TEAR // C.SB.

The night felt heavier than usual, the air in the apartment tinged with an unshakable stillness. Soobin had long gone to bed, his steady breathing faintly audible from the other room. Sooha, however, remained wide awake, sitting cross-legged on the couch and staring at the window. The city's dim glow poured in, casting her in an otherworldly light.

Sleep was a luxury she rarely indulged in. Memories of her fall-the golden gates of Heaven slamming shut and the devil's mocking laughter-always crept into her dreams when she closed her eyes. Tonight was no different.

When her eyes finally fluttered shut, the nightmare came instantly. She was back in the void between Heaven and Earth, her wings burning as they tore apart. The devil's voice echoed in her ears.

"You thought you could defy me, little angel? Look at you now-lost, broken, and dying. Your time is running out."

Sooha jolted awake, her chest heaving as she fought to catch her breath. A cold sweat clung to her skin, and her trembling fingers gripped the blanket tightly. She hadn't realized she'd whimpered until the door to Soobin's room creaked open.

"Sooha?" Soobin's voice was groggy, but it carried the same gentleness that always disarmed her. He stepped into the dim light of the living room, his expression softening when he saw her curled up on the couch.

"I'm fine," she said quickly, avoiding his gaze. "Go back to bed."

But Soobin wasn't convinced. He sat down on the edge of the couch, his presence radiating warmth. "You don't look fine," he said softly. "Bad dream?"

Sooha hesitated, the weight of her secrets pressing heavily on her. But there was something in Soobin's gaze-an unwavering patience-that made her feel like maybe, just maybe, she didn't have to carry it all alone.

"It's always the same," she admitted quietly. "I keep reliving... the moment I fell."

Soobin didn't interrupt. He simply waited, letting her continue at her own pace.

"I wasn't supposed to love," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Angels aren't allowed to feel things like that. But I wanted to-so much that I made a mistake, and now... I don't even know who I am anymore."

Soobin leaned back, his expression thoughtful. "You're Sooha. That's who you are. And you don't have to figure it all out right now."

Her eyes flickered to him, searching for any hint of judgment. But there was none-only understanding. For the first time in a long while, the knot in her chest loosened just slightly.

Later, unable to sleep, Soobin offered to take her for a late-night walk. The city was quiet, the streets lit by the faint glow of streetlamps. Sooha walked close to him, her eyes darting between the towering buildings and the occasional car passing by.

"This reminds me of when I was a kid," Soobin said suddenly, breaking the silence.

"How?" Sooha asked, glancing at him.

"I grew up in a small town," he said, smiling faintly. "At night, everything was so quiet. My family didn't have much, but I'd lie in bed and dream about singing on big stages someday. It felt impossible back then, but those dreams kept me going."

"Dreams?" Sooha echoed, the word unfamiliar on her tongue.

"Yeah," he said. "Something you want so badly that it gives you a reason to keep moving forward."

Sooha looked down, her thoughts swirling. She'd had dreams once-dreams of love, of belonging. But they had led her to ruin.

As they turned onto a quieter street, Sooha's steps faltered. A chill ran down her spine, her senses sharpening. She felt it-an oppressive darkness lingering just out of sight. Her wings, though invisible to most, twitched instinctively.

"Sooha?" Soobin asked, noticing her sudden stillness.

"Something's wrong," she murmured, her eyes scanning the shadows.

A flicker of movement caught her eye, but when she turned to look, it was gone. The presence vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving her unsettled.

"What was it?" Soobin asked, concern lacing his voice.

"Nothing," she said, forcing herself to keep walking. But inside, she knew it wasn't nothing. The devil was watching, waiting for the right moment to tighten his grip on her.

By the time they returned to the apartment, Sooha was quieter than usual. She couldn't shake the feeling of being hunted, of her time slipping away faster than she realized.

"Here," Soobin said, draping his jacket over her shoulders as they stepped inside. "You looked cold."

Sooha stared at him, surprised by the gesture. "I'm not cold," she said, though she didn't take it off.

"It's not about being cold," he said with a small smile. "It's about feeling... safe."

The words struck something deep within her. She didn't understand how someone like him could care so much-how he could offer comfort so freely, even when he knew so little about her.

"Thank you," she said softly, clutching the jacket around her.

Soobin grinned, his eyes crinkling at the edges. "Get some rest, Sooha. I'll be here if you need anything."

As he retreated to his room, Sooha sat on the couch, the weight of his jacket settling around her like a shield. For the first time, she allowed herself to believe that maybe, in this chaotic human world, there was a place for her after all.