From Strangers to Lovers

nto a quiet lull. After a while, Ayden finally b

wouldn't be staying at my place. Once he confirmed it, I

ed with myself when sudde

red the call. He responded with a cou

ht, hoping he'd continue with what he wa

coat draped over the sofa, and said while putting it on, "There's

that, h

? Why wasn't this

he living room until my eyes watered fro

e, I, who usually had a good slee

wandered around the room and eventually ended up in the living room. I

o the TV, I was on the verge of dr

he sound of a key t

in-the-box, tense and al

h my hard-won drowsiness vanished, leavin

the sofa, then pointed to the l

you. I'm here to

and said, "No problem, Ayde

off, and the flickering TV

ed in the TV's glow that he lo

hape than me, I felt

you planning to stay at a

started pulling his su

I said, "Why don't you stay here toni

tely avoided looking at him, stared intently at the TV

venient for me to stay

for how worn out he looked, I wouldn't be s

When he bent over to change his shoes, he lurched forward a little. Lu

urriedly clattered over to him, hesi

you o

ad glistening with sweat. His tall frame seemed ready to collapse a

ld rest f

es closed, and his features were brighten

hroom and handed it to him, gesturin

face a couple of times, and handed it back to

ually thanked me. "It's... it's nothing.

ooked a bit better. He repl

e of candy from the dish on the c