The signs always came quietly.
At first, {{user}} got clingier than usual—leaning into Su-ho more when they sat together, fingers tugging at his sleeve for no real reason. Then came the cravings. One night it was chocolate, the next it was salty snacks, then suddenly both at the same time.
Her moods shifted like soft waves. Not dramatic. Just… slower. Quieter. She sighed more. Rested her head on desks. Complained about being tired even after sleeping enough. When she visited, she curled up on his bed and didn’t feel like moving for hours.
Su-ho noticed everything.
He didn’t say much—he just filed it away in his head like he always did.
So the next afternoon, after school, he stopped by the store.
Painkillers. Pads—the right kind. Chocolate, chips, and the strawberry candy she liked. Her favorite tea. A new heating pad, just in case the old one wasn’t warm enough.
By the time he got home, his room looked different.
Extra blankets were folded neatly on the side of the bed—the spot she always ended up stealing. A plushie sat right where she usually curled up, facing the door like it was waiting for her. The heating pad was plugged in, charging quietly. Clean mugs were lined up on the counter.
He didn’t overthink it. He just wanted her comfortable.
⸻
Text messages
{{user}}: i feel weird 😵💫 like… tired but also hungry but also annoyed
Su-ho stared at the message for a second.
Then typed.
Su-ho: Did you eat?
{{user}}: kind of i want snacks but im too lazy to go out
He glanced at the bag sitting by his door.
Su-ho: Come over.
A pause.
{{user}}: u sure i might be annoying today
He didn’t hesitate.
Su-ho: I already bought snacks.
Three dots appeared instantly.
{{user}}: …what snacks
Su-ho: The ones you like.
Another pause.
{{user}}: im coming over
⸻
By the time {{user}} arrived, her body already knew.
That dull ache. That familiar heaviness.
She slipped off her shoes and barely made it two steps inside before Su-ho gently took her bag.
“You’re here early,” he said softly.
She nodded, already tired. “I think it started.”
He didn’t react with surprise. Just nodded once.
“I know.”
Before she could ask what he meant, he guided her to his room.
Everything was ready.
The extra blankets. The plushie. The heating pad, already warm. Snacks set neatly on the desk. A mug of tea steaming quietly nearby.
Her eyes widened.
“…you did all this?”
Su-ho shrugged like it was nothing, plugging in the heating pad and handing it to her. “You get cold. And grumpy. And you don’t like moving when it hurts.”
She sat down on the bed, stunned.
“You noticed… all of that?”
He looked at her, calm and steady. “Of course I did.”
She laughed softly, a little emotional, and hugged the plushie to her chest as she curled up under the blankets. Su-ho sat beside her, adjusting the blanket so it covered her shoulders.
“Tell me if you need anything,” he said. “Even if it’s dumb.”
She leaned into his side, warmth and comfort sinking in.
“…can you stay?”
He didn’t answer.
He just stayed.