Thin Ice- SunSun

[Chapter 21]

Eyes. Sunghoon always had a thing for eyes. Never being good at communicating, eyes could tell you things, words were unable to. Eyes don't lie. When you look at someone you love, no matter if you deny it, your pupils will dilate, your words lose affect. This is why Sunghoon couldn't look Jake in the eyes. Unsure of his feelings for the boy, Sunghoon knew that one glance could tell him exactly what he needed to know. 

"It's been a while." Jake's voice was calm, comforting, like a warm hug. "How have you been?"

How has he been? This wasn't an easy question to answer. Sunghoon over thought every reply. The way he had been for the majority of the year, had stark contrast to the way he's been over the past few weeks. He wondered if Jake had been affected the same way, did he also think about Sunghoon every day? wishing they could be together again. For if he didn't, it may just break his heart. 

"I've been busy, qualifiers are coming up." The final reply was sharp, to the point, leaving nothing to be questioned. "How have you been?"

"I basically just focused on school." Jake looked like he wanted to say more, but let the conversation fade to silence.

"Sunghoon back on the ice." His coach shouted, letting Sunghoon know the break was over.

Taking a deep breath in, Sunghoon say's his goodbye. "I need to go."

As the boy turns to walk away, he feel's a small hand grasp the back of his jumper. Jake holds it tight, not ever wanting to let go.

"I still love you."

In moments like these, look to peoples eyes. No expression can ever mask, the truth your eyes tell. The boost of oxytocin, the boost of dopamine, shooting through your brain, everything widens, not only your pupils, but the endless possibilities.

********

Sunghoon couldn't keep his mind straight after what happened earlier. On his date with Sunoo, only hours later, he seemed distant, like he was thinking too much. Hand in hand, the boys wandered along the towns shopping center, trying to pick out something for Sunoo to wear tonight. This evening would be the first time Sunghoon was introducing the boy to his parents, though not as his boyfriend. He had mentioned Sunoo briefly in therapy, talking about how he had been a good influence on him. So, his mother thought she would invite Sunoo to a dinner, as a way of saying thank you. Sunghoon didn't agree at first, but after his mothers begging, he gave in. 

Sunoo just assumed that this evenings events were the reason Sunghoon was acting so strange. Tightening his grasp around the boys hand, he reassured him. "Everything's going to go great tonight, you don't need to worry."

Looking at the boys bright smile, how could he tell him about Jake? It was true that he had been stressed that things might go bad tonight, but ever since this morning, he didn't seem to care anymore. He had a bigger problem, something he had no idea how to face.

"Let's go in there!" The boy tugged Sunghoon into a shop with pastel clothing decorating the windows. 

This shop was very over the top, it kinda hurt Sunghoon eyes looking at all the sparkly and colourful clothing. His parents would surely judge Sunoo if he showed up in any of that, the boy needed to make a good first impression.

"Maybe we should go somewhere else, I think something smarter would impress my parents." Sunghoon states.

"Aw I like this stuff though." Sunoo pouts, putting down a lilac jumper he had picked out.

"Yeah but it's only for one night, I know a better place to get you an outfit." 

Now this shop was no where near as fun as the last. Sunoo questioned whether he had seen so many shades of grey before, he didn't even know that many existed. It wasn't somewhere he would normally go, it wasn't Sunoo's style at all. Yet, he trusted Sunghoon, so he let the boy pick him out something.