"Jiyeon," he said softly, his eyes locking onto hers. The room seemed to shrink around them, the air thick with unspoken words and emotions. Jiyeon's heart raced, and she felt a blush creeping up her cheeks.

.......

"Theo...", she began, but her words trailed off as she struggled to find the right thing to say.

"Thank you for today," Theodore whispered, his grip on her hand firm yet gentle. "For everything."

Jiyeon nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're welcome."

They stood there for a moment, the world outside forgotten, lost in the intensity of the moment. Finally, Jiyeon broke the silence. "You should get dressed. I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything."

Theodore released her hand, and Jiyeon quickly left the room, her heart still pounding. She busied herself in the kitchen, trying to shake off the lingering feelings from their encounter. She knew they had to stay focused and vigilant, but for a brief moment, she allowed herself to feel the warmth of human connection.

Jiyeon sat cross-legged on the couch, wearing glasses and a casual bun, scribbling equations into her notebook. Her brows furrowed as she tried to solve a particularly challenging problem. The living room was dimly lit, quiet except for the faint sound of her pencil scratching the paper.

Theodore walked in, a glass of water in hand, his freshly combed hair slightly damp. He stopped by the couch and glanced at her. "What are you doing?"

Jiyeon sighed, not even looking up. "Just solving some math equations... Oh god, you know what? I need a tutor for mathematics, but they're so expensive, we can't afford one. And our math teacher is so lazy I can't understand a single thing he explains. And exams are next month."

Theodore raised an eyebrow. "Let me take a look at this."

Jiyeon smirked; her tone playful. "When I can't get it, how can you get it?"

"Just let me take a look," Theodore insisted, reaching for her notebook.

"Alright, sure," Jiyeon said with a mischievous grin. "Let's see how much the great King of Valoria knows, especially the one who can't even defeat a mere human with no fighting skills and no weapons!" She grabbed the TV remote and pretended it was a microphone. Standing on the couch, she started mock-announcing, "And the worst part—can you imagine? Our almighty King Theodore Nightshade of Valoria, today, was found in... the fridge!"

She burst into uncontrollable laughter, clutching her sides. Theodore fought the urge to laugh, managing to keep a straight face, though the corners of his lips twitched.

Still laughing, she added, "What if—hahaha—what if the Valorians found out about this?" Her laughter became so intense she toppled off the couch and onto the floor, still giggling uncontrollably.

Finally catching her breath, she looked up at Theodore, her glasses slightly askew. "What? Why are you staring? If it were anyone else, they'd laugh too!"

Theodore swung her notebook onto the table with a dramatic flourish. "Here," he said, his tone dripping with mock seriousness.

Jiyeon sat up and grabbed the notebook. Flipping through it, her jaw dropped. "Wait... You solved all of them? How is that even possible? Please explain this to me!"

With his arms folded, legs crossed, and a smug expression, Theodore tilted his head slightly away. "No," he said coolly. "I won't. After all, I'm such a loser. How could I possibly solve these equations? You said so yourself, didn't you?"

Jiyeon pouted. "I was kidding! Do you seriously not have jokes in your world?"

Theodore's expression turned deadly serious. "In my world, if someone said that, they'd face execution... along with their entire family."

Jiyeon's eyes widened as she clutched her notebook to her chest. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean it! Please, I'll never do it again!" she said in a panic.

For a moment, Theodore kept his stern expression, but then he smirked. "Relax. I'm joking... or am I?" His tone was teasing, leaving Jiyeon unsure whether to laugh or cry.

Theodore leaned back on the couch, exuding an air of confidence as Jiyeon flipped through her notebook in frustration. "This is so simple," he said casually. "I was taught all of this when I was 12 years old. Back in Valoria, we mastered complex mathematics, multiple languages—English, Korean, Chinese, French—all at a young age."

Jiyeon raised an eyebrow, intrigued yet slightly annoyed. "If you know all this, then why don't you teach me? I'll be a good student!"

With a smirk, Theodore replied, "I charge a hefty fee per hour for my lessons. My time is valuable."

Jiyeon rolled her eyes. "A fee? Why with me? I'm your lifesaver!"

He chuckled softly. "Ah, but for a lifesaver, I'd have to charge even more. You're clearly in high demand."

"Stop joking around," she said, swatting at him lightly. "It's too late, and I really want to sleep. Just explain to me how you solved these math problems. I think... I think you're way more intelligent than Jihoon in this area."

Theodore's posture straightened, and a flicker of pride crossed his face. "Of course I am," he said smugly. "And stop comparing me to that friend of yours. There's no competition."

With that, he walked her through each equation step by step. Jiyeon listened intently, occasionally scribbling notes and asking questions. By the end of it, she stood up, stretching and cracking her neck with a satisfied smile. "Wow, I actually learned something today. Thanks.

She let out a laugh as she tidied up her notebook. "Alright, let's get some sleep. If you need anything during the night, let me know, okay?"

Theodore gave her a slight nod, watching her leave with an amused look. "Goodnight, Jiyeon," he murmured under his breath as the house fell quiet.

Jiyeon woke up in the middle of the night, her throat dry and craving water. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up on her bed, glancing toward the door. It was slightly ajar, and in the dim moonlight, she froze when she saw a figure standing silently at the doorframe.

Her heart raced, panic setting in. "Ahhhhhhhh!!! Theodore!!!" she screamed, her voice echoing through the quiet apartment. The figure stepped inside, and with a slow, deliberate motion, reached for the light switch. Jiyeon clenched the blankets tightly, bracing herself for the worst.

As the light flickered on, her eyes widened in disbelief.

Teaser for Next Episode:In the dead of night, Jiyeon wakes to an unsettling shadow lurking at her door. A scream pierces the silence as the figure steps closer. Who—or what—is waiting on the other side of the light switch? A shocking revelation is about to unfold... Stay tuned!