Minra’s pulse was still unsteady.

Her skin felt warm from the wine.

Her thoughts felt too tangled, too dangerous.

She needed to leave.

She needed to get away from him.

Because if she stayed any longer—

She wasn’t sure what she’d do.

So she moved toward the door.

But before she could take another step—

A voice, low and quiet, stopped her in her tracks.

“Don’t go.”

Minra froze.

.

She wasn’t even sure she had heard him correctly.

Slowly, hesitantly, she turned.

“What—?”

Shuun wasn’t smirking anymore.

He wasn’t teasing.

His expression was calm, unreadable.

And his voice—

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It wasn’t commanding.

Just matter-of-fact.

“You’re drunk.”

Minra blinked, caught off guard.

Shuun tilted his head slightly.

“Where exactly are you going?”

Minra opened her mouth, then closed it.

Because…

That was a good question.

.

She had intended to go home.

But now that she actually thought about it—

It was late.

She had drunk more than she realized.

And even if she felt fine now—

The second she stepped outside, it would hit her harder.

Minra clenched her jaw.

Damn it.

He was right.

Again.

.

Shuun watched her expression shift, his gaze sharp.

Then, simply—

“Just stay here for the night.”

Minra’s breath caught.

Her fingers tensed at her sides.

Because that—

That was too much.

Too intimate.

Too…dangerous.

“I can call a cab.” She tried to keep her voice steady. “It’s fine.”

Shuun raised an eyebrow. “Can you, though?”

Minra scowled.

“I can handle myself.”

Shuun hummed, unconvinced.

Then, without pressuring, without forcing—

He just said, simply—

“You’re free to leave if you want.”

A pause.

A heavy, suffocating pause.

Then—

“But you don’t really want to, do you?”

Minra’s stomach flipped.

.

He was too calm about this.

Like he wasn’t even testing her now.

Like he was just stating a fact.

And that made it worse.

Because Minra didn’t know how to argue with facts.

She didn’t want to stay.

But she also…

Didn’t want to leave.

And he knew it.

That was the worst part.

He already knew.

.

Minra took a slow breath.

She forced herself to look him in the eye.

“Fine.”

Shuun’s lips twitched slightly.

Not a smirk.

Not a victory.

Just…satisfaction.

Like this was exactly what he expected.

Like he knew she wouldn’t walk away.

Not yet.

.

Shuun stood, stretching slightly.

Then, without another word, he walked toward one of the doors.

Minra hesitated. “Where are you going?”

Shuun glanced over his shoulder.

“Getting you something to change into.”

Minra blinked. “…What?”

Shuun smirked. “Unless you’d rather sleep in that?”

Minra’s face heated.

Damn him.

She hated how effortless this was for him.

Like none of this was a big deal.

Like her staying over wasn’t something to overthink.

But for Minra?

It was.

Because this wasn’t just a place to sleep.

This was his place.

And this was him letting her in.

.

Chapter 19: The One Who Was Just a Room Away