Zeris World
TL – Nyxx
PR – Nyxx
Episode 6
“Your body.”
“Hm?”
Startled by the sudden question, Junyoung paused. Beomjin asked bluntly:
“Didn’t take any medicine in the nurse’s office?”
“I—was asleep the whole time… Waking up here felt better, though.”
Her defenses softened, as if the sharp barbs had all dropped. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, his silhouette became clearer—sitting on the stairs, elbows on knees, leaning forward.
“What’s hurting?”
“I had some body aches—slept poorly. Still feel a bit feverish.”
She touched her forehead while murmuring. Beomjin, half-turned, said calmly, “Wait,” and stood up, striding down the stairs as if he knew exactly where he was going.
Suddenly, a bright light shone, and Junyoung shielded her eyes—he’d switched on the hallway light. Cat eyes, she mused, then said:
“From now on, turn the light on when you use the stairs—you could die from a bad fall.”
As Beomjin paused, filling a cup with water, he glanced up—his handsome mouth curling slightly at the corner.
“Who’s unsteady enough to worry about my neck breaking?”
“I’m not worried about you—I’m worried I’ll be the first to find you.”
“You’re right to doubt that.”
Beomjin snorted and seated himself lower. With a cup in hand, he reached into his back pocket—she remembered the pills he’d taken from the nurse’s office.
“I’ll go down.”
She started to rise, and he frowned at her.
“Stay put. You’re still dizzy.”
His authoritative tone cut through her, and she remained seated. He hurried down the stairs and returned with water and medicine, bending over to hand it to her. With a shy face, Junyoung accepted it.
“Do you have a headache, too? Did you bring those from the nurse’s office?”
“I have cramps.”
He sat a bit away and said in a sullen tone. A faint chill drifted in, and Junyoung asked hesitantly:
“…Are you joking?”
“Shut up and take the pill.”
His terse command—more growl than request—had the opposite effect: Junyoung burst out laughing. She even had to steady the glass of water so she wouldn’t spill it.
“Beomjin has menstrual cramps! If you even had one close friend here, you’d be bragging right now! Haha!”
She leaned on the mattress, shoulders shaking with laughter. Beomjin glared, rubbing his head.
“Proud not to.”
“I swear I’ve never needed a friend more. I should’ve made at least one!”
It took a while before she calmed down enough to drink the water and the pill.
“Did your family freak out, or something?”
She paused, startled by her own question.
“My house? Why?”
“You haven’t been home yet.”
Beomjin glanced at her sideways. She quickly looked away—he probably saw her rabbiting nervous eyes. She popped a grin.
“I thought I’d just sleep here.”
“What?”
“It would be easier.”
A quiet moment passed—they both understood what the other didn’t want to say. Then Beomjin gestured with his chin:
“Go down. The bed is mine.”
“Stop sleeping so much. You sleep through most of school.”
“Oh, like you don’t sleep anywhere else?”
“I’m just saying—today’s special.”
Junyoung’s rebuttal was as smooth as a script. Beomjin clicked his tongue and waved his hand:
“Enough chatter. Get up and go home. I’ll walk with you.”
“No. I’m staying here. You go.”
Beomjin’s eyebrows snapped up at her stubborn answer.
“Junyoung, are you really being serious? Staying here at dawn?”
“Who else would come?”
Her shrug prompted him to sigh deeply—she realized she’d now mastered the tone he used when holding back anger.
“Someone used to live here. Someone could come by. Especially tonight.”
“Then you stay.”
For an instant, his fierce eyes wavered—seeing that, she awkwardly turned her eyes away. With pursed lips she added:
“I’m not asking to sleep together.”
“Yeah, don’t.”
Her casual reminder—“We both need this place for our own reasons”—drove him quiet. Then he gave a faint, understanding nod.
“It’s a place for you to study.”
“It’s the only place I can—rest.”
She never thought she’d say that to someone, but it only felt right to share it with Beomjin.
For the first time, the one person who shared her need in this place.
Meeting his steady gaze, she said firmly:
“I can’t go home.”
He looked at her quietly—then suddenly stood and walked downstairs. Impulsively, she blurted:
“Thank you.”
Her words seemed to jolt him—he cracked a half-smile in surprise.
“Hey! Slow down or you’ll fall to your death. Be careful.”
“Shut up and sleep.”
His words dismissed her thanks, and he flopped onto the chair she’d been sitting on, lying across it. Junyoung watched and smiled, thinking Why’s he always so sleep-deprived? Sleeps all day now? Even when I left for home… She knew better than to ask him that.
“Beomjin.”
“What?”
“Turn off the light.”
Another sturdy sigh, but the light clicked off. Junyoung smiled and lay down.
Though unfamiliar, the place felt comforting. Darkness at dawn wasn’t scary—not with him there.
When had his presence shifted from threat to reassurance?
As she drifted, she sniffed the mattress—still faintly scented of dust, sun-dried laundry, and a hint of Beomjin’s scent. Dry, but warm.
She gently buried her face in the thin blanket.
He’d never use perfume—but it smelled nice.
He’s nothing like he looks.
“Menstrual cramps—hehe… menstrual cramps…”
“Shut up, or I’ll kick you out before sunrise.”
She chuckled softly, and his impatient voice echoed in the dark, sounding more weary than angry. With a tight-lipped smile, Junyoung closed her eyes.
Even though she’d already slept here, the mattress now felt like home. A deep rest awaited.
Her breathing evened, and a contented half-smile appeared on her lips.
—
3
Blue sky and gentle breeze. The weather was perfect. Junyoung shook loose her still-damp hair and watched his broad back ahead of her, feeling a small smile at the corner of her lips.
She woke because of that smell—the spicy aroma of ramen. Painful, yes—but a reminder of her hunger.
Dim daylight filled the house. Silently, she slipped from the blanket and looked down. Beomjin was stirring ramen in a pot, yawning lazily.
“Sleep-lover,” she murmured, smiling. Then she yawned wide herself.
Compared to yesterday morning, she felt lighter. How long had it been since she slept like this? Her fever was gone and the body ache cleared. Aside from slightly damp clothes, everything was good.
(I’ve been wondering.)
Half-asleep, she spoke up suddenly—Beomjin tensed in surprise and turned.
Her question made his head ache—it seemed. He pressed his eyebrows, massaging the nape of his neck. Junyoung tried to stifle a smile and pointed at the pot.
“Do you guys run a ramen factory in your house?”
Beomjin stared at her, as if not worth replying. He scoffed and resumed stirring the pot. When she descended the stairs, he flipped the light on.
“Turn it off. I don’t want to be your first discovery again.”
Using her own words back at her, he said it with a deadpan tone. Junyoung laughed.
“If I screw up tonight, I could be your suspect, not just the finder.”
“You think I’d suspect you? What’d be my motive?”
He scoffed as he moved the pot to the desk. She shrugged going downstairs:
“I couldn’t stand seeing someone hogging a bed I love all day.”
Thanks For Reading…
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