It was just another day like any other.

A day like any other, when you’re on the bus, trying to make it to an appointment you haven’t had in a long time, and you realize that you haven’t heard from the friend you’re supposed to meet until the bus is halfway there.

‘Surely she’s not still sleeping?’

She decided to call her friend to confirm. Once, twice, thrice… She dialed the number multiple times, but there was no answer until the beeping tone filled her ears.

‘Hmm, looks like our movie plans are ruined. When are you going to wake up?’

But as she stares out the bus window, she doesn’t seem to mind that at least two hours have passed. It’s not the first time this has happened to her, and she’d gotten used to it, but it’s more because of her easygoing nature of not getting angry unless it was something serious.

It was just then that her phone rang, brightening the darkened screen. She stared at the scenery as it whizzed by at the speed of the bus, her gaze rolling as she tried to figure out what to do while she waited. She glanced at the screen, expecting to see her friend’s name but unexpectedly, a name she hadn’t anticipated was displayed.

Counting the days in her mind, she answered the call.

“Hello?”

–        I miss you.

Even though the first words were heard without context, she seemed quite familiar with it and answered without wavering, erasing the days she had been counting from her mind.

“Not today.”

–         …Why?

“I have a prior engagement.”

–         With whom?

“A friend.”

–         Friend? Who…

The voice suddenly trailed off, followed by a long sigh. He had to put up with this once in a while to keep his possessiveness as low-key as possible, so she wouldn’t get scared, so she wouldn’t run away from him. Even now, he could barely contain the urge to ask her if her friend was a man, or a woman, or someone she had mentioned to him before.

–         No, it’s nothing. So, when can I see you?

“Umm…. Actually, I have a little bit of time right now.”

–         How long?

There was a subtle sense of joy in his questioning voice.

“At least a couple hours?”

–         Then come here. No, I’ll go to you. I’ll book a room near your meeting place and you can go see me. Okay?

“You’re asking me to come without even knowing where we’re meeting.”

–         Oh, right. Where were you meeting?

“Do you remember the place where we watched the movie before?”

–         Yes, yes. I know. I’ll wait for you around there then.

There was a hint of impatience in his voice as he responded like an obedient puppy. Yet, even though she continued to decline, he eventually played his trump card. The secret weapon he only used sparingly, afraid it might lose its effectiveness if used too often.

–         …I want to sleep.

Mercilessly, he knew that saying those words would weaken her.

“….”

And just as he’d predicted, she started to think.

In fact, what he meant by ‘I want to sleep’ was pure sleep, not a relationship or anything else. Suffering from severe insomnia, he always found solace in her presence to fall asleep comfortably.

It was because she, an unusually ordinary South Korean citizen, possessed the power of healing. Well, to him, her existence itself was more important than any of her abilities.

“….Okay.”

–         I’ll send a car right away.

Finally, an affirmation came out of her mouth. Of course it was. It had never failed to work for her, who always felt sorry for him when he was tired.

Once she hung up the phone, she had reached her destination. She got off the bus, waiting for a moment before a sleek car smoothly pulled up in front of her.

“Long time no see, mister.”

“Are you doing well?”

“Same as always.”

She exchanged brief greetings with the driver, he same one she saw every couple of months, and climbed into the car. The car sped down the smooth road and soon stopped in front of a fancy hotel nearby, and his bodyguard, Kahin, opened the car door for her.

“Thank you.”

“Please take care of Rune, miss.”

With a small nod to the driver, she stepped out of the car and was led inside by Kahin. She was getting quite used to being called ‘miss’ by them now.

Inside the elevator heading to the top floor, she struck up a conversation with Kahin.

“Kahin, have you been well?”

“Yes. Miss, you… always…”

“It’s always the same for me, Kahin, you’re having a hard time.”

“…Not really.”

Smiling softly at Kahin, she turned her head forward again, so she didn’t see the redness in his ears.

Upon reaching the top floor, she extended her hand to press the bell in front of the suite’s door. But, before she could do so, the door swung open, and a hand reached out, pulling her inside faster than she expected.

Thud―.

Left alone in the silent corridor, Kahin stood there for a moment, staring at the spot as if chasing after a ghostly image of her that had disappeared in a flash through the door.

＊ ＊ ＊

“Ria.”

Startled by the sudden address, she quickly snapped back to reality. He is the only one who calls her ‘Ria’ and not ‘Lee Rin Ah’ because he has difficulty pronouncing her Korean name.

Looking down, she saw the gorgeous blond hair of the person holding her in a crushing embrace. She couldn’t see his face because it was buried in the nape of her neck, but now, the initial shock she felt about the color of his hair subsided as she gradually grew accustomed to it.

It was the same for him, burying his face in the nape of her neck and breathing in. It felt like he was finally breathing.

“Rune.”

“Yeah….”

When Ria called his name, his voice, now hoarse and softened, flowed out like a low murmur. Ria brushed his beautifully blond hair with her hand and spoke.

“Shall we go inside for now?”

After nuzzling his face into the nape of her neck a few times, like a cat purring at a pleasant touch, he soon swept her up in a quick hug and carried her into the room, sitting her down on the bed.

“I need to organize my shoes and clothes first.”

“I’ll do it.”

Without missing a beat, he dropped to one knee, removed her shoes, took her coat, and began to organize it.

His actions, seemed so out of place with the luxurious suite and his noble appearance, appeared incredibly natural due to the flow of his movements, making it seem like second nature.

Ria moved to the middle of the bed as Rune organized her clothes, and when he was done, he quickly joined her on the bed and snuggling into her familiar embrace.

Resting his face between her ample br*asts, Rune looked up at her. Sensing the meaning behind his gaze, Ria effortlessly began to stroke his hair again.

The silence of the room, the occasional rustle, and her gentle touch. Rune cherished these moments the most. It was only during these times that he felt true leisure in his life.

“Why did you dress up so beautifully today?”

“Hehe, I’m glad you find it beautiful.”

“When have you ever looked anything but beautiful? So, who are you meeting?”

“A friend.”

“Which friend?”

Rune’s closed eyelids fluttered open at the vagueness of her answer. His eyelids twitched, and his eyes, hidden behind the blue wall of his iris, flickered with a deep possessiveness. Fortunately, before she could notice, he blinked and concealed his emotions.

“A friend from the photos I showed you before.”

Ah. A sigh of realization escaped from Rune’s lips as he instantly recognized who she was talking about. He had heard about this friend a few times, and from their previous encounters and photos she showed, he knew that this friend was a woman. He finally relaxed.

“How long haven’t you been able to sleep?”

“Since the day I last met you.”

“Have you tried finding other solutions, as I suggested?”

“…I can’t do without you.”

Worry flickered on Ria’s face.

Rune was a busy man, and she only saw him once every two months, so she’d told him to find another way to deal with his insomnia so he could sleep well when she wasn’t around, but his response was always the same, every time.

But Ria couldn’t say much more to that. She had tried several different methods herself, all of which had failed to work. Foods and candles that were supposed to help with insomnia had proved ineffective in aiding his sleep.

Ria’s hand stopped moving when she was in thought, and Rune, not liking it, quickly climbed on top of her and kissed her briefly. It was his way of telling her to focus on him.

“If I’m sweaty, I need to shower and do my makeup again.”

“Yeah, I understand.”

The problem was that this pattern always led to them becoming intimate again. For Ria, who had to go out again for an appointment, it was a situation she couldn’t easily accept.

But Rune, contrary to his words earlier, continued to kiss all over her face. Then, when his lips met hers again, he lightly nibbled her lower lip, cunningly finding a way through the gaps.

Oh, in that moment, a hot intrusion felt intense as it delved inside. Even the sensation of his tongue entwining with hers. Helpless against the relentless contact, Ria had no choice but to eventually accept him.