RE: Keep it in the Family (Secret Class) 170 — A Fever Dream III

Eun Ha's POV:

"Besides, I'd rather risk a cold than leave you alone up here."

With unexpected tenderness, he positioned himself more snugly next to her, rearranging the pillows supporting her back.

Warning signals continued ringing in her fever-clouded thoughts, yet Eun Ha leaned into his touch anyway.

"You know..." She started, trying to steer the mood from its awkward path. "...when you were little, you refused any help. From the instant you gripped a spoon, you demanded to feed yourself."

Jae-il's lips curved into a subtle smile. "Some things don't change." He responded effortlessly, grabbing the empty plate and juice glass. "But some things do."

"Yes..." Eun Ha relaxed back, releasing a tired sigh, the juice reviving her slightly. Still, exhaustion loomed just moments away. "Things really... do."

"Everything okay? More tired again?"

"A little, yes." A faint tremor colored Eun Ha's voice. She pulled the blankets closer, chasing illusory comfort in their heat. "But I'm not really sleepy, or in the mood to sleep again..."

Jae-il remained silent beside her.

Through her damp strands, she glanced over, weakly trying to smooth her unruly hair into something less chaotic. Yet she spotted her son's hand steadily gliding through the knotted dark brown locks.

Eun Ha froze without meaning to, her breath catching sharply in her throat.

Slowly and deliberately, his fingers worked through her hair, unraveling tangles with skill and patience that raised goosebumps across her skin.

"J-Jae-il... don't..." Her protest came out feeble, even as she stayed put under his care.

He rolled his eyes. "Would it kill you to stop fussing for five minutes? It's just hair care."

"Only if you keep that up..." Eun Ha murmured, her lips scarcely moving, sweat from the fever beading hotter on her forehead from his nearness. She attempted to scoot away, but her feeble arms hung limp like noodles. "You're making it more difficult for me... to rest."

Jae-il halted, fingers still woven in her hair. He cocked his head, purple eyes brimming with serene worry—or perhaps something more intense hidden in the fever fog? She might be overthinking it. "I'll stop then." He murmured gently, pulling his hand free and easing back a bit.

His touch vanishing brought a sudden chill she hadn't expected. "Wait." The word escaped before she could stop it. "No, I... your hair combing, it's not what's making me..."

His arched brow signaled he awaited her words.

"I haven't... showered yet..." She ended awkwardly, clutching the blankets tighter like a shield. "That's all."

Silence hung thick between them, broken only by the TV's distant chatter from a comedy neither noticed.

"We used to watch movies together, remember?" Jae-il shattered the quiet at last, his tone laced with nostalgia. "Your sci-fi marathons. Those old rom-coms you dragged me through since you hated watching alone."

Illness aside, a soft smile warmed her face at the recollection. She could nearly scent the shared popcorn bowl, Mia snatching huge grabs with a scowl, Su Ah meticulously sorting out duds.

Simpler times.

"I haven't had anyone appreciate my refined taste in cinema in years." Eun Ha confessed, a light blush tinting her cheeks. "Your sisters only want... whatever's popular now."

His unwavering eyes met hers before he slipped from the bed toward the dresser near the door. He fetched her laptop from there. "Then how about... one night, just us? We hardly get time nowadays... and I did promise to take you to a movie once. Things went wild after, and you're sick now."

He dragged a chair nearer and sat, flipping open the screen to a well-known streaming app. Eun Ha observed as he entered her ancient username effortlessly—her goofy "Mama_" moniker flickered on login.

"That username..." She whispered, blush deepening amid the fever. "Remember how I claimed online anonymity brings honesty? It looks silly now."

Jae-il grinned, eyes fixed on the display. "Nah, it's perfect. Seeing that pop-up guarantees spaceships, not rom-coms about girls finding out they're secret princesses."

"And what's wrong with discovering you're a secret princess?" Eun Ha shot back faintly, her hoarse voice picking up a playful lilt.

"Nothing. If they actually had lasers in tiaras..." He browsed her saved lists, vintage posters lining up in rows. Eun Ha saw her old categories unchanged from years back. 

"Saturdays Scaries", "Space Opera Sundays", "Monday Mysteries", and…  "".

That last one...

"......"

Eun Ha burrowed deeper into the sheets upon spotting that column, as usual when her love for tearjerkers came up. "Not every movie I pick can have explosions or laser beams." She muttered. "And besides, a good cry feels nice... once in a while..."

"Not judging." Jae-il navigated categories with a chuckle. "You have more organization than a library database here. ."

"It's important cultural sorting." She defended, straining to sit upright only to yield to his soft press of a solid pillow. "Wait! That one! Did they ever add 'Stellar Odyssey IV' after I complained?" Her shaky finger jabbed.

His face turned serious as he scanned. "Aha. Special anniversary edition with deleted scenes just uploaded last month. This one has an alternate ending… the ratings are a bit mixed…"

He scowled, head tilting.

Feverish thrill lit Eun Ha's eyes, briefly eclipsing her ailment. "Put it on! Oh, I've been waiting ages for this."

Jae-il agreed with a nod, hitting play and reclining as galactic credits rolled.

Her excitement banished prior weariness; she nestled into her blanket pile, propped on cushions, eyes glued feverishly to the screen.

A lingering burn and nerve tingles persisted, but the joy of a beloved film shared with a trusted soul drowned them out.

Even thoughts of Jae-il—source of her latest turmoil—faded as starships blasted by.

The film matched her memory mostly, though rewatches always delighted, extras or not. 

Jae-il appeared engrossed, silent for over thirty minutes. 

As the story advanced, the captain unleashed a fiery speech on duty and sacrifice. 

Heroic score surged powerfully.

Eun Ha sniffled softly. Not a wail, just a quiet, wet hitch.

She sensed Jae-il's attention turn from screen to her.

"......"

Another sniffle escaped as she groped for tissue. Fever amplified the film's emotional punches. Onscreen, young commander Kael faced the holographic Empress who'd led him through war from his ship's crumbling bridge.

"He's going to do it, isn't he?" Eun Ha breathed, voice clogged. "He's going to sacrifice the fleet for her."

Jae-il leaned back, shoulder grazing her arm. "He's a simp, mom. He should've fired the ion cannons ten minutes ago."

A frail, offended puff came from Eun Ha as she wiped her eyes. "It's not 'simping,' Jae-il. It's devotion. She was the only one who believed in him when he was just a scavenger on the rim. She's his North Star." She declared righteously. 

"She's also about twenty years older than him." Jae-il noted, tone light. He fixed the slipping blanket over Eun Ha's legs, fingers pausing briefly on the cloth. "It's a bit of a gap, don't you think?"

"Age is just a number in deep space." Eun Ha countered sagely. He lifted a brow. "What?!" 

"If you say so."

The climax arrived soon after. Almost over. 

Kael stormed the Empress's sanctum at last. Music shifted to match.

The Empress pivoted, her noble facade cracking to show a sorrow-etched face with eerie familiarity.

"." The Empress intoned. ""

Kael's hands shook. ""

Eun Ha edged closer, riveted, brow creasing. "Wait, I don't remember this part from the original cut. What archives?"

Jae-il shrugged, equally puzzled. 

The Empress approached Kael onscreen. Her hand rose, tracing his cheek. Kael nibbled his lip, reluctantly melting into it.

"." She breathed. "  "

The room fell utterly silent.

Eun Ha's breath snagged. She stiffened, tissue paused mid-air.

Kael didn't flinch or recoil in shock. Instead, his weapon clattered down. Terrible realization dawned as his hands clasped hers to his face.

""

"—"

She cut off as Kael shook his head. Inner turmoil brewed, but ship quakes overrode it. 

""

He faltered.

Camera closed in. After hesitation, the Empress leaned forward.

She actually leaned in!

Eun Ha sat stunned.

Jae-il's head lifted from the chair back, relaxed vibe gone, body tense.

"No..." Eun Ha whispered, barely audible. Her brain reeled at the scene. What was this? "No, they can't... they wouldn't… they "

They're mother and son! Something like this...

Her outburst couldn't change fate. The pair neared the ultimate taboo. Eun Ha couldn't look away as lips dominated the frame. 

Explosions rocked the screen, but nothing halted the inevitable.

The bed dipped. Jae-il rose abruptly. The laptop snapped shut right before Kael and the Empress—

"That's enough movie for one night." 

"......"

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