Thin Ice- SunSun

[Chapter 7]

As quietly and carefully as he could, Sunghoon slowly turns the door handle. With slight creaking from the hinges, Sunghoon pushes the door, leaving just enough room for him to fit his head through and check the coast is clear. The house was engulfed in the usual darkness of midnight, which Sunghoon was accustomed to. Holding his breath, the boy listens for any sign of movement. After a few seconds, he decides to go ahead. 

Taking light steps, Sunghoon attempts to walk towards the stairs, until he spots a light suddenly switch on. Without a second to think, his mother appears at the top of the landing. 

"Sunghoon where have you been? I've been calling and messaging you all night!" She said, sounding like she was holding back tears. 

"I went for a walk. I'm sorry." His insincere apology was blunt, avoiding eye contact with his mother. 

"It's nearly 2 in the morning! I checked your room at 9 and you weren't there, you can't tell me you went for a 5 hour walk!" Crossing her arms, his mother's patience ran thin. 

"I lost track of time." Holding back what really happened tonight was Sunghoon's way of protecting himself. If his mother didn't know where he had been, or who had been with, then she couldn't intervene. He hated lying, he hated it more than anything, but there was no way his mother would let this go otherwise. 

"Lost track of time! Sunghoon i'm worried about you." His mothers anger is clearly fueled by her overwhelming emotions. Each word get's shakier as she speaks. "You've been different this past week, I really tried to over look it. But I can't cope with you disappearing like this, don't do that to me!"

Hearing about his mother's worry just reassured Sunghoon that he needed to be more cautious. He had to plan, he had to think things through. It was more difficult for this boy to hide changes in his behavior, since he was so meticulous and precise. One little change would be extremely noticeable. Moving forward, he knew what he had to do. He had to get better at lying. 

********

Though the atmosphere was rowdy, and the music was blasting on full volume, Sunghoon still managed to find a somewhat peaceful spot. Perching alongside the edge of the hill, he stared out at the town below. Clouded in darkness, the small town he resented so much, actually showed a glimmer of beauty from up there. 

The boy was obviously well disciplined, even sitting on the edge of a hill, his posture couldn't be faulted. Observing the silhouette in front of him, Sunoo still couldn't read the boy. He assumed that Sunghoon would just leave if he didn't want to be here, yet he hadn't. Thinking back to their previous encounters, Sunghoon always had a lot on him mind, which is probably why he's still here.  

"You don't seem to be having a good time?" Sunoo's wander led him right next to Sunghoon. As their eyes meet, Sunoo pushes forward his left hand that's holding a red, plastic cup. "Here. Take it."

Sunghoon hesitates. "I don't drink."

"It's water, I promise." Stealing Sunghoon's hand that was resting in his lap, Sunoo forces the cup into his palm, even closing his fingers around it. The plastic felt flimsy, too much force could lead to compressing the whole cup in your fist instantaneously. It was cheaply halfway filled with a clear liquid, and upon lifting the cup to his nose, it had no smell to it. 

"I'm not trying to get you drunk, trust me, it's water." Speaking so genuinely, Sunoo followed his sentence with a smile.  

Lowering the cup slowly, Sunghoon takes a single glance at Sunoo, before returning his focus to the town below. Sunoo flops down beside him.

"The view's pretty up here." Sunoo leans back, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath in. "I love the night air, it feels so fresh." 

With the lingering silence, Sunoo could feel that the boy wasn't going to speak much tonight. Opening his eyes again, he sits forward, now crossing his legs. "Where do your parents think you are right now?"