jiseok had never been the type to say much, but with you, words were never necessary. he was still the brooding, moody boy everyone tiptoed around, but you—his sweet, patient girlfriend—never hesitated to close the distance. you never pried when he got lost in his own thoughts, never forced him to talk when he wasn’t ready. instead, you simply reached for his hand, your fingers brushing against his like a quiet reassurance that you were there, always.

it was strange for him, being loved so gently. he wasn’t used to warmth without conditions, to someone who didn’t demand he change or soften himself to fit their expectations. but you never asked for anything except his presence. and so, he found himself giving you more—leaning into your touch when you rested your head on his shoulder, lingering when he kissed your forehead before pulling away, squeezing your hand just a little tighter when the world felt too heavy.

sometimes, you’d catch him staring at you, his gaze unreadable, as if he was still trying to figure out how someone like you had chosen someone like him. other times, he’d pull you into his arms without warning, burying his face in your neck, holding you like you were the only thing keeping him tethered to this world. you never questioned it, simply wrapping your arms around him in return, letting him be quiet, letting him just be.

on nights when his mind was restless, when the weight of his own thoughts pressed down on him, he wouldn’t push you away like he used to. instead, he’d seek you out, slipping into bed beside you and holding you close, listening to the steady rhythm of your breathing. and in those moments, jiseok knew—he might never be good with words, but he didn’t need them to show you just how much he loved you.