You were in Hyunjin's living room. The house was quiet, smelling of freshly brewed tea. His mother was in the kitchen and his father was reading something in his office. You and Hyunjin were sitting on the sofa, sharing the same blanket, watching some random movie just to pass the time.

Suddenly, you felt that strange discomfort in your lower abdomen. It wasn't new… but it wasn't expected today either. An unease, a heaviness… and that automatic thought:

“No. Not now.”

You tried to ignore it for a few minutes, but then you felt your heart race. A different kind of heat. Something was wrong.

You got up from the sofa to go to the bathroom and, as you moved, you noticed the stain on the light-colored fabric of the borrowed pajamas his mother had given you to sleep in.

Your face burned. Your throat closed up.

Hyunjin realized immediately that something was wrong. He got up too, the smile fading from his face.

"Hey…" he said softly, "what happened?"

You tried to speak, but only shook your head, clutching the blanket tightly around your body. He followed your gaze. He saw the sofa. He saw your pajamas.

He froze.

His eyes widened. He stood still for a split second and then ran a hand through his hair, completely nervous.

"O-okay… it's alright," he said quickly, his voice a little louder than he intended. "It's okay! No problem! It's just… it's just blood. It's normal, totally normal."

He took a deep breath and tried to appear calm. He didn't quite manage it.

"You… are you in pain?" he asked, gently taking your hand.

You nodded, embarrassed.

"I'm sorry…" you whispered. "I got blood on your parents' sofa and your mom's pajamas…"

He shook his head immediately.

"Don't apologize. Never for that." His voice was firmer this time. "Really."

He took off his own sweatshirt and wrapped it around you so no one could see anything on the way to the bathroom.

"Come with me," he said, "slowly, okay? I'll stay by the door."

He led you to the bathroom and stopped outside, nervously tapping his fingers on his leg.

"I'll... I'll sort out the sofa," he said, "and get your things. You have pads in your backpack, right?"

You confirmed from inside the bathroom.

"Okay. I'll bring them. And hot water. And medicine... I'll ask my mom..." he paused, desperately trying to himself, "I'll tell you without saying exactly what it is. You don't need to be embarrassed."

He really tried.

He spoke, stumbling over his words, but carefully, not wanting to make you feel uncomfortable.

Then he came back and knocked lightly on the door:

"I left them here on the doorknob, okay? And there's a pair of my pants too. They're loose, but comfortable."

When you left, he was standing in the hallway, looking tense, biting his lip, as if he'd taken a test without studying.

"Does it hurt a lot?" he asked. You shrugged. He slowly approached, touching your hand.

"I get nervous…" he confessed softly, "because I don't know exactly what to do, but I really want to do everything right for you."

He took you to his room, put you on the bed, arranged the pillows behind your back, covered you up to your neck, and then relaxed a little.

He sat there, on the edge of the bed, looking at you.

"And… I'm sorry for being so nervous."

He laughed at himself, his hand still holding yours. You pressed your fingers against his. Hyunjin breathed, finally calmer.

And he stayed there. Flushed cheeks, racing heart, even without knowing exactly what to do, trying his way.