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( 14 ) . don't leave

Jake blinked, his heart skipping a beat at the question. "You want me to stay?" he asked, his voice softer than he intended.

Minjae nodded, patting the space beside her. "Don't overthink it."

Jake let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "Alright, but if you hog the blanket, I'm kicking you out."

Minjae giggled softly, already snuggling into her side of the bed. "Deal."

After turning off the bedside lamp, Jake slid under the covers, lying on his back and staring up at the ceiling. The room was quiet, save for the soft sounds of their breathing, and the warmth of Minjae's presence beside him was oddly comforting.

A moment later, he felt her shift closer, her head resting lightly on his arm. "You're warm," she murmured sleepily.

Jake stiffened for a moment, his cheeks heating up, but he didn't pull away. "So I've been told," he muttered, trying to sound nonchalant.

Minjae let out a soft laugh, her fingers lightly brushing against his arm as she adjusted her position. "Thanks for carrying me," she said quietly, her voice sincere.

"Yeah, yeah," Jake mumbled, turning his head to look at her. "You're lucky you're small. Carrying you wasn't that hard."

Minjae grinned, her eyes twinkling even in the dim light. "Are you calling me weak?"

"No, I'm calling you light," Jake corrected, his lips quirking into a smirk. "But if you wanna go to the gym with me sometime, I won't stop you."

She laughed, the sound soft and melodic, and Jake felt that strange flutter in his chest again. "I'll think about it," she said, her voice already growing quieter as sleep began to claim her once more.

Before long, Minjae's breathing evened out, her head resting against his shoulder as she drifted off. Jake stayed still, unsure of whether he should move or just let her stay there.

Eventually, he decided to stay. He adjusted the blanket to cover both of them better, his arm curling around her shoulders instinctively as he settled in. The weight of her against him was surprisingly comforting, and for the first time in a while, Jake felt at peace.

"Goodnight, Minjae," he whispered, his voice barely audible in the quiet room.

Minjae stirred slightly, her hand lightly gripping his hoodie in her sleep as she murmured something unintelligible. Jake smiled softly, his eyes closing as he let himself relax.

As the night stretched on, the two of them remained like that—tangled together in a shared warmth that neither of them had expected but both of them had needed.

Jake carefully shifted to lie beside Minjae, mindful of her head resting on his arm. The soft rise and fall of her breathing filled the room, and he found himself studying her features in the dim light.

Her hair framed her face messily, but she still looked peaceful, a faint smile lingering on her lips even in sleep. Jake couldn't help but smile too.

For a while, he stayed like that, unsure if he should move or just let himself enjoy this rare moment of quiet closeness. He wasn't used to being this close to anyone, but with Minjae, it didn't feel awkward or forced. 

If anything, it felt...nice. Almost too nice.

Just as Jake began to drift off, Minjae stirred slightly. She mumbled something unintelligible, shifting closer to him and nuzzling against his chest. Jake froze, his breath catching in his throat as her hand unconsciously grabbed the front of his shirt, clutching it like a lifeline.

"Jake..." she murmured softly in her sleep, her voice barely audible.

His heart skipped a beat at the sound of his name. Was she dreaming about him? The thought made his chest tighten in a way he didn't understand. Carefully, he adjusted the blanket over both of them, tucking it around her shoulders to keep her warm.

As the minutes ticked by, Jake found himself unable to sleep. Every small movement Minjae made sent a new wave of warmth through him. She shifted again, her leg brushing against his under the covers, and Jake felt like his entire body was on fire.

"Minjae," he whispered softly, unsure why he was even trying to talk to her while she was asleep. "You're kind of impossible, you know that?"

In response, Minjae let out a quiet sigh, her fingers curling tighter into his shirt. Jake chuckled softly under his breath, shaking his head. "Guess I'll take that as an 'I know.'"

A few minutes passed, and just as Jake began to think she was fully settled, Minjae surprised him by speaking again. "Jake...don't leave," she murmured, her voice slurred with sleep but filled with emotion.

Jake's chest tightened. "I'm not going anywhere," he said quietly, his voice soft but firm.

Minjae didn't respond, but her grip on his shirt relaxed slightly as if his words had reassured her even in her sleep. Jake sighed, his free hand coming up to gently brush a strand of hair out of her face.

As the night wore on, Jake finally started to drift off. But just as he was about to fall asleep, Minjae shifted again, her head lifting slightly. Her eyes fluttered open, dazed and unfocused, as she looked up at him.

"Jake?" she whispered groggily, her voice still thick with sleep.

"Yeah?" he replied, his voice low.

Minjae blinked a few times, her gaze softening as she registered his face. "You're still here..."

Jake smiled, his heart doing that stupid fluttering thing again. "Told you I'm not going anywhere."

Minjae gave a small, sleepy smile in return before surprising him by resting her hand lightly on his chest, right over his heart. "Good," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jake swallowed hard, unsure what to say. Instead, he placed his hand gently over hers, holding it there as he felt her breathing even out once more.

The rest of the night passed in quiet contentment. At some point, Minjae's hand slipped from his chest, and she turned slightly, curling into him like he was her personal heater. Jake, despite his initial awkwardness, found himself wrapping an arm around her, holding her close.