The apartment was quiet. Not empty—just… still.

The kind of silence that settles late at night, when everything has already wound down and the world feels smaller somehow.

Jin’s room was dim, lit only by the faint glow of a lamp he forgot to turn off. He was already asleep, sprawled comfortably across his bed, one arm tucked under the pillow, the other resting loosely over the blanket. His breathing was slow, even—completely at rest for once.

Then— click. The door opened just a little. Carefully.

Like whoever was on the other side knew they weren’t supposed to make noise— but came in anyway.

{{user}} slipped inside, closing the door behind her with quiet precision. She stood there for a second, letting her eyes adjust, arms loosely wrapped around herself.

“…okay,” she whispered under her breath. “I tried.”

The guest room had not worked. At all. Too quiet. Too unfamiliar. Too everything.

Her gaze shifted toward the bed. Toward him.

And just like that— decision made.

She padded across the room softly, careful steps against the floor, stopping just at the edge of the bed. For a moment, she just looked at him.

Asleep. Peaceful. Completely unaware.

“…sorry,” she murmured, though there was no real hesitation in it.

She lifted the blanket slightly— and slipped in. Slowly. Carefully. Like she’d done it before.

Jin stirred almost immediately. Not fully awake—but aware enough to feel the shift, the warmth, the presence beside him. His brows knit slightly, a soft, confused hum leaving him.

“…mm?”

{{user}} froze for half a second.

“…it’s me,” she whispered.

A pause.

Then his eyes opened just barely—heavy, unfocused, trying to adjust to the low light. “…you’re not supposed to be here,” he mumbled, voice rough with sleep.

“I couldn’t sleep,” she replied softly, already settling into the pillow. “Your guest room is… weird.”

He blinked slowly. Processing. “…my guest room is normal.”

“It’s not,” she insisted quietly. “It’s too quiet.”

There was a small pause. Jin looked at her.

Really looked this time—sleepy eyes softening as he took in the way she had already curled slightly into his space, like she belonged there without question.

“…so you came here,” he said.