The night air was cold and still, pressing softly against the windows. Dinner had long finished; the plates were cleared, the lights dimmed, and the house felt peacefully quiet.
Suho lay sprawled across the couch, his head resting comfortably on Hauen's lap. The soft flicker of the television danced across their faces as a movie played halfheartedly in the background. Hauen absentmindedly brushed her fingers through his hair, while Suho held her other hand close to his chest, like a sleepy child clinging to warmth.
"It's boring," he muttered suddenly, eyes still fixed on the screen.
She glanced down at him. "Why? What's wrong?"
He turned his head slightly, his lips curling. "It's too cringe. Look at them, making lame jokes and calling it comedy."
Hauen chuckled, a soft melodic sound. "Then what kind of movies do you like, Mr. Critic?"
"I like mostly all genres," he said, yawning, "just… not this one."
She smiled. "Well, you're right. It's not that good anyway. Just overhyped."
She yawned too, her fingers still in his hair.
He hummed lazily in agreement.
"Aren't you sleepy?" she asked.
"I will be," he said, half-grinning, "before this terrible movie ends."
Hauen giggled, tugging his hand playfully. "Then come, let's go to bed."
He slowly sat up, stretching like a cat, and the two disappeared into the cozy warmth of their bedroom.
11:50 p.m.
The world outside was silent.
Hauen was fast asleep, her breathing soft and steady, her face calm against the pillow. But her teddy wasn't asleep yet. He lay beside her, wide awake, quietly watching her drift deeper into dreams.
Once he was sure she was fully asleep, with the gentleness of a thief, he slipped out of bed, tiptoeing outside the room.
Minutes later, he returned, smiling mischievously, holding a small box. He placed it quietly on the nightstand before sitting beside her again, his heart beating faster as the clock ticked closer to midnight.
He glanced at the clock. 11:59 p.m.
And then, as the minute hand moved, 12:00 a.m.
A soft smile spread across his lips. He brushed a few strands of hair from her face and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Hauenaa…" he whispered softly.
No response.
He tried again, his voice a little closer to her ear this time. "Hauena…"
She stirred faintly, humming in her sleep. That tiny sound made him chuckle quietly. He bit his lip, leaning closer again. "Jagiya…" he whispered, his voice warm against her ear.
This time, her eyes fluttered open, still heavy with sleep. "Suho…?" she mumbled, confused. "What happened? Why are you awake? What time is it?"
Before she could turn to look at the clock, he stopped her softly, his palm against her cheek.
He leaned in and pressed a tender kiss to her lips.
"Happy anniversary, Jagi," he whispered, his voice warm and filled with quiet joy.
She blinked, the sleep fading from her eyes as realization dawned. "Anniversary..." she whispered back, surprised and touched. Her gaze softened as she looked into his smiling eyes.
He kissed her forehead again. "Come on, get up, just ten minutes, then I promise you can sleep again," he said gently, helping her sit up.
Still half-dazed but smiling, she leaned against the headboard, watching him with sleepy eyes and a heart already melting.
Suho turned toward the box on the nightstand, opened it carefully, and revealed a small heart-shaped cake, decorated simply, but beautifully, with the words:"I love you, my angel."
He lit a tiny candle on top, the flame flickering gently, casting a warm golden glow across his face. His eyes sparkled under the candlelight, full of that cute joy and love that made Hauen's heart flutter every time she saw them.
He turned toward her, holding the cake carefully in both hands. "Make a wish," he said softly.
She smiled, her heart already full, and closed her eyes. He did the same, two hearts wishing silently in the stillness of midnight. When they opened their eyes, they leaned in together and blew out the candle, their laughter softly filling the room.
He handed her a small knife. "You first," he said.
She smiled, cutting a tiny slice and feeding it to him. He accepted it with a grin before doing the same, feeding her gently, a smudge of cream on her lip that made him chuckle.
Then Suho reached for another box from the drawer beside the bed.
Hauen's heart skipped when she saw it; it was that box. The one containing her wedding ring. The one she had returned to him the day she walked away.
Suho looked at her quietly for a long moment before speaking, his voice low and steady, filled with love and a hint of vulnerability.
"Will you be my forever, Hauen?" he asked.
She smiled softly, eyes glistening, and nodded "yes".
A quiet laugh of relief escaped Suho's lips as he gently took her hand and slid the ring onto her finger once again, where it had always belonged.
Her heart swelled, overflowing with warmth and emotion. Without saying a word, she moved closer and wrapped her arms around him tightly. He immediately embraced her back, holding her as if he never wanted to let go.
"I love you, teddy bear," she whispered against his ear.
A tender smile curved his lips as he kissed the top of her head. "I love you too," he murmured.
She pulled back just enough to see his face, that sweet, shy smile, the softness in his eyes, the faint blush that always made him look ridiculously adorable. Her heart fluttered, her pulse quickened.
God, why does he have to be this unbearably cute all the time? she thought.
Before he could say anything, she cupped his face and captured his lips in a sudden kiss. It was slow at first, full of everything she'd been holding back: love, longing, and the ache of having missed him for too long.
He gasped softly against her lips, startled for a moment before instinct took over. He responded with gentle tenderness. but soon it grew deeper, more desperate, intense.
His hands slid around her waist, steadying her as she climbed onto his lap, deepening the kiss. Her lips moved fast, hungry, claiming him. He tried to keep up, to match her rhythm, her passion pulling him in like a storm.
When she finally pulled back, breathless, he stared at her, eyes darkened, heart pounding. There was love in his gaze, but something more, too, a raw, burning hunger he hadn't let himself show before.
Before he could even form a thought, she leaned in again, kissing him with that same desperate fire, and this time, Suho didn't hold back.
She pulled away again just for a moment, just long enough to slip off her top, then leaned back in, capturing his lips again with hungry urgency.
Suho's hands found her bare waist, one steadying her while the other exploring her soft curves, their bodies pressed closer with every second. Their kiss turned wild, heated, Hauen practically on top of him, and he matched her energy without holding back.
In the blur of their closeness, Suho lost his balance and fell on his back, and...
A thud.
Suho's head hit the nightstand, followed by the sharp sound of the glass vessel shattering onto the floor.
"Ahh—!" he winced, pain flashing across his face.
Reality snapped back like cold water.
Hauen immediately pulled away, eyes wide in panic. "Suho! Are you okay? I'm sorry..., I'm so sorry!"
She cupped his face, checking his head, worry filling her voice as she pulled him into her arms, rubbing his head. "Are you hurt?"
He blinked, still wincing, but the sight of her panicked face made him smile faintly despite the pain.
"I'm sorry… I'm really sorry, Teddy," she murmured, rubbing his head gently. Her voice was warm, full of concern.
But her Teddy's face was literally buried against her chest, right between the curves of her breasts, his breath tickling her skin.
Her scent, sweet, faintly floral, was driving him dizzy. Despite the pain, his senses were losing control. Slowly, he lifted his face, meeting her worried gaze. "You okay? Is it hurting?" she asked softly.
But instead of answering, he leaned forward and captured her lips.
This time, he took the lead, his movements bold and sure. Hauen froze for a second, surprised by his sudden confidence, but soon melted instantly into surrender.
The kiss grew wilder, needier, until she found herself falling back on the bed, his body hovering over hers. He devoured every inch of her mouth, tasting the sweetness of the cake she'd eaten earlier. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, and their hearts pounded wildly, beating in perfect, breathless sync. completely lost in the heat of the moment.
Just as he shifted to move over her fully, his leg twisted.
"Ahhh... Shibal...!" he hissed, pulling back in pain, clutching his ankle.
Hauen, still breathless from his kiss, blinked at him for a second, and then burst out laughing. She actually laughed so hard that she fell back on the bed, holding her stomach, tears forming at the corners of her eyes.
He looked at her, frowning, lips pressed in an adorable pout, clearly annoyed at the very untimely interruption of their intimate moment. "Why are you laughing? I'm hurt!" he complained, voice full of wounded pride.
That only made her laugh harder. "I'm—I'm sorry…" she tried to say between giggles, but failed miserably.
Suho sat up properly, rubbing his ankle with a dramatic sigh, his cheeks flushed pink, partly from pain, partly from embarrassment. The sight only made her laugh more, and he shot her a glare that somehow made him look even cuter.
Finally, she managed to control her laughter and sat up, still hiding a lingering smile. "You okay?" she asked softly, trying not to laugh again.
He didn't reply, just kept rubbing his ankle, looking a little embarrassed. She reached out, gently taking his foot onto her lap. "Ahh—" he hissed at her touch.
She pressed her lips together to hold back another laugh. "Sorry," she mumbled, then reached into the drawer for a pain relief spray. She sprayed it carefully and began massaging his ankle with slow, soothing strokes.
"Better now?" she asked after a while. He nodded, still avoiding her gaze. His pout made her smile.
She leaned closer, one arm sliding around his neck, lifting his face gently before pressing a soft kiss to his lips. "Don't be embarrassed… we both messed it up," she teased, brushing her fingers over his cheek.
"And I got hurt embarrassingly, twice," he muttered, still looking a little sulky.
She chuckled. "That's okay, Teddy bear," she said playfully, giving his cheeks a gentle squeeze.
His lips twitched into a small smile. She smiled too, leaning in just a little. "Wanna continue?" she teased softly.
His eyes flickered to hers for a heartbeat, then away. "We got interrupted twice already… and it's midnight. Tomorrow we need to go to the mansion," he mumbled.
She pouted, but nodded. "Hmm, you're right."
"Let's sleep," he said.
She looked at him one last time, a teasing glint in her eyes. "My sleep's gone… I wanted to do something else, come, let's continue," she said playfully.
He blinked, processing her words for half a second, then suddenly pushed her down on the bed. She laughed, pulling him down with her. He chuckled, the faintest smile tugging at his lips as he reached for the blanket, pulling it over both of them.
Under the soft cover, he drew her close against his chest, his warmth instantly wrapping around her. He pressed a tender kiss to her bare shoulder, his breath brushing against her skin.
She smiled, her voice low and sleepy as she whispered, "You're so warm, teddy… maybe I should sleep without clothes on every night, just to feel your heat."
His heart skipped a beat, racing fast enough to give him away. Flustered, he muttered, "You're talking too much… sleep now," trying to shut down her teasing tone.
She giggled softly and turned her head slightly to look at him.
"What?" he asked, already sensing the mischief in her eyes.
"I love you," she said simply, smiling.
He let out a quiet hum in response, too shy to face her. Instead, he turned her gently, hiding his flushed face in the curve of her neck. She could feel his warm breath on her skin, and her body shook with a suppressed laugh.
"Don't laugh," he murmured, his lips brushing against her nape, eyes closed.
She bit her lip, trying to stay quiet, and slowly laced her fingers over his arms that were wrapped snugly around her bare waist. The room felt peaceful, filled only with the sound of their breathing, soft, slow, and in sync.
Within minutes, he drifted into sleep, his lips still pressed to her skin. She smiled and carefully turned to face him. His hair was messy, his expression calm, his lips parted slightly; he looked irresistibly adorable.
She couldn't help but giggle quietly before leaning in to steal a soft peck from his lips. "Happy anniversary, teddy bear," she whispered.
He hummed sleepily in response, eyes still closed, instinctively pulling her closer into his chest. Her smile deepened as she snuggled into his warmth, her heart full, before finally drifting off to sleep in his arms.
The night faded quietly into calm, their hearts beating together, slow, full, and at peace.