Joong's POV
I blinked awake slowly, the faint scent of food and the soft hum of the city filling the air. My body felt heavier than usual, and my ribs ached a little, but the pain was duller now. I stretched cautiously, making sure not to aggravate the injury, before realizing I had no idea how long I'd been asleep.
It was dark outside, the evening creeping in unnoticed while I'd been resting. The apartment was quiet, the soft rustle of papers and the click of a keyboard the only sounds that greeted me.
I pushed myself up from the couch, groggy but surprisingly well-rested, and glanced around the room. It took a moment before I spotted Zee at the dining table, hunched over his laptop, completely absorbed in whatever he was working on.
I had to admit, I felt a little disoriented. The quiet comfort of the apartment, Zee's presence in itâit had a strange way of making everything feel more intimate than I'd intended.
As I stood there, rubbing my eyes, Zee glanced up at me, his expression softening when he saw I was awake.
"Hey, you're up." His voice was warm, but there was something about the way he looked at me that made me feel like he'd been watching over me. I had been asleep for hours.
I ran a hand through my hair and stretched, trying to shake off the lingering sleepiness. "I didn't mean to nap that long," I said, though I knew Zee wouldn't mind.
"You needed it," Zee said, his tone casual, but his eyes softened as he closed the laptop in front of him. "I wasn't about to wake you up. You were out cold."
I smiled faintly, a little embarrassed by how comfortable I'd let myself get. I glanced over at the kitchen, noting the faint smell of food still lingering. "You didn't make dinner, did you?"
Zee chuckled, pushing the chair back and standing up. " I figured we could eat something proper tonight. I'm about to heat it up, if you're hungry."
I blinked, a little surprised. "You've been working the whole time?"
"Not the whole time," he replied with a small smile. "I worked for a bit, but I kept checking in on you. How's your side feeling? You still look a little stiff."
"I'm fine," I said quickly, though I could feel the truth of his observation. "It's just sore. I'm more annoyed about being stuck in here than anything else."
Zee raised an eyebrow, the corners of his lips quirking into a teasing smile. "Well, you're not going anywhere until I'm sure you're better."
I couldn't help but smile back. His insistence was oddly comforting, though it made me feel a little guilty. I wasn't used to this.
I moved to the kitchen, trying to shake off the discomfort and the odd tension that had settled between us. Zee had been looking after me all day, taking care of things without hesitation. His protective nature wasn't something I was used to, but I realized I didn't mind it as much as I thought I would.
It was just... different.
As I opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water, Zee went back to reheating the food he'd made earlier. He didn't seem to mind the silence, but I could sense that there was something he wasn't saying. Maybe it was the way his eyes would flicker toward me now and then, the quiet way he checked in on me without pushing.
I opened the bottle and took a sip, finally speaking up. "Zee..."
He turned toward me, looking up from the stove. "Yeah?"
I hesitated, unsure how to word the question that had been nagging at me since earlier. "Why do you keep doing all this? I mean, it's not just about the case, is it?"
Zee paused for a moment, his face softening. "No, it's not just about the case," he said slowly, his voice quieter now. "Look, I'm not good at talking about this stuff, Joong. But... I care about you. More than I expected to, honestly."
My heart skipped a beat.
I turned toward him, unsure how to react. His words were simple, but they felt loadedâheavy with things we hadn't said aloud yet. Things I wasn't sure how to handle.
"I didn't ask for you to look after me," I said quietly, a little defensive. "I'm not some kid you need to babysit."
Zee's expression softened further, the hint of a smile playing on his lips. "I know. And I'm not trying to treat you like one." He stepped closer, his tone serious now. "But I see you, Joong. I see how hard you work, how much you carry on your own, and I'm not going to stand by and let you hurt yourself just because you're too damn proud to ask for help."
I felt my chest tighten at his words. He saw me. The way he said it wasn't just a statementâit was something more. Something that made me feel like maybe I wasn't as invisible as I thought.
"You've been through a lot," Zee continued, his voice softening even further. "And I know you're not the type to lean on anyone. But sometimes, it's okay to let someone in. It's okay to need help."
I swallowed, feeling the lump in my throat. I didn't know what to say. There were so many things I could respond with, so many walls I'd built up over the years, but right nowâstanding here, in his kitchen, with him looking at me like thisâI didn't know if I could keep up that defense anymore.
Instead, I just nodded, my voice quieter than usual. "I didn't realize I needed help until you showed up."
Zee smiled, that warmth in his eyes never faltering. "I'm not going anywhere, Joong. You can count on that."