the bus ride back was quiet, the excitement of the field trip finally wearing off as exhaustion settled over everyone. the soft rumble of the engine and the occasional whisper of the wind against the windows made it almost impossible to stay awake. you blinked drowsily, head tilting slightly before catching yourself. beside you, jiseok let out a soft chuckle.

“just sleep,” he murmured, voice laced with his own fatigue. you sighed, too tired to argue, and let your head rest against his shoulder. jiseok stilled for a second, then slowly leaned his head against yours, his warmth seeping through the fabric of your jackets. neither of you said anything, just breathing in the quiet comfort of being close.

somewhere in the background, a few classmates noticed. hushed giggles, barely-there whispers of “look at them!” and “they’re so cute!” filled the space, but neither of you stirred. the teasing would come later, no doubt, but for now, the world felt small—just the two of you, wrapped in shared warmth and the rhythmic lull of the bus.

jiseok’s fingers twitched slightly, as if reaching for yours even in sleep. the last thing you felt before drifting off completely was the soft, steady rise and fall of his breathing, syncing perfectly with yours.