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The soft rays of morning sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, painting the room in a gentle golden glow. Jake blinked awake, his eyes adjusting to the warm light. He shifted slightly, but the weight against his chest stopped him.

Looking down, he saw Minjae still curled up against him, her face relaxed in peaceful slumber. Her hair was a mess, strands sticking out in all directions, and her lips were slightly parted as she breathed evenly. She looked utterly serene—and utterly adorable.

Jake chuckled softly, the sound barely audible. He had never woken up like this before, with someone so close. Normally, she'd be on one side of the bed, and him on the other, with a pillow in between. 

The last time she was this close was when he had to pull her close because of her shivering. It was... new, but he couldn't bring himself to dislike it. If anything, he felt strangely content.

He carefully reached up to brush a stray strand of hair from her face, his fingers lingering just a second longer than necessary. Minjae stirred at the touch, her brows furrowing slightly before her eyes fluttered open.

Her gaze was sleepy and unfocused at first, but when her eyes met Jake's, a soft smile tugged at her lips. "Morning," she mumbled, her voice husky from sleep.

"Morning, sleepyhead." Jake replied, his voice quieter than usual.

Minjae yawned, stretching slightly but making no effort to move away from him. Instead, she snuggled closer, her head pressing against his chest. "You're so warm," she murmured, her words muffled against him.

Jake felt his face heat up, but he managed a teasing grin. "Yeah, well, you're basically using me as a pillow."

Minjae laughed softly, the sound like music to Jake's ears. "Best pillow I've ever had," she quipped, her voice still laced with sleep.

Jake rolled his eyes, but the small smile on his face gave away how much he didn't mind. "You're ridiculous."

"And yet, here you are," Minjae countered, tilting her head to look up at him. There was a playful glint in her eyes now, one that made Jake's heart skip a beat.

He shook his head, pretending to be exasperated. "You're lucky I'm a nice guy."

"Hmm, so lucky," Minjae teased, resting her cheek against his chest again. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting out a contented sigh. "Can we stay like this a little longer?"

Jake hesitated, his arm tightening slightly around her as if his body had already made the decision for him. "Yeah," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "We can stay."

Minutes passed, the silence between them comfortable and warm. Jake could feel the steady rhythm of Minjae's breathing, and for once, his mind wasn't racing with a million thoughts.

But Minjae, of course, couldn't leave the moment without adding her own twist. "Jake?"

"Hmm?"

"Your heartbeat's really loud," she said, her voice teasing but soft.