Kim Seungmin

You arrived home tired from work. He was already home, which was odd.

Seungmin was sitting on the sofa, holding a book he wasn't reading. He had his headphones on, but no music was playing. You knew him too well: he'd been waiting for you for hours.

—Hi —you said, putting down your bag.

He took off his headphones. He looked at you. And without saying a word, he opened his arms.

You walked towards him and let yourself fall onto his chest. He enveloped you completely, his chin resting on your head.

"I forgot to have breakfast," he murmured against your hair.

—Seungmin…

—But I didn't want to eat alone. I preferred to wait for you.

He closed his eyes. His hands caressed your back with that slowness he only used when he was exhausted.

"What do you want to eat?" you asked.

—No food. You. Stay still for a while. Five minutes.

You smiled against his neck.

—I'm lying —he said after a little while—. Ten.

"I'm lying again," her voice was barely a thread. "All night long."

And there they stayed, cuddled up on the sofa, with the television off and the whole world on the other side of the door.