oh my boy! | sunsunjake

Chapter 2

Pride

"Finally! Nothing to do!"
Sunoo smilingly said while he stretched. He packed his things and readied himself to go out. The sky was darker than usual, considering that it was only four in the afternoon. The sky was usually filled with blissful colours whenever the sun set but now looked dispiriting with white and grey clouds covering the blue sky.

Drops of water fell from the sky, gradually increasing in speed and amount. It is pouring. Sunoo sulked for a while, then blasted the sky with, "You should have let it rain the minute I arrived at home! Not before I leave..!"

Sunoo held his bag above his head and prepared himself to run to a convenience store. As he stepped foot outside, a voice startled him. "Are you planning on going to the store?"

"I could walk with you there if you are okay with that."
The person offered. Sunoo wanted to repudiate the offer out of being dubious. How does he know? Though, he can not neglect that the male was doing the bare minimum of being kind. Kind enough to offer a stranger who does not prepare for events that tend to be fickle.

Seeing how the rain would not come to a halt any time soon, for the reason that it had just begun, they were off to the store.

The two walked side by side, not having space between them. A bit burdensome. Sunoo and the umbrella guy had short conversations from time to time to break the ice. The two asked each other their names, their likes and dislikes. It was simply basic information you share when meeting each other for the first time.

"So loving, huh?"
Sunoo jokes, earning a small chuckle from the umbrella guy, now's name promoted to Jungwon. The two stuck to each other like glue, not aspiring to experience a ride home with drenched clothes. Even if it was a tiny patch, having it brush against your skin was something they did not want to go through.

There are two varieties of people when they enter a store. One would go directly to the aisle with the item they desire, while another would still look around. With their favoured item on hand, still searching for things that they could take with them. They are in the store. Opportunities should not go down the drain.

Ten minutes in the store, Jungwon had already paid for his strawberry milk while Sunoo obtained his umbrella. "Eh? I thought you had more stuff to buy." Jungwon wonders, unaware that he thought audibly. His hand meets his mouth, aghast, after seeing Sunoo flustered. He snickers out a "Sorry" and continues to browse through his phone.

Sunoo walks past him while suppressing a smile. "I thought you left, so I fiddled about," he explains and advances to the entrance that also acts as an exit. He was ready to depart. "Also, why are you still here? Do you not leave at this hour?" Jungwon peers at him from his phone after Sunoo asked him a question. "Just cause."

Jungwon accompanied Sunoo to the bus stop and soon parted ways with each other. Since both were in completely different grade levels, the chances are slim to simply bump into each other.

Now that Sunoo thought about it, he dashed out of the bus to look around to find the boy with the navy blue backpack. He wanted Jungwon's number and thought it would be a waste to wait for another day when he was right there.

Sadly, he looked around to no avail.

Forgetting about his condition, he stopped walking and tried to catch his breath. "This won't do for basketball.." he says to himself and looks for a bench to sit on.

Sunoo's phone started to ring. Of course, it was 7 in the evening and it seemed like he had no intention of going back home from his mother's perspective. "Hello?", "Are you on your way home already?" his mother questioned.

"I left my bike and missed the bus."
Sunoo leans on the bench feeling worn out and lightheaded. Doing physical activity is manageable for him, but without pausing is not what he should make an attempt with if he cared for his well being..

"Are you okay..?", "I feel like I'm going to pass out".
He could not lie when it comes to problems like this, even if it worries or concerns his mother. At any moment, he could be out cold, defenseless.

"What are you doing here?"
Sunoo looked up, surprised. While trying to catch his breath, he jokes with "Holding on to dear life." as bullets of sweat ran down his face while squinting his eyes due to the streetlights blinding his sight.

"You left your bike again, didn't you?
Jake chuckled and sat beside the boy, who was still trying to bring himself together. It was not that much of a coincidence if they tended to bump into each other near the bus stop. Sunoo often leaves his bike and ride the bus home. While Jake, on the other hand, has tasks he calls secret to attend to nearby.

He suddenly puts his hand out in front of Sunoo's face, swaying a small towel. "You didn't use this, right?", "Of course not! Why would I hand you a dirty towel??". Sunoo takes it graciously and begins to wipe his face, making sure to be gentle not to irritate his skin.

While observing the traffic lights flicker from green to orange to red, Jake could not help but hear the quiet panting beside him. He turns to check Sunoo's temperature by placing his hand on his forehead.

"You need a check-up."
Jake suggested, and he was right. Sunoo knew that it would have been the wise thing to do, but he would not budge on that topic. He only sat there and listened to that specific suggestion- more like the advice he had to hear for years.

Because of the sudden awkward silence between the two boys, Jake stood up and got down in front of Sunoo with his back facing him. "What are you doing..?", "Hop on my back," Jake demanded, but Sunoo did not want to comply and made sure Jake knew he was opposed to the idea. It was questionable why Sunoo did not give in to demand despite looking so worn out.

"It's getting late so-", "No. That would hurt," Sunoo said blankly and stood up on his own, trying to neglect the sudden pang of dizziness as an outcome of standing up fast. "Hurt what?" Jake asked but got no reply.

He assumed that Sunoo was not in the mood, so being the understanding human being he is, he did not ask further questions and sat beside him. Again, that irritable silence between the two boys. Silence could be preferred for others, but it was itching a few words out of both of them.

Jake felt a bit anxious, wondering if he angered the other or made him uncomfortable. Sunoo felt guilty about rejecting an offer out of pure kindness from a good friend of his who only wanted to help him so that he wouldn't tire himself out even more.

"That would hurt my pride."
Sunoo finally spoke, killing the tense and awkward atmosphere. Jake rests his head on Sunoo's shoulder and sighs, "That's too much, it's scary".

Sunoo followed Jake from behind, not thinking much because he was supposed to be heading home, instead of walking back to school. He was going to complain his mind out but got interrupted, "We're riding my bike".

"Why are you standing there? Hop on!"
Jake said ecstatically. It was obvious he was excited because it looked as if he was emitting light from all that excitement. Sunoo dramatically covers his eyes and complains how it was too bright after being adjusted to the dark.

"The picture I imagined when you said 'bike' is poles apart from what I am looking at."
Sunoo says, hesitating to jump on.

"Judging from that look you have, you're not going to die. You're safe with me''
Jake assures. He promised Sunoo's mother that he'd bring him home in 20 minutes but with this situation, Jake doesn't think so.

~ it's short ;-; ~