Woonhak's sobs had gradually quieted into soft sniffles, and eventually, the room fell into a fragile silence. All the while, Jaehyun whispered gentle words of comfort, his voice a steady anchor in the storm of Woonhak's distress.

Jaehyun carefully pulled back just enough to see Woonhak's face, his hands still holding onto the boy's trembling shoulders. The sight that met him made his heart tighten painfully. He only now noticed a faint red bruise that bloomed on Woonhak's left cheek-an angry, blotchy mark against his pale skin. It wasn't bleeding, but it was stark enough to stir a mix of worry and anger deep in Jaehyun's chest.

"Woonie?" he whispered, his voice tentative. "What happened to your face? Did someone hurt you?"

Woonhak's eyes fluttered shut, and he gave a slight shake of his head, his lips pressed tightly together. He wasn't ready to talk. Jaehyun swallowed the knot in his throat and nodded, his expression softening.

"That's okay. You don't have to say anything. I'm here, alright?" he murmured, doing his best to mask the growing ache in his chest.

He glanced down at Woonhak's damp clothes, still clinging to his frame despite the blanket wrapped around him. The boy was trembling, and Jaehyun realized he was now wet himself from holding onto Woonhak for so long. He needed to get them both warm and dry.

"Woonie, I'm going to grab you some dry clothes, okay? You'll feel better once you're out of these wet ones."

He let his fingers thread gently through Woonhak's wet hair one more time before standing up. "I'll be right back, promise."

Jaehyun dashed upstairs, the urgency pressing at him like a weight. He quickly peeled off his damp clothes, replacing them with fresh ones-a pair of warm sweatpants and a soft, oversized hoodie. Turning to his closet, he pulled out another set: grey sweatpants and a light brown hoodie that was a bit too big, hoping the comfort would soothe Woonhak even a little.

When he returned to the living room, Woonhak was still curled up on the couch, clutching a pillow tightly to his chest. His eyes were red-rimmed, his expression vulnerable. Jaehyun's heart clenched at the sight.

"Here," Jaehyun said softly, offering the dry clothes. "I'll step into the kitchen for a minute so you can change, okay?"

Woonhak gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, his fingers loosening their grip on the pillow. Jaehyun lingered for a second, his gaze full of unspoken support, before he turned and headed to the kitchen.

His mom looked up the moment he walked in, concern etched into her face. She was sitting at the table, hands clasped around a steaming cup of tea.

"Hyunnie," she said gently. "How is Woonhak? Do you know what happened?"

Jaehyun shook his head, his jaw tight. "He hasn't said anything, and I'm not going to push him. If he can't talk about it now, that's okay. I just want him to know I'm here for him, no matter what."

His mom's eyes softened with pride. Her son had such a kind heart. "I'm worried about him too," she said.

Jaehyun hesitated before speaking again, his voice low. "He has a bruise on his face, Mom. It looks like... like someone hit him."

A shadow of worry crossed her features, but she didn't say anything for a moment, letting the gravity of his words settle. Finally, she nodded.

"I'll make him some hot chocolate," she said, rising from her seat. "He needs warmth right now."

Jaehyun managed a small smile. "Thanks, Mom."

With that, he turned and made his way back to the living room, his heart heavy but resolute.

***

Jaehyun entered the living room, his eyes softening at the sight before him. Woonhak was perched quietly on the couch, now dressed in Jaehyun's oversized sweatpants and light brown hoodie. Even though he was a bit taller than Jaehyun, the clothes still hung a little loose on his frame, the sleeves of the hoodie covering his hands completely. With his damp hair falling softly over his forehead and his small frame enveloped in the warm brown fabric, Woonhak looked just like a little teddy bear. Jaehyun's heart gave an involuntary squeeze, and he internally cooed at how endearing the sight was.

Stifling a smile, Jaehyun walked over and lowered himself onto the couch beside Woonhak. He leaned slightly toward him, his voice gentle. "Are you feeling a little better now?"

Woonhak gave a small nod, his eyes still downcast.

Before Jaehyun could say more, Woonhak shifted. Without a word, he leaned over and nestled into Jaehyun's chest, his head resting against Jaehyun's shoulder. The sudden closeness made Jaehyun freeze for a second, his breath catching in his throat. A wave of warmth spread through his chest, and his heart thudded just a little faster. His arms instinctively wrapped around Woonhak, pulling him closer.

"Thank you, Jaehyun," Woonhak whispered, his voice barely audible. "Thank you for being here."

Jaehyun's grip tightened just a fraction. "Always, Woonie," he murmured back, his voice filled with sincerity.

They stayed that way, wrapped in a quiet embrace, the world outside the rain-speckled windows fading away. The gentle drumming of the rain and the steady rhythm of their breathing filled the silence.

A few minutes later, the sound of soft footsteps made Jaehyun look up. His mom appeared in the doorway, two steaming cups of hot chocolate in her hands. She paused, a smile touching her lips as she took in the sight of the two boys huddled together. With a quiet tenderness, she set the mugs down on the coffee table.

The movement caused them to slowly pull apart. Both boys mumbled a quiet "thank you" as Jaehyun's mom ruffled their hair affectionately.

"I'll be upstairs if you need anything else," she said softly. "And there's food in the kitchen if you get hungry."

With a final warm glance, she slipped out of the room, leaving them in a cocoon of peace.

Jaehyun reached for his mug, the warmth seeping into his palms as he took a careful sip. Woonhak did the same, his fingers wrapped around the cup, still peeking out from the too-long sleeves of Jaehyun's hoodie.

After a few sips, Jaehyun turned to him, a soft grin on his face. "Hey, Woonie, do you want to watch a movie again?"

Woonhak looked up, his eyes meeting Jaehyun's. A hint of a smile curled at the corners of his lips. "Yeah," he said quietly.

"Okay. How about My Neighbor Totoro?"

Woonhak's eyes brightened just a bit, and he nodded.

Jaehyun smiled wider, his heart lightening. Before starting the movie, he reached over and tapped Woonhak on the shoulder. When the boy turned to him, Jaehyun opened his arms with a playful yet hopeful look, silently asking if they could cuddle again.

Without hesitation, Woonhak leaned in, pressing himself into Jaehyun's side. Jaehyun wrapped his arm around him snugly, a feeling of contentment washing over him.

As the movie began and the gentle scenes of lush forests and magical creatures filled the screen, Jaehyun's thoughts drifted for a moment. Whatever had happened to Woonhak earlier, whatever shadows were haunting him, Jaehyun promised himself that he'd do everything he could to keep Woonhak safe.

For now, though, he focused on the warmth beside him, the sound of rain against the windows, and the quiet joy of having Woonhak there with him.

---

Word count: 1279

I love Totoro so much, it's a huge part of my childhood💙🌱
Generally Ghibli movies are sooo good!
If you have watched any, what are your favorites?
Mine are Howl's moving Castle, Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke^^