He did not even hang out with his pals as usual and even cut off those with whom he had one nightstand.

Things were changing between us in a way that Haru became even more sensitive to me or my actions, which made me uncomfortable sometimes but also flattered me at the same time.

 ~

Recently, I caught Haru red-handed while he was peeking at my phone, sitting on the edge of the bed, when I got out of the shower. I rushed to him and snatched my phone out of his hand. "Why are you sneaking into my phone again?!..."

"It kept buzzing, so I picked it up to see who's texting nonstop..." He answered, unfazed.

+"Don't give me dull excuses... You know I don't like this, but you keep repeating it!... "

-"I'm just curious what you're guys talking about all the time!..." He groaned.

+"Can you respect my privacy for once?!!!... "

Haru got up and stepped towards me, irritated. Then he grasped both sides of my head towel and pulled me close to him with it. "Let's dry your hair... You'll get sick with wet hair..." His hands slipped down my arms as I remained frozen in tense, dragging me to the seat in front of the drawer, then pulled the hairdryer out of it. He grabbed my hair with one hand and started drying it with the other.

I mumbled awkwardly, "You've indeed never listened to me..."...

After Haru was done drying my hair, he hugged me from behind and said, "Can't I have all of you?... You're driving me crazy when you're like this..." Squeezed me harder.

My heart pounded hard. "What's this supposed to mean?!~..."

He stepped back, his face a mask of confusion. He shook his head and muttered, "Sorry, I don't know what came over me." He turned away, leaving me alone in the bedroom, and I didn't ask any further.

 ~

A week later, when I was invited to Taemin's house, he made a big fuss of it. We were still in the office when I told him I couldn't be with him that night...

Haru pushed me towards the wall with force. "Why do you want to be there?..." He asked with an annoyed expression...

+"What kind of bullshit question is that?!... can't I see my friend?..."

-"Can I come?... "

+"No!... it's inappropriate when he doesn't mention anything by himself!"

His grip on my arms was getting stronger...

-"Then invite him to my house so I can be there too... or cancel it..."

+"Why are you doing this?!... You know it's weird, right?!... Stop controlling me!... "

-"I've told you I don't like him!... "

He raised his voice and held me even tighter. I used all my strength to push him away, and he stumbled back...

+" It hurts!!!... Sorry, but I can't accept either of your options..."

As I said this, I was about to walk out of the room when Haru suddenly groaned... I looked back and saw he'd crouched down and grabbed his ankle...

I asked, "What's wrong?!..." Then I came close to him...

-"My ankle got twisted..."

He said, wincing in pain. I helped him get up and offered to take him to the hospital, but he refused...

+"You're not acting, right?..."

-"Why would I?!... you pushed me... that's why I became like this... "

+"Then why don't you want to go to the hospital?..."

-"I don't like it..."

I sighed and said," Stay here, I will bring a bandage and some ice..."... I returned with a few items and carefully wrapped the bandage around his ankle. Then I took a few ice cubes and placed them in a towel, gently pressing them against the injured area.

He said, " You're not gonna leave me alone like this, right?... "... I shook my head and said, " You said it's my fault, so I should take responsibility... "... He looked away and sighed. "It's okay... you don't have to if you don't want... just go... I can take care of myself..."...

I replied, "I'll cancel my plan... don't make me the bad guy here... anyway you always get what you want..."...

I wonder how far you want to go with this...

It was just for one fucking day...

I know you're not hurt...

I could see it by looking at your ankle...

You just needed an excuse to tie me down...

You thought I wouldn't notice?

I'm not as naive as you might think. You can't fool me that easily.

The point is that I chose to play along with it...

Because I am afraid of dramas... Also, conflicts and arguments...

Most importantly, I can't say no to you... 

 ~

Our supposed patient was so delighted that he had a valid excuse to keep me at his home for another week. Making me do all the house chores, cooking and you know spoiling him in any possible way. He was enjoying every moment of it so much that I was afraid he would never let me go anymore.

I know it's ridiculous, but seeing him smiling ears to ears made me happy... 

So I guess I've lost my mind at this point, too...

 ~

Following that week, we were so busy with work again...

We went on business trips twice and nonestop business meetings in such a compact schedule.

Haru's business was advancing at high speed, and I was surely amazed by him managing things like that...

Even though the amount of stress he endured was so high that he caught a cold badly afterwards. Lee Sora noticed the amount of stress Haru was under and decided to give the two of us three days off to rest and recover. She also gave me an extra day off to take care of Haru and make sure he was getting the rest he needed. I didn't expect that Lee Sora would've ever been able to be generous...

~

The first night, he had a high fever, so I stayed up all night taking care of him, checking his temperature, and making sure he's okay, since I couldn't sleep out of worry.

He woke up in the middle of the night panicking and panting out of the blue, calling out my name loudly... 

As I saw his terrified face, I held his face and asked him, "What's wrong, Haru?!... "

He embraced me fiercely and said, "I had a dream about you leaving me alone, so I thought you had left me for real!~..."

I hugged him back and said, "Why would I?..., I'm not going anywhere~..."...

He clung to me and started to cry. His body was trembling, and I was taken aback because I'd never seen him cry. I patted his back lightly until he calmed. I jokingly said to change the mood, "This is the most emotion you've ever shown me! I didn't know you could cry, too..."

He replied as he stopped crying, "At least I'm better than a robot like you... a bit more affectionate, maybe..."...

Then, Haru caressed my hair and looked with his teary eyes into mine. He said, "Sorry, I've been on the edge recently... I bothered you a lot..."...

I answered, "It's okay... You've been through a lot..."...

Putting his head on my shoulder, he said, "I wish you would stay with me forever. Please never leave me..."...

 ~

I couldn't answer him... I'm not sure about forever...

You're indeed affectionate towards me...

Your gaze, your touch, your words...

All of them make me confused...

I can't describe your feelings...

What is your definition of liking someone exactly?...

All these years, you kept saying that you liked me, but how? In which way? Why?

You will eventually get tired of me and leave, either by finding a replacement or by getting married to a new girl who will catch your attention in the future...

Because that's just the way you are and whoever becomes attached to you, you'll lose interest in them...

I can't ask you to define us because I'm afraid of hearing something that it'd hurt me...

 ~

I held him close in silence, feeling his breath slow and steady as he drifted off to sleep again in my arms. I stayed there for a while, watching him sleep peacefully until I eventually doze off as well while mumbling, "I can't leave unless you let me go first."

When I opened my eyes in the morning, I saw Haru staring at me while we were still in the same position as last night. "Do you feel better now?" I asked anxiously. Haru nodded in response, and I couldn't help but feel relieved. 

+"Thank god!..." 

-"Were you worried about me?..." He grinned. 

+"Huh?!... Of course I was!..." I frowned. 

-"I guess I should be sick all the time so you'd give me attention and be worried only about me... hehe~..." snuggled me into his arms. 

I bit his arm just a little bit and said, "Seems you're fine now that you're spouting nonsense!..."

"Ouch!" He responded and said, "You've started it this time! Don't beg me to stop!!!" He started to bite me back maliciously as I tried to escape from him, "Waaaah~... Don't!!!... Ow~..." hitting him with the bottom of my fists as I was squirming back to get away from his grip, then I slipped down of the bed suddenly, "Aaaaaah~..."

Haru laughed and said, "Don't forget this lesson!" I grumbled in pain and whined, "Jerk!... My butt hurts~~~..." 

Seeing me still down on the ground rubbing my butt, he reached out and lifted me up. 

" drama queen~..." he stated as he suddenly rubbed my butt with his hand. 

I quickly pushed him away, embarrassed and blushed by the unexpected gesture. I anxiously said, "Heyyy~... Don't touch me like that!..." 

Haru shrugged his shoulders while raising his hands up and said with a mischievous smile, "You said it hurts... I was trying to help..." 

I sighed as I was dumbfounded and then groaned, " Scumbag!... I regret taking care of you for a whole night~..." 

He burst into a laugh and held my face in his hands, then squeezed my cheeks. "I like your cute annoyed expression..." 

And I kicked him on his right leg as I became more annoyed...