Jaewoong stood back up slowly. His silky shirt flowed about him as he did so.

Minjun cleared his throat. “Thank you.” He said watching Jaewoong.

Jaewoong nodded once.

“I’m going to the room. It’s been a very hard day, and I need some time to think.” He turned on his heel, his slippers scuffing the floor, and because they were Minjun’s old black ones they sorta went with his black tight jeans and fancy shirt. Except that they looked to be a little tight. ‘I will have to take him for shoes and clothes. He doesn’t have anything with him.’ Minjun realised.

Jaewoong paused, and after a second he looked over his shoulder.

“Just come to me if he bothers you again. Or if you need a hug.” Jaewoong said, then left the room, shuffling away as if he hadn’t just dropped a huge bomb and walked off.

Minjun breathed in deeply, his heart beat against his will.

‘That was cool. How is he just so confident, so sure of himself? Why did he protect me? Why has he been choosing to protect me? Ah, I am so confused.’

Minjun sat down at the computer and pulled up the screen talking about Jaewoong. He clicked back out and went to the second google result without thinking. Just mindlessly clicking on the results. A second later a headline popped up. Newly made billionaire Bae Jaewoong disappears after selling game and Losing Parents. Where is he now?

And below it as he scrolled he saw pictures of Jaewoong but he was in regular clothes and moving around the city doing things. Some of them were faked pictures, clearly someone else.

Minjun clicked off the news article. ‘Losing Parents.’ was a top search result.

Minjun typed in Bae Jaewoong, parents.

The first search result. “Bae Jaewoong, only survivor in car accident” Minjun clicked. On Sunday night, during the rain an accident occurred on the outskirts of Soul. A mudslide from heavy rainpour made the side of a mountain collapse. Bae Jaewoong was driving in the heavy rain on the overpass when... Minjun skimmed through the article.

He is the only remaining family member of the Bae Household. Funeral rites were held in private on Sunday. The article finished at the bottom was the reporter's name and the article's date it was dated over a year ago.

Minjun suddenly felt rude to be prying. He closed all the screens and stood up. ‘If I have questions I will just go ask him myself.’ He thought, and headed up the stairs. Checking his watch as he went. It had been almost a half hour reading the articles. Would Jaewoong even be awake and willing to talk? Or would he be sleeping already. Minjun stopped about to push open his door.

“Minjun.”

Minjun looked up and Wonyong stood leaning against the wall outside his room door.

Minjun stopped.

“Wonyong-ssi.” Minjun said slowly.

Wonyong frowned. “I am right, you are treating me differently than before. Ssi? You have always called me Wonyong-ah. Did I do something wrong?” Wonyong asked, stepping forward and reaching out.

Minjun stepped back, his slippers scuffing the floor. He pulled on the edge of his sweater with his fingertips.

‘Please Let's not get any closer. Please, it already is so painful.’ His heart throbbed not knowing it was supposed to not feel anything anymore. It betrayed him and beat wildly for him anyway.

“I… It’s not. Jaewoong-ah…” Minjun mumbled out.

“What?” Wonyong asked.

“Jaewoong-ah he will be.” Minjun started.

Wonyong hissed. “Jaewoong, Jaewoong, Jaewoong. He has been here one day and all I can hear out of your mouth is his name. Are you that happy he is here?” Wonyong spat, angrily.

The door opened and Jaewoong leaned out of the door, one hand on it the other hand wrapped around Minjun’s neck.

“Yah, when are you coming to bed Jun-ah, I’m lonely. You know I am unfamiliar with this place, and I hate unfamiliar places. He let go of the door and his other arm fell around Minjun. He cuddled into his back.

“I don’t want to be alone anymore, he pouted. Minjun felt his breath and that wonderful rich smell tickle the back of his nose and throat.

“Wonyong-ssi. I will talk to you later. It seems Jaewoong needs some help for a bit. Have a goodnight.” Minjun said and then hastily shoved Jaewoong through the doorway and shut the door behind them. Jaewoong scoffed, turned on his heel then walked away. Minjun remained with his head against the door.

“Hey, do you have to stare daggers at him? Do you have to jump to my rescue before I can even talk to him? I don’t want him to keep touching me like that. But I need to be able to tell him without you barging in. He doesn’t seem to like you.” Minjun said hoping his soft tone would soften the blow of the harsh words.

Jaewoong scoffed. “Good, he shouldn’t be touching you like that. There is no reason for a guy like that to be touching you like...”

“Jaewoong.” Minjun snapped his chest heaving with emotion.

“I will do it myself.”

Jaewoong chuckled. Minjun turned to look at him. He looked pissed off, he wished he could know why Jaewoong was being like this. It made no sense, they had just met.

Jaewoong’s lip trembled. “Last night I said when you need someone to talk to and to keep you company. When you are lonely… I never break my promises and I promised you.” Jaewoong started.

“Jaewoong.” Minjun said softer this time.

“The thing you said before… He paused. “Just forget about it, let's pretend it never happened.” Minjun said, opening the door of the bathroom and closing it behind him. A second later the door opened and Jawoong walked in.

 “Why?” He asked.

“I don’t want to.” Minjun lied.

“I wouldn’t have offered it if I didn’t mean it. I am not the type to say empty words.” Jaewoong said.

Minjun stayed silent.

“Want and need are two different things. I won’t be there if you want. But if you need me. I’ll be there.” Jaewoong said softly.

“Love can really hurt.” Jaewoong said.

“Love can feel like you are peeling away a part of your own soul when it is rejected. Because that’s what they did. They rejected a part of you that was so deeply who you are that it feels sour. It feels like a wound that has festered and deepend to an unfixable depth. And that’s why love can hurt so badly. Because it is someone saying I’m sorry I don’t and can’t love that part of you. Which makes us unintentionally tell ourselves no one can ever love that part of us, so neither should we. But it's wrong, it's just how we are feeling in that moment when we are rejected. It’s the wrong feeling. We can be loved, by ourselves and others. And we will, if not that day, in that moment, then someday. Someday that little spark inside of us will find someone who wants to fan the flame into love.” Jaewoong said.

“You know you can only feel lonely and hurt by love because you have felt it before. Those who have never felt it don’t even know it's what they are longing for and missing. They can only look longley with envy.”

Minjun felt the tears well into his eyes. ‘He hadn’t realised he had been so lonely. He was surrounded by friends almost all the time. So why was there that pit in his stomach? And here was someone who barely knew him and yet he could tell he really needed a hug.’

Minjun nodded then looked up at Jaewoong.

He was staring at him. But his eyes were gentle.

‘I thought I had figured out why you had been cursed to be a bear. I thought I understood it was because you were impossible, selfish and a maniac… But now, I wonder why were you turned into a stuffed Bear?’

“What are you thinking about?” Jawoong asked.

“What happened to make you turn into a bear?” Minjun asked gently. Making sure to be careful about the way he worded it.

“Do you like me?” Jaewoong asked suddenly.

Jawoong’s eyebrows scrunched together. “Because I am a bad man.” He said, earnestly. “So try to remember that and don’t get too attached, since I won’t be here in thirty days anyway.” He turned around and walked out of the bathroom without closing the door. He sat down on his bed, took his slippers off then laid down and turned over so that his back was facing Minjun.

Minjun watched him, his heart aching a little. ‘He seems hurt. Did I upset him by asking?’ He wondered. After brushing his teeth with the door open he walked over to his bed and laid down too.

“Good night Jaewoong.” He said softly.

But there was no response. Minjun closed his eyes and went to sleep.

Jaewoong rolled over in his sleep. ‘A bed here, or a bed there. No bed is any different than the other really.’ They were just a place to rest your head and close your eyes. And yet he had missed a bed the most since being turned into a Bear. Jaewoong opened his eyes. It seemed Minjun was a light sleeper. At first he thought the night before had been because he was in his way. Maybe he wasn’t used to sleeping with stuffed animals. But he clung to him tightly and cried. And tonight he was over there rolling and twisting again.

‘What torments you so much that your mind cannot rest even when it needs to?’ He thought. He closed his eyes. ‘Then again I understand your pain. When the pain is so much you don’t even get a rest during your sleep. When I close my eyes it is the same for me.’

He let out a deep breath.

Something warm and weighted slipped across his body and he opened his eyes and looked down. He followed the arm all the way to the face of the little Pink and brown haired culprit.

“Yah, Kim Minjun. What did I say about hugging? Stay in your own lane.” Jaewoong said flatly.

Minjun didn’t respond. Jaewoong looked at his face. ‘Wait is he sleeping? Did he just?’

“Kim Minjun go back to your bed. Pretending to sleep isn’t going to save you. I said only when you need me will I be there. I told you to keep your distance. Minjun, obey me, or I will really get angry.” Jaewoong ordered. Minjun didn’t move.

He reached out and shook him. Minjun’s face fell forward so he could finally see more than his hair and chin from above. Glistening on each cheek were tears.

Minjun shivered, and another tear rolled downwards.

Jaewoong’s heart stopped.

He reached a tentative finger out and then after a moment wiped the tears away slowly with the back of his fingers. Minjun shivered again.

Jaewoong sighed and grabbed the thick blanket and covered him up making sure he got more of the blanket then he himself was using. He rubbed Minjun’s back in slow soft gentle circles.

“Minjun?” He whispered. But he didn’t really expect him to answer this time.

Jaewoong rested his chin on Minjun’s head and closed his eyes.

‘Just what is so hard that you need me to hold you even while you are sleeping?’ Jaewoong thought as he pulled him in closer and then went to sleep.

Jaewoong opened his eyes when the warmth left, the sudden jut of cool air tickled him awake making him shiver. He checked the time. Six in the morning. Minjun walked over sleepily and plummeted down into his own bed. Jaewoong held his breath to see if he was awake, but Minjun’s eyes were closed.

‘So you returned back to where you came from, hmm?’ Jaewoong closed his eyes and went back to bed. His eyes flooded with light and the alarm screamed at him. That was the final way he was waking up today.  He opened his eyes and Minjun wasn’t in the bed. A minute later the bathroom door opened and Minjun walked out.

If you don’t hurry there won’t be any hot water left after Heejin takes one in her and Kai’s room. She practically uses all the hot water up for an entire hotel when she gets ready. Minnjun said with good humour. One hundred percent back to himself.

Jaewoong nodded, and sat up. “”Oh okay.” He said but his eyes focused on the water dripping down Minjun’s back. He swallowed and turned away suddenly feeling very aware of just how nice Minjun’s back was.

“Is the day the same as yesterday? He asked.

Minjun nodded. Pretty much, we may have a few tiny things differentiated. But most of our days are the same, we practise, we work out, we do live streams, or sell merch, the change is when we have to do an ad or commercial. Depending on how popular we are it changes from month to month how much work we have outside of the building. But mostly the livestreams and the practice is all here. That’s Why Kai and Wonyong want us to work out and go for a run. To keep our minds and bodies healthy and not stagnant.” He said.

Jaewoong nodded. “Hmmm, sounds good.”

Minjun turned while he was pulling his head through his team sweater. His hair popped out and then his eyes. And Jaewoong had to hold his breath so he wouldn’t laugh.

He looked so adorably silly.

That thought flitted across his mind but he paid it no heed.

“Hurry, or you will get a cold shower instead.” Minjun said.

Jaewoong nodded and got up.

His whole day followed that pattern. Everything Minjun said word for word, following it. Following Minjun all day. All day they were together. And everytime he would see Wonyong he would bristle and mask it. Jaewoong got familiar with the pattern.

Watch, learn, repeat. Observe.

That's what they had said they were going to have him do. Because he was Minjun’s friend he would shadow him to learn. But they didn’t worry so much about the game anymore. After all he had created the character he knew how they worked. He had to playtest most of them until they were at their best on all levels and in all forms of levelling. So he didn’t need to learn that part so much. But how to play with a team. It was a little harder than he thought it would be. Apparently they had watched his tapes and deemed it was okay to still have him as a player because the committee had gotten back and said it was fine.

But as he observed Minjun he noticed, he was hurting. Hurting deeply. Jaewoong sighed. ‘Why does the magic work with you? Why are we connected and why do I care that you are hurting? I have my own pain, my own anxieties.’ He sighed but followed the plan. It was monotony in a way and he settled down into it feeling concise and decisive about his day.

‘If this is how I am going to spend my final thirty days then it isn’t a bad way to go out.’ He thought.

“What are you thinking about?” Minjun asked as he got ready for bed across the room from him.

“Oh, just that this kinda lifestyle isn’t so bad.” Jaewoong said, getting ready too.

Minjun nodded, smiling big. “Right. There are worse ways to live your life. You have good food, friends, stable work. You don’t have to bounce from part time to part time. Or worry about rent, or what bills need to be paid, what you are going to do for dinner. You just exist in this happy little ecosystem of a bubble. It isn’t easy but it isn’t too hard either.”

Jaewoong nodded. “Mhhm, right.” he watched as Minjun turned away from him and his face fell.

‘So why are you so sad inside? As sad as I am?’

Minjun laid down. “Goodnight,” he said.

Jaewoong let out a little puff of air. “Yes, goodnight.” He responded back, he laid down and closed his eyes. But his mind wandered. He never slept well, not since the accident. And falling asleep was hard. He didn’t drift into dreamland peacefully. He didn’t hum, or count sheep. He was just blank. A blank space in the unsettling darkness. It swallowed him whole behind his eyelids, until they sparkled like fireworks and changed colours. Maybe he was seeing the world behind its reflection but sometimes it felt like he was just seeing his own eyelids. Either way pinching his eyes shut never made him fall asleep any faster. But it made that tingling heaviness explode into fireworks and so he normally did so.

An arm slipped around his waist. Jaewoong opened up his eyes. The clock read one in the morning. He had already been trying to go to sleep for an hour, he sighed and put a hand behind his head. Looking down his chin at Minjun nestled into his side tightly. ‘Is this comfy for him? Would it be better if I turned so he has more space to sleep?’ He wondered.

Minjun whimpered lightly. Jaewoong lifted his head, removed his hand and swung it around him so that he could clasp his own hands behind Minjun’s back. Minjun let out a little sigh of relief. Jaewoong sighed and nustled his head into Minjun’s hair. He smelt nice, and clean, the shampoo had a slight woodsy scent to it.

‘Kim Minjun you are making things really difficult. How can I say no when you seem to need me?’

“You keep nosing into my business over and over again. I don’t need protection from Wonyong.”

Jaewoong gave a little guttural growl off to the side.

“You don’t need protection? Have you seen your face every time he touches you? It looks like you are being attacked? I dunno what he did to you. But you wince and flinch every time he comes too close. But you don’t say anything. He notices too. He leans in more. He tries to get closer. If you are so uncomfortable, why don’t you stop it? Am I just supposed to stand by and watch you recoil in pain?” Jaewoong snapped.

“Oh, yes. Just stand there. Everyone else does.”

“Yeah, why does everyone else? Why do they just see you hurting and not say or do anything? Huh? Do they not see it?”

“No, no one else sees it but you. So why do you have to stick your nose into my business.” Minjun snapped back.

“You want me to ignore it then?” Jaewoong walked up to him, his shirt billowing in the wind.

“Should I ignore it?” he asked, stepping closer, getting close to his face to do so.

‘It looks like he wants to punch something.’ Minjun thought.

“Why do you keep trying to help me? We just met. Why is it your problem?” Minjun asked, annoyed. “Do you have some sort of complex? Do you always have to be the saviour?Huh?”

Jaewook kicked at the little pebble on the rooftop of the house. Going silent, and unable to look up.

“No, it’s just…”

“Just what?” Minjun asked, annoyed.

“You hold me every night and cry because you are hurting so much. How can I just be coldhearted when you cling to me? Do you think I am so cold that I could just turn you away? Am I supposed to watch the pain build all day then not let you into my bed every night? Shouldn’t I stop the cycle?”

Minjun looked at him, judging to see if he was lying.

“I do what?” He asked slowly so that Jaewoong could make it make sense.

“You sleep with me. Every night. You have for the past nine days ever since the first night so ten nights total. I thought it was just cause I was a bear the first night.”

“I do not! Why should I believe you?” Minjun asked, appalled. ‘He has to be lying there is no way I would.’ He thought. His mouth dropped as Jaewoon turned the phone the company had given him around and there in the video Minjun was snuggled into him and like a zombie he watched himself sit up crawl out and return to his own bed. Jaewoong turned the camera to his face. He smirked which in the camera came off sorta sinister and evil.

Minjun felt that shiver down his spine he got whenever Jaewoong was being cocky.

“Jun-ah, your such a naughty sleeper.” he said into the camera then winked and the screen went black. The video ending.

“Yah, why don’t you wake me? Why are you letting me sleep with you?” Minjun asked.

Jaewoong turned and walked away to the edge of the building he looked down off the edge.

“I… I thought, how hurt inside do you have to be to deny your feelings all day and then cry out for help in your sleep? I just. I don’t want to see anyone else I care about hurting. So if you need a hug, it's okay. Just hug me. Doesn’t matter when. Okay?” Jaewoong said. He turned back around to face Minjun. Minjun watched him carefully.

Jaewoong took a second and a third deep breath then opened up his arms.

Minjun stared at him, his heart warring between running over there and reservation.

It felt weird to be seen and heard. To have someone notice and care about his pain.

‘How long had it been since that had happened? Too long.’

Minjun shuffled over there. He paused in front of Jaewoong. Jaewoong wrapped his arms around him and pulled him in tightly so tightly that he was practically like another layer of clothing he was so glued to him. He looked down at him and smiled. Minjun looked up through his bangs and felt that heat rise again. But ignored it and slowly wrapped his arms around Jaewoong’s back. Then grabbed it in fistfuls, putting his head to rest on Jaewoong’s left ******.

He could hear Jaewoong’s heartbeat. It was calming and familiar. Maybe because he had been doing this for a week while he slept.

“Is that better?” Jaewoong said

Minjun felt the words reverberate through him. He nodded his head slowly. Jaewoong petted his head. He looked back up, their eyes locking on each other for a moment.

Minjun swallowed. ‘Had his lips always been so pink? His black hair always so long? Yah, Kim Minjun, what are you thinking about right now?’

Minjun pulled away from the hug gently. Untangling his limbs.

“Better?” Jaewoong asked.

Minjun nodded. “Just wake me up. Don’t let me impose on you.”

Jaewoong smirked. “Nope, I am not going to.”

Minjun sniffled. “Why not?”

Jaewoong pointed at his thumb.

“I said when you needed me right. So you must need me.” Minjun felt his cheeks grow hot. “Don’t say it like that.” He whispered.

“Don’t say it like that.” He whispered feeling a little shy at the support and acceptance he was receiving form a bear of a man that didn't know him that well. Compared to everyone else in his life.

“Fine, but only when I need too.” Minjun agreed reluctantly accepting the help. But he didnt’ feel as reluctant as he thought he would.

“How am I supposed to know you need me if you don’t tell me? Are you going to cling to me all day?’ Jaewoong asked. Referring to the video, wiggling his phone in his hand.

Minjun had enough sense to look guilty for his behaviour.

Jaewoong shook his head. He smirked. “Okay, let's do this. Anytime you feel overwhelmed and need a hug just give me a signal and I can hug you. Sound good?”

“But why? I thought you just were okay with it as a bear. I don’t want to force you to do something you don’t want to do. I mean you don't’ have to force it.”

Jaewoong shook his head no again. “Am I just supposed to deal with you breaking and entering into my bed every night then?”

Minjun nodded “Oh, that makes sense.” He gave him a little circled thumbs up and a little half smile. As a way to brush off and give an apology at the same time. “Sorry,”

“Oh, yeah, let's use that. That's cute.” Jaewoong said, leaning forward and ruffling Minjun’s hair a little.

Minjun flushed. “Yah, do you have to be so cringy when you look like you do?” Minjun said, then shuffled away from him quickly heading for the stairs.

“When I look like what?” Jaewoong called, repeatedly. Minjun closed his eyes and ignored it, stomping down the stairs.

“When you are so sexy and handsome.” He said.

‘Ah, you can never say that in front of him, though.’ He thought.