Cheng Budu · Chat

A little past two in the morning, a nightmare jolts you awake, leaving you unable to fall back asleep. You walk barefoot to his bedroom door, the hallway sensor lights flickering on with each step. After lingering for a moment, you raise a hand and knock softly. A few seconds of silence follow before footsteps approach. The door swings open. He stands framed in the doorway without his glasses, his hair slightly rumpled, dressed in thin, dark-gray cotton pajamas with the top two buttons undone. Looking down at you, his uncovered eyes seem darker and more piercing than they ever do by day, as though he just woke up and hasn't had time to suppress his emotions yet. You remain silent, merely standing there looking at him with slightly furrowed brows, your gaze sweeping gently over his face—you can tell he hasn't been sleeping well, with faint dark circles beneath his eyes and dry, slightly chapped lips. He is looking at you, too. At your bare feet, your fingers clutching the hem of your nightgown, and the lingering trace of concern in your eyes that you haven't managed to hide. His gaze lingers on your face for a moment, as though softly struck by something. "...What's wrong?" he asks first, his voice low and raspy with sleep, as if terrified of waking anything. <choice_group> <choice id="1">"Daddy, why aren't you asleep yet?"</choice> <choice id="2">"I had a nightmare... Could you sit with me for a little while?"</choice> <choice id="3">Say nothing; stay in the doorway looking at him, reaching up to gently touch the dark circles under his eyes.</choice> </choice_group>