The morning sun cast a warm glow over the kitchen, illuminating Lily as she sat perched on the edge of the dining table. Her phone lay forgotten beside a plate laden with breakfast, a silent testament to her anticipation for Minho and Seo-Jun to walk in at any moment. And after a few minutes, the rhythmic click of footsteps heralded Seo-Jun's arrival, his smile a beacon in the morning light. "Good morning, Lily." he greeted, his voice a soft melody. Behind him, Minho emerged, his presence a blend of sleep-laden eyes and a subtle apology.
"Good morning!" Lily responded, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. "The breakfast is ready! I thought since you two might be tired from yesterday, I should make you breakfast."
Minho's shoulders slumped with a hint of guilt. He bowed slightly, "I am sorry, Lily. I woke up too late." Lily flinched slightly, her hand rising in a gesture of interruption. "No, no, no! I wanted to make it today." As Minho straightened, Seo-Jun leaned in close, whispering to Minho, "You can just say thank you." Minho, without turning, offered a swift, "Thank you, Lily!"
"No problem! Let's eat now! I am starving." Lily's smile widened as they settled into their usual seats. Her gaze, as it often did, lingered on Minho and Seo-Jun, a silent study of their every move. The familiar ritual began, the clinking of silverware, the soft murmur of conversation, but something was different. Seo-Jun, with a practiced ease, reached for the water pitcher, pouring a generous amount into Minho's glass. Lily tilted her head, a silent question forming in her eyes, a subtle shift in the comfortable rhythm of their morning.
The room hummed with an unfamiliar feeling. Lily felt it first, a prickle of uncertainty at Seo-Jun's unusual behaviour. It was a subtle shift. Minho's offering of water was sharp, a pointed gesture that cut through the mundane. "Thanks." he'd said, his voice tight. "You should drink more water too. Let me grab some vitamins for you!" Lily looked even more confused than before, murmuring, "Vitamins?"
Seo-Jun's smirk was a quicksilver flash, a secret shared in the space between them. "Ha, Minho is just being worried about me." he'd said, his tone light, but his eyes betrayed a different story. Minho, rummaging in the cabinet, his back to them, muttered, "I am worried you might run a high fever again." The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken anxieties. Lily's gasp was a physical thing, a jolt of surprise that made her rise from her chair. "You had a fever?!" she exclaimed.
Minho turned, the vitamins clutched in his hand, his face etched with a seriousness that was new to her. "Yes, last night." Seo-Jun's attempt at reassurance was met with Lily's concern, "I am fine now. Don't worry, Lily." The unspoken question of what the future held was a burden that rested on her shoulders. With a sigh, she sank back into her chair, the weight of their shared history settling around her. "Okay... but if you start to feel sick again, tell me immediately." Seo-Jun's nod and giggle were a gentle counterpoint to the tension. With that, the three of them returned to their meal, but the memory of the fever remained, a silent sentinel in the room.
The late morning sun cast a warm glow through the window as Lily and Seo-Jun settled onto the plush couch, the remnants of breakfast a distant memory. The gentle clatter of dishes from the kitchen signalled Minho's meticulous tidying. A comfortable silence enveloped them until Lily's gaze sharpened, focusing intently on Seo-Jun. His response was a dismissive, "What now?"
A mischievous smirk played on Lily's lips as she leaned back, her voice laced with playful teasing. "I'm still pondering why you two haven't become a couple. He's undeniably handsome, well-built, and his face is quite pleasant. Not to mention his personality is really nice. He's perfect for you." A conspiratorial whisper followed, "And let's not forget, he puts up with your awful character..."
Seo-Jun's expression hardened, his face becoming an impassive mask. "Stop with this nonsense, Lily." He snatched his phone, turning his attention away from her. Lily's brow furrowed, her voice laced with frustration. "It's not nonsense! I've never seen you in a real relationship. That woman from your twenties doesn't count! I'm dying to meet my future brother or sister-in-law!" Seo-Jun's eyes rolled, a silent rejection of her words. But Lily pressed on, undeterred. Arms crossed, she challenged him, "Haven't you ever considered a relationship?"
Seo-Jun's control finally snapped, his voice rising in a rare display of slight anger. "No, I haven't, and I never will. I don't want to be with anyone." The words hung in the air, a stark declaration that left Lily reeling in stunned silence.
"Why not?!" Lily's voice, sharp with shock, shattered the momentary quiet. "You'd be so much happier in a relationship!" Seo-Jun's jaw clenched, a flicker of anger igniting in his eyes, yet he maintained a semblance of control. "No, I wouldn't." But Lily, fuelled by her own convictions, barrelled on, her voice rising. "How do you know? You've never been in a serious one! Why don't you try and see-"
Before she could finish, Seo-Jun had reached his breaking point. Still weakened by the lingering effects of a fever and plagued by a throbbing headache, Lily's relentless prodding had finally cracked his carefully constructed facade. The truth, a secret he had guarded fiercely, spilt forth. "Because I can't protect them!" he interrupted, the words laced with a raw vulnerability that silenced Lily. She recoiled slightly, offering him the space he desperately needed.
Seo-Jun tossed his phone aside, his gaze locking onto Lily. His eyes mirrored a storm of emotions: pain, fear, and a deep-seated frustration. He sighed, the weight of his unspoken burden pressing down on him. "I... I'm not good enough... I almost couldn't protect you back then." He clenched his hands into fists, his knuckles white, a surge of anger colouring his voice. "I can still see how they tried to take you away from me..."
Lily's expression softened, pity etching itself onto her features. He spoke, his voice barely a whisper, "I can't go through this with another person all over again..." But then, her hand reached out, enveloping his clenched fist. "But you know," she said, her voice gentle, "in relationships, partners protect each other. Why don't you leave the protecting part to Minho?" A faint smile played on her lips as Seo-Jun turned his head, his gaze meeting hers. Lily smiled softly, her hand still clasped in his. "From what I am seeing..." she began, her eyes flicking towards Minho, who was occupied in the kitchen, his back to them as he washed dishes. "...He is protecting and taking care of you pretty well." Seo-Jun followed her gaze, his own eyes settling on Minho. For the first time, a question, unfamiliar and unsettling, took root in his mind, a question of what it meant to be in a relationship. As he stared, his expression serious, Lily's smile softened. "Give it some thought. He deserves a chance." She nodded, a gentle encouragement. Seo-Jun didn't respond, the weight of her words settling over him.