The next few days passed in a blur as both Hana and Namjoon settled into their routines. They had only been married a short time, but the transition into sharing a life together was surprisingly smooth, even if Namjoon still struggled with his feelings and the lingering shadows of his past.

Every morning, Namjoon would wake up before Hana, his body used to an early schedule from years of academic life. He’d slip out of bed quietly, careful not to disturb her, and head downstairs to make coffee or go for a run. It had become his ritual—a way to clear his mind and deal with the ghosts of his past relationship.

This morning, though, as Namjoon stood in the kitchen preparing breakfast, he found himself distracted. His mind kept drifting back to the way Hana had smiled at him last night when they sat together on the couch, watching TV in comfortable silence. She had been wearing one of his old hoodies, curled up beside him with a blanket draped over her lap, and for the first time in a long while, he had felt… content.

He was still wary, still guarded, but he couldn’t deny that Hana had started to slip past the defenses he had so carefully built. She wasn’t pushy or demanding—she just *was*. And Namjoon found that her quiet presence was slowly becoming something he looked forward to each day.

As he cracked eggs into a pan and watched them sizzle, his phone buzzed on the countertop. Glancing at the screen, he saw a message from one of his colleagues, but he ignored it. His mind was still on Hana. She would be getting up soon, and though she rarely made a fuss about breakfast, he liked having something ready for her when she came downstairs. It had become a small routine of theirs—he’d make breakfast, and she’d join him a little later, still sleepy-eyed and in her pajamas.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, he heard the soft shuffle of footsteps behind him. Hana walked into the kitchen, her hair slightly tousled from sleep, and she rubbed her eyes as she made her way to the table. Namjoon looked over his shoulder and smiled softly.

“Morning,” he greeted her, placing a plate of eggs and toast in front of her. “Coffee’s ready too.”

“Thank you,” Hana mumbled, still half-asleep as she reached for her coffee mug. She took a sip and sighed contentedly. “You spoil me.”

Namjoon chuckled and sat down across from her, his own plate of food untouched for the moment. He watched as she ate quietly, the corners of his mouth twitching upward in amusement at how sleepy she still looked.

“You’ve got a busy day today?” he asked, taking a bite of his food.

Hana nodded, swallowing before she spoke. “Yeah, we’re working on some new experiments, so I’ll probably be at the lab late tonight. You don’t have to wait up for me.”

Namjoon’s brow furrowed slightly. He didn’t like the idea of her being out late, especially since she often stayed until the lab was nearly empty. “I’ll pick you up. I don’t mind.”

Hana smiled, though she didn’t argue. She had learned by now that Namjoon could be stubborn when it came to her safety. “Okay, but don’t wait too long. If I’m really late, I’ll text you.”

Namjoon nodded, though he had no intention of going to bed without knowing she was home safe. The thought of her driving back alone in the dark didn’t sit well with him, and though he wasn’t exactly the most expressive person, his protective instincts were starting to kick in more and more.

After breakfast, they both got ready for their respective days. Namjoon slipped into one of his usual button-downs and slacks, while Hana dressed in her lab coat and comfortable shoes. They left the house together, Namjoon driving Hana to the lab before heading to his university for a full day of lectures.

Throughout the day, Namjoon found himself thinking about Hana more often than he cared to admit. It was strange—he had never been one to let his personal life bleed into his professional one, but now, between classes and during breaks, his mind would wander to her. He’d wonder how she was doing, if she was stressed, or if she was enjoying her work.

His phone buzzed again just before lunch, and Namjoon glanced at the screen, expecting another work email. Instead, it was a text from Hana.

**Hana:** *Lab’s crazy today, but I just wanted to say thanks for breakfast this morning. You’re sweet.*

Namjoon’s lips twitched into a small smile as he typed a reply.

**Namjoon:** *You’re welcome. Don’t work too hard. I’ll pick you up later.*

It was a simple exchange, but it left him feeling strangely content for the rest of the afternoon. He finished his lectures, graded a few papers, and then headed to his office to wrap up some research he’d been working on. Still, no matter how busy he was, his thoughts kept circling back to Hana.

By the time his last class ended, it was already dark outside. Namjoon gathered his things and headed for the parking lot, checking his phone to see if Hana had texted him. She hadn’t, but he figured she was probably still busy with her experiments.

He drove to the lab, parking near the entrance and waiting for her to finish. The lights inside the building were still on, and a few other cars were scattered around the lot, but it was clear that most people had already gone home for the night. Namjoon leaned back in his seat, glancing at his phone again. Still no message.

After a few minutes, the door to the lab opened, and Hana stepped outside. She looked tired, but her face lit up when she saw him waiting. She waved, her lab coat draped over her arm, and Namjoon waved back, stepping out of the car to meet her.

“Hey,” she greeted him with a tired smile as she climbed into the passenger seat. “Thanks for picking me up.”

“No problem,” Namjoon replied, starting the car. “Long day?”

Hana nodded, leaning back in her seat. “Yeah, we ran into some issues with the new equipment, so it took longer than expected. But we made some progress.”

Namjoon listened as she recounted the details of her day, her voice soft and tired, but still enthusiastic about her work. He glanced over at her occasionally as he drove, noticing the way her eyes sparkled when she talked about the experiments they were running. It was clear that she loved her job, and though Namjoon didn’t always understand the technical aspects of it, he enjoyed hearing her talk about it.

When they arrived home, Hana immediately went to change out of her lab clothes, while Namjoon headed to the kitchen to start dinner. He wasn’t much of a cook, but he had learned a few basic recipes over the years, and tonight he decided on something simple—pasta with a light sauce and a salad.

As they sat down to eat, Namjoon found himself watching Hana more closely than usual. She looked exhausted, but there was a warmth in her eyes that hadn’t been there when they first got married. It was subtle, but Namjoon could tell that she was becoming more comfortable around him, just as he was with her.

They ate in comfortable silence for a while, the soft clinking of forks the only sound in the room. Namjoon glanced at her across the table, his mind wandering back to the strange shift he had felt over the past few days.

He was starting to care about her. Really care.

It wasn’t something he had planned or expected. He had gone into this marriage with his walls firmly in place, determined not to let anyone in again after what had happened with his ex. But Hana was different. She hadn’t pushed him or demanded anything from him. She had simply been there, quietly and patiently, until he couldn’t help but notice her.

And now, as he sat across from her, watching her finish her dinner, Namjoon realized that he didn’t want to go back to the way things had been before. He didn’t want to shut her out anymore.

He wanted to let her in.