Serendipity | SunKi Au

46: Once upon a time...

Monday lunch, Sunoo and Ni-Ki found themselves sitting together with their friends. All in one table. They weren't open about their relationship at school or in public in general but they knew that they wanted to be close. So they decided that starting Monday Jungwon and Sunoo would sit with the other three where they usually sat. The cafeteria tables are for eight people, three people on one side, three on the other, and one on either edge. The arrangement consisted of Jay and Sunghoon on one side, Sunoo and Ni-Ki in front of them, and Jungwon on the edge between Sunoo and Jay, respectively.

Currently, the group was glancing from their food up to the others awkwardly some of them playing around with the food.

"Well, this is incredibly awkward," Jungwon suddenly speaks out, raising his eyebrows, pressing his lips together making his dimples pop up.

"Indeed it is," Jay says, glancing up, glaring at Sunoo(who was in front of him) slightly before looking back down, using his utensil to move his food around.

Sunoo sighs, "Glad we can all agree," he mutters coldly.

"Come on, we can't be like this," Ni-Ki says, glancing at each person sitting at the table. "We're sitting here for a reason," he looks at Sunoo who looks up at him once sensing the other's eyes on him. They made eye contact, the Japanese boy looking at him in mild despiration.

Sunoo moves slightly closer to, shifting the chair a little. He looks at Ni-Ki for a few seconds before sighing. "Okay, let's talk. Get to know each other or whatever," he mumbles, looking at his food.

"I think you know enough," Jay growls, glaring at the boy who simply rolled his eyes at him.

The two youngest of the group glanced between the two boys who were in a glaring contest, having no idea what was going on. Suddenly, Riki felt anger rise over him. He understood there were some things that should be left unsaid but he still felt angry and sad and maybe even a little betrayed by the fact that neither the boy he's dating nor his best friend had told him what they had against each other. It just felt that he had to know. But he knew better than to push too hard.

"Yeah, but I don't know enough," the youngest says sharply, unlike what he had intended. He slumped on his chair, shaking his head slightly. "Sorry."

"Is there something bothering you, Riki?" Jay questions, looking at him with concern, his expressions showing that he understood what was going on yet he was too scared to say it outloud.

"Hyung, you know what's wrong," he tells him in a soft voice, looking at him in the eyes. He glances at the two. "Both of you know."

Jay looks at Sunoo, this time not mad. He continued until the 2003-born finally shrugged thoughtlessly, as if he didn't care. 

"Sunoo outed me when we were in year eight," he says simply. 

Ni-Ki eyes widen and his mouth falls slightly agape. He didn't expect that to be the explanation for their dislike. Actually, he didn't know what he was expecting when he asked.

Sunghoon who was beside Jay rolled his eyes and smacked his in the back of the head. "Tell him everything, the kids shouldn't be told lies," he glances at Jungwon who had the same shocked expression and he had to bite his lip to stop himself from laughing.

"Okay, so the thing is that once upon a time Sunoo and I along with Sunghoon were friends. Our parents were close and so naturally, we spent a lot of time in each other's house. When I was fourteen and Sunoo was thirteen we were spending time at my house, in my room." He took a pause, a dramatic one that filled the two youngest with anticipation. "We were testing our sexuality so... we kissed," he admitted, clearing his throat with embarrasment. "I heard my dad coming over so I tried pushing him away but he wouldn't stop. When my dad came in, he saw us and since then my relationship with my dad has been shattered," he explains sullenly. "And I'm straight, by the way," he adds hurriedly.

When Riki turned to look at the boy he liked, he was looking the other direction. "Sunoo-Hyung, is that true?"

After a second, the older turned to look at the boy. He sighs, "Yes. But not exactly," he glances at Jay before connecting eyes with the male next to him. "I- was jealous of Jay and how he had both of his parents and how he got so along with them so I did that. My dad already paid no attention to me so I lost nothing by doing that. He just showed how much he didn't want me with boys by never taking me back to Jay's," he shrugs. "I told him that it wasn't like that but he never believed me so for a couple of years he had me under supervision when I hung out with guys." He turns to look at Jay, "For what it's worth... I'm sorry and I went to tell your dad that I had forced myself onto you back then."

The oldest of the group visibly flinched in shock. "What? When?"

"A couple of weeks ago," he clears his throat, "A couple of weeks after meeting Ni-Ki. Your dad promised to not tell my dad and even though he didn't believe me at first, he said he would talk to you and make things right."

"Wow... that's why..." he trailed off, no more words coming out of his mouth. Instead, he stood up, took his plate, gave everyone a glance, and walked away.

Sunghoon made eye contact with the youngest who gave him a nod. Just a second later, he was jogging away, attempting to catch up with the other.

"I have a feeling I should leave," Jungwon says awkardly, standing up and slinging his bag on him. "You owe me ice cream and one-hundred dollars for never telling me about this," he tells his best friend, an accusing finger pointed at him. He throws a smile at the younger boy before walking away. 

"I'm sorry," Sunoo says after a few seconds of silence between them. 

"Why?"

"It's wrong. Even if he wasn't actually gay or bisexual or whatever it was wrong to do that. I was stupid back then, I realize that," he spoke, his head hanging down in shame. 

Riki takes a look around the cafeteria which was for the most part empty. He checked every corner, making sure that there was no one with their eyes on them. When he was sure, he quickly leans in and gives the other a quick peck on the cheek. Sunoo looks up, cheeks tinted. There was a smile painted on the younger's face which instantly tugged his lips up.

Once upon a time...

They were happy.