Slow Down - Jaywon

15: 'You ruined it'

"It really feels like old times here, right? Us coming after school and hitching rides from our families to always meet up here on weekends," Sunoo said.

Jay stifled a laugh. It was noticeable that Sunoo was getting emotional from it.

"Are you about to get upset?" Jake asked.

"No," Sunoo answered in a low volume. "It just continues to surprise me how fast time flies. Especially because I was so sure that we probably wouldn't be friends anymore after we attend different universities."

Sunghoon snickered, "And you cried at graduation."

"You did too," Sunoo quickly fired back.

"Only a little," Sunghoon defended.

"Wait you cried at graduation?" Jay had asked him. That was new information.

"It was only for a second. Sunoo was unfortunately the only one to see it too, but y'know...same worries," Sunghoon mumbled. Jake cooed at him, but Sunghoon fired him an icy glare.

They continued to talk about it, and Riki boasted about being the only one to not get emotional in the slightest because he was too excited to graduate. Youngest things.

"The view is neat, right?" Jay mentioned softly, his tone standing out against his friend's constant prattling.

"Yeah. It has been a long time since I had seen a sunset, so it is nice," Jungwon murmured. He stuck his hand out, as if he would be able to reach the sun from where he was from and that remarkable smile never left his face, and Jay didn't point it out in case Jungwon would get rid of it when he did.

But he spoke faster than his mind could register the thought. "Your smile is pretty," he admitted.

Jungwon instantly looked at him, shocked and eyes wide. The only and strongest feeling in Jay was regret.

Jungwon would force himself to stop smiling because for some reason he never let himself enjoy things, but he didn't. He looked down at his hands as he put them overtop the barrier, and the red that was on the tips of his ears stretched to the tops of his cheeks.

"Thank you," he murmured.

"Ah, Jungwon how's college? Was Jay a good guide for you to get around?" Sunoo asked.

"He was. I was able to get used to it quickly though. And I think I will have to experience another week before I can really say how it is," Jungwon quickly responded, trying to divert the attention.

"If anything, just avoid getting involved with the basketball team. Majority of them don't have the best intentions," Jake mentioned.

Jungwon only nodded.

"Sunoo, come here I have something I want you to try," Riki chimed, grabbing Sunoo by the wrist and leading him over to the blanket. He already knew where this was going, Riki indirectly admitting that he had chosen the box of pocky was enough proof of that. Jay just didn't want to be a witness nor be in the vicinity of it.

"That's still Hyung to you," Sunoo chastised him.

"Well Sunoo hyung," Riki emphasized. He crouched down to pick a box from the blanket, letting go of Sunoo's hand in the process. Raising it for Sunoo to see, he grinned. "Do you want to play a little game with me?"

And where they expected Sunoo to say no, he surprisingly answered sure.

"Wait," Sunghoon said, halting Riki from giddily peeling open the box. He held his hand up and leaned forward to Jay, saying something only he could hear. "A little birdy told me he may prefer just hanging out with you."