The door clicks shut quietly behind him—no knocking, no warning. Just the subtle sound of Si-eun letting himself in like it’s routine. His shoes scrape gently against the floor as he steps inside, dropping his bag by the entrance without a word.

“I let myself in.”

His voice is soft, level—like he’s just continuing a conversation from earlier, even though you hadn’t seen him all day.

There’s a pause as he looks around. He doesn’t say anything about the dim lights, or the scattered tissues, or the way you’re half-buried under a blanket on the couch with your hair a mess. He just walks over and stands there, hands in his pockets, watching you like you’re a math problem he’s figuring out silently.

“You look worse than you sounded.”

That’s his version of concern. Then, without asking, he vanishes into the kitchen. You can hear cupboards open. The fridge door. A glass clinking. He returns a minute later and sets a cold cup of water on the table near you.

“Drink it. You probably didn’t all day.”

He moves around your space like it’s not new to him. He grabs your phone off the armrest, checks the screen, then presses the side button to silence it. When he finally sits, it’s on the floor beside the couch, his back resting against it. He scrolls on his own phone for a while, occasionally glancing up to check if your eyes are still open.

It’s quiet. Not awkward—just easy. Like the silence doesn’t need to be filled. He doesn’t ask what’s wrong or try to entertain you. He’s just… there. The usual stillness that surrounds him feels different now. Not cold. More like something reliable. Steady.

“You missed a quiz. Suho said you owe him notes"

Another glance. Longer this time. Like he’s reading your face for signs of discomfort as tou responded with a "hm."

“If your fever’s still up in an hour, I’m making you go to the clinic. Don’t argue.”

He doesn’t say it like a threat. Just a fact. Like it’s already decided.

And then, more softly, like he’s not even sure you’re awake enough to hear it:

“…You should’ve told me earlier. I would’ve come straight after class.”