Fateful Departure

Chapter 7

"Sunoo, I've been waiting for you. Let's eat." Jake said. Earning only a nod from Sunoo. They make their way to the table and eats their food. Jake steals glances to Sunoo. He can't help but to utter "Pretty"

Sunoo is beyond astonished by Jake. Jake yesterday came off as someone who is quiet and reserved. So he really didn't expected him to be bold with his words. "What?" Sunoo asked. Hiding his fluttered feeling. "I said, you're pretty." Jake replied with conviction. I mean, it's true. The boy is graced with looks. Even yesterday, when Sunoo was stained with dirt on his shirt and wet like mess, you can still see and know that he's attractive beneath all of it.

"Thank you Jake." Sunoo replied and continues to eat. After they finished eating. Sunoo was about to clean the stuff when Jake stopped him. "Sunoo, please don't bother. I have a house cleaner. We can just chill in the couch and watch movies." Jake said to Sunoo. He badly wants Sunoo to be comfortable. To be able to express himself without any fear. Because Jake already saw that Sunoo is carrying a heavy baggage from wherever he was and that's not a literal baggage. It's a baggage of emotions and resentments.

They make their way into the couch and plops theirselves into the soft pillows. Jake grabs the remote from the table and starts selecting movies from Netflix. But then Sunoo stopped him. "Jake, I wanna talk first before that." Jake stopped what he's doing and puts down the remote. He stares at Sunoo to make him feel that his attention is only him. One of the great listener qualities is paying attention to the speaker.

"Yeah, sure. Go ahead. What do you want to talk?" Jake replied to him. Sunoo prepares himself to talk and took a deep breath before opening his mouth. "Jake, would you feel offended if I say, I don't want to share my stories to people I don't completely trust with?" Sunoo asked genuinely. He knows that this is the only way to know if Jake's intention of bringing him here is good.

"Yeah, But I won't feel offended. As I've said to my friend. It's yours to tell, not us to forced to. But hey, I wanna be friends with you okay. Setting aside the conflict of my friend. I really like you." Jake replied to Sunoo. It's the truth. He wasn't joking nor the art of flattering. "Huh? You like me? Didn't we met just yesterday?" Sunoo asked again because he couldn't believe what he just heard from this boy. Or maybe he took it out of context and just ran with it with his mind.

Jake suddenly sweats around his forehead. He's getting uneasy of the thought it came off as romantic. He meant that he like him as a person even though he still don't personally know Sunoo. Jake is really a good judge of a character. He knew well who's good or bad. Probably why, he brought Sunoo here without hesitation. "Ah, Sunoo. It wasn't like that." Jake stuttered under his breath.

Sunoo just laughs at Jake for stuttering his words. He seems so cute being nervous about it. "It's okay Jake. Don't be so uneasy speaking towards me." Sunoo smiled after saying that, which also helped Jake to composed his messages. "Ah, Sunoo. What I mean about liking you is about your whole being. But if you want, I can also start liking you romantically." Jake uttered in one honest breath.

That made Sunoo caught off guard. Jake is really attractive. But he wasn't sure how to deal with this kind of conversation. He is clearly NBSB or shall we say... (No boyfriend since birth) "Ah, Jake. I appreciate the thoughts." Sunoo could only respond weakly. Feeling shy and flattered. He wasn't used to this kind of conversation. He never had any romantic endeavors, so basically he was a virgin on all of those things. Not that he minds but it screamed innocence.

"Ah, okay. You know, I'm just being honest right? Hahaha. But anyway, what else do you want to talk about." Jake said to Sunoo. He really doesn't know wether his opinion made Sunoo flattered or it made him uncomfortable. Sunoo then continues on what's he's about to say. "Why did your friend acted like that yesterday?" Not gonna lie, Jake really debated wether to tell the truth or not. But in his mind, it's not his story to tell. So he only timidly responded "He thinks you're somehow involved in his relationship debacle, But you have to talk to him, if you want to know the full of it."

Which is really great decision, poking things is not really Jake's forte. He doesn't wanna meddle things such as this because this will only give him headache. If he will tell Sunoo about it then more questions would arise and he's not in the position to answer any of those. It's between Sunghoon and him. Jake just averted the topic by saying. "Where do you came from? What are you doing here?" Truth be told, Sunoo doesn't fully trust Jake but since he gave him shelter and food then that's answering truthfully is a one way to reciprocate a humanitarian acts.

"Ah, I came from 'Boston', I'm here to see Shania in her last moments before she's buried under the 6ft ground and probably study at the same university she was in." Sunoo said with a teary eyed. He can't even make an eye contact to Jake while saying it. Jake couldn't believe it. Sunoo traveled from a far away remote city just to see this girl and to study at the same university. He can only wonders what could be their relationship. Is it friends? or.... More than friends?

"Wow, you came from that remote city right? I mean, it's clearly she's important to you because traveled a long journey. But by the way, next week is the class." Jake replied. Sunoo thought about Jake's reply. She truly was important to him. An individual who made an impact on him. Till his death, he wouldn't forget about Shania. "Yeah, she's very important to me. Regarding about the school, I just need to pass some documents then I'll be ready to take my schedule."

"So what's your course?" Jake asked interestingly. Sunoo then replies back at him. "Bachelor of Fine Arts." Jake really thought about it. He knew right away that Sunoo would love arts. Not that he's stereotyping but he thought it's a crime for this pretty boy not involved in arts. "I figured." Jake replied with a smirk. Sunoo just went confused as to what he meant about it. "What do you mean by that?" He asked. Jake then replies. "I figured, a pretty boy like you is an artist."

Sunoo blushed immediately and turns his head sideways to hide his fluttered face. Jake just laughed about the boy's reaction and found that he has a soft spot for compliments.