pavement ↠ kim sunwoo

fifteen

Europe was more beautiful than Hana could have even imagined.

It was strange that some cities looked much duller, but she liked it that way.

What wasn't so beautiful was the face that sat across from her, his eyes narrowing every time he caught her glance. She expected this from him, especially after the breakup.

The breakup that she tried her hardest not to think about. It was weeks ago, but it still felt strange.

"Hana?" The girl snapped out of her deep thoughts.

She looked at Mr Kang who stood in front of the small room within the library, waiting for an answer from the girl who was usually quick to say something - usually the right thing.

"Huh?" She hummed in confusion, her mouth hanging open. "I'm sorry, can you ask me again?"

"This European air isn't doing you any favours, Miss Chun," the teacher joked. "To kickstart our debate, tell me which party you would vote for if you were a German citizen."

Hana was stumped, her answer of the five options lingered on the tip of her tongue.

"Die Linke," Sunwoo spoke up, eyeing the girl. "Personally, I would choose The Left."

The class began to talk over one another, their opinions differing whilst some remained the same.

It was then that Hana began to feel embarrassed, somewhat overwhelmed. Why couldn't she just say her answer?

The rest of the day felt like a drag, and for the first time in a while - Chun Hana was quiet.

Not completely silent, but Sunwoo was sure she hadn't opened her mouth for the rest of that class. As much as he enjoyed it, he sought to change it.

"He really stumped you, huh?" He asked the girl as he approached her. "There's no need to jump, though."

The students' hotel was by the riverside, and truthfully Hana felt safe here. "I'm sure you would appreciate that."

"My friends already heart broken enough," Sunwoo scoffed, watching as the girl dropped her head. "I dislike you, but not that much."

"Ah, I'm flattered," Hana said sarcastically. "You just say and do all of this for no reason?"

"And you're innocent?" The red haired boy defended himself. "This is the way it's always been, and you started it. But I won't finish it, because it's fun."

The girl laughed dryly, leaning her elbows against the metal poles. "For you, maybe."

"Is this you giving up?" Sunwoo gasped exaggeratedly.

She showed no response, instead staring towards the water below. Her eyes were sad, and Sunwoo couldn't quite say he felt sorry for her - but he resonated with it.

"I won't annoy you," the boy shrugged, the girl looking at him in disbelief. "Breakups are hard, I guess."

"I would say you must have gone through plenty of them, but then again - who would date you?" Hana retaliated, the boy chuckling genuinely.

The two stayed silent for a while, but note-ably side eyeing one another as they waited for some to leave.

"Can I ask you something?" Hana broke the silence, of course.

The boy hummed, shrugging. "Depends."

"Why didn't you want me and Changmin to be together?"

Sunwoo sighed, shaking his head. "You know why, Hana. Don't act dumb."

"Because you hate me that much?" She sounded genuinely upset, and he didn't know how to react. He was bad at this kind of thing.

"Yep," he nodded with pursed lips. He was lying. "That's the one."

With that, he began to walk away, leaving Hana standing by that river in the 8pm darkness. She didn't feel like she had the confirmation she needed. "Sunwoo?"

"What now?" He sighed, his hands in his pockets.

"What's her name?" She almost wanted to kick herself for asking.

Sunwoo also wished she had never asked. And for the first time, she saw Kim Sunwoo look guilty.

"Taeyang."