Morning, and...
I've heard it said that watching someone's sleeping face is a privilege reserved for lovers.
“Mmmph….”
The most unguarded expression a person can wear, every scrap of pretense and performance stripped away.
The occasional sleep-talk that drifts out is cute and endearing all at once.
Poke a cheek with a fingertip and they stir as if ticklish. Keep poking, or stroke them gently, and a soft smile blooms. On the rare days they murmur my name, the happiness is almost too much to bear.
“Whitey….”
Still, getting to see that defenseless side isn't usually easy.
One: they have to be able to sleep soundly in someone else's home without a shred of wariness.
Two: the situation has to feel natural enough that they don't jolt awake in terror.
Three: they can't wake up too early.
When every condition lines up, the other person is almost always a lover—which is why watching a sleeping face is considered a lover's privilege.
Or family.
“Nyaang…?”
So what I'm trying to say is—
“Mm, no. It's fine. It's still early, so you can sleep more.”
“Mm…. …♪”
I wanted to say that I am an absurdly, undeservedly happy man.
Sunlight poured in. The room was warm. In that gentle atmosphere Cecilia curled up comfortably under my touch, the corners of her mouth curving in a lazy little smile. Every time I stroked her back, those ears twitched into view as well.
“…Cute.”
“Ehehe….”
When I murmured it blankly, a laugh answered me. She didn't seem fully awake—more like an unconscious reaction.
“…Even asleep she smiles that prettily. How am I supposed to look away?”
A few weeks had passed since I met Cecilia. Somewhere along the way, waking up first and watching her sleep had become my little hobby.
Honestly, even I think it's a slightly pervy hobby. But on the mornings I rise early and she sleeps late, the second I see that innocent face, everything else simply stops mattering.
…Is it a fetish?
It might be a fetish.
“….”
A thought suddenly struck me.
She wouldn't hate it… right?
“Getting hated for it would be pretty shocking.”
I muttered with a wry smile. What did Cecilia think about me watching her sleep? Would she dislike it? Not mind? …Get embarrassed?
“Embarrassed is probably the most likely.”
I chuckled and sat on the floor, propping my chin in my hand.
A peaceful morning. Birdsong outside the window, the sleeping face of the person I liked right in front of me—pure happiness itself. If only this stretch of time could last a little longer—
“Nyaang…. Mm, mmm…?”
But of course I couldn't watch forever.
Under my lingering gaze Cecilia's eyelids fluttered. She tossed and turned, then stretched out long with a yawn. Her eyes slowly opened. Hazy sky-blue met mine.
“Good morning.”
“…Goo’ morning….”
She yawned widely again. As she nuzzled her face into the pillow, her tail swayed gently behind her.
“You look really sleepy. Were you that tired yesterday?”
“Uuung…?”
Realizing she seemed more worn out than usual, I asked. Cecilia lifted her face from the pillow and tilted her head.
“Uuung….”
“Did you go to bed late?”
At my question she turned her head slightly, still heavy with sleep, and tilted it again.
After dinner last night we had taken a short walk, chatting as we strolled around a nearby park. We were having so much fun we got home pretty late. After a quick wash we lay down, talked a little more, and I fell asleep almost at once… but in my sleep I vaguely remembered hearing her toss and turn.
Had she slept poorly? Why…?
The fondness from her cute sleepy face was just starting to tip into worry when—
“Last night….”
“Hm?”
Cecilia spoke. Rubbing her eyes with small hands, she yawned once more and continued.
“Eunhyuk…. I was watching you sleep….”
“….”
My heart gave a hard thump. Whether she noticed or not, she went on languidly.
“…Mmm, I fell asleep late. Sorry?”
“No, nothing to be sorry about. …Yeah.”
I couldn't keep the smile off my face. In the end, neither of us was all that different. Watching the sleeping face of someone you like really is pure happiness—
“…Hmm.”
I shifted my thoughts there for a moment.
Someone I like.
Does Cecilia like me? As a man and a woman, not just as a good roommate or friend. Her attitude has been warm for a while now. And the casual confession I tried before had fizzled out. Hmm….
The scene that floated into my mind then was the expression she had shown me last night—Cecilia hugging my arm tightly, face full of happiness, the soft laughter that slipped out when I stroked her hair.
How was I supposed to take that? Had we simply grown closer after weathering hard times together? Had she just been excited from good food and a pretty sky? …Was thinking she might have feelings for me overstepping?
“Ung…?”
A voice pulled me back. Cecilia was looking straight at my face, head tilted.
“Whyy?”
“No, just.”
I must have been staring without realizing. Searching for an answer, I simply said the word that rose to my lips.
“…Because you're pretty.”
“Ehehe…♥”
A goofy, radiant smile filled the room. Flushed cheeks, shy little smile—everything about her was impossibly lovable.
“…Yeah. Ugh, cha….”
I sat up and stretched long, getting the blood moving through my arms and legs.
“Hwaa….”
Warm. When I turned my head, Cecilia—mostly awake now—was beaming at me.
“Good morning, Cecilia.”
“Yeah.”
I greeted her again, then slowly got to my feet.
Yeah, well. We're this close already; for now it doesn't matter if I don't know exactly how she feels. At least I like her. Of course I hope she likes me back, but even if she doesn't…
…If she doesn't like me, I'll just make her like me.
I'll charm her. Right up until the confession.
…Too arrogant?
So what. A little arrogance is good for romance.
The confession plan was progressing, little by little. It was still vague—I hadn't even decided when—but the fact that it was moving forward was what mattered.
Someday we would become lovers.
Definitely.
“Mm, want some rolled omelet?”
“I wanna eat it~!”
But first, breakfast. The day always starts with a proper meal.
We took turns washing up, then I stood in the kitchen. Feeling her lingering gaze from beside me, I began to cook.
Today was another peaceful day.
“I'm off.”
“Have a good day.”
We exchanged light words and waved. In the slightly denser morning crowd, Cecilia walked slowly toward the school gate. Unlike last night, she was wearing her hood—apparently the crowded daytime still made her a little uneasy.
“Hmm.”
I watched her silhouette grow distant, then turned my steps.
School life. It felt like a distant word to me now. I hadn't even gone to college, after all—there was a bit of a gap.
Was Cecilia doing all right? I had heard she had made a few friends, so it didn't sound like she was having a bad time. What other kinds of otherworlders were there besides her? Seven in her class including Cecilia, I was told. The one she had befriended was a half-elf, from what I had overheard. Beyond that… I didn't really know. There were rumors of a dragon, though.
“Hmm.”
I walked, thinking. Come to think of it, I still felt like I barely understood what “otherworlders” even were. What races existed, what traits they had, what problems might arise and how to handle them. For example, Cecilia's… that heat cycle that would come around again someday.
“…Next one's winter, so there's still some time left, though.”
Rather than just “understanding beastkin,” I decided I needed a broader “understanding of otherworlders” first. Knowledge is power. The more I knew, the more I could help when Cecilia was struggling.
Thinking that, I let out a small laugh. Whether she was right in front of me or not, it was all Cecilia thoughts. Strange, yet not a bad feeling at all.
“All right then—time to gather some information.”
I kept walking. Dig through the internet and news articles first? Calling Donggeon hyung might be good too. As fellow guardians, there was plenty of information we could share.
“Other than that… hm?”
Then a figure ahead made me tilt my head.
A pretty black-haired girl. Glossy hair, black clothes, walking along in a cheerful mood. That alone wouldn't have stood out much. But behind her, continuing from her hips, a tail caught my eye.
A devil tail?
…Heart-shaped?