Silence stayed between them.
Not empty.
Not awkward.
Just… waiting.
"I mean...".
"…will you sleep in my room?"
His voice was low.
Steady.
But not unaffected.
Anxin didn't answer immediately.
She just looked at him.
Longer than usual.
Then—
she stepped back slightly.
"…you ask very directly," she said softly.
Hedi didn't move.
"…I don't see a reason not to."
She crossed her arms lightly.
Not defensive.
Just thinking.
"…and if I say no?"
A pause.
"…then I won't force you."
That answer came calmly.
But something in it—
felt heavier than the words.
She noticed.
Of course she did.
"…but you won't like it," she added.
"…no," he said honestly.
That made her smile faintly.
She walked past him slowly.
Toward the hallway.
"…you're getting used to asking things like that," she said.
"…only with you."
She turned back slightly.
"…dangerous habit."
"…necessary one."
She paused near the doorway.
Thinking.
Not rushing.
Then softly—
"…what if I get scared?"
That changed something instantly.
[Childhood Memory – Emotional Core]
Hedi's expression shifted.
Not visibly to anyone else—
but to her—
completely.
"…you don't get scared anymore," he said quietly.
She leaned lightly against the wall.
Looking at him.
"…you remember that night?"
Silence.
He did.
Of course he did.
After the accident—
everything had been too quiet.
Too empty.
Too unfamiliar.
She was nine.
He was ten.
And that first night—
in that house that suddenly felt too big—
she hadn't slept.
Not even for a minute.
[Flashback Scene – Shared Past]
She sat on the bed.
Small.
Silent.
Eyes wide open in the dark.
Every shadow looked wrong.
Every sound felt louder.
"…DIdi?" her small voice had called.
From the other room—
a pause.
Then footsteps.
He had walked in without turning on the lights.
Because he knew.
"…I can't sleep," she whispered.
He didn't ask why.
Didn't question it.
He just sat beside her.
"…sleep xinxin," he said quietly.
"…stay here," she had added quickly.
A pause.
Then—
"…okay."
And that night—
he didn't leave.
Not the next night either.
Or the one after that.
Until she stopped being afraid of the dark.
she slept in his arms.
giving him all her fear.
Maybe because she believed that he was the only person who will remain with her till the end, and will protect her from everything even from himself, but he will never let her get a scratch.
But even then—
he always checked.
[Back to Present – ]
"…you didn't leave," she said softly.
Hedi looked at her.
"…you didn't ask me to."
That answer—
unchanged.
Even now.
She smiled slightly.
"…I still might."
Silence.
She stepped closer again.
Slowly.
"…so," she said quietly, "if I stay…"
A pause.
"…you're not allowed to leave."
That wasn't hesitation anymore.
That was a condition.
Hedi didn't even take a second.
"…I won't."
"…promise?"
"…I don't break them."
That was enough.
She moved closer—
until there was no space left.
"…then fine," she murmured softly.
And before he could respond—
she leaned in.
Kissing him first.
Slow.
Warm.
Intentional.
Hedi reacted immediately—
his hand moving to her waist again—
pulling her closer like it was instinct now.
The kiss deepened gradually.
Not rushed.
Not overwhelming.
Just… real.
Her fingers curled slightly into his shirt.
Holding him there.
When they pulled back—
neither stepped away.
This time—
his forehead rested lightly against hers.
"…you're staying," he said quietly.
"…I said I would."
"…in my room."
She smiled faintly.
"…don't repeat it."
"…I will."
That made her laugh softly.
The room felt different tonight.
Not because anything had changed.
But because she was there.
Anxin walked in first.
Looking around slowly.
"…you really live like this?" she asked.
"…like what."
"…too clean."
"…I can adjust."
She turned toward him.
"…we'll see."
She sat on the edge of the bed.
Not nervous.
Just aware.
Hedi stood there for a moment—
watching her.
Then walked closer.
"…you're thinking too much," he said quietly.
"…I always do."
"…don't."
A pause.
"…just stay."
That word again.
And this time—
it didn't carry tension.
It carried comfort.
She lay down slowly.
After a second—
he did too.
Not too close.
Not distant either.
Just… there.
After a moment—
her hand moved slightly.
Finding his.
Holding it.
Naturally.
Hedi looked at her.
"…you're still scared?" he asked quietly.
She shook her head slightly.
"…no."
A pause.
"…you're here."
Silence.
Soft.
Complete.
And for the first time—
neither of them felt like they were staying somewhere unfamiliar.
Because this time—
they weren't just sharing a room.
They were sharing something they never had to question.