Morning didn't arrive loudly.
It slipped in quietly—
through half-open curtains,
across soft sheets,
over two people who hadn't realized when distance stopped existing between them.
Anxin woke slowly.
Not fully.
Not suddenly.
Just... aware.
Warm.
comfortable.
have had a peaceful sleep.
That was the first thing.
Not the sunlight brushing against her shoulder.
Not the quiet room.
Him.
Her face was pressed against Hedi's chest—
his shirt slightly creased beneath her cheek.
One of his arms wrapped securely around her waist,
holding her close even in sleep—
like letting go wasn't something his body allowed anymore.
Their legs were tangled together—
not awkwardly,
not by accident—
but like they had shifted closer sometime in the night without waking.
She didn't move.
Didn't pull away.
Didn't even open her eyes fully.
She just stayed there.
Listening.
His heartbeat.
Slow.
Steady.
Too close.
It felt... grounding.
her cheeks were totally red.
she was a blushing mess.
she was adoring his features.
his face
touching his face , hairs, nose
as if trying to believe that it's not a dream
"...you're awake," his voice came quietly above her.
She smiled faintly without lifting her head from his chest.
"...you noticed?"
"...you changed your breathing."
"...that's very specific."
"...I pay attention."
That made her finally open her eyes slightly—
that she had closed to hide her shyness.
still resting against him.
"...only in the morning?" she murmured.
"...only with you."
Silence.
Soft.
She shifted just a little—
not to move away—
but to get more comfortable.
Her hand rested lightly against his chest now,
fingers absent-mindedly tracing the fabric of his shirt.
"...you didn't leave," she said quietly.
"...you told me not to."
"...and you listen now?"
"...only to you and always."
That answer came so easily—
it made her pause.
Then slowly—
she tilted her head up.
Their faces were close.
Too close to ignore.
"...dangerous habit," she whispered.
"...you started it."
A pause.
Then—
without overthinking—
she leaned up and kissed him.
Soft.
Slow.
Still half-asleep.
Hedi didn't hesitate.
His hand tightened slightly around her waist,
pulling her closer—
not urgently—
just enough to keep her exactly where she was.
The kiss deepened for a moment—
warm,
familiar,
unrushed.
Then softened again.
Like the morning itself.
When she pulled back,
her forehead rested lightly against his for a second.
Neither spoke.
Because nothing needed to be said yet.
Eventually—
she exhaled softly and pulled back just enough to look at him.
"...you're very calm today."
"...you're still here."
"...I was here last night too."
"...this is different."
She raised an eyebrow slightly.
"...how?"
He looked at her.
Steady.
"...you didn't leave and I don't want you to leave, just stay here in my arms sweetheart. you don't know how much peace it gives me love, my life."
That was it.
Simple.
Uncomplicated.
but it was enough to make her heart race,
it was enough to make her heart skip a beat.
She smiled faintly.
"...you're becoming very attached and why do I feel that you are changing."
"...I am becoming aware and even if I am changing its only because I want to become a better person for you, my love."
"...aren't you using too many sweet words."
"...it's not like u don't like it." he said nuzzling in her neck inhaling her scent as if its a drug to him
She finally moved—
sitting up slowly,
the warmth of him leaving her side just slightly.
And immediately—
he noticed.
Not visibly.
But enough.
"...you're leaving already?" he asked quietly.
She glanced back at him.
"...I need to get ready."
"...stay a little longer let me have some more peace which I only get when u are in my arms."
That word again.
Stay.
She looked at him for a moment—
then leaned down slightly—
pressing a soft, quick kiss to his lips.
"...I'll come back," she murmured.
That was enough.
For now.
She stepped toward the bathroom,
but before she could fully close the door—
his voice stopped her.
"...sweetheart "
She paused.
Turned.
"...what?"
"...can we bath together"
her heart raced
her cheeks turned into a dark shade of red
A beat.
"...why?"
He sat up slightly,
calm as ever.
"...it will save water."
Silence.
Then—
she laughed.
understanding the hidden meaning
Soft at first—
then more openly.
"...that's your reasoning?"
"...it is efficient."
"...you're unbelievable."
"...you're still considering it."
She shook her head,
still smiling.
"...no."
A pause.
Then softer—
with a small glance back—
"...maybe next time"
" Why not today love, haven't u heard of the idiom"
" Which idiom Mr."
"Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today."
'aren't u becoming too shameless"
" Only for u love"
he moved toward her with a smirk on his face but before he could get any closer Anxin ran to the washroom and locked the door
And shouted from inside, "NEXT TIME Mr. WANG"
That was enough to make him smirk slightly.
Leaning against the door from inside Anxin was a blushing mess but she believed that this is the begining of something new something beautiful.
outside Hedi ruffled his hair smiling.
and moved out to prepare a meal for his princess
When she came out later—
the house felt different.
Not quiet.
Not empty.
Alive.
She walked into the kitchen—
and stopped.
Hedi stood near the counter—
focused—
cutting something with more precision than necessary.
"...what are u cooking?" she asked,
leaning lightly against the doorway.
"Something you would love to have sweetheart'
That answer made her smile without realizing.
She walked closer—
watching him.
"...what is this supposed to be?"
"...breakfast."
"...that's not specific."
"...you'll see."
She leaned slightly closer—
close enough that her shoulder brushed his arm.
"...careful," he said quietly.
"...you're distracting me."
"...good."
He paused.
Turned slightly toward her.
"...intentionally?"
"...yes."
"but I don't mind getting distracted if u are the one distracting "
he said moving closer
Before she could step back—
his hand caught her wrist lightly.
Pulling her just a little closer.
Not forceful.
Not sudden.
Just... natural.
"...you do that often now," she said softly.
"...because I love having u close all to myself"
That wasn't wrong.
She didn't pull away.
Instead—
she leaned in slightly—
pressing a quick kiss to his lips.
"...focus," she whispered.
"...I can't if u is here, let me have one more kiss."
and that kissed changed from 1 to 4 or more who knows
Later—
when he dropped her at the hospital—
the air between them felt different again.
More open.
More visible.
His hand lingered at her wrist a second longer before she stepped out.
"...don't leave early," he said quietly.
She looked at him.
"Why will u miss me"
"...no."
A pause.
"...I don't like not seeing you. I don't like when u breaths away from me. I you allow I want to cage u all to myself. only mine to have, taste, see .... only mine"
That was new.
Clear.
Unhidden.
She smiled faintly.
"...you'll survive."
"...I don't intend to test that."
he kissed her forehead, hugged her last time and let her go inside before moving toward his own office
Inside—
people noticed.
The way she moved.
The way she smiled slightly more.
The way she didn't avoid questions.
Same goes with Hedi
employes notice how he didn't fired anyone in last few days
how he always looks at the time
how he is always eager to leave
how he would smile lightly thinking about something
how the atmosphere less heavy and more like love
And when he came later to pick her up in the evening—
they noticed that too.
He didn't stand at a distance.
Didn't wait formally.
He simply walked toward her.
And stopped close.
"...you took longer today," he said.
"...you counted?"
"...yes, every Damm second."
She smiled.
"...you're becoming worse."
"...I told you it's because its u."
A pause.
Then quieter—
closer—
"...don't leave early tomorrow."
She stepped slightly closer.
"...then don't let me. keep me with u"
And that—
was not a challenge.
It was permission.