Part 9 - Stay (Unedited)

                                    

                                          
Kim's POV
I woke up to a crash, loud enough to make me sit bolt upright. For a second, I thought maybe someone had broken into the house, but then I heard it.. low, broken sounds, like someone was... crying? 
My pulse kicked up as I listened closer. It wasn't crying, not exactly. It was more like gasping, desperate and strangled. Then I caught it-a muffled, almost inaudible *no... please...* 
Kenta. 
Of course, it was him. I groaned, running a hand down my face. This guy couldn't go one night without causing some kind of chaos. But something about the sound didn't sit right with me. It wasn't the usual cocky, self-assured Kenta who always had a smirk ready to piss me off. This was different. 
Reluctantly, I swung my legs out of bed and made my way down the hall to his room. His door was cracked open, and I could see him tangled in the sheets, his body jerking like he was fighting something off. 
"Kenta," I called softly, leaning into the doorway. No response. He thrashed again, a strangled cry escaping his lips. 
I sighed, debating whether to step in or let him sort himself out. But when he let out another broken *stop, please,* something twisted in my chest. 
"Damn it," I muttered, stepping into the room. 
"Kenta!" I said louder, grabbing his shoulder. "Wake up!" 
His eyes snapped open, wild and unfocused. For a second, I thought he was going to hit me. His chest heaved, his breath ragged, and I could feel the tension in his muscles under my hand. 
"Kim?" His voice was hoarse, his eyes darting around the room like he didn't know where he was. 
"Yeah, genius. Who else would it be?" I dropped my hand and crossed my arms, trying to act like I wasn't concerned. "You were yelling. Thought maybe you were dying or something." 
"I'm fine," he muttered, sitting up and running a hand through his hair. His voice was shaky, though, and he wouldn't meet my eyes. 
"Sure you are," I said, my tone dripping with sarcasm. "Because *fine* people definitely wake up screaming in the middle of the night." 
He shot me a glare, but it lacked his usual bite. "I said I'm fine. You can go now." 
I should have left. I wanted to leave. But something in the way he slumped forward, his head in his hands, stopped me. 
"What was it about?" I asked before I could think better of it. 
"None of your business." 
"Kenta-" 
"I said it's nothing!" he snapped, his voice sharper than I expected. Then he looked at me, and for a split second, I saw it-fear. Vulnerability. Something raw that he clearly didn't want me to see. 
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "Look, I get it. Nightmares suck. But you're not gonna convince me you're *fine* when you look like you just ran from a damn ghost." 
He didn't answer, just stared at the floor like it might swallow him whole. 
Something in his eyes stirred something in me. His fear, I sat down on the edge of the bed. "Do you want me to stay?" 
His head snapped up, his eyes narrowing. "What?" 
"You heard me. Do you want me to stay, or are you gonna keep pretending you're fine and deal with it alone?" 
For a moment, he just stared at me, his jaw tight. Then, to my surprise, he nodded-barely, like he hated himself for it. 
I sat there on the edge of the bed for a moment knowing that I would regret what I was about to do. "Move over," I said, kicking off my slippers. 
"What are you-" 
"I'm not sleeping on the floor, and I'm not leaving you to scream all night. So, unless you want the couch, scoot." 
Kenta grumbled under his breath but shifted over. I lay back against the pillows, keeping a good foot of space between us. 
For a while, neither of us said anything. The room was dark and quiet, save for the sound of his breathing gradually evening out. 
"Thanks," he muttered after a while, so softly I almost didn't hear it. 
"Don't mention it," I said, closing my eyes. "Seriously. Don't. Ever." 
I tried to stay relaxed but the tension in the room was unbearable. Even though I tried to keep space between us I felt like I could almost feel his breath on my neck. He was so close... I wanted him closer. What am I thinking. 
Suddenly I felt arms touch my back, slowly gliding themelves around my waist. My breath hitched in my throat.
"Wha-" 
"Please shut up" He whispers, his breath heavy against my neck.