As the day lazily stretched into the afternoon, neither of them made much effort to leave the cozy confines of the bed. Minjae eventually stirred, lifting her head from Jake's shoulder with a sleepy expression. Her hair was a mess, sticking out at odd angles, and her cheeks were adorably puffed from resting against him for so long.
Jake chuckled at the sight, reaching out without thinking to smooth down her hair. "You look like you just lost a fight with a tornado."
Minjae swatted his hand away half-heartedly, her lips twitching into a sleepy smile. "I'll have you know, this is my signature morning look, dumbass."
Jake raised an eyebrow, leaning back against the headboard. "Yeah? Not sure Vogue's ready for that one."
Minjae pouted, crossing her arms in mock indignation. "You're just jealous because I make messy look good."
"Sure, sure," Jake teased, the corner of his mouth lifting in a smirk. "Keep telling yourself that."
Before Minjae could retort, her stomach growled loudly, interrupting her. She froze, her face turning red as Jake burst out laughing.
"Wow," he said, his laughter still bubbling up. "Your stomach is really stealing the spotlight today."
"Don't laugh!" Minjae whined, hiding her face in her hands. "I can't help it! Breakfast was hours ago."
Jake shook his head, still grinning as he stood up and stretched. "Alright, alright. Guess it's time to feed you again. Stay put, and don't fall asleep this time."
Minjae peeked at him through her fingers, her eyes narrowing playfully. "What if I do? You'll have to carry me again."
Jake shot her a look over his shoulder, his smirk turning mischievous. "Don't tempt me. I'll throw you over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes this time."
Minjae giggled, leaning back against the pillows. "Bold of you to assume I'd mind."
Shaking his head in amusement, Jake made his way to the kitchenette, rummaging through the cupboards to find something simple to make. Minjae watched him from the bed, her chin resting on her knees.
"Hey, Jake?" she called out after a few moments.
"Yeah?"
She hesitated, her voice soft when she finally spoke. "Thanks. For everything. You didn't have to take care of me like this, but... you did."
Jake paused, glancing back at her. Her sincerity caught him off guard, and for a moment, he wasn't sure how to respond. Finally, he shrugged, turning back to the counter.
"You don't have to thank me," he said, his voice quieter now. "I just... I don't know. It felt right."
Minjae smiled, hugging her knees to her chest. "Well, for what it's worth, you're really good at it. Taking care of people, I mean."
Jake froze for a split second, her words catching him off guard. He recovered quickly, busying himself with the pan in front of him. "Don't get used to it," he muttered, though his tone was far from harsh.
Minjae grinned. "Too late."
By the time Jake returned with a plate of grilled cheese sandwiches, Minjae was sprawled across the bed, her eyes closed but a sly smile tugging at her lips.
"Didn't I tell you not to fall asleep?" Jake asked, setting the plate on the bedside table.
Minjae didn't respond, her eyes still closed but a tiny giggle escaping from her lips. Jake shook his head with a sigh, and repeated louder, "Minjae. I told you not to sleep, you bratty little minx."
Minjae peeked one eye open, her smile widening. "I wasn't sleeping. I was conserving energy."
"For what? Annoying me?"
"Exactly," she said with a laugh, sitting up and grabbing a sandwich.
Jake shook his head but couldn't help the fond smile that crept onto his face. He sat beside her, and for a while, they ate in companionable silence, the soft hum of the outside world filtering in through the slightly open window.
When they'd finished, Minjae leaned back against the headboard, sighing contentedly. "You know, this is probably the best trip I've had in... well, ever."
Jake glanced at her, his expression softening. "Yeah?"
She nodded, turning to look at him with a small smile. "Yeah. Thanks to you."
Jake felt his chest tighten at her words, the sincerity in her gaze making his usual defenses crumble. He cleared his throat, looking away. "Again, you're easily impressed."
Minjae laughed, the sound light and genuine. "Maybe. Or maybe you're just better than you think you are."
Jake didn't reply, but the faint blush on his cheeks didn't go unnoticed.
As the afternoon stretched on, Minjae scooted closer, resting her head on Jake's shoulder once more. This time, he didn't stiffen or hesitate. Instead, he leaned into her slightly, letting the moment settle around them like a warm blanket.
And as the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the room in soft hues of gold and pink, Jake found himself thinking that maybe, just maybe, letting someone in wasn't so bad after all.
As the evening rolled in, the room bathed in the gentle, warm glow of the setting sun. The golden light stretched across the bed, illuminating Minjae's face as she rested against Jake's shoulder. Her eyes were half-closed, her breathing slow and steady, and Jake could feel her warmth through the fabric of his shirt.
It was a strange feeling—comfortable, intimate, and oddly soothing. He wasn't used to sharing moments like this, where no words were needed, and the quiet felt natural. Normally, Jake would find a way to break the silence, to distract himself from the vulnerability of it all.
But with Minjae, it didn't feel like vulnerability. It felt... safe.
"Hey," she murmured, breaking through his thoughts.
"Hmm?" Jake tilted his head slightly to look at her, his cheek brushing against her hair.
"I think you'd make a really good boyfriend," she said casually, her voice soft but laced with teasing.
Jake blinked, his heart skipping an unexpected beat. "What—where did that come from?"
Minjae shrugged, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I'm just saying. You've got all the qualities: sweet when you want to be, good at taking care of people, kind of charming in your own way..."
"Kind of?" Jake raised an eyebrow, feigning offense.
Minjae laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Okay, okay. Very charming. Happy now?"
Jake smirked, leaning back against the headboard. "I guess I'll take it."
A comfortable silence fell between them again, but Jake couldn't help but feel her words lingering in the air. He glanced down at her, noticing the way the golden light framed her features. She looked peaceful, like she belonged in this moment, and for a fleeting second, Jake wondered if there was some truth to what she'd said.
Minjae suddenly shifted, pulling away just enough to stretch her arms out. "Ugh, I don't want this trip to end," she said, flopping back onto the bed dramatically. "Reality is going to hit so hard.."
Jake chuckled, turning to face her. "It's not over yet. You still have a two days before reality catches up."
Minjae propped herself up on her elbows, tilting her head to look at him. "And what do you propose we do with those days, Mr. Sim?"
Jake pretended to think, tapping his chin. "Hmm, we could... sit here and complain, or—"
"Or?" Minjae prompted, raising an eyebrow.
"We could go stargazing," he suggested, surprising even himself with the idea.
Minjae's face lit up, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Really? You want to go stargazing?"
Jake shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Why not? You said you like the stars, and there's a hill not far from here that's supposed to have a great view."
Minjae sat up fully, her energy returning in an instant. "Let's do it! But only if you promise not to complain about bugs or dirt."
"No promises," Jake said with a smirk, but he was already reaching for his jacket.