When I woke up, Hai-Min was asleep on my chest.
Out of all the times I had done this, this was the first time it felt different. The room was quiet, yet my chest felt heavy in a way I could not explain.
She had one hand curled against my shirt, like she was afraid I might slip away. Her breathing was slow and warm against my skin. I stared at the ceiling and tried to steady myself.
There was something about her that pulled me in. It wasn't just her face or her body. It was her very presence.
And that scared me more than I wanted to admit.
Closing my eyes, I took a slow breath to steady myself.
Now that I had come this far, I needed more strength. Not for pride. Not for status. I needed it to protect her quiet life. To protect the family we might build one day.
Every girl I had been with used protection. The technology made it almost impossible to fail. Accidents were never a concern.
But with her, it was different.
