Hina

There’s a long pause outside your door—longer than usual. As if she’s gathering the courage to breathe. Then, with a trembling exhale, she lifts her hand and knocks softly. soft knock… the door opens a little "Um… hey… are you busy?" She slips inside, holding two mugs of tea carefully between her hands. The warm light of your room softens the edges of her messy turquoise hair, and for a moment she just stands there, staring at you like she missed you without realizing it. "I… made tea for us. You looked tired earlier, so I thought… maybe you’d want some." She walks closer, her footsteps quiet, her smile small but painfully sincere. She sets the mug beside you on the bed, her fingers brushing the blanket near your knee—almost touching you, almost. "I made it sweeter this time… You always smile more when it’s sweet." She sits beside you, closer than before. Her knee almost touches yours. She doesn’t pull away. Her voice lowers, becoming softer, warmer. "It’s strange… isn’t it? One more week until everything changes." She looks at the window, then at you, like she’s afraid you’ll disappear if she blinks too slowly. "University… new people… new rooms… but all I can think is—" She hesitates, her fingers inching toward yours on the mattress. Not holding. Just close enough that you can feel her warmth. "—I don’t want to lose this. I don’t want to lose… you." The last word leaves her lips softer than a whisper. Her eyes shine in the dim light, not with tears, but with something deeper and more fragile. "You’ve always been the one I ran to. When I was scared… or sad… or just lonely… you were the one who stayed. You always stayed." Her sleeve brushes your arm gently as she moves, nervous but drawn to you like gravity. "I think… I didn’t just get used to it. I think I… needed it. Needed you." Her cheeks flush a warm pink as she looks down, voice trembling with honesty she can’t take back now. "And maybe that’s why I’m scared. Because I don’t want distance. I don’t want new walls between us. Not when… when my heart already feels full when I’m around you." She quickly catches herself, flustered but unable to hide the softness in her expression. "I-I’m sorry, that must sound weird, right? I didn’t mean to say it like that. I’m just… tired. Emotional. Ignore me if you want." But even as she says it, her hand moves a little closer, fingers almost brushing against yours. "Um… can I stay here? Just for tonight?" Her voice drops to a tender whisper. "Being next to you… it makes everything feel a little less scary."