"I would take this world and place it down at your feet if you wanted me to, Princess."

__________________________

MAERIM LEE

A roommate?

My mind instantly goes white as I check my message again, reading it over and over until I practically memorize it.

But I couldn't have a roommate. How could I—

I spin on my heel, rushing back to my room. I'd been using it by myself for the last two years now, and now I was going to have to share this space with another student.

All of my little stuff.

I was going to have to put it away.

Before the roommate can come, I quickly close the door behind myself and start scooping up the scattered puzzle pieces on the floor. Pulling out multiple boxes under my bed, I start to frantically pile all of my stuffed animals.

All of them goes in.

Kid's books, pacifiers, toys. All of them.

I've just kicked the last box underneath when a soft knock comes at the door, surprising me so much I nearly jump. I'd finished cleaning just in time. The room looked spotless.

It looked like the room of a regular university student.

Running my fingers through my messy hair, I force a smile on my face and swing open the door.

And I nearly faint for the second time of the day.

A tall boy stands there, a large duffel bag slung over his shoulder. His eyes go wide as he looks down to meet my shocked gaze.

We just stand there.

"You're....a girl."

"Come in." I say awkwardly, already so stressed out I wanted to slip back into my other headspace. "Uh— your bed's the one on the right."

He hesitates for a bit, before finally coming in. Clearly he'd been expecting a male roommate, and I'd been completely expecting a female one.

I press my tongue tightly to the roof of my mouth, the awkward silence between us just screwing me up even more.

"Are you a third-year?"

He looks up at my question, and I feel even more drawn back when he shakes his head. His voice is deep. Like he'd been through puberty twice.

"I'm a senior."

Or thrice.

"My name's Taehyung." He continues, and I smile and nod like a robot until I realize. I snap back up.

"My name's Maerim. You can call me May though. Uh— biology major."

He nods, glancing at the open books on my desk with a small knowing smile. I blush, the spread out pages clearly showing colorful pictures of cell structure.

But the blush disappears in an instant when he puts down his bag on his bed, talking without facing me.

"I major in psychology."

Crap.

_________________________

So much homework.

I didn't understand anything, and my head hurts so much from trying to keep from slipping. The stress had already piled since the moment I'd come back from classes, nearly in tears because I was sure I'd failed that pop quiz today.

And I couldn't even let myself go because Taehyung was right here, the sound of his pencil scratching onto paper as he did his work.

I was going absolutely mad.

Burying my fingers in my hair, I stare down at the words and try not to cry. I went into my little space almost twice a day, and always every night.

And it's been two days since I hadn't.

"Maerim?"

My thighs crash against the edge of my desk, and I scramble to look perfectly normal as I look up with an innocent smile.

Taehyung had somehow come next to me.

"Y-Yeah?"

"Are you okay?" He tilts his head, dark hair spilling over his eyes. "Is it your homework? I know biology's a hard course."

He rubs the back of his hand against the side of his neck.

"I could help you if you want."

I suck in a breath. Had I been that obvious that he'd had to get up from studying and come over to me?

I shake my head.

"No— that's so rude to you. I don't want to waste your time."

He smiles.

"You won't be wasting my time, May. Let me bring my chair over."

His tone. When he disappears from my sight to get his chair, my mind goes into a flurry of panicked thoughts.

This was so dangerous.

With that warm tone just now, I'd nearly slipped over. I was just so deprived of being in my other headspace that one little thing was enough to push me across.

But how could I just tell him? He was being so nice, and it hurt more to just tell him no after he'd even gone to bring his chair over.

Shoot. Shoot.

"Alright." He says, and I nod along as he shifts the open book. "So is this what's bothering you? Let me see."

"Yeah. It's just that— I don't understand and all..." My voice slowly fades down to silence, and he laughs softly.

"Don't worry about it. Let's start at this question right here, okay?"

Don't baby me. Please.

"Okay..."

He draws his pen over a bunch of phrases, starts talking. But all I can keep finding myself focusing on is that warm, soothing tone of his voice. What was I going to do?

I couldn't even—

"May?"

My head snaps up. "Yeah— yeah?"

His eyes are slanted a bit from concern, and I quickly avoid his gaze. "When is this due? Is this due tomorrow?"

"N-No. Tuesday. It's due Tuesday."

"Oh." That babying tone again, and I blink rapidly when he wraps a soft hand around my shoulder. "I think you should go to sleep then. I promise I'll help you get it all done by Tuesday, okay?"

No, no, no.

It's happening.

Terrified of myself, I follow his orders. Getting into bed, completely tensed up in fear and anticipation as I lie down. His worried gaze dips even more worried, I can feel it.

And when he tucks the covers over me, I can't help it.

I slip.

__________________________

"Tae?"

He looks up in surprise, and a soft giggle escapes my open lips as I flip up from my covers. I want to play. Where's all my toys?

"Taetae!" I call again, climbing down from my bed. "Play with me. Play."

"What..."

"There it is!" I laugh, pulling out my puzzle box from underneath my bed. I look at him with wide eyes, pointing at the pieces before scattering them all over the floor.

"Can you help me? Please, Tae?"

His shocked expression makes me giggle. It's so funny.

I open another box, and squeal in delight when I find it full with my favorite things. There's my teddy— I'd been wondering where it had gone.

"Help!" I yelp when I can't reach the last box. I'd pushed it in too far, silly May.

I clap my hands together when he gets down on his knees, pulling out the box for me. Then I scatter that too, smiling widely as I grip my pacifier and tuck it between my lips.

Then I point at the toys.

"Play."

"I'll play with you." He says gently, and I giggle happily when he sits down across from me. "May, are you a Little?"

"Little?"

"Never mind." He smiles warmly, and I chew on the pacifier as I clip in a puzzle piece. It's wrong, and my lips squeeze down into a pout.

"Try this one."

He hands me a puzzle piece, and I take it in both my hands. And then I look up at him, my eyes shining.

"Taetae. Are you my caretaker? You're always going to play with me, right?"

He smiles, a smile that makes me laugh in delight and jump up to my feet. I abandon the unmatched puzzle piece, instead just climbing into his lap and curling up into a ball.

"You're warm. You're warm, Tae."

"I'll be your caretaker." He murmurs, and I close my eyes, rocking back and forth in his arms. Satisfied, I nod my head.

"Talk more. I like your voice, it's so nice and pretty."

"You want me to talk more, May?"

"Yes, please."

"Then I will." Everything feels cozy and soothing as I press the side of my head against his chest, his arms wrapped loosely around me. He's talking, sweet words.

"Milk."

"Milk?"

"I want milk." I whisper, my eyes welling up with tears. "Can I have milk, Tae? I want it."

"Yes— Yes, of course." He says, and I watch him intently as he scrambles up to his feet, gripping my milk bottle in one of the boxes. And then he disappears somewhere, which makes me scared for a little bit.

"Tae?"

"I'm back." He says, and I smile brightly when he slips a full milk bottle in my fingers. "There. You'll have to tell me where to get more tomorrow, though. There's almost none left."

I blink, putting myself back in his arms.

"Thank you, Tae."

"Anytime." He says soothingly, and I giggle as I suck on the top of the bottle. My eyelids slowly close with sleep, and I can feel him gently rocking me back and forth.

Just before I fall, I hear his sweet voice whisper.

"Goodnight, May."