At Jaehyun's home, Woonhak greeted Japchae with a sleepy smile and waved at Jaehyun's mom, who was in the kitchen. Her eyes immediately softened as she noticed how exhausted Woonhak looked. He swayed slightly on his feet, his posture sluggish, and Jaehyun's mom frowned.

"You look like you could fall asleep standing up, Woonhak," she remarked, concern clear in her voice.

Woonhak smiled sheepishly. "I just didn't sleep well last night," he explained quietly, glancing down with tired eyes.

Jaehyun, always attentive to his friend's needs, immediately stepped in. "How about we watch a movie upstairs on my laptop? You can lie down, and hopefully, you'll fall asleep comfortably while we watch. What do you think?"

Woonhak blinked, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "That sounds nice," he agreed, grateful for Jaehyun's thoughtfulness. The two of them made their way upstairs together.

Jaehyun's mom watched them with a warm expression, silently admiring how close the two boys had become. She could see the bond growing between them, and it made her heart swell with pride. Woonhak was such a sweet, kind boy, and she was happy to see her son take such good care of him.

Once they reached Jaehyun's room, Jaehyun quickly offered Woonhak a pair of comfortable clothes—a soft sweater and some relaxed pants—so he wouldn't have to stay in his school uniform. Afterward, Jaehyun handed him his own clothes—the ones from the other day when Woonhak had arrived soaking wet and upset. Jaehyun's mom had washed them and neatly folded them. Woonhak looked at his clothes, remembering the ones Jaehyun had lent to him.

"I'm really sorry I didn't bring yours back, I forgot...," Woonhak apologized softly, feeling a little guilty.

Jaehyun waved it off, smiling. "It's fine. You can even keep them if you want to," he said casually, trying to ease any worry Woonhak might have felt.

***

Once they were both changed and comfortable, Jaehyun grabbed his laptop. The two of them climbed into bed, snuggling under the soft blankets and leaning against the pillows. Jaehyun wrapped his arm around Woonhak, pulling him close. Woonhak rested his head on Jaehyun's chest, feeling the comforting warmth that seemed to melt away his exhaustion.

They started watching Coco, but it wasn't long before Woonhak's eyelids grew heavy. The combination of the warmth, the soothing sound of Jaehyun's heartbeat, and the soft light from the laptop made him drift off to sleep, his breathing slowing as he melted into the older boy's embrace.

***

After the movie ended, Jaehyun glanced down at Woonhak, who was still sound asleep on his chest. His gentle breathing was steady, and his delicate features looked completely peaceful for the first time today. A soft smile curved Jaehyun's lips as he carefully ran his fingers through Woonhak's fluffy chestnut hair, the strands slipping between his fingers like silk. He took extra care not to wake him, savoring the quiet, tender moment.

After a while, Jaehyun decided to get up, though part of him wished he could stay like this forever. Slowly, he shifted his weight and slid out from under Woonhak, replacing himself with a soft pillow so the younger could still have something to lean against. Woonhak murmured something unintelligible but didn't wake up. Jaehyun exhaled in relief, watching the sleeping boy for another brief moment before standing up.

Turning his attention to Dubu and Mandu, Jaehyun smiled at the two hamsters scurrying around their cage. He filled their food dish and refreshed their water, chuckling quietly as Dubu immediately stuffed his cheeks full of seeds.

Satisfied everything was taken care of, Jaehyun quietly left the room and headed downstairs. He found his mom in the living room, sitting comfortably on the couch, a book entitled Internal Medicine in her hands. The late afternoon sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room.

She looked up as he entered, her expression softening. "Oh, hey, sweetheart," she greeted with a smile. "Is Woonhak still sleeping?"

Jaehyun returned the smile and nodded, flopping onto the couch beside her. "Yeah, he was exhausted. I didn't want to wake him."

His mom sighed, concern flickering in her eyes. "He really looked like he needed the rest. Poor boy."

Jaehyun leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "I know. I'm worried about him, too. I don't think he's okay, but he hasn't told me what's wrong yet."

His mom nodded, her gaze thoughtful. "Sometimes it takes a while for someone to open up. You're doing the right thing by being there for him."

They then chatted about random things—their day at school and the hospital, plans for the weekend, and what to cook for dinner. The conversation was light, but Jaehyun's thoughts drifted back to Woonhak upstairs.

A soft voice from the hallway interrupted their conversation.

"Jaehyunnie-hyung?"

Both Jaehyun and his mom turned toward the sound. Woonhak stood in the doorway, his figure framed by the soft light spilling in from the hall. He wore Jaehyun's sweater, the fabric hanging loosely around his small frame, making him look even more fragile. His face was serious, the new found spark in his eyes dimmed. There was a sadness there, mixed with fear and hesitation—but beneath it all, a trace of determination.

Jaehyun's heart clenched. "What's wrong, Woonie?" he asked, his voice soft but full of worry.

Woonhak took a shaky breath, his fingers tightening slightly on the hem of his sweater. "Can-can you come upstairs with me?" His voice wavered, barely above a whisper. "I... need to tell you something."

Jaehyun's eyes widened slightly, but he didn't hesitate. He stood up immediately and walked over to Woonhak, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Of course," he said gently. "Let's go."

Woonhak nodded, his eyes shining with something fragile and unspoken. As they turned to head upstairs, Jaehyun's mom watched them go, her heart swelling with pride and quiet hope that whatever Woonhak needed to say, he wouldn't have to carry it alone anymore.

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Word count: 1007