My face stays buried beneath the blanket.
I listen.
Silence.
Maybe he's finally left.
God—staying here is dangerous.
I shut my eyes.
Trying to convince myself to sleep.
Then—
The mattress dips.
Two arms slide around my waist from behind, warm, sudden, enclosing me.
I flinch.
My eyes snap open.
"Gen—what the hell are you doing?"
His face presses into the back of my neck, breath warm, familiar. His voice is low, half-sleepy, brushing my skin.
"Let's sleep."
I shove at him. Hard.
He doesn't move.
"Do you want to die?" I snap, anger cracking sharp.
I force myself upright, throwing the blanket aside. My chest rises fast. My pulse roars in my ears.
Lion is right.
Kidnapping him would've been cleaner. Easier.
This boy… he has no limits.
Gen freezes.
Slowly, he sits up.
The playful smile vanishes.
His eyes drop to the bed, shoulders curling inward, like a scolded child. When he speaks, his voice trembles.
"I'm… sorry, Arem."
I stare at him.
