Joong's POV
The cab ride back from the hospital felt almost surreal. My side still ached, but it wasn't unbearableâjust a dull reminder of how close I came to taking a hit that could have been worse.
As soon as we stepped out of the cab and onto the sidewalk, I straightened up, attempting to hide the pain. Zee, however, wasn't fooled.
"You're not going anywhere, Joong," he said firmly, placing a hand on my shoulder before I could take a step toward my car.
I froze, looking at him. "What do you mean?"
"You're coming back with me," Zee insisted. "I'm making you lunch. You're going to rest. It's not up for discussion."
I opened my mouth to argue, but his stern expression stopped me. Zee wasn't giving me an option. His usual casual demeanor was gone, replaced by a serious intensity that took me by surprise.
"I don't need rest," I protested weakly, but I knew it was futile. Zee was relentless when he made up his mind.
"Don't make me force you," he muttered, grabbing my arm and gently steering me toward his apartment.
I didn't have the energy to argue further. It was easier to let him lead me than to fight it. Still, I couldn't help but feel conflictedâZee was being way too persistent, and it made my stomach twist in ways I wasn't sure how to handle.
"You can sit on the couch. I'll make something light for you," Zee said over his shoulder, his tone soft but firm.
I took a seat, watching as he moved effortlessly around his kitchen, pulling ingredients out of the fridge and tossing them together with practiced ease. It was a side of him I hadn't seen beforeâthe quiet care in his actions, the way he seemed to be putting in extra effort for me.
"Zee," I started, hesitating as I leaned back into the cushions. "You really don't have to do all this. I'm fine, really."
He didn't even look at me, just continued his task. "You're not fine, Joong. You've got a bruise on your rib, and you're stubborn as hell. You're not leaving here until I'm sure you're okay."
I didn't know why it irritated me, but it did. His insistenceâit made me feel small, in a way. Like I was somehow weak for needing help. But that wasn't it, was it?
What bothered me was how easy it was to let him take care of me. How much I didn't want to push him away, even though a part of me knew I should.
"So, how long have you been the 'protector' type?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood, but my voice came out more strained than I intended.
Zee glanced over his shoulder and smirked. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, this whole 'making sure I'm okay' thing. You're acting like I'm your responsibility," I said, half-joking.
Zee's smirk faded, replaced by a look that made me feel like he wasn't just playing around anymore. He turned fully toward me, crossing his arms. "Maybe I just like making sure you don't get yourself killed."
The words hit me harder than they should have. It wasn't what he said, but how he said it. There was an undertone thereâsomething deeper.
I didn't know how to respond, so I just leaned back against the couch and closed my eyes. The warmth of the apartment, the soft sound of Zee moving around, it all wrapped around me like a blanket. It felt safe, comforting, but also... a little too comfortable.
I wasn't used to this.
Zee set a bowl of soup down in front of me and leaned against the kitchen counter, watching me carefully. "Eat. I'm not letting you go until you get some rest."
I picked up the spoon and took a small bite, not really tasting it. I could feel his eyes on me, but I didn't dare meet his gaze. If I did, I was afraid I'd give something away.
I didn't know why, but I felt vulnerable in a way I hadn't expected. Zee was always so confident, so self-assured. But today, I saw something else in himâa side that wanted to protect, to care for me. It was a shift I wasn't prepared for.
I set the spoon down and looked up at him. "Why are you doing all this for me, Zee?"
His expression softened for a moment, his arms uncrossing as he stepped closer. "Because I care," he said simply. "Isn't that enough of an answer?"
I felt my breath catch in my throat. It wasn't just the words, it was the way he said themâquiet, serious, like it was the most natural thing in the world. But it wasn't natural for me. Not with him.
A part of me wanted to push him away, to remind myself that we were just colleagues, that this could never go further. But the other partâthe part that had been trying to ignore the growing feelings between usâwas starting to wonder if it was too late to hold back.
I met his gaze, feeling the tension simmering between us, the air thick with things unsaid. It was too much.
"Zee..."
He didn't give me a chance to finish, stepping closer until there was barely any space between us. He lowered his voice, and I could feel the heat radiating off him. "Joong, you don't have to say anything. Just rest. Please. You've done enough for one day."
His closeness, his words, everything was too much to process. My heart raced, and for a moment, I wondered if he could hear it.
But I didn't pull away. I stayed there, rooted to the spot, as Zee hovered over me, looking down at me with a gaze that told me he knewâhe knew exactly what I was feeling, even if I couldn't admit it myself.
Zee's POV
I watched Joong as he hesitated, his eyes flickering between me and the space around us, as if trying to escape the growing tension in the room. I could feel it tooâthe magnetic pull, the quiet storm brewing between us. It wasn't just the case anymore, wasn't just about getting the job done or keeping him safe. There was something more now, something I hadn't expected, but that I couldn't ignore.
When I'd first offered him a place to rest, I hadn't anticipated how close I'd want to be to himâhow much I'd want to care for him in ways I hadn't allowed myself to before. I'd always kept people at arm's length, but Joong... Joong was different. He didn't make me feel like I had to hide behind that wall. In fact, the more time I spent with him, the more I realized I didn't want to.
I wanted to take care of him. Not just as a colleague, but as something else.
His question, though, caught me off guard. Why are you doing all this for me, Zee?
It wasn't just the care in his toneâit was the way he looked at me, like he was trying to read me, understand what was behind this sudden shift in the dynamic between us. The distance I'd kept, the walls I'd built, all of it was slipping away with every second I spent with him.
I didn't know how to explain it. I couldn't put into words the way he made me feel. All I knew was that I didn't want to let him go, didn't want him out of my reach. It scared me, honestly. The thought that he might leave or pull awayâit terrified me.
So, I did the only thing I could think ofâI stepped closer.
"You don't have to say anything right now, Joong," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, even though my heart was pounding in my chest. "Just... rest. Let me take care of you."
I knew my words were probably more loaded than I intended, but I couldn't stop myself. He didn't pull away, didn't protest, but I could see the conflict in his eyes. He was trying to fight it, trying to keep himself distant, but I could feel that he was slowly letting down the barriers.
I knelt down next to the couch, my hand reaching out to brush a lock of hair away from his face. It was a small gesture, but the softness of it made my chest tighten. This was different than anything I'd felt beforeâthis tenderness, this urge to keep him safe. To protect him, not just from physical harm, but from the things that had hurt him in the past.
His breath hitched slightly at my touch, and I wondered if he felt it tooâthis electricity, this undeniable connection. But then, just as quickly as it came, he pulled back slightly, his eyes avoiding mine. He was trying to hide it, but I could see the way his lips parted, the way his breath stuttered. He felt it.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The silence between us was heavy, but not uncomfortable. It was as if we were both waiting for the other to make the first move, to acknowledge what was happening.
I cleared my throat, trying to lighten the mood, though I wasn't sure how. "You should at least eat the soup. You're not leaving until you've rested properly, whether you like it or not."
Joong let out a quiet chuckle, but it was shakyâalmost as if he didn't know how to react to my insistence. He finally picked up the spoon, though, and took another bite. His eyes met mine for just a moment, and I saw something in themâsomething soft, almost vulnerable. He was starting to let me in.
And that realization made my heart beat a little faster.
We didn't talk much after that. I finished making the lunch and set it in front of him, ensuring he took his time eating. I could see that Joong was tired, but he was fighting it, trying not to lean into the comfort I was offering him. His stubbornness, his prideâthey were both things I admired, but it also made me want to look out for him more.
As I sat next to him, I kept checking in, asking if he was feeling okay or needed anything, and he'd always brush me off with a quick, "I'm fine." But I saw the way he'd glance at me when he thought I wasn't paying attention. The way his lips curled slightly, as if he wanted to say something but held back.
I could tell he was conflicted. I didn't blame him. The way we had fallen into this rhythmâthis delicate balance of care and unspoken wordsâit was new for both of us. And for someone like Joong, who kept his emotions close to the chest, this had to be disorienting.
After we finished lunch, I told him to lie down on the couch and take a nap. He gave me an exasperated look, but I didn't budge. "You've been through enough today," I said, my tone gentler now. "Rest. Please."
He sighed, but the frustration in his eyes softened, and he finally relented. I threw a blanket over him, the simple act feeling more intimate than I was willing to admit. I sat nearby, close enough that I could hear his breathing slow as he relaxed, but far enough to give him space.
As he drifted off, I let my thoughts wander. I couldn't stop thinking about how easily I'd fallen into this roleâthis need to protect him. To be there for him in ways I hadn't been for anyone else. There were still so many unanswered questions, so many things I didn't understand about what was happening between us. But right now, I didn't care.
I was content, just being here, letting him rest. And maybe, for the first time in a long while, I wasn't trying to control everything. Maybe, for once, I could let things unfold naturally between us.
But, as I watched him sleep, I knew one thing for certainâI didn't want this to end.