You had been with Na Baek-jin for two years now, long enough to know that he wasn’t the type to say much, but you never needed words to feel close to him.

His office at the bowling alley was quiet, dim except for the desk lamp. You were stretched out on the black couch, fast asleep after another draining day at school. He noticed the way your bag had slipped to the floor, your hair falling slightly into your face, but he didn’t move to wake you. He just let you rest.

At his desk, Baek-jin worked through a problem set he’d missed on his last test. The pen moved across the page with steady pressure, his posture focused, but his eyes betrayed him every so often. They kept flicking toward you. Just a quick glance, making sure you were still breathing evenly, making sure you weren’t cold, making sure nothing disturbed you.