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Jake sat on the balcony, still feeling the warmth of Minjae's head against his shoulder, her soft breathing mingling with the quiet hum of the night. The stars above twinkled faintly, but his attention was entirely on her. He glanced down at her face—peaceful, relaxed, her lips slightly parted as sleep began to overtake her completely.

"Minjae," he whispered softly, not wanting to startle her but knowing she couldn't just sleep outside. "You're gonna catch a cold if you stay out here."

Her only response was a sleepy hum, her brows furrowing slightly as if annoyed he was trying to disturb her. Jake let out a soft chuckle. She wasn't going to make this easy, was she?

"Minjae," he tried again, a little louder this time. "Come on, let's get you to bed."

She groaned, burying her face further into his shoulder. "Don't wanna move," she mumbled, her words muffled by the fabric of his shirt. "It's too comfy here."

Jake rolled his eyes, though the corners of his lips twitched into a smile. "You'll regret it in the morning if you stay out here and freeze," he teased lightly, nudging her gently. "Come on, I'll help you."

Minjae groaned again, lifting her head just enough to peek at him through half-lidded eyes. "You're mean," she pouted, but the sleepy smile tugging at her lips betrayed her words.

"And you're impossible," Jake shot back, standing up and stretching his arms. "Alright, fine. If you won't move, I'll just have to carry you."

Her eyes widened slightly, though the sleepiness in them dulled the effect. "You wouldn't dare."

Jake smirked, already leaning down to scoop her up before she could protest. "Oh, I dare."

Feeling bold, in one swift motion, he slipped his arms under her knees and behind her back, lifting her effortlessly. Minjae let out a startled squeak, her hands instinctively grabbing onto his shoulders as she stared up at him, her cheeks flushing.

"Jake!" she hissed, though her voice was still soft and drowsy. "Put me down!"

"Nope," he said, popping the 'p' with a grin. "You brought this on yourself."

Minjae huffed, though she made no real effort to struggle, instead letting her head rest against his chest as he carried her back inside the room. "You're lucky I'm too tired to fight you on this," she mumbled, her voice muffled against him.

Jake chuckled, adjusting his hold on her slightly to make sure she was comfortable. "Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that."

When they reached the bed, Jake carefully set her down, pulling the blanket off her shoulders to drape it over the mattress instead. Minjae immediately curled up on her side, her hands tugging the covers closer as she let out a content sigh.

Jake hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do next. As if sensing his hesitation, Minjae peeked up at him, her eyes still half-closed. "You're not gonna make me sleep alone, are you?" she asked, her tone teasing but laced with genuine drowsiness.