The sorrow in the voice was so profound that Mu-ryeong couldn't bring himself to say anything. He simply pressed his lips together, gazing at his junior’s tear-stained eyes in silence.What would be the right thing to say?Just as Mu-ryeong finished deliberating and was about to speak, someone entered through the half-open door."What’s this? Why are you two alone? Where’s everyone else?"It was Min-ji. Her hair was still damp, just like Mu-ryeong’s, and upon seeing only the two of them in the room, she narrowed her eyes. Her expression was exaggeratedly playful, making Mu-ryeong shrug with his usual bright smile."We were just talking about the sleep paralysis.""So, Seung-joo and Hwan-young are in the other room?""Probably.""They must be holding their breath to avoid making noise..."Mu-ryeong chuckled at Min-ji’s exasperated tone. He reassured her that he would only stay for a short while and return later in the night. Min-ji, being a heavy sleeper, wasn’t particularly concerned. She was more adamant that Mu-ryeong should hurry and rescue Seung-joo from whatever torment he might be enduring, to which he could only laugh in agreement.As he stepped out of the room, he remained standing against the closed door for a moment. From inside, he could hear Min-ji asking to borrow a hairdryer. Raising his head slightly, Mu-ryeong slowly scanned the darkened living room.The spacious room. The table placed in the center. The leather sofa with scattered cushions on top. The underside of the sofa was heavily worn, and the edges of the cushions were frayed and torn.His round eyes gradually narrowed. Taking in the sight before him, Mu-ryeong lowered his gaze, his expression sinking. Only after a long moment did a quiet sigh escape through his parted lips.***Contrary to his expectations, Hwan-young and Seung-joo were already asleep. Seeing them lying stiffly at opposite edges of the bed, Mu-ryeong swallowed a silent chuckle. Judging by the empty space left in the middle, that was probably supposed to be his spot—but the gap seemed unnecessarily wide.There’s enough room for three people.Seung-joo was facing the wall, while Hwan-young lay flat on his back, as always. They weren’t on bad terms, but to an outsider, they might have looked as if they had completely cut ties. Mu-ryeong slipped into the space between them, pulling the blanket over himself.The quiet sound of breathing filled the room, though he couldn't tell whose it was. Since he had to wake up early, he didn’t bother trying to sleep. Instead, he stared up at the ceiling, his eyes clear and alert. With his friends on either side, it felt almost like a school trip.Hwan-young would never go on a school trip.At Haeyeon High School, students only went on a school trip once, during their second year. This fall, there was another trip scheduled—a two-night, three-day excursion. But knowing Hwan-young, Mu-ryeong had a feeling he wouldn't attend.It’d be nice if we could go together...Turning his head, Mu-ryeong gazed at Hwan-young’s sleeping face. Even in the dim light, the sharp bridge of his nose and the slight curve of his lips stood out. Since he was usually so expressionless, the peaceful look on his face while asleep made him seem much softer.That night when Hwan-young had slept over at Mu-ryeong’s house, he had watched him like this too. There was no particular reason—he just looked so at ease.Hwan-young was always tense. Others might call him rude, but Mu-ryeong understood that his behavior was a way of protecting both himself and those around him. It wasn’t surprising that someone who was constantly on high alert would develop such a sharp demeanor.Mu-ryeong had wished, even just a little, that Hwan-young could relax. Even if it took a long time, he wanted to help ease his tension. He hoped that one day, the boy who only allowed Mu-ryeong close would eventually be comfortable around others too.People are meant to live among people, his late father used to say."Go to sleep.""...?"Mu-ryeong’s eyes widened in surprise. He had assumed Hwan-young was fast asleep, but he had spoken so suddenly. Blinking rapidly, Mu-ryeong whispered back,"...You're not sleeping?""No."Hwan-young didn’t open his eyes. He simply moved his lips to respond, his voice as calm as ever."And you’re not going to grow any taller.""..."The sheer seriousness in his tone made it all the more ridiculous. Mu-ryeong let out a soft, breathy laugh, eventually turning onto his side to face him."Hey, listen."That finally made Hwan-young open his eyes. The slow movement of his eyelids was mesmerizing—so much so that Mu-ryeong momentarily forgot what he had been about to say. The depthless black of Hwan-young’s gaze settled on him."Go on.""..."For a moment, Mu-ryeong felt as if he had been enchanted. He had experienced fleeting moments of surrealism before, but never had Hwan-young looked more unreal than he did now.His name suits him too well."It's nothing, really.""Hm.""We didn’t get to do it tonight."Careful not to wake Seung-joo, Mu-ryeong avoided saying anything too direct. Not that it mattered—Seung-joo was a deep sleeper, and they were whispering more than necessary anyway."If you’re okay with it, we could at least hold hands."Mu-ryeong’s plan required absorbing a great deal of Hwan-young’s spiritual energy. A single touch wouldn't be enough—he needed frequent, prolonged, and deep contact. Since they had only managed twice today, he had to make up for it somehow."...Hold hands?""Yeah. It’s just a temporary fix..."Mu-ryeong sluggishly extended his hand toward him. Hwan-young turned his head a beat late, his gaze falling on the approaching hand with a faint furrow of his brow. Mu-ryeong spoke flatly."You have to, whether you like it or not.""..."The look Hwan-young gave him was less than pleased. Smiling mischievously, Mu-ryeong wiggled his fingers."Hurry up so we can sleep."A long sigh followed, sounding both resigned and as if making some sort of reluctant decision. Mu-ryeong had sensed it before, but Hwan-young truly disliked physical contact.After a brief hesitation, Hwan-young finally turned toward Mu-ryeong. He moved tentatively, carefully taking Mu-ryeong’s hand in his. Their fingers touched first, brushing lightly against each other before slowly interlocking in a hesitant grip."..."Mu-ryeong hadn’t expected him to lace their fingers together.Even so, he didn't say anything and simply let Hwan-young hold his hand. His large fingers were considerably longer and thicker than Mu-ryeong’s—almost a two-joint difference. It was yet another reminder of how broad and solidly built Hwan-young was.His hand was cool to the touch, but Mu-ryeong could feel his energy spreading through him, invigorating every nerve. Even the faint drowsiness he had felt earlier dissipated completely, leaving his mind refreshingly clear. Smirking slightly, he whispered,"I’ll count to five minutes.""…Five whole minutes?""If you don’t like it, we could hug for one minute instead."Since less physical contact meant a longer duration, the alternative was simple: increase the surface area of contact. A hug would be more effective—but considering that they were lying down, it might feel a little awkward."So, what’s it gonna be?"Mu-ryeong met Hwan-young’s eyes, waiting for him to choose. His friend furrowed his brow deeply before averting his gaze and mumbling,"…Just stay like this."Closing his eyes, Mu-ryeong focused on absorbing Hwan-young’s spiritual energy. Without his vision, his other senses heightened—the warmth of their joined hands, the steady rhythm of Hwan-young’s pulse, the faint sound of his breathing.He’s tense again…Just like earlier that day, Mu-ryeong could feel the stiffness in Hwan-young’s grip. They would have to do this for a week, but if he was going to be this uncomfortable every time, it would be a problem. Mu-ryeong had thought he was getting used to physical contact, but it seemed Hwan-young still struggled with it."…Are we done yet?""Not even two minutes."Mu-ryeong absentmindedly tapped the blanket with his free hand, keeping count in his head. Of course, he couldn’t measure time perfectly, but if he didn’t at least try, he might just keep holding Hwan-young’s hand all night. He told himself he would let go the moment five minutes were up."Five minutes."With a quiet murmur, Mu-ryeong withdrew his hand without hesitation. By then, Hwan-young’s once-cool palm had warmed up to match his own."You can sleep now.""…"Without a word, Hwan-young turned his back to him, settling into the blankets. Mu-ryeong watched the broad expanse of his back in the darkness, absentmindedly fidgeting with his fingers. He felt undeniably better now, but there was still an odd sense of dissatisfaction lingering—like leaving a meal unfinished.Silence filled the room. The even, steady breathing belonged to Seung-joo, while the slightly restrained breaths were Hwan-young’s. In that calm atmosphere, Mu-ryeong quietly reflected on the energy he had absorbed.An hour later, he sat up.Slipping silently out from beneath the blankets, Mu-ryeong glanced at his sleeping friends before slipping out of the room. Seung-joo hadn’t stirred even once, and Hwan-young had only just fallen into a deep sleep.Moving with practiced stealth, he headed toward his junior’s room. The door was slightly ajar—perhaps because they had expected him to come in the middle of the night. As he approached, he heard an unfamiliar sound coming from inside.A stifled sob.It was barely audible, trembling on the edge of silence, but that made it all the more heartbreaking. The muffled cries were punctuated with repeated apologies, spoken between choked breaths."I’m sorry… Hic… I’m so sorry…""…"No one else would have heard it.A strange heaviness settled over Mu-ryeong as he placed a hand on the doorknob. For some reason, the energy seeping from inside felt all too familiar—it was the same lingering presence that had clung to his junior earlier that day."…Hic."Slowly, he pushed the door open.The first thing he saw was Min-ji, sound asleep on the floor. His gaze then shifted toward the bed, where his junior lay stiffly, curled up beneath the blankets."I’m sorry…"The source of the sorrowful weeping was none other than the boy who had sought Mu-ryeong’s help. Even in his sleep, tears streamed down his face, as if he were trapped in some unseen grief. Mu-ryeong pressed his lips together, unable to immediately respond.Then, his gaze landed on the small, dark mass perched atop the boy’s chest."…"It was a tiny, long-haired black puppy.Its ears were large and pointed, its round eyes wide and glossy. There wasn’t an ounce of malice in its presence—just a hazy, sorrowful aura. The spiritual energy radiating from the room wasn’t coming from his junior. It was coming from the dog.Mu-ryeong’s expression darkened.The puppy remained curled up on the boy’s chest, its tiny paws pressed gently against his shoulders, its snout nudging at his chin. Its floppy ears drooped as it let out a ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ quiet, distressed whimper."…Hic."It was trying to comfort him.As if it couldn’t bear to ignore its owner’s grief. As if it was desperately trying to soothe him, even in sleep.

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