The Next Morning -
Syn woke to the soft rustle of sheets, his hazel eyes blinking open as the light of Vera's bedroom cast a dim glow across the red bed. His head turned, and there she was—Vera, lying beside him, her purple hair splayed across the pillow like a spilled inkblot.
She was awake, her sharp eyes blinking slowly, a gentle smile curling her lips as she watched him stir. The sight caught him off-guard, a warmth blooming in his chest as he mirrored her smile, his voice rough with sleep. "What?"
"You didn't expect me to be beside you when you woke up, right?" she teased, her tone light as her smile widened, her fair cheeks dimpling faintly under the soft light.
"Yeah, I guess," Syn replied, his grin growing as he propped himself up on an elbow, his dark hair tousled from the night. "You've been so busy lately—I didn't really get to see your sleepy face." His words carried a playful lilt.
