I don't know who gave you that information,"
Taekyun said evenly.
"But if I want someone and I can protect them I will."
"And if protecting them means standing against even the closest people to me"
"I can do that."
Mrs. Kim smiled slowly.
"Seems like you've recovered from your past."
She turned to Bora.
"Prepare the guards. I'm leaving."
Bora nodded and left with the staff.
Mrs. Kim stepped closer to Taekyun.
"I don't know who that Omega boy is,"
She said quietly.
"No matter how attractive he may be, you know our family rules."
Taekyun's jaw tightened.
"And remember,"
She continued,
"Even if Jina isn't Harin's blood-related sister, they grew up together."
"Think carefully."
The guards entered and bowed.
Mrs. Kim placed her hand on Taekyun's shoulder.
"And if possible, keep Haru within limits."
"I know she's your daughter, but don't let her cross what the Kim family allows."
She turned to leave.
Taekyun spoke without hesitation.
"No matter what rules this family has, I fulfilled them."
"But when it comes to my daughter"
"I'll break every single rule if I have to."
Mrs. Kim's blood boiled.
But she walked away without turning back.