the bus stop light flickers softly above you, buzzing like a sleepy insect in the quiet night. the streets are almost empty now, the kind of silence that only appears after a long school day when everyone has already gone home. you hug your backpack closer to your chest, shivering a little.

juhoon notices immediately.

“cold?” he asks, his voice gentle like he already knows the answer.

you shrug, pretending it’s nothing, but a second later his hoodie sleeve brushes your arm when he steps a little closer. it isn’t exactly warmth, but it feels like it anyway.

the bus finally arrives with a tired hiss. you both climb in and sit in the back where the yellow lights are dimmer and the windows show nothing but blurry streetlamps sliding past.

juhoon pulls out his phone and untangles his earphones.

“here,” he says, offering one side to you.

your fingers brush his when you take it. it’s a tiny moment, barely anything, but it sends a warm spark up your arm.

the music starts softly. some slow song neither of you comment on. you sit shoulder to shoulder, the rhythm filling the quiet space between you.

outside, the city drifts by in sleepy pieces.

your head feels heavier with every minute.

today was long. classes, homework, the walk to the bus stop. your eyelids slowly betray you.

without really meaning to, your head tilts.

and lands on juhoon’s shoulder.

for half a second he freezes.

completely.

his brain short-circuits like someone unplugged it.

you’re asleep.

actually asleep.

your breathing slows, warm against the fabric of his hoodie, your cheek resting gently against him like it belongs there.

juhoon stares straight ahead, his heart suddenly beating way too fast for someone sitting on a quiet bus at night.

he swallows.

don’t move.

don’t move.

don’t move.

his eyes slowly slide down to look at you.

your lashes rest softly against your cheeks. your lips are slightly parted, and a tiny puff of breath escapes every few seconds. the dim bus light paints your face in warm gold.

juhoon feels something melt in his chest.

he shifts just barely, careful, careful, so your head sits more comfortably against his shoulder.

you mumble something sleepy and nuzzle closer.

that’s it. his heart is gone. completely gone.

he watches you like you’re the most fascinating thing in the universe.

every few seconds his eyes drift back to your face just to make sure you’re still there. still leaning on him. still trusting him enough to fall asleep like this.

outside the window the lights pass by in slow glowing streaks.

the song changes.

juhoon doesn’t even notice.

he’s too busy memorizing the way you look right now.

there’s something painfully soft about the moment. the quiet hum of the bus, the warmth of you leaning on him, the faint music in his ear.

he thinks, very suddenly, that he would sit like this forever if it meant you could sleep peacefully.

your hand shifts slightly in your lap, brushing against his sleeve.

juhoon glances down.

very slowly, like approaching a shy animal, he lets his hand move a little closer.

not touching.

just there.

close enough that if you moved your fingers an inch they would rest against his.

he smiles faintly to himself.

“you’re going to ruin me like this,” he murmurs under his breath, barely louder than the music.

you don’t hear it. you’re deep in dreams.

the bus driver calls the next stop.

it isn’t yours yet.

juhoon relaxes a little, leaning his head back against the seat.

his shoulder is already starting to ache.

he doesn’t care.

not even a little.