~𝟰𝟮~

                                    

                                          
"You sit down, we'll get you warm," Felix said, leading me to the couch.
I sat down, him taking off my shoes for me and covering me in a blanket. I pulled my legs up to my chest, resting my feet on the couch. I snuggled into the soft material of the blanket, pulling it tighter around my shoulders. I closed my eyes, suddenly exhausted, but as soon as the darkness enclosed around me, it felt like I was being suffocated, making me snap my eyes open again. 
I breathed in deeply before turning my gaze to the kitchen, trying to get my mind of off everything by watching Chan and Felix move around like two chefs at rush hour. My gaze caught Hyunjin leaning against the wall, watching me. I gave him a small smile, him returning it and moving over to me. He sat down next to me, making sure to sit a considerable distance away from me.
"How are you feeling now?" he asked softly.
"I'm better. Still a bit cold, but better."
He nodded softly, but kept his gaze on me, eyes seeming to scan over every inch of me. I watched as his brows furrowed when he saw something near the top of my head. He reached out towards me, but I flinched away. He retracted his hand, looking down, and I felt another pang of guilt.
"I'm sorry-"
"No. You don't have to be sorry at all. I should be more careful. I just saw a twig in your hair and wanted to take it out, but it can wait."
I reached up and felt along the top of my head until my fingers touched something thin and rough. I pulled it out and looked at it before handing it to him.
"Why are you giving this to me?"
"Keep it. As a memento."
"You make it sound like you're leaving."
I stayed silent, knowing that if the commander found out about the night's events, he'd surely fire me. When I didn't answer, he scooted a bit closer to me. I still didn't answer, instead leaning my head onto his shoulder. He tensed up slightly before relaxing again, resting his head on top of mine. We sat in silence for quite a while, my eyes fluttering shut every now and then. Until they closed completely, and I was lulled into sleep.
(Third person, Lee Know's perspective)
Lee Know watched Ava from a distance as she slept, Hyunjin having left to help Chan and Felix make her some food to warm her up. He leaned against the wall near the stairs, not moving from the spot. He watched as her shoulders moved in sync with her breathing. She seemed so small and fragile, like at any moment she would shatter into a million shards of glass. All because he couldn't control his anger. All because he scared her into running out of the house. All because he made her relive those terrible memories from her past that he knew still kept her up at night. 
The look on her face kept flashing in his mind; the raw fear in her eyes breaking his heart. He wanted so badly to just go back and do it all over again. He would do it so differently. He didn't even know why he got so defensive. All he knew was that he couldn't lose Ava. Not when there was so much he had to say to her. He slowly pushed off the wall and walked over to her, eyes glued to her tiny figure curled up on the couch. He stopped in front of her, looking down at her. 
She started stirring in her sleep. Her brows drew together, and her hands wrapped tighter around her body underneath the blankets. Lee Know was about to put a hand on her shoulder when Chan cleared his throat next to him, making Lee Know take a step back. Chan knelt down in front of Ava, gently placing the back of his hand on her cheek to measure her temperature. Her brows relaxed at his touch, making Lee Know feel even more guilty. He took a few more steps away from her, Chan getting up and following him.