Kai froze the instant Hana stepped out of the bathroom.
His breath hitched—sharp, unbidden—before he could cage it.
The loose pyjamas hung off her frame, too big to be hers yet somehow made for her, clinging just enough to stir something dangerous inside him. She didn't look like a guest in his home. She looked like she belonged here. In his space. In his life.
His jaw tightened.
Don't.
Stop looking at her like that.
She was Jihoon's little sister. The girl he once swore to protect. Nothing more. Anything else would be a betrayal.
"You're done eating?" Hana asked lightly, her eyes flicking to the cleared table.
"Yes," Kai answered, his tone carefully even. But then his gaze snagged on her damp hair, dark strands dripping against her collarbone. A softer edge slipped into his voice. "Your hair's still wet. Want me to dry it for you?"
Her hand flew to her hair, a shy smile tugging at her lips. "I knew I was forgetting something."
Kai swallowed hard, heat gathering low in his chest. He guided her to sit, pulled the dryer from his drawer, and set it to warm. The gentle hum filled the silence as he threaded his fingers through her hair, untangling knots with practiced care.
The scent of strawberries rose with the warmth, and for a moment, his eyelids fluttered shut. Memories hit him—her tiny frame dozing against his shoulder, the same strawberry-sweet smell of her hair.
But when he opened his eyes, the truth was undeniable.
She wasn't that little girl anymore.