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✶⋆.˚꩜ A Quiet Surrender .ᐟ˙⋆✶

The morning sunlight seeped into the room, casting a golden glow over the quiet scene. Ishaan stirred awake, his head heavy and his body aching, but there was a peculiar warmth surrounding him. As his eyes fluttered open, he realized he wasn’t alone.

Seungcheol was sprawled in a chair beside him, his head resting on the edge of the bed, his hand loosely clutching Ishaan’s. It was as if he had fallen asleep mid-conversation, his face peaceful yet exhausted.

Ishaan blinked, his heart skipping a beat at the sight. "This man..." he muttered under his breath, though his voice lacked the usual annoyance.

He gently pulled his hand away, trying not to wake Seungcheol. But as if sensing the loss, Seungcheol’s eyes fluttered open, and a sleepy grin immediately spread across his face.

"Biwi," he croaked, his voice hoarse from sleep. "Good morning. Did you miss me?"

Ishaan rolled his eyes, though his lips twitched in an involuntary smile. "You’re impossible."

Seungcheol stretched, his grin widening. "Impossible for everyone but you, Ishu. Admit it—you were staring at me while I slept, weren’t you?"

"Staring at you? I was debating whether to push you off the chair or just leave you there to drool all over yourself," Ishaan retorted, crossing his arms but unable to hide the faint blush creeping up his neck.

Seungcheol gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. "Such cruelty! After all I’ve done for you, you still refuse to confess your undying love for me."

Ishaan threw a pillow at him, which Seungcheol caught with ease, laughing. "If you’re done being ridiculous, can you move? I need to freshen up."

Seungcheol stood, blocking Ishaan’s path with an exaggerated bow. "Allow me to escort my precious biwi to the bathroom. Shall I carry you? Perhaps sing you a morning serenade?"

Ishaan pushed past him with a huff, though the corners of his lips twitched upward. "I’ll handle myself, thank you very much."

As Ishaan disappeared into the bathroom, Seungcheol plopped back into the chair, a goofy smile plastered across his face. He ran a hand through his messy hair, thinking about the events of the previous night. The way Ishaan had looked at him, touched his hair, and whispered those soft words—it was enough to make his heart race all over again.

"He’s warming up to me," Seungcheol murmured to himself. "Slowly but surely."

Later That Morning

Breakfast was a lively affair as the family gathered around, chatting and laughing. Ishaan was seated beside Anaya, who was giving him a knowing look.

"You look better today, bhai," she said, her voice soft but teasing. "Did someone take extra care of you last night?"

Ishaan shot her a warning glance. "Anaya, don’t start."

Before Anaya could reply, Seungcheol strolled into the room, his hair still damp from a shower, looking effortlessly handsome. He made a beeline for Ishaan, plopping down in the empty seat beside him.

"Morning, everyone," Seungcheol greeted cheerfully before turning his attention to Ishaan. "How’s my favorite patient today?"

Ishaan groaned, covering his face with his hands. "Why do you have to be so loud?"

"Because I’m your knight in shining armor, and I need to make sure everyone knows it," Seungcheol said with a wink, earning a round of laughter from the table.