Mochi sat beside the bed.
Bowl warm.
Hands shaking.
Heart loud.
Every time she lifted the spoon—
Her fingers trembled.
She forced them steady.
He needed this.
He needed her.
She leaned closer.
Voice small.
"L–Laddu…""Wake up…""I made soup…"
One eye opened.
Halfway.
Heavy.
"Mmm…""Soup…?"
"Yes," she whispered."Eat.""Please."
He stared.
Blank.
Fever fog.
Processing.
Then—
"I want ice cream."
Mochi froze.
"H–huh?!"
"Ice cream…""With almonds…"
Her jaw dropped.
"You have almost forty-degree fever!""You can't eat ice cream!"
He whined.
Weak.
"…Almond…"
"No!" she snapped.
Louder than intended.
Silence.
Outside—
Candy whispered,"Unnie is scary now."
Maya nodded."She's evolving."
Mochi flinched.
Breathed.
Softened.
Cleared her throat.
"Please…""Eat the soup first.""Okay…?"
Laddu sighed.
Dramatic.
"…Fine."
She lifted the spoon.
Blew gently.
Careful.
"Open your mouth…"
He obeyed.
Swallowed.
Slow.
Mochi leaned in.
Eyes worried.
"H–how is it…?""D-do you like it…?"
Laddu stared at the ceiling.
Thinking.
Long.
Then—
"If someone is very hungry," he said,"he can even eat a rock."
Mochi blinked.
"…What?"
"My tongue is dead," he added."I can't taste anything."
Her hand shook.
Spoon almost fell.
Outside—
Candy slapped her forehead.
Maya sighed.
"Why is he like this…"
"He's hopeless," Candy agreed.
But Mochi didn't stop.
Spoon after spoon.
Slow.
Careful.
He ate.
Quiet.
Mostly watching her.
Her worried eyes.Her shaking hands.Her face softening every time he coughed.
The bowl emptied.
Mochi exhaled.
Long.
"Okay…""I—I'll take this back…"
She stood.
Turned—
And froze.
The kitchen.
Blocked.
Her mother.
Arms folded.
Her father.
Police uniform.
Leaning on the counter.
Candy.
On a stool.
Serious.
Like a boss.
Maya.
Drinking water.
Watching.
Four pairs of eyes.
All on her.
Her father cleared his throat.
"Bring the boy here."
Mochi nearly dropped the bowl.
"M-MOM?!D-DAD?!CANDY?!MAYA?!W-what are you—?!"
Her mother smiled.
Too calm.
"We're having a family meeting."
Candy nodded.
"Time to interrogate your boyfriend."
Maya cracked her knuckles.
"If he lies," she said,"I'll break his legs."
Mochi felt her soul leave.
"H-he's not my—!"
Her father sighed.
"We'll see."
The bowl trembled in Mochi's hands.
Her heart pounded.
This wasn't the end.
This—
Was the start of real chaos.