She opened her eyes when she felt her left elbow touch something while moving. There was a head underneath her chin. She quietly looked at the spiraling hair before raising her finger. She moved her finger according to that spiral before tapping Maru on the head once and leaving the bed. He didn’t budge, as though he was pretty tired, even though he would’ve opened his eyes early in the morning to go out on a morning jog if it was the previous life.

She put her hand below the duvet. She could feel his chubby stomach. He groaned and turned around.

“Get some more sleep,” she whispered before leaving the room. It finally felt like her home. It put her at ease that someone who should be here was here.

She went to open the veranda door for ventilation before closing it again. A wave of heat wafted over, and it was hot enough to make her sweat during that brief moment. She turned on the AC since people’s lives were more important than electricity bills. She also opened the door to the bedroom. Maru, who was in bed, still pulled the duvet over his body as though he didn’t know how hot it was.

She thought about waking him up to eat breakfast together before stopping. Cooking food just for herself was boring, so she ate a banana and...