The bus was loud — people laughing, shouting, trading snacks, blasting music — but somehow the sound all blurred into the background the moment you leaned into her.

You were tired. Exhausted in that soft, heavy way where your body just wants to fold into something warm. So you placed your My Melody neck pillow on her lap, almost shy, almost pretending it was “for comfort” and “not because it was her.”

But the second your head touched the pillow, she moved like it was instinct.

Her hand slid to your back first, warm and steady, as if she needed to make sure you were really there. Then her fingers brushed through your hair, tucking a stray strand behind your ear with that “pretend-I’m-not-soft-about-you” gentleness.

And slowly… your body relaxed. Your breathing softened. Your eyes fluttered closed.

You fell asleep on her lap.

But she didn’t.

Every time the bus hit a bump, your head shifted — even just a little — and she immediately cupped the side of your skull with her palm, protecting you from the armrest like it was the most natural thing in the world.

She kept doing it, over and over, even when her own eyes were heavy, even when her head was already leaning back against the seat.

Everyone else was asleep. She wasn’t.

Because you were on her lap.

At one point, she adjusted her posture — slowly, carefully, because she didn’t want to wake you or make you uncomfortable. Then she draped her jacket over you, tucking it around your shoulders like a blanket, her fingers lingering for just a second longer on your arm.

You didn’t see it, but she was watching you. Not in a creepy way — in that soft, quiet, “I can’t believe she trusts me this much” way.

She kept her hand on your head the whole time, her thumb brushing gently against your hair whenever the bus swayed.

And every time she felt the bus slow down or turn sharply, she leaned in a bit more, her body shielding yours from the armrest.

The truth? She never slept. Not even for a minute.

Because the whole time you were dreaming, she was awake — guarding you, holding your head steady, watching over you like you were the most precious thing on that bus.

And when you stirred, barely waking, she whispered softly:

“go back to sleep… i got you.”

And she meant it.