𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖉𝖆𝖞 𝖆𝖙 𝖆 𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖊 | 𝘄𝗼𝗼𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴

❝slow burn❞

WOOYOUNG'S bedroom door swung open.

With one hand on the door and the other on the doorframe, he leaned forward, allowing the tiny flame in Miki's hands to capture some of his features. His eyes were hooded from sleep, dark strands of hair falling messily into them.

"...'Sup." He said hoarsely, clearing his throat soon after. "Are you okay?"

Miki swallowed.

She had discovered a few moments earlier that they had no electricity, after stumbling to the bathroom in the middle of the night with the desperate need to pee.

She cupped a small tea-light in her hands. "The electricity's out and this is the only candle left, so..."

Wordlessly, she offered the tea-light to him.

He hesitated. Just when she thought he would accept, he ended up laughing instead, a low and husky sound that brought heat to her cheeks.

"I'm sorry." He was leaning against the doorframe now, and he reached forward to take the tea-light from her hands. "You've never woken me up in the middle of the night before, so you could imagine my surprise when I opened my door to what looked like a candlelight vigil."

Miki was glad the flame now rested in his hand, because she knew the face she was making at that moment was too embarrassing to be seen. Did I look creepy just now?

"Right. Well, sorry for waking you up unnecessarily. Goodnight."

She made a note to never pay him a late-night visit again. 

"Jung Miki, wait."

She would not have stopped, but like a kid being scolded by parents, her full name held a certain power over her. Reluctantly, she faced him again.

"The dark doesn't scare you?" Wooyoung was soft-spoken now, all traces of amusement gone.

"Not really."

Wooyoung extended his free hand out, brushing against her arm in the dark. Her heart rate spiked as his fingers trailed down to grasp her wrist.

"Instead of seeking safety, here you are, offering me your help." Feeling paralysed, when he gave a small tug on her wrist, she involuntarily took a step forward.

"Adorable, but..." his voice faded to a whisper. "Now would be the perfect time to ask for mine."

Miki opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn't compel herself to say anything. She was simply speechless.

His phone rang, cutting through the tense silence.

Wooyoung let go of her. 

"That's my work ringtone," he said tiredly, letting out a deep exhale. "I'm probably going to be called in. Before I leave, I'll check out the generator."

"But-"

"Go back to sleep, Miki. I really... should have stopped sooner."

She still hadn't stepped back from where he pulled her closer, even when he withdrew into his room to get changed.

What would have happened if the phone hadn't rung?

Some part of her, deep inside, had wanted to find out.