Just Like the Sun || Lee Heeseung

4

Biking was his escape from the real world. As silly as it sounded, Heeseung always had a love for his bicycle. Whether it was biking on the trails, biking on the piers, even biking to the store.

Hae wasn't a big fan of riding a bike. She complained her legs got too tired, or her butt was hurting. Normally, she'd bike with Heeseung, her arms around his waist, holding on tightly.

He shook his head, trying to let go of that memory. Grabbing the bike from the garage, he sat up and started pedaling.

The boy wanted to bike on the piers, maybe buy something. He just needed to get away from the too familiar environment he was in.

He enjoyed the breeze hitting his body, his lips curving into a soft smile. The sun was rising, the birds making their usual morning chirps.

Heeseung decided to not go to the piers, but rather grab some breakfast. So, here he was, sitting at a booth, sipping on his vanilla milkshake, waiting for his chocolate chip waffles.

It got more crowded, more and more people coming in. People he knew, hadn't seen since Hae's memorial. They came up to him, asking how he was, him giving the same answer.

"I'm fine," or, "I'm okay."

He couldn't lie and say he was good, because he wasn't. The more they asked him, the more he remembered about her. He was trying to forget, but everyone made it impossible.

"You okay?" A voice spoke.

Heeseung lifted his head, seeing the one person who never pitied him; only because she didn't know.

"Are you following me?" Heeseung asked, raising a brow.

A chuckle came out of Akino, "No, just got hungry while biking."

"You biked here?" Heeseung implored.

Nodding her head, Akino sat down in front of him. She grabbed the menu, scanning the front and back.

Heeseung stared at her for a moment, at least there was something they both had in common.

"So, " Akino broke the silence, "how are the fries?"

Heeseung laughed slightly, "Normal, like any other fries you'd get at a diner. But also, they're only serving breakfast. It's 10 in the morning."

"Oh yeah. In that case, I think I'll just get a milkshake," she grinned.

"Vanilla, right?" Heeseung asked.

Shaking her head, "sorry, I'm a strawberry gal."

It was now Heeseung's turn to shake his head, "Nasty."

The girl looked at him in disbelief, "you don't like strawberries?"

Heeseung then threw up his hands, "don't get me wrong, I love strawberries, " he defended, "but only the fruit."

Giving him a weird look, Akino spoke, "so let me get this straight, you like the actual fruit, just not strawberry flavored things?"

"Exactly, " he nodded.

Akino laughed at him, more specifically at how dumb he was.

"Hey Heeseung, " a voice interrupted their conversation.

Akino looked up, seeing a boy and a girl, smiling at them.

The girl eyed Akino, then looked at Heeseung, "you sure move on fast."

The boy standing beside her shoved her slightly.

"What did you just say?" Heeseung asked, putting down his milkshake, looking at the girl.

"You heard me, " she recited, "if Hae ever meant anything to you, you wouldn't have moved on quick."

"Soojin, stop talking," her boyfriend said.

"She and I are just friends, nothing more, nothing less, " Heeseung told Soojin, referring to him and Akino.

"Whatever, " Soojin spoke, "let's go, Minhyuk."

She looked at both Heeseung and Hae, "I've lost my appetite."

"What the hell is your problem?" Akino said, making the pair stop in their tracks. "Heeseung just told you that he and I are only friends."

"Yeah, I'm sure," Soojin rolled her eyes.

"I just moved here a little over a week ago, I hardly know the dude. I live right next door to him, so yeah, obviously he's going to be my friend for the time being. Grow up and learn that a girl and guy can be friends without being anytime more." Akino scoffed, the pair then looking at each other. They knew they were in the wrong for assuming something so quick.

They finally walked off, leaving Heeseung and Akino alone. Silence filled the air, the only sound coming from the chatter and cooking in the background.

Akino finished her milkshake, "I'm not in the mood to eat anymore. I'll see you another time."

She stood up, making her way out the door. Heeseung watched her get on her bike, leaving the diner.

He sighed, staring out the window and drinking his shake.

Is this how it was going to be? He finally made a friend, but it just so happened to be a girl. People were going to start assuming that she's a replacement for Hae. But she wasn't, she was truly just a friend.

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Heeseung walked his bike in the garage, grabbing a water bottle from the outside fridge. He then went out to the sunroom, his eyes landing on Akino.

She was sitting on the sand, the tide barely touching her feet. Her knees were brought up to her chest, and her head tilted to the side. Her long dark hair flowed with the wind.

Heeseung walked out there, sitting beside her.

"Are you okay?" he asked, bringing his knees to his chest also.

Akino turned her head towards him, then softly smiled. "Just thinking."

"About what?"

"My life," she spoke.

"Oh," Heeseung spoke. "May I ask why?"

"You can," Akino shrugged, "but we'll save it for another day."

Heeseung nodded, "that's perfectly okay with me."

Akino smiled lightly, Heeseung doing the same.

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