Hard-To-Reach [TaeSung/Kkeomchiz]

Chapter - 10

Days passed, and the distance between Taesan and Sungho only grew wider. Taesan's resolve to ignore Sungho intensified, leaving no room for even the briefest of interactions. Whenever they were in the same room, Taesan would find a reason to leave or focus intensely on something else, anything to avoid facing Sungho.

Leehan, Riwoo, and Jaehyun noticed the deepening rift and couldn't help but feel a sense of failure. Their plan to bring the two back together had not only failed, but it seemed to have worsened the situation. They exchanged worried glances whenever they saw Taesan's cold demeanor or Sungho's forlorn expression.

"What do we do now?" Riwoo asked, frustration evident in his voice. "We tried, but it didn't work. It feels like things are even worse than before." Leehan nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. "Taesan's really shutting him out. I didn't expect it to go this far. We need to come up with something else, but I don't know what..." Jaehyun sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's like they're both in pain, but neither of them is willing to take the first step to fix it. Maybe we need to stop trying to interfere and just let them figure it out."

"But what if they don't figure it out?" Riwoo countered. "What if this just keeps going until they're not even friends anymore?"

Leehan remained quiet, deep in thought. He had never seen Taesan this upset, nor Sungho so lost. It was clear that something significant had happened between them, something that their earlier attempts couldn't mend.

Meanwhile, Sungho was struggling with his own turmoil. He wanted desperately to talk to Taesan, to try to fix what had gone wrong, but every time he gathered the courage to approach him, the memory of Taesan's pained expression and harsh words stopped him in his tracks. He knew how much he had hurt Taesan, and the guilt weighed heavily on him.

Sungho couldn't focus during practice, his thoughts constantly drifting to Taesan. He missed their conversation, the ease with which they used to talk and laugh together. But now, there was a wall between them that seemed impossible to break down.

He watched Taesan from a distance, hoping for a sign that things might go back to the way they were. But every time Taesan ignored him, it was like a knife to the heart, a reminder that he was the one who had caused this pain.

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The long-awaited Freshers' Day had finally arrived, and the campus buzzed with excitement. Seniors and freshers alike were scattered throughout the grounds, preparing for the day's events. Taesan and Leehan were stationed at a plushie booth, where they were tasked with running games that offered adorable prizes to participants. The cheerful atmosphere contrasted sharply with the tension that had been building between Taesan and Sungho.

On the other side of the event space, Sungho, Jaehyun, and Riwoo managed a booth dedicated to music, selling CDs, cassette tapes, and other memorabilia. To Sungho's dismay, their booth was directly opposite Taesan and Leehan's. He couldn't help but steal glances at Taesan, hoping that maybe today, amidst the lively festivities, they could have even the smallest conversation.

As the day progressed, the campus became livelier. Performances took place in the auditorium, and laughter echoed from the various booths set up outside. Leehan tried to engage Taesan in light-hearted banter, but he noticed how his friend's eyes kept drifting to the booth across from them, where Sungho stood with a distant expression.

The plushie booth was a hit with the freshers, who eagerly lined up to try their luck at winning the soft toys. Taesan busied himself with explaining the rules of the games and handing out prizes, doing his best to focus on his tasks and avoid looking across the way. But the more he tried to concentrate, the more aware he became of Sungho's presence.