used to love. | sunsun

05. artist

I closed my eyes for a minute and took a deep breath of fresh air through the window. It's been a week since I spoke to Sunghoon and I haven't seen him since. I'm not trying to. Niki and Jungwon did try to convince me to go to training with them, but I refused with flimsy excuses like 'I have homework' or 'I have to help my mom'.

I haven't really told Jungwon about the conversation yet, but I don't want it to ruin the passion for basketball that he's been building over the past few weeks. So i kept quiet. I just pretended the conversation never really happened. Or at least that's what I tried.

"Shit." I accidentally knocked my glass of water over the canvas I was starting to paint on. I carefully put my brushes aside - while blue colored drops of water slowly trickled from the table to the floor - and cleaned up the mess I had made this midnight. I wish the mess in my head was as minor as this mess.

The clock on my table said 1am when I decided to head to the nearby convenience store to clear my head and have a drink.

With lime sodas and some snacks, I headed to the register to check out. I opened a strawberry flavored lollipop and popped it into my mouth as the sugary flavor exploded in my mouth.

Just as I was leaving the store, I saw a familiar figure staring off into the distance. I hesitated to approach the boy, but with my state of mind tonight, I did it anyway.

"Alone here?" The other boy seemed a little startled and surprised at my sudden appearance. He quickly unplugged his headphones and stowed them in his left pocket before looking up at me again and lifting the corners of his mouth slightly.

"What are you doing here at this hour?" His voice was a bit raspy but very pleasant to listen to.

I slowly picked up my bag that I had filled with food and drinks earlier in the store.

"I'm clearing my head. I bought some snacks too." I handed him a can of soda and took one for myself too. After a while he opened his mouth a bit about to say something but decided to close his mouth again.

"What about you, Jay?"

The boy pointed to his motorcycle. "I just went for a little ride on the bike after practice. The moon is too pretty to go home early today."

He was right. I looked up and saw the sky full of stars that shimmered brightly and the pale crescent moon shone like a silver claw in the night sky. If he hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have noticed.

We both remain silent for a moment, but it was a comfortable silence. Until the older one decided to end the silence. "Did you paint?" He must have seen the stains on my white shirt that I forgot to clean before I left the house.

"This is awkward.. Yeah, I couldn't sleep so I started a new painting." I tucked my hair behind my ear, embarrased, and avoided eye contact while my face flushed.

He chuckled. "Don't worry, I actually find it very inspiring. Speaking of paintings, I should be giving you back your sketchbook soon." I raised my eyebrows, slightly confused.

"You suddenly left so early last Thursday that I couldn't even greet you. Jake told me it was yours, but he couldn't find you so I took it."

"I thought I have already lost it. Thank god."

"You must have been worried. I promise I haven't checked the pages, don't worry. I did like the poems you wrote tho." I laughed at his stupidity.

"No need to rush, just give it back to me when you have time."

"Mhhm.."

...

"Need a ride home, Sunoo?"

"What?"

The boy laughed before repeating the question to me again, somehow more gently this time. "I asked if you needed a ride home."

I honestly don't know what was on my mind, but not long after, I was sitting on the back of his motorcycle, enjoying the night breeze. I found it a bit scary at first, but it turned out to be the complete opposite. Riding a motorcycle through the village at night was actually more relaxing than I thought. I closed my eyes for a moment and enjoyed it.

"Thanks for today Sunoo." He said while I struggled to get off his bike as I wasn't used to it yet, well it's not like I should get used to it anytime soon.

"Shouldn't I be the one to say thank you? Thanks to you, I could watch the moon and enjoy the summer breeze while sitting on a motorbike, Hyung." I gave his helmet back to him.

"Well thanks to you I was able to clear my head, kid." He ran his hand through my hair and patted my head. "You should get some rest, see you soon, Sunoo"

I gave him a small smile before thanking him again and walking inside. I fell asleep immediately after the bag of unfinished snacks dropped on the floor. For the first time in a while I could sleep soundly without worrying about anyone.
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r e a d e r / f o c u s

Jay waited for Sunoo to close the door before putting on his helmet and starting his engine.

Surely the boy was very interesting. The way he sees the bright in any topic..

He leaves the garden, which is full of smooth, ripe peaches that somehow reminds him of Sunoo, not expecting to see one of his best friends, Park Sunghoon, leaning in front of the property on a motorcycle. The pal was smoking a cigarette and just let out a large cloud of smoke.

He glanced at Jay before getting on his motorbike and offering Jay a cigarette.

"So you were here."

"How did you find me? Do you know this place or were you spying on me?" Jay said while grinning and took the cigarette that was offered to him.

"Just driving by and heard your voice. Why? Anything to hide?"

"No, I just met Peachy and drove him home since it was late."

"Peachy?"

"Ah, did I say peachy? I meant Sunoo, but the nickname suits him, doesn't it?"

"Since when do you use nicknames?" Sunghoon scoffed.

His heart aches a little when he hears the younger one's name, but Sunghoon knows better than to care about someone who can't be his.

So he simply mumbled, "Let's go home."