used to love. | sunsun

13. guilty thoughts

By the time they reported the theft of the motorcycle to the police, with the help of the shop owner, the clouds had already decided to block the sun and tiny raindrops turned into a heavy downpour. Lucky for them, they managed to run into a nearby convenience shop to grab an umbrella and some water before walking under a bus station shelter.

Sunghoon shook the umbrella lightly, sending little drops of water flying through the air, while Sunoo sat down on the dry bench and tended to the slightly wet tulips. The older between the two was still standing at the edge of the shelter, inches away from getting wet, gazing at the ground before finally breaking the quietness. "Are you still bleeding, Sunoo?" They were quite far apart, causing Sunghoon to shout a little so Sunoo could hear him through the downpour. He slowly dug through his jeans to find the floral plaster the lady handed him earlier and unwrapped the plastic before turning around and walking closer to a yawning Sunoo.

"Oh, it should be dried out by now, don't worry."
Sunghoon lowered his body to make it easier for both of them to communicate, so that Sunoo doesn't have to raise his head while talking to him. "Give me your hand, the blood is already dripping." Sunoo glanced at his hands and finally noticed that the wound had reopened and the blood was running down his finger.

When did that happen?

Sunghoon carefully took Sunoo's hands and wrapped the injury bandage around his little finger. The youngers eyes were locked on Sunghoon's face as he felt those seemingly cold fingers touch his hand. It's been too long since their faces have been this close together and Sunoo felt happy to get a glimpse of the old Sunghoon back.

All day he had the feeling that Park had behaved differently than usual, almost softer. But then again, he was sorry for causing so much trouble and bringing such a lot of hardship for Sunghoon, from the cat allergy to the missing motorcycle. Obviously it wasn't Sunoo's fault, but he couldn't help but blame himself. He tried his best to help Sunghoon, yet it appeared more like Sunghoon was the one helping Sunoo all day. Wouldn't he have come a lot further if Sunoo was by his side today?

He was startled when Sunghoon's eyes met his - holding his breath. "Stop staring already, the bus is here."

The bus was almost empty, with just a couple people sitting in the back chatting or staring at their phone screens with headphones plugged in. Sunoo and Sunghoon probably would have done the same on any other day, but exhaustion was already filling their bodies, even pulling out their cell phones would've been too much for them. They sat on a double seat and Sunghoon rested his head on the bus seat before letting out a soft sigh and glancing at the Sunoo who was already falling into a nap next to him.

"Don't blame yourself, Sunoo," he mumbled, as if they shared a brain.

For half an hour, Sunghoon watched the downpour slowly fade into a few dripping raindrops until they arrived at the hospital. "You didn't come all the way here for my finger, did you, hyung?" was the first thing Sunoo asked after being woken up by Sunghoon's light touch.

Sunghoon pulled Sunoo into the large hospital before calming him down; "Don't be silly, there's someone that wants to meet you."

At the counter in the hospital, Sunghoon spoke to a nurse while still holding onto Sunoos arm not letting go. The hospital was large and they walked quite a bit until they found themselves in front of a white door with the number 255 on it. Sunghoon seemed familiar with the hospital and dragged Sunoo through the halls. When he opened the room they saw a little teenage girl laying on a bed. And to Sunoo's surprise it was a pretty familiar face to him, he had seen this face a million times before.

"Sunoo, Oppa?" The little girl said, her eyes slowly widening as she saw her older brother and his best friends standing in the room. "Jihye?" Sunoo hugged Sunghoon's little sister gently. The two have not spoken to each other after Sunghoon's family left for Poland and his sister's wish was to finally hear from Sunoo again. She worshiped him like her own older brother and Sunghoon knew it. That's why he made sure that Sunoo would definitely go to the hospital no matter what happened.

"Tulips? You finally got me something other than roses!" Jihye said, eyes slowly shifting to the bouquet of flowers in Sunghoon's hand. He gradually strolled towards the two younger, placed the flowers on the side table next to his sister's bed and ran his hands through her hair. "Be grateful, you brat," he said jokingly before looking at Sunoo. There was a glow in both their eyes.
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"Is she asleep?" Sunghoon asked, moving closer to sit at the waiting bench where Sunoo was sitting, leaving room in the chair between them to place the plastic bag he was holding.

About an hour ago Sunghoon volunteered to buy some food for the two starving boys, giving Sunoo and Jihye some space to talk after years. When he returned, the sky had grown darker and he spotted Sunoo sitting in front of a venting machine eyes gazing at his phone.

"She's sleeping soundly." Sunoo said before searching through the bag Sunghoon had given him. "You're not mad at me, are you? I didn't know how to ask you, you know... after what happened. I'm sorry." Sunghoon said, not being able to keep eye contact as Sunoo stared at him.

Sunoo giggled briefly before leaning his head back and closing his eyes. "It's okay. At least you're finally talking to me again, so thank you for today, hyung." He said and left Sunghoon a little confused and surprised at the answer. Meanwhile, he continued to snack the warm gimbap Sunghoon had purchased. "I'm serious right now Sunoo, I'm sorry."

"So am I. I know what kind of person you are, so come and talk to me more often. I'm not going to keep asking you about the past anymore, so just tell me when you're ready." He stood up and reached for the other's silky buttoned handle. "That doesn't mean I've forgiven you yet," a broad smile appeared on his lips. "I still need an explanation. But for now let's get some mint chocolate and head home soon, the next bus will be there in 13 minutes, hurry up."

"Aish, I did buy you some already!" Sunghoon shouted after the Sunoo that was already running out of the hospital.

"But yours melted already, I need a new one!"