𝑲𝑰𝑴 𝑺𝑼𝑵𝑶𝑶

It was late in the evening, and the bathroom was warm from the shower you had taken earlier. The overhead light was off, leaving only the soft glow from the mirror and the small lamp tucked into the corner of the counter.

Sunoo had somehow turned the entire bathroom into his personal skincare studio.

Half of the counter was covered with neatly arranged bottles and jars, each one placed with almost ridiculous precision. His cleanser sat beside his toner, the toner beside his serum, and the moisturizer was positioned at exactly the angle he apparently preferred. Even his lip balm had its own designated spot.

You leaned against the bathroom door for a moment, watching him.

He was standing in front of the mirror wearing an oversized shirt and soft pajama pants, his hair pushed back by a fluffy headband that made him look both adorable and impossibly pleased with himself.

He tilted his face toward the mirror.

Then the other side.

Then back again.

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

“You’re late.”

You pushed yourself away from the door and walked farther into the bathroom.

“Two minutes,” he added before you could say anything. “Two whole minutes.”

You couldn't help but smile.

“Don't smile. I'm serious.”

You walked over to him and slipped your arms loosely around his waist from behind, resting your chin against his shoulder.

“Mm. Very serious.”

Sunoo caught your eyes in the mirror.

His expression immediately softened for half a second before he remembered that he was supposed to be offended.

“Don't try to distract me with affection.”

You tightened your arms around him.

“It's not working?”

“No.”

His answer came much too quickly.

You smiled against his shoulder.

He rolled his eyes, but the corners of his mouth lifted.

“Fine. Maybe a little.”

He turned in your arms, gently placing his hands against your shoulders before looking you up and down.

“You look comfortable.”

You nodded.

“I was waiting for you.”

Sunoo's expression changed instantly.

“Oh, so now I'm the one who made you wait?”

You laughed quietly.

“I didn't say that.”

“You implied it.”

He dramatically placed a hand over his chest.

“Wow. And after I spent all this time preparing everything.”

He gestured toward the counter.

You looked at the collection of skincare products.

“You mean preparing for yourself?”

Sunoo gasped.

“For both of us.”

He picked up his cleanser and waved it in front of you.

“Well, mostly me.”

You shook your head, amused.

He smiled, clearly pleased with himself.

“Come here, baby.”

You stepped closer.

He immediately took your hand and pulled you in front of the sink.

“Sit still.”

You leaned against the counter while he examined your face.

His eyes narrowed.

You knew that look.

He was inspecting you.

“Hmm.”

He gently tilted your chin upward.

“When was the last time you properly moisturized?”

You thought for a moment.

Sunoo's eyes widened.

“Don't tell me you don't remember.”

You gave him an innocent shrug.

He stared at you in disbelief.

“Unbelievable.”

He reached for the cleanser.

“This is why you have a boyfriend.”

You raised an eyebrow.

“For skincare?”

“For many things.”

He squeezed a small amount of cleanser onto his fingertips.

“But skincare is definitely one of my most important boyfriend duties.”

You couldn't help smiling.

Sunoo glanced at your reflection.

“Stop smiling.”

You tried to suppress it.

“I'm not smiling.”

“You are.”

He stepped closer.

“And you're making me lose focus.”

He carefully began massaging the cleanser over your cheeks.

His touch was gentle, his fingertips moving in slow circles across your skin. Despite all his dramatic complaints, he was surprisingly attentive. He made sure not to get any product too close to your eyes, occasionally brushing your hair away from your forehead.

“There.”

He moved to your jaw.

“Relax.”

You let your shoulders drop.

“Good.”

He smiled faintly.

“You're so cute when you actually listen to me.”

You looked at him through the mirror.

“And you're bossy.”

“I'm not bossy.”

He continued rubbing cleanser into your cheek.

“I'm helpful.”

He moved to your forehead.

“There's a difference.”

You gave him a skeptical look.

He noticed immediately.

“Don't look at me like that.”

You smiled.

“I can see what you're thinking.”

You raised your eyebrows.

“You think you're always right.”

Sunoo paused.

He looked at you.

Then at himself in the mirror.

Then back at you.

“I usually am.”

You laughed.

He rolled his eyes, but he was smiling too.

“Okay, rinse.”

You turned toward the sink and carefully washed your face. Sunoo stood beside you, watching to make sure you didn't somehow manage to splash water everywhere.

“Not like that.”

You looked over.

“What?”

“You're getting water all over the counter.”

You glanced down.

A few droplets had landed near his perfectly arranged products.

Sunoo stared at them in horror.

“No.”

You quickly grabbed a towel.

“I'm sorry.”

He sighed dramatically.

“It's okay.”

He carefully wiped the counter himself.

“Luckily, I’m a very patient boyfriend.”

You leaned closer and kissed his cheek.

His hand stopped.

He slowly looked at you through the mirror.

“That was cheating.”

You smiled.

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

“You know exactly what you're doing.”

His cheeks had turned faintly pink.

He cleared his throat and reached for the towel.

“Come here.”

He gently dried your face himself, patting rather than rubbing.

“See? Much better.”

His eyes lingered on you.

For a moment, his expression became softer.

“You have really nice skin.”

You smiled.

Sunoo immediately looked away.

“Don't make that face.”

“What face?”

“That smug face.”

You laughed.

“I wasn't doing anything.”

“You were.”

He reached for the toner.

“Close your eyes.”

You obediently shut them.

He carefully applied the toner, tapping it into your skin with his fingertips.

“Good.”

His voice had softened.

“You're actually very easy to take care of when you listen.”

You opened one eye.

Sunoo caught you.

“Both eyes.”

You closed it again.

He smiled to himself.

“That's better.”

He continued patting the toner into your skin before reaching for the serum.

“This one is important.”

You opened your eyes.

“How important?”

Sunoo looked at you with complete seriousness.

“Very.”

He held up the bottle.

“Expensive.”

You laughed.

He immediately frowned.

“Don't laugh. Do you know how much I spent on this?”

You shook your head.

“I don't want to know.”

“Exactly.”

He carefully applied a few drops to your cheeks.

“You're not allowed to waste this.”

He gently spread it over your skin.

“And you're definitely not allowed to steal mine.”

You looked at him.

“I wasn't planning to.”

“You say that now.”

He gave you a suspicious look.

“I know you.”

You reached for the bottle.

Sunoo quickly pulled it away.

“No.”

You laughed.

“Sunoo.”

“No.”

He held it against his chest.

“This is mine.”

You reached again.

He turned away dramatically.

“Absolutely not.”

You wrapped your arms around his waist from behind.

He froze.

Then he sighed.

“That's unfair.”

You rested your chin on his shoulder.

“You're impossible.”

“I prefer exclusive.”

He glanced at you in the mirror.

“And you're my boyfriend privilege.”

He immediately seemed to realize how sweet that sounded.

His cheeks became pink again.

“Anyway.”

He cleared his throat.

“Moisturizer.”

He picked up the jar.

You let go of him and turned back toward the mirror.

Sunoo scooped out a small amount.

“Close your eyes again.”

You did.

His fingertips gently pressed moisturizer into your cheeks, moving carefully along your jaw and forehead.

The bathroom was quiet except for the soft hum of the ventilation fan.

You could feel him standing close.

Every so often, his fingers brushed your cheek with a little more tenderness than necessary.

When you opened your eyes, you caught him looking at you.

He immediately looked at the mirror.

“What?”

“You were staring.”

“I was checking my work.”

“You were staring at me.”

“No.”

His lips twitched.

“Maybe.”

You smiled.

He sighed.

“Fine. I was.”

He gently touched your cheek.

“Can you blame me?”

You looked at him through the mirror.

Sunoo's expression softened.

“You're pretty.”

The words came out quietly.

Almost reluctantly.

Then, as if he had suddenly become embarrassed by his own sincerity, he pulled his hand away.

“Don't get used to hearing that.”

You laughed.

“Too late.”

He rolled his eyes.

“Of course.”

He picked up his lip balm and applied it while staring at himself in the mirror.

You watched him.

He noticed.

“Why are you staring now?”

You shrugged.

“Because you're pretty.”

Sunoo went still.

His eyes widened slightly.

Then he looked at himself in the mirror.

“Obviously.”

You laughed.

He turned toward you with a smug smile.

“But thank you.”

He finished applying his lip balm and carefully put it back in its designated place.

You reached over and moved it slightly.

Sunoo immediately noticed.

He stared at the lip balm.

Then at you.

Then back at the lip balm.

“Why did you move that?”

You shrugged innocently.

“It was in my way.”

He slowly moved it back.

“It was in the correct position.”

You laughed.

“You're ridiculous.”

“And yet you love me.”

He leaned closer, giving you a knowing look.

You smiled.

“Unfortunately.”

Sunoo gasped.

“Unfortunately?”

He placed a hand over his heart.

“After I just performed an entire skincare routine on you?”

You wrapped your arms around him again.

“Very unfortunately.”

He tried to maintain his offended expression.

He lasted about three seconds.

Then he laughed and rested his forehead against yours.

“Yeah, yeah.”

His arms slipped around your waist.

“You love me.”

You smiled.

He kissed your forehead softly.

“And I love you too.”

There was a small pause.

Then his eyes flicked toward the mirror.

“But honestly…”

He pulled back slightly and examined his reflection.

“I look incredible tonight.”

You stared at him.

He grinned.

“What?”

“You're unbelievable.”

“I know.”

He fixed his headband, tilting his head toward the mirror.

“Stay here.”

You raised an eyebrow.

“Why?”

“Because I'm not done.”

He reached for another product.

You sighed.

“How many steps are there?”

Sunoo smiled brightly.

“Enough.”

He turned toward you with the confidence of someone who had absolutely no intention of shortening the routine.

“And since you're my girlfriend , you're doing all of them.”

He handed you the product.

You looked down at it.

Then back at him.

Sunoo smiled sweetly.

“Come on, baby.”

He tapped your cheek.

“Beauty takes time.”