ꜱᴋɪɴꜱʜɪᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪᴍ || ʜᴇᴇꜱᴜɴ 𝟏𝟖+||

Awoval - Chapter 24

SUNOO'S POV

As we pulled up to our destination, the subtle weight of fatigue settled over me. It was already night and the excitement I had felt earlier was slowly giving way to exhaustion.

The competition would be held at Nami Island and we were all set to stay at a guest house arranged by our college for the next three days. I didn't know much beyond that - just the basic details Jungwon had given me before we boarded the bus. It was a rural area surrounded by nature, a bit remote but cozy.

Heeseung hyung, of course, had claimed the seat next to me. There was never a chance he'd let me sit with anyone else, not with how possessive he could get, especially on trips like these. He had slid into the window seat first and although I'd initially wanted to sit there to admire the view, I couldn't bring myself to argue with him.

I mean, how could I? His bambi-like eyes lit up the second he saw me step onto the bus, practically radiating excitement. Those eyes... they get me every time. As if that wasn't enough, his hand patted the seat next to him, silently urging me to sit. His usual confident, almost teasing smile was gone, replaced by a softness that tugged at my heartstrings.

"How can anyone resist that face?" I thought, sighing inwardly as I gave in and plopped down beside him.

I sighed again, only this time it was audible. "Hahh! He's going to be the death of me one day." I muttered under my breath, careful not to wake him.

He'd fallen asleep not long after we left, resting his head on my shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world. His breathing was slow and steady, warm puffs of air occasionally brushing against my neck, making me hyper-aware of his proximity.

I could feel the weight of his head pressing into me and it was honestly a little uncomfortable, but I didn't dare move. It was as if disturbing him would be some kind of crime. He looked so peaceful. And I- well, I was supposed to be the one resting on his shoulder. But here I was, letting him use me as his pillow. Typical Heeseung behaviour.

I glanced down at his hand, which had been clutching mine since we left the campus. His fingers were loosely intertwined with mine and his grip never wavered, even as he slept. The sight of our hands together like this made my chest tighten a little. I didn't pull away. I never did.

When we finally arrived at the guest house, the cold breeze hit me first. I shivered slightly, blinking as the bus doors opened and we all started to file out. It wasn't until I stepped outside that I realized just how isolated the area was.

The house stood tall, a little worn around the edges but charming in it's own way, surrounded by dense trees and open fields. It felt like we had traveled back in time, away from the noise and chaos of the city. A refreshing change, for sure, but also unsettling in its quietness.

Just as I was about to take in more of the surroundings, I noticed the guest house next to ours. It was similar in design, slightly larger and filled with students from other colleges.

They seemed to be here for a trip too, judging by the amount of luggage they were carrying and the chatter that filled the air. For some reason, it made me feel uneasy. Was it competition nerves kicking in? Or something else? I wasn't sure.

Soon enough, we were assigned our rooms. It made sense that I ended up with Niki, Jungwon, and Jake hyung - people I was comfortable with. We had a big room, which was nice, with two attached bathrooms.

Meanwhile, Heeseung hyung was rooming with Sunghoon, Jay, and Beomgyu hyung. Beomgyu hyung's team was participating in the music competition too, so it was no surprise they grouped him with the others. I felt a small pang of jealousy knowing I wouldn't be sharing a room with Heeseung hyung, but I quickly brushed it aside.