SEDUCTIVE EMBER'S || HEESUN 𝟏𝟖+ ||

Defiance - Chapter 19

Sunoo angrily glared at his phone, his grip tightening around the device as his eyes burned with a mix of frustration and sadness. The picture displayed on the screen, taunting him with every passing second, only deepening the pit of anger festering within him.

He could see Heeseung and Yeju entering the company together, a scene so piercing to his heart. She was smiling, her eyes bright as she looked up at his boyfriend.

The sight of their closeness felt like a dagger twisting in his chest.

He bit his lip hard, a futile attempt to contain the turmoil brewing inside him. His foot tapped incessantly against the floor, a physical manifestation of his inner turmoil.

The voices of his friends calling his name blurred into the background, rendered insignificant by the storm of emotions consuming him. All that mattered in that moment was the image on his phone, a cruel reminder of his helplessness.

Sunoo scoffed bitterly, his breath hitching as he bit his nails, a nervous habit he couldn't shake. His eyes remained locked on the screen, brows furrowed in a deep frown. He felt a surge of jealousy, mingled with a sense of betrayal.

How could Heeseung not tell him that he's been with Yeju, knowing how he felt? It was a question that tormented him, an unspoken pain that gnawed at his sanity.

Suddenly, he felt a jolt, his body shook, and his head snapped up to see Jungwon standing before him, a look of concern etched on his face. Jungwon's eyes widened slightly, startled by the intensity of Sunoo's reaction.

"Are you okay? What's wrong?" Jungwon's voice cut through the haze of Sunoo's thoughts, bringing him back to the present.

Sunoo hastily closed the screen of his phone, shoving it into his pocket with a frustrated sigh. He shook his head, unable to form the words to explain the havoc inside him. Lowering his head to the desk, he tried to hide the tears that threatened to spill.

Closing his eyes, he sought solace in the darkness, hoping to escape the image that taunted him. He tried to rest, to push away the thoughts of Heeseung and Yeju together, but it was futile.

The knowledge that Heeseung had been with her, that he had been coming home late because of her, grazed at him.

He couldn't confront Heeseung, couldn't tell him that he knew. What could he say? That he was jealous despite being the one who came between them? That he felt betrayed? Yeju had been a part of Heeseung's life long before he came into the picture.

Yet, the pain was undeniable, feeling a profound sadness that he couldn't shake.

Jungwon shook him again, his grip firm yet gentle, trying to snap him out of his daze. Sunoo leisurely looked back at him, his eyes glazed over with exhaustion and worry.

He gulped down the lump in his throat, attempting to pull himself together, and sat up straight in his chair.

"I am just tired, really." Sunoo blurted out before Jungwon could even ask the question that had been lingering in the air between them.

Jungwon's eyes softened with concern as he shared a glance with Niki, who stood nearby and spoke with his tone gentle yet firm. "We know something is bothering you. If you don't want to talk, we can't force you."

Sunoo's eyes met his, and he saw the genuine worry etched into his friend's expression.

"No! Really, there's nothing." he insisted again, his voice trembling slightly. Sunoo tried to muster a convincing smile, but it faltered under the weight of his friends' scrutinizing gazes. They exchanged knowing looks, silently communicating their disbelief.